In the Norwegian Army there is a saying that goes something like «flis er for kalde amerikanere» basically “synthetics are for cold Americans” in Norway we use wool(not just merino) and mesh. We’ve been dealing with the cold for hundreds of years before the us was discovered. Synthetics are great, until you fall in a river or get hit with some ice rain. After that you will be begging for some wool. When US marines come to Norway to learn winter survival they usually borrow Norwegian gear after the under ice portion of training.
@@shuswapoutdoors well id say there is a reason the Americans send their soldiers to Norway once a year to learn from us. Very few nations beat Norway, Sweden and Finland in winter combat. Definitely not the Americans.
US Marine here. I'm from the northern Midwest. Your winters are not any colder than ours (-40C). While your winters are longer, I learned my cold weather survival by virtue of living it. That said.... The youtuber that made this video is out of his mind. Merino Wool FTW!!!
@@jonvanwyk2026 i know you have some winter. Ive lived in the US, your winter some how feel warmer. I meant no disrespect to the marines tho, always fun to have you guys in town. I remember when I was a child and the marines would come to my small town in the north every year. Find memories.
@@shuswapoutdoors what a lame response. Grow up. Further more, go pick a random Army base to visit. Go look at our infantry units. Fat. Sick. These are not fit men ready to make war. Physical standards lowered to accommodate ‘inclusivity.’ Bet if you go to a Norwegian base you’ll see fit men who look like they are ready to make war, who have a sense of national pride and take their role seriously. I’m not happy about it, but superior? The only thing worse than being a smart aleck for the sake of being a smart aleck is being delusional and a smart aleck. Now let’s everyone pull out our dicks and wave them around for comparison’s sake like a bunch of sophisticated Starbucks clientele.
Marino all the way for me. I've tried them all in my 49 years of cycling, hiking, running, mountain climbing. Had some good synthetics but nothing ever comes close to Marino for me.
At 70 and longtime outdoorsman, I feel both fabrics have a niche where they work best. Cold temps from 10 deg to -10 deg without a lot of physical work then wool is your friend as they say here in Colorado. And if your trip, hunt, adventure is shorter term wool has many benefits. In warmer temps ranging to cool and wet, then polyester shines. I've been in a steady rain all day at 45 deg, sopping wet, pulled my poly off, wrung it out, then kept moving to avoid danger. At 95 deg I've cycled across the American west with thin long sleeve 100% poly shirts and stayed cool, they dry in minutes. Sopping wet, 100% poly will dry on your body, you can wash it out at the end of a hose then hang it in a tree. I've even showered with polyester clothes on then dried out in the sun. Make sure your polyester clothes do not have any Spandex, Elastane, or Lycra because these fibers at 8-10% or more of the total will make the poly clothing hot and sticky, plus they dry slower. Nike and UnderArmor clothes often use Spandex, or Lycra for stretch. That is one reason why Patagonia wear is more expensive for their polyester clothing because they don't use stretch additives, they get the stretch from the weaving process. Another positive for wool, however, is the wider temp range that you feel comfortable. You can leave it on longer without peeling a layer, and push it colder without adding a layer. With polyester that wet/hot thing happens faster, and maybe it is a little more fuss with poly to keep your temp dialed. Absolutely agree with you on once wool is sopping wet, you might as well call it quits and head indoors if you can. Nice video, good stuff, happy trails!
Excellent points, could not have said it better. His point in the video are 100% valid and having said that I completely disagree with the title of his video.. for me my Merino 'investments' fit me perfectly, but there as so many variables and also personalities, likes, dislikes, preferences.. priorities... that's why both syntetics, blends, Merino sales are booming. Something for everyone, Vive le difference, that's why there's chocolate and vanilla 🙂
@@wherezthebeefonly one side is upset and it’s the merino wool fan club. Investment? You must be very new to the material. Expect to invest much more and very soon if you wear it regularly. It’s the most niche material I can think of and outside of that own thing it excels at its snake oil. That’s just factual when you put loyalty and feelings aside.
My merino wool long underwear definitely has a hole or two in em. However I can't handle the sweating with synthetic, at least for right on my skin - so sweaty. Socks are probably the most noticeable. Costco had an 80% merino wool base layer long sleeve shirt last year I picked up a few for 25$. I also like the synthetic sweater they get in the fall. It's 20-25$ and crazy warm - does the same thing as a Patagonia fleece which is almost 200$.
Merino wool saves my butt on longer trips, synthetic materials make my arm hairs itch and my face itch catching on the stubble, also actually gets smell free when I wash it. If synthetic works for you great but I simply can't do it. No reason for anyone to ever limit themselves to "the best material" use what suits yourself.
Great video thanks for your input. Seems to be a common thing for backpackers to like the synthetics more. I’m new to hunting so I’ll be experimenting with both. So far my merino socks I tried today were amazing.
I've never had any problems with Icebreaker merino wool,the only con is the durability, but all the pros negate that ,the only thing I don't like is Icebreaker seems to be getting away from the mostly merino content ,putting too much organic cotton or tencil in there product
I've found I need to store my wool in plastic or a bag if I'm not actively wearing it due to closet moths. They just love it! Since I started doing that, the little pin holes have stopped appearing.
You’re smarter than the average bear. But I guess they don’t tell you young folk things anymore. Any old timer knows you got to put your wool in sealed bags for storage.
The reason synthetic can feel like "wearing a plastic bag" is because it is plastic. Look up what polyester actually is and how it's made. I do get you on the pros and cons, merino is expensive, low on durability and takes long to dry. It's also not as odor resistant as some claim. I need to was a shirt every other day or so, both my 100% and 70% shirts. Merino is more environmental friendly compared to synthetic, has better body heat control and for me feels better on the skin than synthetic. My 70% merino shirts from Decathlon dry quick and feel comfortable. I'm gonna do a bit of a stress test on them to see how long I can wear them without stinking. Hand wash drying is within a day so seems like it's the best of both worlds. I guess we all have to make our decisions weighing our own pros and cons in the matter.
You guys with holes are you using wool safe detergents, and the prescribed amount? Excessive detergent literally eats fabrics within months of weekly washes. I also think there’s a lot to be said regarding the type of garments we are comparing. Thin under clothes vs light sweater. The famous timeless classic fisherman sweater is what I am head over heals for. I have a few and accumulate more as quality ones surface. Synthetic base layer undershirts and pants, with merino wool sweater and pants. You won’t ever need anything else outdoors. .
You have to check the enzymes in your detergent. Modern detergents have them, because you actually want to wash away/eat away the organic dirt. If the shirt is organic too, it can be slowly "eaten" by the enzymes.
@@shanebrowning8862 Water doesn't dissolve oils, fats and the odours that go with them. But you do you, in many cases I agree that we use too much soap/detergents for washing and "hygiene".
I worked outside all my life and I never understood everyone's infatuation with wicking sweat. If you're sweating, you're doing it wrong. I always wore coveralls where I can open the side legs and let the air come in.. and I can even take off my coat and let my top breathe that way. Set a pace to what matches your clothing- and change your layers to match your pace. It's not difficult. You might feel like you're taking things off and on a lot-- but it works much better than being overdressed and sweating and then hoping that your space age clothing is going to fix your mistake and wick it away. It's just a strange concept to me... Another thing that really helps with regulating temperature and sweating, etc.. is a Neck Warmer.. basically just an open top beanie cap that you can slip down over your neck; as you get too hot, you can slip it up onto your head just like a normal beanie covering your ears, etc. and as that gets too hot, you can slip it back down to the neck: letting your head air out so that it doesn't sweat. Just learning to adjust your clothing along the way is the key; and because of that, I can make just about any material work as long as it doesn't feel like a trash bag and not breathing. So because of that, I tend to avoid polyester completely if I can; I'd rather have cotton and just make sure I watch my pace and never sweat-- and strip down as I said, when needed. I have some heavy sheepskin coats and also some old gortex coat that seems to do well........... but if you MUST go with all this fancy stuff-- get it on sale or from t3mu or aIixbpr3zz and you can get this stuff for nearly nothing.. I grabbed several 85% merino wool socks for under three dollars per pair... You dont' have to spend twenty five per pair and eighty dollar shirts to get good stuff.
I find synthetic layers best for when I'm carrying a pack and actually hiking. Take them off when camp is setup so they can dry and put on my merino layers for camp wear.
@@shuswapoutdoors understood. I'm finalizing gear for a March start AT thru hike. I want to make sure I have something warm and dry to put on at camp each night.
