Anyone use wool blankets?

For the past few years I have been using Filsons, in addition to some old military blankets. Both my wife and I have found that putting them under yourself, as well as over, works better.
 
Honestly the quality seems a little better? The edges are finished better. The moth ball smell only took 3 hours to cook off vs. Some people leaving the Italian stuff out for days and still having trouble with it stinking to high heaven.. The Swedish blankets are new and un- issued condition so less chances of holes and so on. Haven't compared them on weight but about the same. Maybe a little heavier on the Swedish. Also it is roughly $8-10 more for the Swedish. Just my .02
 
I must've been doing it wrong, because every time I tried the old mountain man style of camping, I froze my ass off (dipping into the high 30s at night).

I'd much rather use my down bag in those temps. It also squishes down to a loaf of bread size.

Price is another thing entirely.
 
Thanks Sportsmanpride for replying back on the Swedish blanket.

PB Wilson, that’s why I say everyone should try it out for themselves. There was a thread on BushcraftUSA about 2 months ago with a lot of responses. A lot of people get cold in the mid fifties and the rest like me get cold around 50 degrees. That’s not to say that someone can not get into the low 40’s, but they are unique and must run really hot or are wearing a lot of clothes. Generally, Mountain Men used the wool blankets with a fire and a shelter that allowed them to have the heat radiate back to them from the fire.

I like sleeping with my wool blanket in mild weather, but for me (and I do run hot myself) I get cold around 50 degrees.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
PB Wilson said:
I must've been doing it wrong, because every time I tried the old mountain man style of camping, I froze my ass off (dipping into the high 30s at night).

I'd much rather use my down bag in those temps. It also squishes down to a loaf of bread size.

Price is another thing entirely.
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Probably wrong. When doing this style of sleeping there are alot of factors to take in. I worked as a backpacking guide for a long while and learned lots of tricks. Be sure to NEVER sleep directly on the ground. Even if you are using something as simple as old dry pine needles then always lay a bed down at least 4" thick. another technique is the coal bed style of sleeping. Dig out a shallow area 12-16" wide and as long as you are. Then transfer coals from your fire or burn some smaller wood and let it burn down to coals and then cover with a couple inches of dirt. This will keep you very toasty. Next is the upper area of insulation. Again this can be as simple as pine needles or you can also use ripstop tarp/space blanket or the like to help keep thermal loss from wind down.If done right a wool blanket can work down to the 20-30 degree range no problem.
 
I used to do a lot of camping with 2 USN issue wool blankets wrapped in a 6x8 oilskin tarp -- very similar to the duluth pack bedroll, only not as refined.
this combo kept me comfortable through a February sleet storm once, so I was pretty happy with the performance.
 
I use a wool blanket all the time when hunting. If I'm going to be sitting for any length of time, a nice thick wool blanket wrapped around makes lots of difference.

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Oh and comfie slippers FTW.
 
While it may be expensive, my Hunson Bay point blanket is mighty war.
 
I generally have a couple wool blankets with me when we car camp. If it feels a little cold, I'll put one over top of my sleeping bag. I don't like to be cold at night.
 
scotsmanspride said:
Probably wrong. When doing this style of sleeping there are alot of factors to take in. I worked as a backpacking guide for a long while and learned lots of tricks. Be sure to NEVER sleep directly on the ground. Even if you are using something as simple as old dry pine needles then always lay a bed down at least 4" thick. another technique is the coal bed style of sleeping. Dig out a shallow area 12-16" wide and as long as you are. Then transfer coals from your fire or burn some smaller wood and let it burn down to coals and then cover with a couple inches of dirt. This will keep you very toasty. Next is the upper area of insulation. Again this can be as simple as pine needles or you can also use ripstop tarp/space blanket or the like to help keep thermal loss from wind down.If done right a wool blanket can work down to the 20-30 degree range no problem.
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I had a Thermarest Z-Rest pad underneath me because I recall all too well how cold the ground can be from my boy scout days where nobody knew better. I would have loved to do the Jeremiah Johnson coal bed method (without the burned rear end) but where I was camping, it wouldn't have been looked on too kindly. Too much disturbance of the ground to keep a leave no trace kind of trip.

I'm glad it works for others. Wool is an amazing thing and I have a great wool jacket that I love to wear in the outdoors. It shrugs off sparks, sheds water just fine and keeps me comfortable in an amazingly wide range of conditions.
 
C Bryant said:
I have not used a wool blanket, but I wear/use a wool pull over hooded shirt. I have slept in it when temps got chilly. Makes a great insulating layer. I LOVE the pullover.
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Got it here
http://www.gfredasbell.com/gfa_wool_clothing.php
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I've got a couple good blanket shirts too - one from Asbell ( same site you mention ) and one by Ron LaClair ( http://www.shrewbows.com/wool_shirts/ ). Wool is our buddy!

Here's the LaClair one ( yes, I realize I wasn't at full draw but I was a moment after my son snapped this shot :-p )...
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I picked up a 90% wool gray and tan hudson bay style blanket for 20 bucks, in the factory wrapper. It weights about 4 pounds (which is heavier than my backpacking sleeping bag) but sure does keep me warm. Hudson Bay company, distributed by Bemidji Woolen Mills, makes some super nice ones.
 
wool is king in the cabin or in your vehicle. one of the strongest longest lasting fibers. but for backpacking i go with the super polys since they are much lighter & offer more comfort per weight if you are carrying your camp on your back. stand hunting goes to woolies since hardly any fiber is quiter in the brush & for working in cold weather ,good wool is the longest lasting fiber.
 
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