Wool blanket or synthetic fleece blanket

[Robson Valley]

We have lots of forest and no people. A couple dozen spruce or fir branches have no ecological cost.
When you're done, make a pile of them. Under deep snow, that becomes small animal habitat.

We have a third choice, called a "thermal" blanket. Looks quite ordinary, synthetic, but a very coarse weave.
One, maybe double thickness, is very warm.

I have 2 synthetic fleece blankets on my bed ( I sleep cold). Two thermal blankets would be warmer.

 

[sunndog]

I was quite tempted by that northpoint down throw - until i read the description closer, 'down alternative'. I've been looking for a cheap down throw for awhile [since I saw the black diamond one folks in the states were using - apparently you could get if from costco - but seems to be discontinued.]

Costco only have them in now and then. I did get one last year and they make a cracking summer TQ or extra layer in winter

 

[Mowmow]

I just thought i'd cast my vote in for the wool blanket and just say why I choose wool every time.

I'd say theres only a few cons to using wool.
-Dry time when fully saturated.

-Weight (especially when soaking wet)

-Bulk.

Pros
- breathes better than plastic even in tighter weaves.

- wicks moisture away from the body.

- will burn but takes more effort and it smoulders rather than melts on you compared to plastic.

- naturally water resistant.

- takes a lot of moisture before it will become fully saturated and thus even when wet it takes a lot for it to feel wet (so remains comfortable).

- when dry it's very durable.

- due to its breathability it does dry quite nicely as long as it's not fully saturated.

- slightly antibacterial (takes a lot to get smelly).

- cleans itself (just air it out n give it a good shake).

- it seems to be warmer when slightly damp so i wonder if this is where the whole "wool is warm when wet" thing came from. I can safely say if you get soaking wet, you will be cold whatever you wear although you will probably be "warmer" in wool because of it's loftiness and wicking properties.

If your sleeping gear gets wet you wanna be asking your self why.

Personally i've not found wool to take that long to dry really as it takes so long for it to get properly wet. I wear a wool coat at work (outside) year round and there's only been once where it was wet the next day after hanging it up on my coat peg. It was wearable though!

You can also buy wool treatments which you can increase or upkeep the amount of natural oils in the wool which act as a brilliant DWR.

Also it has less of an effect on the environment than plastic

As you can probably tell wool is the material of choice for me. For clothing and sleeping gear. It suits me well for what I get up to. I feel like i've missed a couple more points on the pros list but i'll have to have a think.

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[Nice65]

Absolutely, and don't underestimate the problem with fibres from fleece. Sorry, I bung these links everywhere, but I think it's important.

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads

Plastic textile production needs a huge rethink and more education. It wasn't too long ago we were all wearing fleece products because they were seen as cool, clean, and for the greenies, often made from recycled carrier bags and bottles.

 

[Yeoman13]

I have a Hudson Bay Company 6 point blanket. It’s heavier than my -20C hybrid sleeping bag. It packs at about the same volume. It’s not in anyway nearly warm enough on its own for much less than 10C. It’s more than twice as heavy as a Canadian Forces Wool blanket but has 3-4 times the loft.
I have a double sized fleece at about a 1/5 or 1/6 the weight and less than a 1/4 volume packed.
For a kayak trip, when volume trumps all, wool really isn’t appropriate. Issues of fire retardancy are moot if augmenting a sleeping bag since the sleeping bag is exposed to the same. Fleece has about the same insulation as wool when damp (neither insulate well when soaked). The key is that it can be wrung out to be almost dry and it can be dried out in a mere fraction of the time of wool (hours versus days).
Fleece and odour issues are mostly a thing of the past with new fibre design.
If used to augment a sleeping bag, I’d recommend doubling it over and putting it over you inside the bag not out, as it will not stay put without hook and fastener or tape.
As for wool blankets, I think they have their place, but I’ve had the most comfort from them by using them as a sleeping pad.


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[KenThis]

Personal preference is wool.
Best ways to keep warm when camping.
Stay dry and well fed.
Make sure plenty of insulation under you.
Decent sleeping bag/blanket.
Shelter from elements.
I mostly car camp so weight/bulk is not an issue but I have found that adding extra layers makes a big difference to staying warm all night.
Long johns or equivalent are great as long as they wick.
Wool socks and gloves and scarf and hat.
Wool blanket inside a sleeping bag next to me.
I have to say though I just really like the weight and feel of wool. I even have a wool blanket on my bed under my duvet.

 

[bigjackbrass]

Personally I wouldn't choose fleece over wool in general, but I would consider a synthetic insulated blanket. Lighter, durable, more compressible than either fleece or wool and dries dramatically more quickly than wool if soaked.

They share many drawbacks with synthetic fleece - lack of fire resistance, for example - but for pure insulating performance and convenience the latest synthetic fills are streets ahead of where they were even a few years ago. The biggest issue is probably cost, as some commercially available products are insanely expensive: buying some Climashield Apex and sewing up a simple blanket yourself is a better option.

Whether it's better than wool, though...

 

[Lacijag1]

I had tried both fleece and wool as well.
For me the fleece just works 100 times better than the wool. Mainly because the fleece is lighter and takes less space in the rucksack than the wool blanket.
I never was interested in sitting out in the rain with the wool blanket on me, so it really does not matter to me what others say about the wool blanket keeps the heat even if it's wet. I like my blanket dry.
I made a sleeping bag from my fleece blanket and I put it in to my normal sleeping bag. That way I don't have to worry about how much less fire resistant it is than a wool blanket. It is never near fire.
What matters to me that is the fleece is lighter and smaller in the rucksack than the wool blanket. That is why I prefer fleece over wool.

 

[Alreetmiowdmuka]

I have a small wool blanket for he exact same reason the op describes.throw it over my sleeping bag at night or wrap it round my shoulders while making my morning brew.
Highland Tartan Tweeds Scottish 100% Wool Rug Blanket A00175: Stewart Muted Blue https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GF17S12/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yqvsAbZZ3WK4Q


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[nightstorm]

I have done a lot of reading about wool blankets over the past few weeks and I can't really see a difference between a 100% ( or high content) natural wool blanket and a fleece blanket apart from the fleece is lighter and the wool has some fire resistance.
I'm going on a 3 day kayaking trip early October so I could do with an extra layer on top of my sleeping bag and was thinking that I could carry 2 big fleece blankets for the same weight as a large wool blanket.
Is this the way forward or am I missing something ?

No question. Wool first choice everytime. Wool is like water, you never grudge the weight of it in your kit. When wet it will still keep you warm and it's not as dificult to dry out as some inexperienced commenters on here are suggesting. Wool is also more durable, environmentally friendly and by far more comfortable and more pleasing to use than any synthetic. Wool provides a feel-good factor that synthetics cannot come even close to match. There is no substitute for wool. Wool with a silk liner and you've got the best of kit. Forget synthetics. Throw synthetics away. Better still, don't buy them in the first place. - Nightstorm