I love merino wool, and have most of my base layers in a merino/silk mix. However, I've found I have to wear synthetics most often (we're in northern Sweden. Temps here last week got to minus thirty celsius, so we need to be warm) simply because the wool itches. I don't care how much the marketing claims it's itch free...for those of us with skin that wool seemingly hates, it isn't. Which is a shame as tbh, I don't like using synthetics. But I caved and use them with wool over the top as a mid or outer layer, rather than spend my days scratching like a flea bitten hound. :/
Interesting and valid point from your perspective and experiences. I've used both extensively and and hugely into Merino wool , mostly blends, it just works better for me. I think it's an individual preference and what works best after a fair test of both. I have friends who do much better with their synthetics, more comfortable for them and they have faith in their choice. Same for me and a few friends in the Merino camp. No. one benefit for me is temperature regulation and better when wet, for Merino.. as well as odor. That's huge for me but might not be as important for some. Tks. for the video, your points are valid. I'll stick with my Merino, I save my $$ and know total cost of ownership is more, worth it to me.
Synthetic is pretty awesome in the heat, keeping cool, wicking water away. I do hate how it amplifies B.O., but washes and dries FAST. Biggest fear is being caught in a house fire and now I have plastic melted into my flesh. Thanks for that synthetic recommendation that decreases odor.
I'm a career fire fighter, so I've heard this and seen this before, even with the clothing we wear under our gear, but once again, you're going to have way bigger problems than melted synthetics
Unbound Merino Wool is the best. I inves5ed in the Unbound Merino Wool Women's Capsule Wardrobe and I have invested in different pieces from Unbound Merino Wool. They carry alof of Men's clothes.
It's great when the kids start voicing their _uninformed_ opinions. *"In wool garments, keratin acts as insulation for your body. Wool also continues to keep you warm even if it gets wet. Wool can soak up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. This means that wool can keep you warm even in the harshest climates."* Many synthetics retain some loft when wet but not as well as wool. Synthetics also allow bacteria to grow, so sweat and body oils, which build up inside synthetic fabrics will cause a literal stink. Now... go outside and play, kid.
I base my opinion on real-life experiences. You keyboard warriors need to step outside once in a while, and you might learn something. But thanks for watching!
@@shuswapoutdoors Son... I have wool sweaters older than you are that have seen use on 5 continents, and probably a wider variety of synthetic wicking garments also. And, I'm positive that I've been outside more than you have for the last 10 years... but you keep talking, you seem to love the sound of your own voice. Oh, and BTW I didn't watch the video, it's not necessary when the entire premise of the low-grade infomercial is wrong. Let me use the words of "real experts". *_Merino wool offers numerous advantages: It provides good insulation, transports moisture, and has anti-static properties; it doesn't itch, smell, or crease much; it is lightweight and keeps its shape. And it does all this in a completely natural and sustainable way._* Maybe it's just that you can't afford to use it?
@@shuswapoutdoors Of course you're not, Pumpkin, but 48K miles and multiple thousands of hours over the last 8 years speak for themselves. It's *a* bike, kid, not multiple. You give it time, you'll grow up someday and have *well-informed* opinions... maybe you'll even get some Dyneema too.
I'm interested as to why your merino has all those holes in it, what sort of use it had, was it washed wrong or too frequently. I thought it was supposed to be quite durable...
Synthetic and wool same difference. I like the wool because it doesn’t stink as much. I use a synthetic next to my skin and a mid weight wool base layer on top, sometimes the other way around. I rather be wet with synthetics in the short term because wool takes forever to dry. Key is the wicking action of whatever material is closest to your skin as well as allowing that water vapor to escape . Wool is good for long static operations, synthetic for intense activity, knowing you’ll change them out at the end of the day.
Try linen on your skin. Wicks like NOTHING else and wool on top will pull the water out. Linen dries far quicker than anything else I’ve tried against the skin. Wool on top of linen has made me a believer.
Before you think I’m into that “holy garments” and “frequency of fabrics” nuttiness, I’m not at all, just something I came across by accident doing medieval reenactment.
I do both! But one winter on a week long backpacking trip. I was wearing thorlos synthetic. One morning at 12 deg f my feet were getting cold and numb with my lightweight Vasque boots. I switched to the new merinos I bought, and within a few minutes my feet were warm and comfortable. I wear merino socks everyday all year. I use a merino pullover and keeps me very comfortable. And no itching. Definitely not over rated for me...
Got 2 merino t-shirts last year. I wore one in summer on a 3 day hike. I wore the other one for sleeping in. I was minging when I got home, no shower for three days... the merino t-shirt... did not smell. Synthetic t-shirts, smelly after a 20min commute to work. I decided last week that I will slowly replace all my t-shirts and underwear to merino.
@shuswapoutdoors the 2 t-shirts are over a year old and looking like new. They're my go to. I do wash them less often, so maybe that's a contributing factor 🤔
I have tried merino and synthetics. At the end of the day, when accidents happen and you get soaked, wool keeps its heat retention much higher than synthetics. They have proven this in lab testing and not just felt experience. I have moved much of my wool base layer gear to alpaca or merino alpaca mixes. I hunt and back pack in north west Montana and survivability is as much an issue if not more than comfort. This is my base layer and mid, I wear synthetic blend outer layers with wind stop and DWR shells. To me it’s not an either or, it’s both, but where is it worn in what combos.
If you layer your merino properly and wear some of the high quality brands dry time is superior to synthetics. Also i have never had any problems with durability not even the ones i have been using in the military for years. Would never go to wearing 100 percent synthetics as a baselayer.
@@shuswapoutdoors not at all also synthetics have a hard time absorbing moisture in the vapor state wool can. Have you ever tried doing a wet hang dry test with wool and synthetic ?
@@shuswapoutdoorsif synthetics don’t absorb water then they wouldn’t get wet at all and they wouldn’t need drying at all. If its warm enough you will dry out whatever clothes you are wearing once the sun comes out. But you’ll freeze to death if you fall in a cold river before you have chance to dry out in synthetics.
I just got a Merino long sleeve shirt and an Alpaca Sun Hoodie. The hoodie seems to retain a wet dog smell even when dry. Although its pretty stout smell when wet. Have you had any issues with your wool gear smelling like wet dog when you get it wet or sweat?
I always wear a thin shirt next to my skin. Something that will wick the moisture away from my skin fast. Then I like to go with thicker fleece Overtop. I have a few different options depending on how cold it is. I like helly hansen, and Stanfields.
Interesting comparison and thanks for sharing ur view. I think several factors affect our choices, ie: preference, skin problem, cost, wearing purpose and etc. If I am going for 1 month ski trip, I will pick merino because I can bring less layer, reduce my changing & washing frequency and stinkless luggage. Hand wash in cold water really annoy me during winter time. If I am going to work, synthetic is best for me as it is less chunky and I can move around easily during my work. Recently my skin have some reaction / allergic to synthetic after covid, my suspicion goes to the vaccine that possible change my skin condition, but this is a wild guess. So I change my shirt back to merino (winter) and thin layer cotton (summer), since then no more red dot from my skin. I do agree with u that merino cost a fortune, but the convenience (less washing frequency), stinkless & odorless feature are the price I need to pay. If price is a problem (assume i got no skin allergic) , I will probably buy synthetic, wash and dry the shirt inside hostel everyday ... lol
Every synthetic i own/owned has burn holes and it wasnt from a big cherry or something. They just melted away into a huge hole. The smell is a bigger issue than you touched on, they flat out stink after just one outing!
First off, stop sitting so close to the fire. Secondly, who cares if you stink? You're in nature, I don't think the animals' minds. And by all the burn holes you have, you probably smell like smoke anyway! 😃
All I care about is what will keep me the warmest. I don't sweat much but I'm very cold-natured. Haven't been able to find the answer to this question yet.
There is an old saying. Pick the right tool for the job. In the outdoors your two most important tools are your brain and your clothing. A damp poly pro shirt will cool you off on a hot summer through evaporation. That a good thing on a hot day. On a cold day a wet poly pro shirt is going to cool you down by evaporation, that is not only a bad thing it can kill you. If your grandpa's wool shirt were scratchy it is because grandpa did not know how to soften a wool sweater or shirt. There reason they were scratchy was the garments did not have lanolin on the fabric. Google how to put lanolin on wool garments . A $10 jar of lanolin will make 24 sweaters or shirts soft and no longer scratchy. And will keep you as dry as sheep in the rain. Lanolin also is great on dry skin. Plastic shirts have one temperature. It does not have a high, medium, low range Wool does. In some cases, it can range from 5 to 15 F degrees. They are cool when it is hot and warm when is it cold because the natural fiber swell and shrink with the temperature. When wool is at 30% saturation, it can still retain 80% of its insolation value. Poly pro can't do that. It can be a matter of life and death with wet poly plastic against your body. If you are wearing clothing that does not breath you are going to end up with a fungus among us. Your layers need to breath. The wind can't blow the heat off your insolation layer you if you are wearing a wind proof outer layer. The outer layer is just like the wall of your house, they keep the wind from blowing all the heat away from the rooms. Depending on the activity my wind layer is either a very tight weave pullover wool anorak that lets vapor out but block the wind or a oversized synthetic wind shell that covers my Butt.
