Costco was mentioned- definitely the best buy. MEC has their own brand, if you look for it, and is probably the next cheapest. Icebreakers or Smart Wool are pricey and therefore found in most outdoors stores. As already stated. Ibex wool is very very good but made in the USA (Vermont) and therefore extra pricey. Unless you go to VT I suppose.
keeping warm - base layer, need advice
- Thread starter timandkimandshea
- Start date
Costco was mentioned- definitely the best buy. MEC has their own brand, if you look for it, and is probably the next cheapest. Icebreakers or Smart Wool are pricey and therefore found in most outdoors stores. As already stated. Ibex wool is very very good but made in the USA (Vermont) and therefore extra pricey. Unless you go to VT I suppose.
Some have the saying "cotton kills." It can, too.
Good point there. I favour rather thin wool undergarments and layer removeable or at least vent-able items over them. Remember the cover of the book by Les Stroud that has the motto "You Sweat, You Die" embossed on the cover. Les knows. But that's why you want wool.
I actually prefer synthetic LJ's anyway... wool ones are too itchy for me mostly, and I've never had a problem with the performance of polypro and the like. MEC LJ's are awesome, and they make "boot length" ones, which are designed to avoid bunching up at the calf while wearing rigid mountaineering boots.
I don't wear mountaineering boots, but... with a 28" inseam, the boot length ones are literally perfect! (Now you'll excuse me, as I have to deliver a ring to Mordor.)
I was thinking of sitting in a stand, mid to late season. Walk in with the over layer off, and put it on and sit. I'm a skinny guy, and usually get cold after about an hour, and find it hard to sit still if I'm freezing. Thanks for all the input. I would definitely try the costco merino, can't seem to find them on their website. I will pop in tomorrow. If I can get the man made base layer at Loblaws, and the merino wool at costco, I can save a TON of money. I was prepared to pay big dollars to get what I wanted, but if I can get it for less, I will be happy. Not for everyday, maybe 20 or 30 days a year, less if I fill my tag early.
Tim
Tim
Sitting on a stand? Don't forget your head and neck. I picked up a fleece balaclava (Cabelas, I think) that goes down over my shoulders - it is not the straight tube type. Nothing worse than having cold air go down your back.
I don't much mind the itchiness of regular wool, but merino is considered to be itch free. It certainly is for me.
just a quick tip from years of working outside all winter in Northern BC an maybe it got mentioned but for your outer layer pants i would opt for a bib style pant. best gear in the world wont keep you comfortable if you shift an your jacket comes up exposing the small of your back. If not a bib style pant i use one my insulting shirts that is fairly long and tuck it into my pants
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
The aforementioned paradox Costco Merino-blend base layers for me!! It wicks, stays warm when wet, non-itchy and good deal. X2 on the socks too.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Wool... Worth it's weight in cash.
Brand loyalty? Costco merino so far has been great, Columbia pants above were expensive but are whisper quiet an not just insulate and keep warm but breath and keep me dry.... My upper layer is a merino shirt with a hoodie and either a water barrier or my ECW parka or just the liner under my hoodie depending on what I'm doing... Used to be able to get a gray wool pant from army surplus stores for around the $20 mark that was Italian and hella tough but they dried up bout 10yrs back... People often forget you need to adjust layers hence why you bundle up and start sweating on your way into the bush then when you stop you start to cool off then your cold while dressed in 40lbs of cotton and wool under a wind proof layer...
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
Huh.... Still have beer batter on the right side pocket from fryin up venison medallions last fall...
Bigbubba in post #9 Nailed it in my experience and opinion. I use "Blue Johns" underwear that WAS made in Nanimo BC. It was a family business and when the man passed away his wife closed the business. The material it was made from was imported from France. Very expensive but it wicked moisture away from your skin fast. I have a life time supply of the stuff as I bought some of the last she had just to make sure I had lots. I hear merino wool is also very good, and there must be other stuff out now that rivals the Blue Johns.
When you are active getting to your stand and work up a sweat and dampen your underwear then get to your stand and sit, that is when you get chilled and cold as you have damp or wet underwear next to your skin. The better your underwear the faster the underwear fabric will pass that moisture on to your warming layer and become dry thus you have dry fabric next to your skin and you feel comfy and warm.
