Chillcheater base layer - syntetic vs. wool
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- This is a review of a base layer for colder enviroment. If you dont have any interest in base layers and winter clothing, then this video will be boring for you. But if you are out in the colder weather, this might interest you! Sorry my English is out of shape! :)
I had to censor the video, due to "condescending" audience
Syntetic vs. wool
Price: about 75 GBP / 100USD for a set.
Link to product: www.chillcheat...
Wool has one big advantage over synthetics, it drys slowly and keeps some of its insulation when wet. Drying slowly is important when you become wet and do not have access to artificial heat. The faster the water leaves, the faster the heat leaves, OK in front of the fire in the ski lodge, can be deadly outside with no heat. In the 80's working as a logger in the Pacific Northwest you could be working in wet snow and rain in the morning only to have it clear off in the afternoon and a dry cold wind start up. You had to be able to stay wet and warm at the same without artificial heat, wool was, and is, the answer in this situation.
I agree with you almost 100%. It is not popular in bushcraft and survival circles to say synthetics are better than wool. Never the less, I firmly believe that they are better. I say that based on almost 50 years of living in Alaska and having been both a wool and synthetics wearer. I was blown away mentally when I experienced this difference many years ago. I have been out in the rain when wearing wool and it just gets heavier and heavier with water. Yes it still insulates but now weighs quite a bit more and does not insulate as well as when it is dry. Now move ahead to a moose hunt where I was wearing polypropylene base layer. My base layer then, as well as now is USA military ECWCS (Extended Cold Weather Clothing System) polypropylene. On top of the base layer I was wearing a polyester outdoor shirt followed by a thick fleece (polyester) jacket. On my legs was just the base layer which was worn inside my rubber boots followed by thick polar fleece (polyester) pants worn *outside* my boots. While on this hunt, it rained. While it was raining, the rain would make my shoulders feel slightly damp and the front of my legs slightly damp from walking through wet brush. As soon as the rain stopped, I would feel totally dry. The water would almost immediately leave my body and go to the outer layers of clothing and would then drain down to the lowest areas such as the cuffs of my jacket and the bottom of my pant legs. Even with walking through all the wet brush and occasionally feeling a bit damp on my thighs, the inside of my rubber boots stayed totally dry. The water in my base layer did not travel down my legs into my boots. The fleece jacket and pants stayed wet at the extremities for quite a while but my main core was dry. That converted me then and there and I have never gone back to wool.
I have heard many years ago that wool will absorb up to 20% of it's weight in moisture where polyester will absorb less than 1% of it's weight.
As with all cold weather clothing systems, layering is important. When exercising it is important to strip off outer layers to better monitor body heat output just like you said. The only downside to the synthetic base layer is it doesn't feel as comfortable as wool when exercising.
After sitting on damp tundra while hunting and having my cotton shorts / underwear stay wet for hours, I have now gone to wearing synthetic shorts as well when on extended outdoor trips. I take maybe two pairs of shorts. When I need to clean them I wash them, place them flat on a cotton towel or other absorbent material and roll them up in that material. I then put the roll on the ground and step back and forth on the roll for a few seconds or will wring the roll with my hands. I then unroll it and take out my shorts and they are dry enough to put back on and wear. They will be slightly damp but they will dry out the rest of the way rather quickly especially when worn on the body. I have argued with several people on the merits of synthetics versus wool but synthetics just are not popular in bushcraft circles.
Anyway, good video and it is great to see someone who can think for themselves and not blindly follow the crowd even if it means their decisions go against the crowd. I respect that very much my friend.
Thank you Lonnie, I was expecting and still do, some arguments over what I say in this video, but I will stand by my words after this year of testing it in all form of climates. About short, I to have left the cotton ones. I do not use them at all any more. I use synthetic ones made for sports and high activities. A bit more expensive, but they last much longer. Keep the skape and actually never gets wet. Well they get wet, but only moisty and as you say, dries fast.
It is true that this fleece underwear does not absorb and close in as much moisture as wool. And it dries fast! I think most of the synthetic base layers of today is quite good to wear actually. I remember in the earlier days, they tend not to stretch the right ways when moving, and after some time in use, they started to itch were they should have stretched. The types today is way better and can easily be compared with anything else in comfort. Another downside with synthetics have been that they start to smell after a few days, this fleece base layer doens not! Another surprise.
I still have more experience with wool, and now the limits, but I think I will use this fleece layers more and more.
Thank you for your thoughts and experience Lonnie.
