Why not all wool?

[Toddy]

Linen is a very different fabric from cotton, while cotton stays wet, cold and clammy linen dries, it's a long staple fibre not short. It breathes and works with the wool not keeping it wet.

Personally I wear silk, then linen, then wool if it's cold, and just linen and wool other wise when out and about.
If the wool is left in the grease (which can be added after washing, and doesn't stink ) it is a brilliant fabric even when it's really wet. The problems only really come when sodden wet wool, and that can take a lot of doing, gets frozen. And that's not all that likely in the UK most of the time.

Layers; definitely the way to go.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Graham_S]

I like wool.
I use merino baselayers when I'm working, (last time was in the South Atlantic in winter, south of the Falkland Islands) I find I am warmer in it than synthetics.
The synthetics only seem to work when you're still moving. The merino keeps me warm all the time, even when I'm standing still.
warmth/weight, it's no contest. My snugpack jacket is lighter, more compact, and warmer than my swannie, but it's horses for courses.
Look at the recreation of the 1920s mountaineering gear. the layered natural fibers performance in many ways exceeded the performance of modern synthetics.

I'll be out in the woods tomorrow, I won't be wearing synthetic fabrics when I go.

 

[Shinken]

If it's good enough for sheep, who spend all there lives out in the elements then it should be good enough for us

 

[mark a.]

Look at the recreation of the 1920s mountaineering gear. the layered natural fibers performance in many ways exceeded the performance of modern synthetics.

Do you have any links to that? I vaguely remember reading about that but can't remember. I was thinking about it the other day and would like to find out more!

Cheers also to Toddy about the linen info - I'd always gave it a mix because "it's a bit like cotton".

 

[Toddy]

Too often folks just think of linen like tablecovers Actually, you might be able to source hemp or ramie (nettle) clothing more cheaply than linen because they're widely used in less industrialised societies and is used for Ethnic shirts and the like.....and they both work like linen rather than cotton

cheers,
Toddy-

 

[Tengu]

and lanolins so good for your skin

 

[locum76]

and lanolins so good for your skin

but unfortunately it is a fairly common allergen. hence why some folk couldn't ever wear wool at all. (poor souls).

 

[Bushcrafter1]

Do you have any links to that? I vaguely remember reading about that but can't remember. I was thinking about it the other day and would like to find out more!

Cheers also to Toddy about the linen info - I'd always gave it a mix because "it's a bit like cotton".

The project is here http://www.derby.ac.uk/press-office/news/george-mallorys-everest-clothes-learning-from-the-past and there's a pic here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5076634.stm

 

[xylaria]

Too often folks just think of linen like tablecovers Actually, you might be able to source hemp or ramie (nettle) clothing more cheaply than linen because they're widely used in less industrialised societies and is used for Ethnic shirts and the like.....and they both work like linen rather than cotton

cheers,
Toddy-

Asian fabric shops often sell fine shirt grade linen much cheaper than other suppliers.

 

[Toddy]

Oh excellent find :You_Rock_
I think this may be the guy known as Trader Ali at the Re-enactment Fayres, he dresses up as a Medieval Arab trader and sells wool, silks, linen and cotton

Very good price for linen there ......

cheers,
Toddy

p.s. Just checked, and it doesn't seem to be the same person after all. Trader Ali's real life company is Herts Fabrics
http://www.hertsfabrics.co.uk/
still sells linen and wool though..... and so does Bernie the Bolt
http://www.calltoarms.com/bolt/index.html
I suspect the link Xylaria found works out a bit cheaper though.
No connections to any of the three, just happy to add to the suppliers roll call.

 

[mark a.]

The project is here http://www.derby.ac.uk/press-office/news/george-mallorys-everest-clothes-learning-from-the-past and there's a pic here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5076634.stm

Thanks very much!