@@shuswapoutdoors 1- the wool fiber itself isn't a concoction of petroleum byproducts, so you are not inhaling plastic dust all day. 2- check out ARMADILLO MERINO USA 3- If the benefits are worth the effort, find any of the countless small mom-and-pop operations who care about sourcing their raw materials.
Merino or wool (for outer shirts and pants, jackets... are awesome. Some holes can be caused by cloth moth larvae or carpet beetle larvae. I forgot to wash and put in a drawer and found multiple holes next season !!(ugh).. Synthetic feels icky to me and can smell me 10' away.
150 for a shirt? Gotta go decathlon or something else brother. I bought a Chinese base layer for 30. Pretty darn good. But skill/knowledge trumps materials. I learned with someone to use one shirt under a windbreaker while sweating, and swap it out when I get to camp. One dry one sweaty shirt. Windbreaker/raincoat dries really quick. I think I learned this from Justin Outdoors? Changed my outdoors experience though. No puffy while exercising. Gotta be cold at first and exercise warms us up. Otherwise we sweat a lot, then remove a layer and we’re the sweat over-cools us, so we put it back on. Exhausting. Temps here don’t go bellow -5C, but I have gotten away with that technique so far.
Although there are special synthetics that’ll keep you warm when wet (from water or, most often, sweat), they are more costly and heavy weight than merino. And really, my experience is that there is nothing as good as wool to keep you warm when wet, relative to weight and price. Although it’s possibly that some other wool or hair may be better than merino. I know my father had camel hair (wool I suppose) underwear, that my grandfather found somewhere, when standing guard at the base wintertime when he served. He said not only did it keep him warm, but it also itched so much that it kept him awake too. Anyway… When out at sea during colder weather, whether wearing ordinary gore-tex clothing or under a drysuit, I wear merino underwear as the second layer. And third layer may be either heavyweight merino or ordinary wool. Or the special heavy weight synthetic underwear that comes with the drysuit (and that I haven’t payed for myself). First layer is either a very thin layer of moisture wicking synthetic underwear, or I got some “dual layer” synthetic-merino underwear especially designed for this purpose.
I think it is a bit overrated but it's still better, particularly for comfort and lack of smell. Just being able to wear the same clothes for days without reeking makes it worthwhile. Not sure what the hardcore mountaineer uses but for the casual hiker and motorbike tourer it's easily merino. Just watch out for moths in your closet.
I just cant stand the smell of synthetics. If you want stinky pits, go with synthetic! I've taken care of my merino clothes and they've lasted for years. Never gotten a single hole, except for a small thorn catch one time. HOWEVER, if you're using anything with an abrasive fabric, like a ruck, you're for sure going to want to wear something between the wool and the bag.
I like how it doesnt smell and is a bit fire retardant. Polyester just melts. Wools only downfall is it being a bit fragile and maybe the weight. As a base layer its a must for me. Socks, long johns, longsleeve, liner gloves, buff and watch cap are all wool in my lineup.
You know you have to hand wash or maybe in the washer with cold water and lay it flat to dry. It requires special care but it pays you back in that you're choosing natural over fake. Natural is healthy, hypoallergenic, and gives a positive charge rather than negative which you can feel in your heart.
I listen to people on the internet about how great merino wool is, so I bought two merino wool t-shirts from different companies. Felt good and comfortable and it was expensive. After a year my $160 dollar t-shirts self destructed with holes and the shirts were then of no use. Looking for something new in the way of low maintenance shirts for my trips.
@@shuswapoutdoors It because I often go to Africa with a lot of sun . I've tried a thousand synthetic t-shirts, but I haven't tried merino yet, but I haven't tried a t-shirt with merino wool. But I don't know what thickness it should have to travel under the African sun.
I like normal wool more then merino but for a base layer merino is better just because it's softer on the skin. Synthetics are good but they stink if you need to wear them long term without washing and they melt and burn easily when near fires.
I wore a merino top for the whole of the coved lockdown and I have 20 year old merino tops still as good as new so its clear all merino is not equal. The cheapest stuff Ive bought is still going strong after 20 years
Moths or poor washing habits caused the holes, not the fabric. I used one pair of 100% merino wool boxers almost every day for an entire year and washed them every 2-3 days (I use a bidet), trained in them, hiked in them, played sports in them and there wasn't a single tear in them. Don't have any reference as to how synthetics perform, but the 95% cotton ones that I used to wear before all got the hole down the middle after a year and that's maybe after 25 wears.
Merino wool socks kick ASS! I wear two pair everyday in summer and winter in my work boots. They are Darn Tough brand heavy and they are like walking on a cloud and cool in summer and warm in winter. Works for me!!
One of your cons on Merino wool is the cost. Its not the cost of the wool, its the cost of the name printed on it. There are affordable options out there that are just as effective.
For me personally I love to use alpaca wool. But I use the wool as a base layer or a mid layer. But I never order 100 percent wool, I like the combination of 80/20 tencel 20% and wool 80% or nylon 40% and wool 60%. Companies I recommend is Paka and Appalachian Gear company.
You’re out of your MIND! Sorry but man; I have used it all. I have arctryx and north face goretex thinsulant all of it. All types of clothing. I found some almost new Nordstrom quarter zips made of 100% wool. Let me tell you. Been thru a number of cold weather storms in Seattle working in landscaping and a large concrete and landscape gig I did alone in freezing rain. I was soaked but the wool dried faster than ANYTHING. Hands down. It never got heavy and saggy when soaked. And it never needed washed after a sweaty week in heavy rain. Buy it lightly used. Synthetics are CRAP. and if you are environmentally conscious you’d never buy synthetic crap.
Wool dried faster than synthetics? With BS statements like that, you lose all credibility. A synthetic fabric will always dry faster than a natural as the synthetic fibers don't absorb water.
Thank you.very thorough. If I have to wear synthetic, i wear merino underneath or especially Silk!![ Think Hawaiian shirts], just because it feels SO good, better on the skin! I can still thrift brand new wool and even cashmere on the cheap, becuz NoOne Knows!!!! Moreover, I'm just now learning that wool/ poly blends are the ticket!! By the click bait I thought this would be merino hate.😂 My raincoat is synthetic
All valid points. I still prefer merino though. I'm someone who has trouble with body temperature regulation, and merino definitely helps with that. Synthetics can make me overheat really easily. You also missed one important downside of synthetic underwear, which is that they can make you infertile. Something about the static electricity they generate zapping your swimmers. I know that sounds made up but it's real. There have been multiple studies on it. And another downside to synthetics is the fact that you're wearing a petroleum product/plastic, which to me just feels wrong. I think there's something to be said for how a piece of clothing affects you psychologically - how it makes you feel about yourself and your impact on the world.
Infertility because of synthetic underwear... next you're going to tell me that the earth is flat! Lol! Just joking with you. I guarantee that wearing petroleum based clothing isn't good for you, but at this stage, it's pretty hard to avoid plastics in every way. Thanks for watching!
You're not allowed to question merino wool you silly goose! I agree with you though, wool IS way overrated. It won't get you killed, but a lot of the accepted facts about wool are basically made up by the wool co-ops (big wool) and influencers to sell very expensive products. Like for one, merino wool is not a wicking fabric. Water beads up on the surface and doesn't soak in, that's literally the opposite of "wicking". How is this still a thing? Anyway, I find it's basically impossible to properly thermoregulate in wool, swinging wildly between overheating and shivering even as my activity level remains constant. Then since it basically never dries, the chill sets in hard when you rest. Not as hard as for cotton, but oh man it's not a lot better. I bought into the marketing hype hard and thought i just didn't go in hard enough when i wasn't seeing the benefits claimed. I just need more wool! Yeah i'm done with it lmao.
Beyond the expense , merino wool is worth every penny. Weather Wool, Duckworth to name a few have quality products that will never let you down. Weather Wools Anorak is the holy grail. Rain, sleet or snow and it will keep you comfy. Even in you fall into a lake. The Merino wool keeps me warm and doesn’t let me over heat. I do not find synthetics as versatile. So to each his own. But Merino wool is worth every penny.
Marino all the way for me is the best a long time ago. Of course Merino wool is not sufficient in itself, it is not a guarantee the best. The fabric and clothes production technology is also important. Merinos and good technology produces the best layers. It is not overrated. You have to pay for the Good things and worth the price I and my family tried and used several syntetic and Merino layers in the past for outdoor activities. Syntetic is not comparable to Merino performance. Merino is simply the best. Today we use only Merino.
