Outhaus Merino blankets?

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Hootch

Full Member
Aug 19, 2015
49
6
Scotland
I'm thinking of investing in one of these - not 100% wool but 80% merino seems good enough to me. Not sure whether that wool content is true or not. Does anyone have any experience?
 

Thoth

Nomad
Aug 5, 2008
343
29
Hertford, Hertfordshire
I don't own one but looked at one at the Bushcraft Store on Wednesday morning. I thought they were a bit thin, and the label didn't identify what the non-wool fibers were. They didn't feel very cozy to me. But first impressions aren't everything. So we still need a review from someone who has actually used one!
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,665
McBride, BC
I believe that the fiber blends maintain their loft better than pure wool and thus their insulative property.
Thickness might not be a useful measure of function.

I buy Hudson's Bay Company signature wool blankets, queen-sized and milled in England, for wedding presents.
They are not at all cheap but their appearance is stunning. I'll buy mixes for myself.
 
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Hootch

Full Member
Aug 19, 2015
49
6
Scotland
Maybe thinner/denser wool also packs down smaller? The blankets we use on the beds at home are thick and soft but would probably fill a rucksack. I'm tempted to try one of the Outhaus ones.
 

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
Re density: Years ago I picked up a bunch of (8) Swiss Army blankets, Brown ones with a red band and a white cross, plus someones name stitched in and a small, round aluminium plate with a number on it.

Some were denser and thinner than the others ... they don't get used, at least not as first choice. The thicker, puffier, lighter feeling ones work great. I haven't been able to find out why some were thinner than others, and (also) they were bought in a couple of batches. I thought maybe washing had done them in, perhaps.
 
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daveO

Native
Jun 22, 2009
1,454
514
South Wales
They do look good but that is a bit pricey for a wool blanket IMO - at least the Outhaus ones are 80% merino.
Definitely too pricey for me sadly. They don't seem to want to show off the hardware for the leather straps either which seemed odd. I wasn't sure if they were double layered either though which might add to the price.
 

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
Yes, this is probably going to turn more technical than I can handle, but there is a number of things playing off against each other here. Density vs 1) breathability vs 2) weight vs 3) ability to trap air etc.

Merino baselayering is tricky. The ones I have at 150gsm and 250gsm, when you look at them under a glass the number of stitches per inch seems to be the same, but the wool seems thicker. So, the thickness is produced by the dimension of the wool, not the density of the stitches.

When I look at the Swiss army blankets, it seems that, somehow, the wool has lost its fluffiness in the thinner, cooler feeling ones. They don't weigh any more or less than the other, more pneumatic ones; they just feel heavier, drape differently ... bit like when the cat is too warm
 
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Barney Rubble

Settler
Sep 16, 2013
553
283
Rochester, Kent
youtube.com
I'm thinking of investing in one of these - not 100% wool but 80% merino seems good enough to me. Not sure whether that wool content is true or not. Does anyone have any experience?
I have one of these and am very happy with the quality of the blanket, it's a nice tight weave. I like that its quite a large blanket(230x160cm) as you can really wrap yourself up in it. Being merino it is also a lot more compact than your traditional wool blankets and therefore much easier to pack into your bergen.
£55 may seem pricey, but it's good quality, it's brand new (i.e. Not surplus!) and also comes with a nice leather carrying strap.
I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
 

matarius777

Nomad
Aug 29, 2019
251
87
59
Lancaster
Does anybody know the weight of the outhaus blankets? I’m very near to pulling the trigger on an original Swiss Army blanket, but weighing up the opposition, as it were.
 

Tiley

Life Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,364
374
60
Gloucestershire
Although not merino wool, Ben Orford has some nice looking blankets available. British-made and 100% wool - they might tick a box...
 

Terry.m.

Forager
Dec 2, 2014
214
26
Kent
Does anybody know the weight of the outhaus blankets? I’m very near to pulling the trigger on an original Swiss Army blanket, but weighing up the opposition, as it were.

I have an original Swiss one and nothing is warmer IMO and I have a few.


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Allans865

Full Member
Nov 17, 2016
470
196
East Kilbride
Does anybody know the weight of the outhaus blankets? I’m very near to pulling the trigger on an original Swiss Army blanket, but weighing up the opposition, as it were.
Hi Matarius,

I have one of these blankets and I am very happy with it.

The weight of it is 1.74 kg.

I have plenty of experience with wool blankets being ex British Army, and these are of far superior quality than any other ones that I have come across over the years.

I have also washed it in the washing machine on a wool cycle and hung it out on the washing line to dry naturally, which has lofted up the fibres a bit more and improved the warmth.

Here is a photo of the label on the blanket
de42a3cda5ec0fe4c19533187433220b.jpg


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