Thermals wool?

[tommy the cat]

Well have been looking at my kit and adjusting and junking bits of gear that are getting worn out etc. Tried a few diff thermals British army, chepos etc but was thinking on the lines of wool . So which manufacturers would you recommend?
Also what weight? Also what blend etc? Seen some HH Merino wool but didn't give out what exactly it was made out of (special blend doesn't cut it for me.)
Finally is wool as good for cold weather but high energy activities? Ie wicking etc.
Many thanks Dave

 

[andy_e]

A lot of people here, including myself swear by Ullfrotte which is a wool/polyamide blend. 200g is a good base layer, if it's really cold I'll stick a 400g top over them. Wicks really well, and stays warm when damp from rain or sweat. I tend not to overheat in wool, something about its natural thermo-regulating properties perhaps.

 

[Shewie]

Ullfrotte rocks, and reduced on Woodlore at the moment.


Rich

 

[TallMikeM]

M&S wool mix baselayers are very good, and excellent value as well.

 

[Aliwren]

Icebreaker is really good kit not cheap but worth the money, available at many outdoor shops.

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/index.html

 

[BorderReiver]

Icebreaker is really good kit not cheap but worth the money, available at many outdoor shops.

http://www.icebreaker.com/site/index.html

Yep,magic stuff.Pure wool,no synthetics.

 

[TallMikeM]

Me and mrs m got a load of craghoppers all merino base layer tops last year when they had a half price promotion. The only problem with it is that it's not machine washable (unless your machine has a hand wash cycle). Mind you, being wool does mean you can wear it for quite a while between washes and not have enviromental health called

 

[BorderReiver]

Icebreakers merino vests are machine washable (at 40')

 

[Dougster]

Chocolatefish. Affordable.

 

[big_swede]

I use devold. Good stuff, specially their 'expidition' models. A bit on the expensive side though.

 

[gregorach]

Pure merino rules all - and mine doesn't seem to mind machine washing. Better wicking, more comfortable, less stinky - I'd say it's by far the best baselayer material, and "best" is a word I usually shy away from. A good really cheap alternative are the Italian surplus woollen baselayers Endicott's have (or at least did have, dunno if their still around). They were a wee bit itchy at first, but fine after a few washes.

If it's the HH Lifa ProWool stuff you're looking at, it's 55% polypropylene, 36% wool and 9% nylon (or mine is, anyway). Good stuff but I don't think it's as good as pure merino.

 

[EdS]

Howies or Choclatefish - both better than Icebreaker and both still made in NZ rather than on a big Chinese production line.

 

[tommy the cat]

Thanks for that, better hit the plastic again! D

 

[Dougster]

That Endicotts Italian job is good, but it ain't merino and it's reflected in the price.