Marino wool is the best Dress shirts Underwear Pants Dress socks T shirts Spring , summer, fall , winter. All year around I guess you don’t use it as a dress up items My wardrobe cost about 7,000 for my out fits not counting my suits
I'd never waste my m9ney on those. I wish natural fibers preformed as well as synthetics, but unfortunately they don't, especially on long backpack trips
Lol wool is warm wet or dry , cool in the summer and warm in the winter , i wear a merino wool 1/4 zip shirt everywhere on cool nights backpacking under a down stuff jacket . Absolutely hate synthetic
Did you know that Marino Wool 🦙 absorbs More than 30% of his own Weight on moisture 💦 Dit you know that Merino wool is the most absorbing 🧽 fabric of all the fabrics ? Fact. And last but not least did you know that when Marino wool, of any other Wool, when it's wet 💦. Regulating his moisture outside, even then you Still have it warm. Synthetic it's not breathable, it's sticky, it's sweaty, extremely flammable, en Totally Not taking moisture ,💦on. I would say,Stay warm and Cool use Marino Wool😊
Please disregard what this man has to say In the line trade it's the way to go as it doesn't melt. Also my decade in the trade dictates everything else is sub par. Do your own research and reviews what works for you works for you
This comment section is so mixed and controversial, I would personally be proud to stir up such a controversy over cloths. 485 to 654 is quite the poll number. lol
if those old wool shirts are just going to rott in your closer, im not ashamed to make my main goto clothes old used stretched out old clothes. send em my way, and ill give them another 4-5 years of use.
Some good points, 100% agree on durability/cost of merino when it comes to base layer bottoms. My tops last forever though. I buy new long Johns basically every year. Just bought 2 new pairs from MEC on sale 55% off. I personally don’t care about the weight thing, but to each their own. I prefer wool, and I think you missed a huge benefit of wool being how wide a temp range it seems to be comfortable in. A wool sweater doesn’t cook you out inside sitting by the fire or leave you cold when outside in the cold, synthetics don’t regulate your temp anywhere near as good.
@@shuswapoutdoorscould or couldn’t. If you could, why’s stop there. Shoot for the stars. Care even less. Don’t be mediocre in not caring. Do it w gusto. Get yourself to the point where you could not care less. Don’t do it half heartedly.
Well yeah merino won't be as durable as polyester or nylon. I think thats obvious but i don't like the idea of wearing plastic clothing. I'm a shit hits the fan preparation kind of guy so that's where my mind is usually at. I very much consider being inside a burning vehicle or burning building as the shit hitting the fan. Synthetics will melt onto your skin. That makes for some nasty wound care.
@shuswapoutdoors pants? I like the Big Bill stuff. C&C Sutlery make great wool pants also. They specialize in civil war reenactment clothing but they also do regular modern Wool clothing as well. For Underwear I like the minus33 stuff. Minus33 also makes nice all wool beanies that are not bulky so they fit good undera hard hat or combat kevkar helmet. For Tshirt long and short sleeve I like Woolly brand. For long sleeve button up shirts I like Pendleton or Wyoming Traders or Woolrich. For socks I like Darn tuff or SAMSOX or Hollow alpaca. So many choices on socks. Too many to list. All wool jackets I have are woolrich, LL BEAN and 2 other brands I can't remember. The department of defense do not allow soldiers to wear synthetic like under armor or Adidas climalite or North face etc because that shit melts.
@shuswapoutdoors I don't blame soldiers for wanting to wear under armor underwear in the 110° Iraq desert. That stuff is great for sweat mitigation but it makes for terrible wound care if your humvee gets blown up.
Montana. I’ve found it to be more comfortable over a wider range of temperatures than anything else I have tried. The lack of odor and not needing to be washed frequently is a big plus as well.
In the Norwegian Army there is a saying that goes something like «flis er for kalde amerikanere» basically “synthetics are for cold Americans” in Norway we use wool(not just merino) and mesh. We’ve been dealing with the cold for hundreds of years before the us was discovered. Synthetics are great, until you fall in a river or get hit with some ice rain. After that you will be begging for some wool. When US marines come to Norway to learn winter survival they usually borrow Norwegian gear after the under ice portion of training.
And who has the superior army? Lol 😆
@@shuswapoutdoors well id say there is a reason the Americans send their soldiers to Norway once a year to learn from us. Very few nations beat Norway, Sweden and Finland in winter combat. Definitely not the Americans.
US Marine here. I'm from the northern Midwest. Your winters are not any colder than ours (-40C). While your winters are longer, I learned my cold weather survival by virtue of living it. That said.... The youtuber that made this video is out of his mind. Merino Wool FTW!!!
@@jonvanwyk2026 i know you have some winter. Ive lived in the US, your winter some how feel warmer. I meant no disrespect to the marines tho, always fun to have you guys in town. I remember when I was a child and the marines would come to my small town in the north every year. Find memories.
@@shuswapoutdoors what a lame response. Grow up. Further more, go pick a random Army base to visit. Go look at our infantry units. Fat. Sick. These are not fit men ready to make war. Physical standards lowered to accommodate ‘inclusivity.’ Bet if you go to a Norwegian base you’ll see fit men who look like they are ready to make war, who have a sense of national pride and take their role seriously. I’m not happy about it, but superior? The only thing worse than being a smart aleck for the sake of being a smart aleck is being delusional and a smart aleck. Now let’s everyone pull out our dicks and wave them around for comparison’s sake like a bunch of sophisticated Starbucks clientele.
Marino all the way for me. I've tried them all in my 49 years of cycling, hiking, running, mountain climbing. Had some good synthetics but nothing ever comes close to Marino for me.
Can't stand it myself
@@shuswapoutdoors my only criticism with it is that’s is so expensive. I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you buddy 😊
Expensive and not durable.
No one asked@@shuswapoutdoors
@@colton5bucksyou don’t own merino. You got 5 bucks Colton, your a Hanes boy! 😂
At 70 and longtime outdoorsman, I feel both fabrics have a niche where they work best. Cold temps from 10 deg to -10 deg without a lot of physical work then wool is your friend as they say here in Colorado. And if your trip, hunt, adventure is shorter term wool has many benefits. In warmer temps ranging to cool and wet, then polyester shines. I've been in a steady rain all day at 45 deg, sopping wet, pulled my poly off, wrung it out, then kept moving to avoid danger. At 95 deg I've cycled across the American west with thin long sleeve 100% poly shirts and stayed cool, they dry in minutes. Sopping wet, 100% poly will dry on your body, you can wash it out at the end of a hose then hang it in a tree. I've even showered with polyester clothes on then dried out in the sun. Make sure your polyester clothes do not have any Spandex, Elastane, or Lycra because these fibers at 8-10% or more of the total will make the poly clothing hot and sticky, plus they dry slower. Nike and UnderArmor clothes often use Spandex, or Lycra for stretch. That is one reason why Patagonia wear is more expensive for their polyester clothing because they don't use stretch additives, they get the stretch from the weaving process. Another positive for wool, however, is the wider temp range that you feel comfortable. You can leave it on longer without peeling a layer, and push it colder without adding a layer. With polyester that wet/hot thing happens faster, and maybe it is a little more fuss with poly to keep your temp dialed. Absolutely agree with you on once wool is sopping wet, you might as well call it quits and head indoors if you can. Nice video, good stuff, happy trails!
5:04 5:12 5:23
5:04 5:12 5:23
5:04 5:12 5:23
Excellent points, could not have said it better. His point in the video are 100% valid and having said that I completely disagree with the title of his video.. for me my Merino 'investments' fit me perfectly, but there as so many variables and also personalities, likes, dislikes, preferences.. priorities... that's why both syntetics, blends, Merino sales are booming. Something for everyone, Vive le difference, that's why there's chocolate and vanilla 🙂
@@wherezthebeefonly one side is upset and it’s the merino wool fan club. Investment? You must be very new to the material. Expect to invest much more and very soon if you wear it regularly. It’s the most niche material I can think of and outside of that own thing it excels at its snake oil. That’s just factual when you put loyalty and feelings aside.
My merino wool long underwear definitely has a hole or two in em. However I can't handle the sweating with synthetic, at least for right on my skin - so sweaty. Socks are probably the most noticeable. Costco had an 80% merino wool base layer long sleeve shirt last year I picked up a few for 25$. I also like the synthetic sweater they get in the fall. It's 20-25$ and crazy warm - does the same thing as a Patagonia fleece which is almost 200$.
My recommendation is to shelve the old ones, buy new ones and then later use the old ones to patch holes in the new ones.
Lol...
@@TealJosh They're still wearable condition but yes I should probably pick up a new pair. I'll be sticking with wool myself.
It can be a it of a comfort issue next to skin, but something I'd rather deal with over the negatives of merino
I think unfortunately the lightweight merino is super fragile. I only buy 300 gram per meter merino anymore because anything less just doesn't last.