Far North Bushcraft And Survival I read your comment with a lot of interest and also remember watching your video on the topic a while ago. I have only recently come to using synthetic fleece for underwear in winter, even though I have been convinced of the fleece properties ever since it came on the market. But only after I had heard of clothing concepts where fleece is worn directly next to the skin, I left out the long sleeve undershirt and put on my fleece pullover without anything under it. The result was amazing! Fleece alone felt much better and wicked sweat away faster than when combined with wool or synthetic knitted underwear. I still like wool shirts, but in the cold and especially in wet circumstances or for high output activities (backcountry skiing etc.) fleece underwear is clearly my preference now.
This clothing concept has been used in the Mountain Buffalo Shirt for a long time or a little more recently also in Marmot Ether Driclime Jacket. But I simply take some ordinary fleece shirt/pullover and layer further jacket(s)/anorak over it.
Hey good to hear from you Tim (Steintanz). I have recently received a couple of synthetic undershirts that are polyester fleece and i have wore one of them a couple times and do really like it. I have not wore them in the rain yet to know how fast they will wick the water away from my body and into the outer layers compared to the polypropolene military ECWCS top but for warmth they are great.
Far North Bushcraft And Survival ... ECWCS, very interesting - thanks very much.
Cold temperature is a subjective thing. Where I live in Northern Canada a "cold" winter day is -45*F., in Northern Alaska that same "cold definition" might be considered -65*F., in South Africa a cold winters day is considered maybe +25*F.......I'll take wool any day of the week, not only will it protect me from the cold, but it also insulates when wet and it's naturally fireproof as well..Not big on sleeping beside a campfire and bursting into flames while I'm asleep because my clothing/blanket is made of "Polyester" or some other plastic crap.
I see your point, cold temperatures are not valid at all. With cold temperatures I mean below freezing and lower. To put up exact temperature limits will not be realistic because it will vary from person to person.
I did not expect this to be any good myself, but it is.
Only wool will do for working outside in the artic winter. It stinks less after weeks than the synths do after days... ;-)
Great video mate and your command of the English language is better than 90% of Americans on here! Very helpful and informative.
UA-cam made you censor a harmless video after the utter garbage they promote? How ridiculous.
I'm doing research on bushcraft clothing & gear. I found your channel as recommended by Norwegian Woods who I found through SwedWoods.
I know... Thank to my friend Martin for suggesting my channel, glad to have you onboard my friend.
Good thing’s should be shared! You have my vote! Thanks for your excellent review! Made me buy a set! Greetings from the Bavarian Alps!
I've been a wool fan for years, but last winter I started trying out (thin) synthetic fleece for underwear and it is really a good alternative, just like you say, too. Fleece and windbreaker jacket, just my combo! :)
Thanks for the review, explanation of how both work, and applications for both. Your English is very good. I really like your videos.
Thank yuo very much Kurt
Excellent information! Don't worry about your English it is still much better than my none existing Norwegian...
With your early video I had problems with your sound level that has improved keep up the good work, Takk skal du ha!
Thanks John. I have a new camera. I used to film with a gopro, after some years I got a external mic and a newer gopro. I got better, but now with the reglar camera it is much better. I have ordered a shotgun mic for that to increase the audio quality even better. Then it will only be my bad English left ;)
Thank you, good sir. Happy New Year from San Diego California.
I work in the oil and gas as a scaffolder since 2004. I understand what you mean by the wool isn't good in wind but when you layer your cloths it's prefect. I normally layer like this: use LS(long sleeve cotton), Helly top/bottom underwear, LS, sweater, LS, hoodie, LS. This way I'm able to stay really flexible. At anytime it gets to hot or cold, I just take off/on a LS and whats on top of it. LS are cheaper and easier to replace. I never wear a jacket cause it's to restricting. Coldest I worked outside on a 10h day was -56'C I have no tried cotton, but after this video, you have me interested. Even my socks are cotton(1 pair), lol.
Helly Hansen is a Norwegian company, I wonder if you tried their 3 layer system ? I still use the base layer shirt, never needed the other 3 part system. I never wore out any of my winter gear made by helly hansen yet(at the same time I never put it on the outter layer).
Excellent breakdown Odd on what sounds like a great bit of kit. I'll have to look into them.
Thanks
Nate
My pleasure Nate.
even in so ca, there are 1 or 2 windy nights on summits I wished I had something like this. Beautiful area on this video
Thank you Alan, there are still a few patches of forest around this lake that is still not filled with cabins and roads.
i discovered a product last winter called 32 degrees. i am a winter motorcycle rider so i am intimately acquainted with windchill. i live in the pac nw so our winters do get snowy. maybe not scandi cold, but cold. i was very impressed with the said product. i love wool for it's obvious benefits et al warm when wet etc. but these new fabrics are amazing, and effective for much less $ plus if you're ecology conscious? they spin much of the fabric from recycled soda, and water bottles. when you see bales of crushed bottles those are usually destined for this purpose. like wool it's warm wet. but dries in less time, and weighs much less. much of my layering is from synthetic "micro-fleece" type material. wool lasts longer, and does have one thing going most are unaware of. buy it like three sizes too big, throw it in the dryer on hot, when it shrinks, it gets thicker. shrink it to your size voila! instant jacket from a shirt.