Wool is hard to beat at anytime but I am convinced now after 25+yrs of wearing it that fleece is better as it is lighter in weight, not itchy, and doesn't hold water very well. I love wool sweaters and have an extensive, expensive collection of them. But 95% of the time when in the outdoors I am decked out in fleece. Cotton is one of the very worst fabrics you can wear anywhere as it holds moisture like a sponge. The warming layer should not hold the moisture passed to it by the underwear but pass it on out through your wind layer. At times you create more sweat than the fabrics can handle so the warm layer should such as in the case of wool and fleece also have good insulating qualities when wet. Cotton fails at this miserably.
The wind layer is usually some sort of goretex or the like type fabric. Goretex is far from perfect and in my opinion is not all what it is cracked up to be but it is the best we have for this purpose at this time. It does stop wind in it's tracks. Doesn't hurt to have your coat a Goretex shell with a removable insulated liner, in either goose down or thinsalate. A lot of heat is lost through the head and neck so when I get to the stand I put on a fleece neck and head warmer/balaclava then a fleece lined wool touque over that. My wife made me a blaze orange fleece blanket which I drape over my legs and feet and it is surprising what a difference that makes in keeping my legs and feet warmer longer.
Sounds like a lot but if your sitting for hours on end when there's snow on the ground it works for me anyways especially since I have had this heart issue and the circulation is not what it used to be.
When you are active getting to your stand and work up a sweat and dampen your underwear then get to your stand and sit, that is when you get chilled and cold as you have damp or wet underwear next to your skin. The better your underwear the faster the underwear fabric will pass that moisture on to your warming layer and become dry thus you have dry fabric next to your skin and you feel comfy and warm.
Wool is hard to beat at anytime but I am convinced now after 25+yrs of wearing it that fleece is better as it is lighter in weight, not itchy, and doesn't hold water very well. I love wool sweaters and have an extensive, expensive collection of them. But 95% of the time when in the outdoors I am decked out in fleece. Cotton is one of the very worst fabrics you can wear anywhere as it holds moisture like a sponge. The warming layer should not hold the moisture passed to it by the underwear but pass it on out through your wind layer. At times you create more sweat than the fabrics can handle so the warm layer should such as in the case of wool and fleece also have good insulating qualities when wet. Cotton fails at this miserably.
The wind layer is usually some sort of goretex or the like type fabric. Goretex is far from perfect and in my opinion is not all what it is cracked up to be but it is the best we have for this purpose at this time. It does stop wind in it's tracks. Doesn't hurt to have your coat a Goretex shell with a removable insulated liner, in either goose down or thinsalate. A lot of heat is lost through the head and neck so when I get to the stand I put on a fleece neck and head warmer/balaclava then a fleece lined wool touque over that. My wife made me a blaze orange fleece blanket which I drape over my legs and feet and it is surprising what a difference that makes in keeping my legs and feet warmer longer.
Sounds like a lot but if your sitting for hours on end when there's snow on the ground it works for me anyways especially since I have had this heart issue and the circulation is not what it used to be.
hard to beat a BC tuxedo lol
This guy knows what he is talking about. Take his advise. Anything that works for hardcore mountaineers, works for hunters too.
Also, 6 years ago I picked up a set of an unknown (to me) brand, base layers from leBarron on the advice of the sales person. Best advice ever. I can't stand any wool next to my skin, even merino wool. These are two layered. The first layer is synthetic and the outer layer is marino. They are as thin as your skin and provide insulation like you won't believe it. They are a Canadian company called Kombi. If you find them buy them. Even at a premium.
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OK, here's the plan. The Costco "merino" is mostly synthetic, but it's inexpensive. So I picked up a set for the base layer. Next, Cabelas had mid weight merino wool tops and bottoms for $70 each, that's almost half off, so that's layer two. Then street clothes, and finally waterproof/insulated bib and jacket over top. That's the plan, we will see how it goes.
Thanks for all the input.
T
Thanks for all the input.
T