Merino wool saves my butt on longer trips, synthetic materials make my arm hairs itch and my face itch catching on the stubble, also actually gets smell free when I wash it. If synthetic works for you great but I simply can't do it. No reason for anyone to ever limit themselves to "the best material" use what suits yourself.
Wool is junk
Great video thanks for your input. Seems to be a common thing for backpackers to like the synthetics more. I’m new to hunting so I’ll be experimenting with both. So far my merino socks I tried today were amazing.
Thanks Drew. Darn tough Merino socks are the best!
I've never had any problems with Icebreaker merino wool,the only con is the durability, but all the pros negate that ,the only thing I don't like is Icebreaker seems to be getting away from the mostly merino content ,putting too much organic cotton or tencil in there product
I've found I need to store my wool in plastic or a bag if I'm not actively wearing it due to closet moths. They just love it! Since I started doing that, the little pin holes have stopped appearing.
Great tip!
They make mesh bags for them to store and keep fresh. Hard no air leads to other problems
You’re smarter than the average bear. But I guess they don’t tell you young folk things anymore. Any old timer knows you got to put your wool in sealed bags for storage.
The reason synthetic can feel like "wearing a plastic bag" is because it is plastic. Look up what polyester actually is and how it's made.
I do get you on the pros and cons, merino is expensive, low on durability and takes long to dry. It's also not as odor resistant as some claim. I need to was a shirt every other day or so, both my 100% and 70% shirts.
Merino is more environmental friendly compared to synthetic, has better body heat control and for me feels better on the skin than synthetic.
My 70% merino shirts from Decathlon dry quick and feel comfortable. I'm gonna do a bit of a stress test on them to see how long I can wear them without stinking. Hand wash drying is within a day so seems like it's the best of both worlds.
I guess we all have to make our decisions weighing our own pros and cons in the matter.
Thanks for the info
You guys with holes are you using wool safe detergents, and the prescribed amount? Excessive detergent literally eats fabrics within months of weekly washes. I also think there’s a lot to be said regarding the type of garments we are comparing. Thin under clothes vs light sweater. The famous timeless classic fisherman sweater is what I am head over heals for. I have a few and accumulate more as quality ones surface. Synthetic base layer undershirts and pants, with merino wool sweater and pants. You won’t ever need anything else outdoors. .
Another BS statement. Detergent eats away wool? Lol.
You have to check the enzymes in your detergent. Modern detergents have them, because you actually want to wash away/eat away the organic dirt. If the shirt is organic too, it can be slowly "eaten" by the enzymes.
I don’t use detergent to wash my laundry. Prob solved.
@@shanebrowning8862 Water doesn't dissolve oils, fats and the odours that go with them. But you do you, in many cases I agree that we use too much soap/detergents for washing and "hygiene".
I worked outside all my life and I never understood everyone's infatuation with wicking sweat. If you're sweating, you're doing it wrong. I always wore coveralls where I can open the side legs and let the air come in.. and I can even take off my coat and let my top breathe that way. Set a pace to what matches your clothing- and change your layers to match your pace. It's not difficult. You might feel like you're taking things off and on a lot-- but it works much better than being overdressed and sweating and then hoping that your space age clothing is going to fix your mistake and wick it away. It's just a strange concept to me... Another thing that really helps with regulating temperature and sweating, etc.. is a Neck Warmer.. basically just an open top beanie cap that you can slip down over your neck; as you get too hot, you can slip it up onto your head just like a normal beanie covering your ears, etc. and as that gets too hot, you can slip it back down to the neck: letting your head air out so that it doesn't sweat. Just learning to adjust your clothing along the way is the key; and because of that, I can make just about any material work as long as it doesn't feel like a trash bag and not breathing. So because of that, I tend to avoid polyester completely if I can; I'd rather have cotton and just make sure I watch my pace and never sweat-- and strip down as I said, when needed. I have some heavy sheepskin coats and also some old gortex coat that seems to do well........... but if you MUST go with all this fancy stuff-- get it on sale or from t3mu or aIixbpr3zz and you can get this stuff for nearly nothing.. I grabbed several 85% merino wool socks for under three dollars per pair... You dont' have to spend twenty five per pair and eighty dollar shirts to get good stuff.
Great info
I find synthetic layers best for when I'm carrying a pack and actually hiking. Take them off when camp is setup so they can dry and put on my merino layers for camp wear.
Good idea, but I never pack spare clothing
@@shuswapoutdoors understood. I'm finalizing gear for a March start AT thru hike. I want to make sure I have something warm and dry to put on at camp each night.
No, no it's not.
Oh yes it is ...
@shuswapoutdoors oh no, it isn't 😂
@@CB19087 Oh yes it is
@@dolorlux4612 🤭
I love merino wool, and have most of my base layers in a merino/silk mix. However, I've found I have to wear synthetics most often (we're in northern Sweden. Temps here last week got to minus thirty celsius, so we need to be warm) simply because the wool itches. I don't care how much the marketing claims it's itch free...for those of us with skin that wool seemingly hates, it isn't. Which is a shame as tbh, I don't like using synthetics. But I caved and use them with wool over the top as a mid or outer layer, rather than spend my days scratching like a flea bitten hound. :/
Lol, for sure! I wanted to love wool, but there are too many downsides for my liking. I've never had wool that makes me itch!
Wear cotton underwear
In norway don't they have Mesh? it's better than synthetic or wool
Interesting and valid point from your perspective and experiences. I've used both extensively and and hugely into Merino wool , mostly blends, it just works better for me. I think it's an individual preference and what works best after a fair test of both. I have friends who do much better with their synthetics, more comfortable for them and they have faith in their choice. Same for me and a few friends in the Merino camp. No. one benefit for me is temperature regulation and better when wet, for Merino.. as well as odor. That's huge for me but might not be as important for some. Tks. for the video, your points are valid. I'll stick with my Merino, I save my $$ and know total cost of ownership is more, worth it to me.
Great points! Thanks for sharing!
Synthetic is pretty awesome in the heat, keeping cool, wicking water away.
I do hate how it amplifies B.O., but washes and dries FAST.
Biggest fear is being caught in a house fire and now I have plastic melted into my flesh.
Thanks for that synthetic recommendation that decreases odor.
You'll have bigger things to worry about if your shirt is melted to your flesh.....
@@shuswapoutdoors LOL I had exactly that thought but got a chuckle out his 'biggest fear', LOL
I'm a career fire fighter, so I've heard this and seen this before, even with the clothing we wear under our gear, but once again, you're going to have way bigger problems than melted synthetics
I like that people like polyester it’s supports the oil patch, made with petroleum
Lol!
Synthetic holds body odor.
The one small downside
@@shuswapoutdoorsmassive downside good sir
Unbound Merino Wool is the best. I inves5ed in the Unbound Merino Wool Women's Capsule Wardrobe and I have invested in different pieces from Unbound Merino Wool. They carry alof of Men's clothes.
Never heard of it
My shirt from them had tons of holes in it
@@disneytoysr4fun975Did it really? What did you do about that?
I like this video. I don't agree with the conclusion but the points are fair and you bring up great points that I didn't consider. Excellent work!!
Cheers 🍻, and thanks for watching
It's great when the kids start voicing their _uninformed_ opinions. *"In wool garments, keratin acts as insulation for your body. Wool also continues to keep you warm even if it gets wet. Wool can soak up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. This means that wool can keep you warm even in the harshest climates."* Many synthetics retain some loft when wet but not as well as wool. Synthetics also allow bacteria to grow, so sweat and body oils, which build up inside synthetic fabrics will cause a literal stink. Now... go outside and play, kid.
I base my opinion on real-life experiences. You keyboard warriors need to step outside once in a while, and you might learn something. But thanks for watching!
@@shuswapoutdoors Son... I have wool sweaters older than you are that have seen use on 5 continents, and probably a wider variety of synthetic wicking garments also. And, I'm positive that I've been outside more than you have for the last 10 years... but you keep talking, you seem to love the sound of your own voice. Oh, and BTW I didn't watch the video, it's not necessary when the entire premise of the low-grade infomercial is wrong. Let me use the words of "real experts". *_Merino wool offers numerous advantages: It provides good insulation, transports moisture, and has anti-static properties; it doesn't itch, smell, or crease much; it is lightweight and keeps its shape. And it does all this in a completely natural and sustainable way._* Maybe it's just that you can't afford to use it?
Not sure if riding bikes on paved roads counts....
@@shuswapoutdoors Of course you're not, Pumpkin, but 48K miles and multiple thousands of hours over the last 8 years speak for themselves. It's *a* bike, kid, not multiple. You give it time, you'll grow up someday and have *well-informed* opinions... maybe you'll even get some Dyneema too.