Me to have been riding motorcycles for several years, and yes, the windchill is the biggest factor for sure. Thank you for your description of the product.
better than wool? I was about to give you ear beating from another galaxy, but them kayakers often got some trick up their sleeve for keeping warm so def checking out da chillcheater, thanks for good info mate :)
Haha.. Was expecting some of that! Surprised me too.
This awesome bushcraft channel and the video he's amazing to make people learn about bushcraft and experience outdoors and I am personally glad to support this amazing man and his exciting experience bushcraft channel 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
thank you again Donna! :)
Odd! I like the British car joke ;) Your right! haha. Another thing as I wander about Norway is that wool tends to smell less than synthetic materials, especially after a few days walking and by the fire. Also, as everything you say Odd I will always take as excellent advice based on your skills and knowledge! God Helg Odd! mvh Paul, Sandefjord.
Hi Paul, yes normally wool smells less, cause it has a natural anti bacterial effect. Normally the sythetic ones smells quite quickly after some sweaty activities, but this one did not. I used it extensivly without washing to test this, and to be honest, I washed it because it got really dirty and not because of any smell. Strangely it keeps good for a long time.
Odd
a Nice man in a nice place...
:) Thanks
Good review. I struggled with a Landrover for a while so I get your joke. On the clothing what was your experience with odor build up? One reason why people prefer wool is it resists fungal growth and the fibres are sort of self cleaning. I read synthetics tend to stink even after washing them in the wilds. Personally I like hiking in the winter with icebreaker branded base layers. Thank you for sharing
When I started using this, I was waiting for it to smell, but it never came. I used it for a very long period before I washed it just to see how long it would take before it got itchy cause of the salt from the sweat and stinky. After weeks and weeks of normal use, I could smell that it has been used, but not like my other synthetic gear thats smells like old roadkill after a few times use.
As you say, wool has some properties as anti bacterial, and salts tend to just fall off. This you would not find in sunthetic materials.
About the washing in the wild, I have the same experience as you, not with this set, but earlier sets of synthetic base layers. They get a little bit better, but still smells
Wool
Layers
Wool
Layers, wool, layers, wool, layers, wool, layers, wool, layers, wool, layers, wool, layers.
i cant believe UA-cam made u censor yourself in your briefs when they allow pornographic vids CRAZY!!!all the best odd;-)
Haha.. crazy. But doenst really matter. Thanks for watching
-Odd
Excellent review, Odd.
Thank you Doc!
Ohlala! I liked this one 😉
Haha.. I bet you do !
Hva synes du om Brynje Arctic? Jeg har gode erfaringer med de produktene.
Jeg kan ikke si noe annet enn at den ser fornuftig ut. Jeg hare bare brukt den som jeg fikk i forsvaret. Den er netting all over. Har sett litt på den arctic-modellen da den jeg har begynner i bli noe slitt. Det jeg spesielt liker er at armene er hele, og nettingen er konsentrert på overkroppen der man produserer mest varme. Vil tro den er bedre enn kun netting, spesielt på kaldere dager.
I am very bothered that you were coerced into censoring this video. People receive catalogs full of models wearing less, and it's called advertising! Ridiculous.
But thank you for comparing, I still know lots of people who think synthetics are better than wool, but after having used both, I am all for wool clothing and baselayers. Good information on this brand though, I didn't think I'd ever hear such words from someone with adequate knowledge. I'll have to look into them.
Skål fra USA!
Haha.. yes I was suprised myself. But as said, I will most likly choose wool for unknown adventures just in case. I dont understand the problems with some skin showing, it is the same as for videos of people on the beach or swimming in the pool or what not. Well, well.. Doesnt bother me to see things lik that.
Thank you for watching
-Odd
12:08 Why do you wear body armor? Is it for your work or are you doing very extreme bushcraft? :-)
Hi Rick, yes it is my work, from time to time we have to use it due to safety issues.
What size did you get? M or L? And what is your height and weight? If I may ask, thank you~
Wool doesn't warm when wet. Nothing does.
Great video! Odd!
Thank you Sara!
Good video
Thanks!
I like your sence of humor.re your need for a beanie take care
Just how it is.. ;)
What if you wear wool on top of synthetic base will it absorb the sweat from base?
Synthetic bases and wool both wick moisture away, so yes.
👍💯