LoL
İ want to try merino wool thermo shirts. Do they keep me warm if i have only a merinowool thermoshirt+ a tshirt on over it at 0-5 degree?
????
I'm interested as to why your merino has all those holes in it, what sort of use it had, was it washed wrong or too frequently. I thought it was supposed to be quite durable...
Washed only when needed and they are wear holes at the joints
Could it be you have holes in the wool because of moths? Maybe you should try using mothballs.
Nope, wear holes from use.
Ok just wanted to know. I hope I don't get holes.@@shuswapoutdoors
Mine from moths, the little bastards. Took out an expensive merino t-shirt :(
Synthetic and wool same difference. I like the wool because it doesn’t stink as much. I use a synthetic next to my skin and a mid weight wool base layer on top, sometimes the other way around. I rather be wet with synthetics in the short term because wool takes forever
to dry. Key is the wicking action of
whatever material is closest to
your skin as well as allowing that
water vapor to escape . Wool is
good for long static operations, synthetic for intense activity, knowing you’ll change them out at the end of the day.
Some great points John
Try linen on your skin. Wicks like NOTHING else and wool on top will pull the water out. Linen dries far quicker than anything else I’ve tried against the skin. Wool on top of linen has made me a believer.
Before you think I’m into that “holy garments” and “frequency of fabrics” nuttiness, I’m not at all, just something I came across by accident doing medieval reenactment.
Interesting. I’ll try that.
I do both! But one winter on a week long backpacking trip. I was wearing thorlos synthetic. One morning at 12 deg f my feet were getting cold and numb with my lightweight Vasque boots. I switched to the new merinos I bought, and within a few minutes my feet were warm and comfortable. I wear merino socks everyday all year. I use a merino pullover and keeps me very comfortable. And no itching. Definitely not over rated for me...
Socks are a different story. All I wear is darn tough merino socks. The best!
Got 2 merino t-shirts last year. I wore one in summer on a 3 day hike. I wore the other one for sleeping in. I was minging when I got home, no shower for three days... the merino t-shirt... did not smell. Synthetic t-shirts, smelly after a 20min commute to work. I decided last week that I will slowly replace all my t-shirts and underwear to merino.
I hope you've got deep pockets! They wear out surprisingly fast
@shuswapoutdoors the 2 t-shirts are over a year old and looking like new. They're my go to. I do wash them less often, so maybe that's a contributing factor 🤔
can anyone plz tell me which wool is great quality, i own 100% Alpaca wool sweaters & 100% merino. i find Alpaca more warm and soft,
And probably more durable too
I have tried merino and synthetics. At the end of the day, when accidents happen and you get soaked, wool keeps its heat retention much higher than synthetics. They have proven this in lab testing and not just felt experience. I have moved much of my wool base layer gear to alpaca or merino alpaca mixes. I hunt and back pack in north west Montana and survivability is as much an issue if not more than comfort. This is my base layer and mid, I wear synthetic blend outer layers with wind stop and DWR shells. To me it’s not an either or, it’s both, but where is it worn in what combos.
Good info
synthetic is gross
Meh
Fr it's literally plastic garbage
It’s really this simple.
If you layer your merino properly and wear some of the high quality brands dry time is superior to synthetics.
Also i have never had any problems with durability not even the ones i have been using in the military for years.
Would never go to wearing 100 percent synthetics as a baselayer.
It's impossible for merino to dry faster than synthetics. You loose all credibility when you say silly things....
@@shuswapoutdoors not at all also synthetics have a hard time absorbing moisture in the vapor state wool can.
Have you ever tried doing a wet hang dry test with wool and synthetic ?
I use real world tests. Synthetics will dry out 10x faster than wool from body heat alone as Synthetic fibers don't absorb water and wool does.
@@shuswapoutdoors must be some really shitty synthetic baselayers i have then 😂
@@shuswapoutdoorsif synthetics don’t absorb water then they wouldn’t get wet at all and they wouldn’t need drying at all. If its warm enough you will dry out whatever clothes you are wearing once the sun comes out. But you’ll freeze to death if you fall in a cold river before you have chance to dry out in synthetics.
What about cotton and hemp?
Also garbage in the mountains ⛰️
Why not blend them together 60/40!?
There are blends, but they can be pricey
I just got a Merino long sleeve shirt and an Alpaca Sun Hoodie. The hoodie seems to retain a wet dog smell even when dry. Although its pretty stout smell when wet. Have you had any issues with your wool gear smelling like wet dog when you get it wet or sweat?
Nope, I haven't had an issue like that. Have you washed it?
@@shuswapoutdoorsI did yeah. After wearing it for a while the smell faded. It’s still kinda there but hopefully after time it will be gone for good:)
That sucks. Never seen that before
It's wool. It came off an animal, it will smell a little when wet. Even when the wool is treated it will smell
I've never experienced that before
In the cold trekking, arctic condition synthetic and cotton is useless. Only wool.
Lol, go onto everest, all you'll find is synthetic base layers
I noticed my Merino Tech shirt has a hole after just one wear. What synthetic brands do you recommend for base and mid layer for extreme cold?
I always wear a thin shirt next to my skin. Something that will wick the moisture away from my skin fast. Then I like to go with thicker fleece Overtop. I have a few different options depending on how cold it is. I like helly hansen, and Stanfields.
Interesting comparison and thanks for sharing ur view.
I think several factors affect our choices, ie: preference, skin problem, cost, wearing purpose and etc.
If I am going for 1 month ski trip, I will pick merino because I can bring less layer, reduce my changing & washing frequency and stinkless luggage. Hand wash in cold water really annoy me during winter time.
If I am going to work, synthetic is best for me as it is less chunky and I can move around easily during my work.
Recently my skin have some reaction / allergic to synthetic after covid, my suspicion goes to the vaccine that possible change my skin condition, but this is a wild guess.
So I change my shirt back to merino (winter) and thin layer cotton (summer), since then no more red dot from my skin.
I do agree with u that merino cost a fortune, but the convenience (less washing frequency), stinkless & odorless feature are the price I need to pay.
If price is a problem (assume i got no skin allergic) , I will probably buy synthetic, wash and dry the shirt inside hostel everyday ... lol
Thanks for watching
I don’t like synthetic touching my skin. Long Live Merino Wool ✊🏽
Live strong
Every synthetic i own/owned has burn holes and it wasnt from a big cherry or something. They just melted away into a huge hole.
The smell is a bigger issue than you touched on, they flat out stink after just one outing!
First off, stop sitting so close to the fire. Secondly, who cares if you stink? You're in nature, I don't think the animals' minds. And by all the burn holes you have, you probably smell like smoke anyway! 😃
All I care about is what will keep me the warmest. I don't sweat much but I'm very cold-natured. Haven't been able to find the answer to this question yet.
Down....
There is an old saying. Pick the right tool for the job. In the outdoors your two most important tools are your brain and your clothing. A damp poly pro shirt will cool you off on a hot summer through evaporation. That a good thing on a hot day. On a cold day a wet poly pro shirt is going to cool you down by evaporation, that is not only a bad thing it can kill you. If your grandpa's wool shirt were scratchy it is because grandpa did not know how to soften a wool sweater or shirt. There reason they were scratchy was the garments did not have lanolin on the fabric. Google how to put lanolin on wool garments . A $10 jar of lanolin will make 24 sweaters or shirts soft and no longer scratchy. And will keep you as dry as sheep in the rain. Lanolin also is great on dry skin. Plastic shirts have one temperature. It does not have a high, medium, low range Wool does. In some cases, it can range from 5 to 15 F degrees. They are cool when it is hot and warm when is it cold because the natural fiber swell and shrink with the temperature. When wool is at 30% saturation, it can still retain 80% of its insolation value. Poly pro can't do that. It can be a matter of life and death with wet poly plastic against your body. If you are wearing clothing that does not breath you are going to end up with a fungus among us. Your layers need to breath. The wind can't blow the heat off your insolation layer you if you are wearing a wind proof outer layer. The outer layer is just like the wall of your house, they keep the wind from blowing all the heat away from the rooms. Depending on the activity my wind layer is either a very tight weave pullover wool anorak that lets vapor out but block the wind or a oversized synthetic wind shell that covers my Butt.
Good info
Synthetics win every time if your goal is not to avoid aerosal and transdermal toxins and carcinogens
Just like the chemicals they use to soften ad dye merino wool
@@shuswapoutdoors 1- the wool fiber itself isn't a concoction of petroleum byproducts, so you are not inhaling plastic dust all day.
2- check out ARMADILLO MERINO USA
3- If the benefits are worth the effort, find any of the countless small mom-and-pop operations who care about sourcing their raw materials.
It is absolutely not overrated.. best hunting stuff Iv ever used by a mile.
Absolute garbage for backpack hunting
I can't wait to see your rebuttal video....
Crickets....
Merino or wool (for outer shirts and pants, jackets... are awesome. Some holes can be caused by cloth moth larvae or carpet beetle larvae. I forgot to wash and put in a drawer and found multiple holes next season !!(ugh).. Synthetic feels icky to me and can smell me 10' away.
Not for me
Just simply hand-wash
Do these socks hold up? You’d think so
They are the best socks out there, and they will replace them with no hassle. I've done it multiple times and they have always sent me a new pair
150 for a shirt? Gotta go decathlon or something else brother. I bought a Chinese base layer for 30. Pretty darn good.
But skill/knowledge trumps materials. I learned with someone to use one shirt under a windbreaker while sweating, and swap it out when I get to camp. One dry one sweaty shirt. Windbreaker/raincoat dries really quick.
I think I learned this from Justin Outdoors? Changed my outdoors experience though.
No puffy while exercising. Gotta be cold at first and exercise warms us up. Otherwise we sweat a lot, then remove a layer and we’re the sweat over-cools us, so we put it back on. Exhausting.
Temps here don’t go bellow -5C, but I have gotten away with that technique so far.
Great info, and thanks for watching
Although there are special synthetics that’ll keep you warm when wet (from water or, most often, sweat), they are more costly and heavy weight than merino. And really, my experience is that there is nothing as good as wool to keep you warm when wet, relative to weight and price. Although it’s possibly that some other wool or hair may be better than merino. I know my father had camel hair (wool I suppose) underwear, that my grandfather found somewhere, when standing guard at the base wintertime when he served. He said not only did it keep him warm, but it also itched so much that it kept him awake too.
Anyway… When out at sea during colder weather, whether wearing ordinary gore-tex clothing or under a drysuit, I wear merino underwear as the second layer. And third layer may be either heavyweight merino or ordinary wool. Or the special heavy weight synthetic underwear that comes with the drysuit (and that I haven’t payed for myself). First layer is either a very thin layer of moisture wicking synthetic underwear, or I got some “dual layer” synthetic-merino underwear especially designed for this purpose.
Good info
I think it is a bit overrated but it's still better, particularly for comfort and lack of smell. Just being able to wear the same clothes for days without reeking makes it worthwhile. Not sure what the hardcore mountaineer uses but for the casual hiker and motorbike tourer it's easily merino. Just watch out for moths in your closet.
I guess for casuals it's OK. But if I'm on a 10 day backpack trip, I could really care less what I smell like. Usually campfire smoke
I just cant stand the smell of synthetics. If you want stinky pits, go with synthetic! I've taken care of my merino clothes and they've lasted for years. Never gotten a single hole, except for a small thorn catch one time. HOWEVER, if you're using anything with an abrasive fabric, like a ruck, you're for sure going to want to wear something between the wool and the bag.
Who cares about the smell. A very small downside
I like how it doesnt smell and is a bit fire retardant. Polyester just melts. Wools only downfall is it being a bit fragile and maybe the weight. As a base layer its a must for me. Socks, long johns, longsleeve, liner gloves, buff and watch cap are all wool in my lineup.
Socks and nothing else
the key isn't the word merino but how much wool is in it. I prefer wool.
Merino is so overrated
You know you have to hand wash or maybe in the washer with cold water and lay it flat to dry. It requires special care but it pays you back in that you're choosing natural over fake. Natural is healthy, hypoallergenic, and gives a positive charge rather than negative which you can feel in your heart.
Meh
I listen to people on the internet about how great merino wool is, so I bought two merino wool t-shirts from different companies. Felt good and comfortable and it was expensive. After a year my $160 dollar t-shirts self destructed with holes and the shirts were then of no use. Looking for something new in the way of low maintenance shirts for my trips.
I had the same experience. Feels great, but the durability isn't there, especially for the price
Front loader washing machine. Gentle cycle. I use Hex detergent as I have synthetics also. The hex really works to remove stink from synthetic.
i rather wear cotton than plastic. i hate the feeling of poly. you feel warm yet cold, its the most unnatural feeling ever.
That seems silly. But what's your goto cotton?
@@shuswapoutdoors brushed feels nice
For what - hiking, mountaineering or everyday use? Cotton is useless for intensive activities. It gets wet and cold.
JUST DO A COMBO OF 80% MELIRO AND 20% NYLON, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
That solves the drying the weight and the durability
Nope, the wool isn't going to magically dry faster because there are synthetics mixed in....
Is it possible to wear it in the middle of summer with over 30 °C? Thanks
Why would you?
@@shuswapoutdoors It because I often go to Africa with a lot of sun . I've tried a thousand synthetic t-shirts, but I haven't tried merino yet, but I haven't tried a t-shirt with merino wool. But I don't know what thickness it should have to travel under the African sun.
Have you looked at alpaca?
Nope
The scary part is when the alpaca looks back at you.😂
Conclustion: not worth it. Downvote and get a merino shirt. They are awesome
Lol
I like normal wool more then merino but for a base layer merino is better just because it's softer on the skin. Synthetics are good but they stink if you need to wear them long term without washing and they melt and burn easily when near fires.
I'm not worried about a little bit of stink from synthetics. Helps keep the bugs away....
I wore a merino top for the whole of the coved lockdown and I have 20 year old merino tops still as good as new so its clear all merino is not equal. The cheapest stuff Ive bought is still going strong after 20 years
Thanks for watching
What brand do you use that lasts that long?
Moths or poor washing habits caused the holes, not the fabric. I used one pair of 100% merino wool boxers almost every day for an entire year and washed them every 2-3 days (I use a bidet), trained in them, hiked in them, played sports in them and there wasn't a single tear in them. Don't have any reference as to how synthetics perform, but the 95% cotton ones that I used to wear before all got the hole down the middle after a year and that's maybe after 25 wears.
Please tell me how I washed holes into wool clothing?
@@shuswapoutdoors washing machine (even on wool settings the centrifugation isn’t good). Not drying it properly.
Please explain? How would it get hokes?
Any how would air drying cause holes?
What are your thoughts on an alpaca base layer for posting up in a treestand for whitetail in November?
If your stand hunting, wool/natural materials are fine
Merino wool socks kick ASS! I wear two pair everyday in summer and winter in my work boots. They are Darn Tough brand heavy and they are like walking on a cloud and cool in summer and warm in winter. Works for me!!
Darn tough are the best 👌 all I wear
One of your cons on Merino wool is the cost. Its not the cost of the wool, its the cost of the name printed on it. There are affordable options out there that are just as effective.
Yep
For me personally I love to use alpaca wool. But I use the wool as a base layer or a mid layer. But I never order 100 percent wool, I like the combination of 80/20 tencel 20% and wool 80% or nylon 40% and wool 60%. Companies I recommend is Paka and Appalachian Gear company.
Thanks for the info
You’re out of your MIND! Sorry but man; I have used it all. I have arctryx and north face goretex thinsulant all of it. All types of clothing. I found some almost new Nordstrom quarter zips made of 100% wool. Let me tell you. Been thru a number of cold weather storms in Seattle working in landscaping and a large concrete and landscape gig I did alone in freezing rain. I was soaked but the wool dried faster than ANYTHING. Hands down. It never got heavy and saggy when soaked. And it never needed washed after a sweaty week in heavy rain. Buy it lightly used. Synthetics are CRAP. and if you are environmentally conscious you’d never buy synthetic crap.
Wool dried faster than synthetics? With BS statements like that, you lose all credibility. A synthetic fabric will always dry faster than a natural as the synthetic fibers don't absorb water.
Thank you.very thorough. If I have to wear synthetic, i wear merino underneath or especially Silk!![ Think Hawaiian shirts], just because it feels SO good, better on the skin! I can still thrift brand new wool and even cashmere on the cheap, becuz NoOne Knows!!!! Moreover, I'm just now learning that wool/ poly blends are the ticket!! By the click bait I thought this would be merino hate.😂
My raincoat is synthetic
Good insight! Thanks for watching
All valid points. I still prefer merino though. I'm someone who has trouble with body temperature regulation, and merino definitely helps with that. Synthetics can make me overheat really easily. You also missed one important downside of synthetic underwear, which is that they can make you infertile. Something about the static electricity they generate zapping your swimmers. I know that sounds made up but it's real. There have been multiple studies on it. And another downside to synthetics is the fact that you're wearing a petroleum product/plastic, which to me just feels wrong. I think there's something to be said for how a piece of clothing affects you psychologically - how it makes you feel about yourself and your impact on the world.
Infertility because of synthetic underwear... next you're going to tell me that the earth is flat! Lol!
Just joking with you. I guarantee that wearing petroleum based clothing isn't good for you, but at this stage, it's pretty hard to avoid plastics in every way.
Thanks for watching!
You're not allowed to question merino wool you silly goose!
I agree with you though, wool IS way overrated. It won't get you killed, but a lot of the accepted facts about wool are basically made up by the wool co-ops (big wool) and influencers to sell very expensive products. Like for one, merino wool is not a wicking fabric. Water beads up on the surface and doesn't soak in, that's literally the opposite of "wicking". How is this still a thing?
Anyway, I find it's basically impossible to properly thermoregulate in wool, swinging wildly between overheating and shivering even as my activity level remains constant. Then since it basically never dries, the chill sets in hard when you rest. Not as hard as for cotton, but oh man it's not a lot better. I bought into the marketing hype hard and thought i just didn't go in hard enough when i wasn't seeing the benefits claimed. I just need more wool! Yeah i'm done with it lmao.
Lol, good info and thanks fr watching
Merino socks are the only kind I wear now, if you have sweaty feet try them
Darn tough merino socks are fantastic
Beyond the expense , merino wool is worth every penny. Weather Wool, Duckworth to name a few have quality products that will never let you down. Weather Wools Anorak is the holy grail. Rain, sleet or snow and it will keep you comfy. Even in you fall into a lake. The Merino wool keeps me warm and doesn’t let me over heat. I do not find synthetics as versatile. So to each his own. But Merino wool is worth every penny.
Thanks for the tips!
Marino all the way for me is the best a long time ago.
Of course Merino wool is not sufficient in itself, it is not a guarantee the best. The fabric and clothes production technology is also important.
Merinos and good technology produces the best layers.
It is not overrated. You have to pay for the Good things and worth the price
I and my family tried and used several syntetic and Merino layers in the past for outdoor activities. Syntetic is not comparable to Merino performance. Merino is simply the best.
Today we use only Merino.
Nah
Marino wool is the best
Dress shirts
Underwear
Pants
Dress socks
T shirts
Spring , summer, fall , winter.
All year around
I guess you don’t use it as a dress up items
My wardrobe cost about 7,000 for my out fits not counting my suits
I'm talking about outdoor clothing. Chasing animals around the mountains, fishing crisp gin clear streams, and bagging peaks. Stuff real men do. 😃
Words of a knitter, you could use visible mending for those holes.
I have, multiple times and they still wear in new holes. Not worth all the negatives of wool
Merino wool is 100% better than synthetics. Way more sustainable and less detrimental to your health
Sure, but the performance sucks!
How did you know lol that’s the brand I bought.
You got me with drum vs sheep 🐑 intro
Thanks
Couldn't disagree more. Pushed hard with many different tops over a lot of years and merino is my pick everytime.
For extended stays in wet areas, it's complete garbage
The stuff you have was made in a different time, the 90's are the best times. Companies made stuff to last.
Lol, first time I've heard of that. The 90s is the start of the disposable Era.
After seeing that title i kenw bro was gonna cook up the absolutel lowest IQ take ever.
😄 🤣
@@shuswapoutdoors but hey I'd like to see you compare merino to other fabrics like alpaca or possum and other things that aren't talked much about
I'd never waste my m9ney on those. I wish natural fibers preformed as well as synthetics, but unfortunately they don't, especially on long backpack trips
Lol wool is warm wet or dry , cool in the summer and warm in the winter , i wear a merino wool 1/4 zip shirt everywhere on cool nights backpacking under a down stuff jacket . Absolutely hate synthetic
Meh
Merino is totally worth it for me. Yes it’s expensive but I’ll keep it such a long time and wash less
Its overrated, overpriced garbage
@@shuswapoutdoors it’s worked great for me and the price is justified by the quality
Did you know that Marino Wool 🦙 absorbs More than 30% of his own Weight on moisture 💦
Dit you know that Merino wool is the most absorbing 🧽 fabric of all the fabrics ?
Fact.
And last but not least did you know that when Marino wool, of any other Wool, when it's wet 💦.
Regulating his moisture outside, even then you Still have it warm.
Synthetic it's not breathable, it's sticky, it's sweaty, extremely flammable, en Totally Not taking moisture ,💦on.
I would say,Stay warm and Cool use Marino Wool😊
And that's why merino wool takes 3 days to dry out. Complete garbage
@@shuswapoutdoors
When you're taking a shower with your Marino wool shirt on.
Exactly
otherwise not..
Rain, snow, sweat. Merino wool takes forever to dry
Please disregard what this man has to say
In the line trade it's the way to go as it doesn't melt. Also my decade in the trade dictates everything else is sub par.
Do your own research and reviews what works for you works for you
What? You make zero sense
You promote synthetic, toxic polyester ?
Yes, I'm backed by Big plastic
Merino wool is warm, has high frequencie and heals
Also cures cancer! Lol
This comment section is so mixed and controversial, I would personally be proud to stir up such a controversy over cloths. 485 to 654 is quite the poll number. lol
I think it's great 👍
@@shuswapoutdoors No matter how you look at it, it caused a lot of engagement.
Yep! I'm actually surprised at how many people watch this video. After I made it I didn't like it and I was going to delete it
if those old wool shirts are just going to rott in your closer, im not ashamed to make my main goto clothes old used stretched out old clothes.
send em my way, and ill give them another 4-5 years of use.
They are trash, but maybe between 4 of them, you could make yourself a full 👕. Thanks for watching
Rambouillet wool, on a jacquard loom, is top dog, start with that fabric and go from there.
I'll pass thanks
@@shuswapoutdoors yw, have a good weekend.
You too!
Some good points, 100% agree on durability/cost of merino when it comes to base layer bottoms. My tops last forever though. I buy new long Johns basically every year. Just bought 2 new pairs from MEC on sale 55% off. I personally don’t care about the weight thing, but to each their own.
I prefer wool, and I think you missed a huge benefit of wool being how wide a temp range it seems to be comfortable in. A wool sweater doesn’t cook you out inside sitting by the fire or leave you cold when outside in the cold, synthetics don’t regulate your temp anywhere near as good.
I don't find that wool is better than synthetics for comfort over a wider range of Temps...
YALL DUMB... ITS ALL ABOUT ALPACA YOU NPCS
Lol
Linen on your skin, wool on top of that. You can thank me later. 😉
Not a chance! Complete garbage! Lol
Outstanding
Cheers
If you have holes in your wool, it means you have moths in your wardrobe.😅
Wear holes....
Theres a bear behind you, look out!
Thanks!
It was a good video in all seriousness 🙂@@shuswapoutdoors
Synthetic is just gummy as a base layer. And it is stanky. And I’m not a smelly feller.
I could care less if I stink if I'm camping....
@@shuswapoutdoorscould or couldn’t. If you could, why’s stop there. Shoot for the stars. Care even less. Don’t be mediocre in not caring. Do it w gusto. Get yourself to the point where you could not care less. Don’t do it half heartedly.
What?
This guy loves big polyester.
Lol, I'm a polyester lobbiest!
this dude looks like cameron from ferris bueller's day off
I'll take that as a compliment 😉
Well yeah merino won't be as durable as polyester or nylon. I think thats obvious but i don't like the idea of wearing plastic clothing.
I'm a shit hits the fan preparation kind of guy so that's where my mind is usually at. I very much consider being inside a burning vehicle or burning building as the shit hitting the fan. Synthetics will melt onto your skin. That makes for some nasty wound care.
If your plastic shirt is melting to your skin, you've got way bigger problems than that.. ..
@@shuswapoutdoors that's why I wear only wool in the winter and cotton in the summer. They don't melt so it's not an issue.
What's your favorite brands?
@shuswapoutdoors pants? I like the Big Bill stuff. C&C Sutlery make great wool pants also. They specialize in civil war reenactment clothing but they also do regular modern Wool clothing as well.
For Underwear I like the minus33 stuff. Minus33 also makes nice all wool beanies that are not bulky so they fit good undera hard hat or combat kevkar helmet. For Tshirt long and short sleeve I like Woolly brand. For long sleeve button up shirts I like Pendleton or Wyoming Traders or Woolrich. For socks I like Darn tuff or SAMSOX or Hollow alpaca. So many choices on socks. Too many to list. All wool jackets I have are woolrich, LL BEAN and 2 other brands I can't remember.
The department of defense do not allow soldiers to wear synthetic like under armor or Adidas climalite or North face etc because that shit melts.
@shuswapoutdoors I don't blame soldiers for wanting to wear under armor underwear in the 110° Iraq desert. That stuff is great for sweat mitigation but it makes for terrible wound care if your humvee gets blown up.
For where I live, wool is king.
Where may this be?
Montana. I’ve found it to be more comfortable over a wider range of temperatures than anything else I have tried. The lack of odor and not needing to be washed frequently is a big plus as well.
If you want to Stink on the trail then go Synthetic...simples
Wrong
So wrong about Merino Wool. Very misleading to your audience.
How so? I can't wait to watch your rebuttal video