Cotton sweater for chopping wood and making fires?

N

NeedItCheaper

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Jun 17, 2012
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I love fleece sweaters for around my house, but between chopping wood and enjoying a good fire at night I have tore up 2 of them in the last 6 months. I have an old 100% cotton full zip(hoodless) sweater that has lasted a long time, but is on it's last leg so to speak...... But I can't find a fitted 100% sweater anywhere, it's like the world fell in love with polyester. Any recommendations that aren't the $150+ fire retardant sweaters?


Edit: I should say specifically I'm looking for a fitted sweater, full zip, hoodless, %100 cotton(or something that doesn't burn as easily as fleece)
 
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LL Bean has a really nice full zip/buttoned cotton sweater and plenty of 1/4 zip sweaters (which are my favorites- I'm wearing one now, even as I write :)). Eddie Bauer and/or REI might be good sources too, but I'm a Mainer so I go too Bean first.

I agree that fleece has limited application - dangerous around a campfire and like a magnet worn in the house with pets - hair magnet, that is.
 
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Why not wool? Cotton is good around town and in mild weather. A light weight wool sweater might work. Try LL Bean.
 
billym said:
Why not wool? Cotton is good around town and in mild weather. A light weight wool sweater might work. Try LL Bean.
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Had that same thought. Why specifically pick the worst material for active sweaty work? Cotton is a sponge. Not great for chopping wood in...
 
I would think cheaper athletic wear would still be mostly cotton, but that's just a guess.

To get a quality wool layer (without a canvas cover) would be quite expensive, although a wool shirt and a denim jacket just for chopping might be the ticket.
 
I have come to find wool to be too much warmth and weight for woodswork except on the very coldest days - read 5° F or colder. My go to outfit these days is a very light PrimaLoft pullover with a cotton 1/4 zipper pullover worn over that. My base layer is a 32Degrees moisture wicking long sleeve shirt. This combo is good for all the cold and wind I want to be in for woodswork or snowshoeing.

The PrimaLoft shirt is more than enough when out and about in 18°F and warmer temps - for me - but it's too expensive to risk trashing for work though great for snowshoeing or CX Skiing. For work I wear the 1/4 zip cotton as a protective layer over the PrimaLoft. If I need yet another layer I wear a water-resistant canvas work vest OR a nearly impossible to find (these days) nylon Anorak. The anorak is at least 25 years old :eek:, looking a bit worn but still rugged and good for many more winters of hard weather and work. The anorak over the 1/4 zip cotton and the 32Degrees undershirt are my standard snow blowing outfit.
 
RayseM said:
I have come to find wool to be too much warmth and weight for woodswork except on the very coldest days - read 5° F or colder. My go to outfit these days is a very light PrimaLoft pullover with a cotton 1/4 zipper pullover worn over that. My base layer is a 32Degrees moisture wicking long sleeve shirt. This combo is good for all the cold and wind I want to be in for woodswork or snowshoeing.

The PrimaLoft shirt is more than enough when out and about in 18°F and warmer temps - for me - but it's too expensive to risk trashing for work though great for snowshoeing or CX Skiing. For work I wear the 1/4 zip cotton as a protective layer over the PrimaLoft. If I need yet another layer I wear a water-resistant canvas work vest OR a nearly impossible to find (these days) nylon Anorak. The anorak is at least 25 years old :eek:, looking a bit worn but still rugged and good for many more winters of hard weather and work. The anorak over the 1/4 zip cotton and the 32Degrees undershirt are my standard snow blowing outfit.
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Cotton is the worst possible material for outdoor wear. Get it damp a bit and it loses whatever insulative properties it may have had. It also stays damp for a long time. Wool will keep you warm even if its soaking wet and will dry quickly. Its pretty much resistant to campfire sparks and the like as well, while cotton and man made stuff like polyester fleece don't fare so well.
You do realize that wool can be had in many different weights? No need for a heavy shirt when a thin on will do. Cabelas has some nice lighter weight wool shirts for under $100. I find that a thermal long sleeve henley t shirt under a good wool shirt is good for most outdoor stuff, and add a Filson wool vest when its a bit colder.
 
Tonnes of light modern wool out there from high quality 100% Merino to more affordable knock around gear that you won't cry over if you snag a sleeve.

I have a few wool undershirts that are thinner than cotton Ts but make excellent base layers in our cold damp weather.

For outerwear I like Kuhl they're OK on price and quality and you don't look like you've escaped from a ski race or ugly sweater contest. Lots of other choices to spend more or less too.
 
I live in Berkeley Ca, it is once again 60-80 degrees today. Temps drop a bit at night so for a very mild climate I love my LL Bean Shetland Wool Crew sweater.
It is pretty light but just enough to cut the evening chill. It could work well in snow/cold conditions as a mid layer or a top layer when exerting oneself like chopping wood.

Neither Primaloft or cotton (as well as fleece) are fire proof. Fleece is napalm in fabric form. Wool is very safe around fires. Once again the sheep win!! :)
 
The trick in winter activities is to remove heat. I'm guessing you're cutting a bit of wood in the back yard?
Cotton is awesome used properly, and one can make good char cloth out of it. No can do with wool or other artificial materials.
 
Lets not get into wool/vs cotton again. That's not what's up for debate, they both have their uses. There is a lot more decent wool hitting the market every day, not just merino stuff, but wool blends which are cheaper, as well as some interesting stuff like alpaca. The unfortunate part is that to get the quality stuff, you have to spend a fair coin.

The main thing is to pick the type of fabric and garment to suit your conditions, and that's kinda hard for others to gauge, when they are not as familiar to it. I love wool for high humidity cold. But wool isn't as great when it comes to clothes that have to be washed and dried often. not a worry when I'm out in the bush, and wool smells better than a lot of things, but most can't have a weeks worth of wool shirts in the closet. Synthetics do dry out faster, and don't get as heavy. (also there is a lot to be said for tumble dry)

I liken it to the guy who wears a suit every day. His taste, needs and budget are very different to the guy who needs a suit for the job interviews, weddings and funerals he has to attend. The one-suit guy might justify the big bucks, where the working suit guy needs something that still works but has to hit a budget. But one thing we can all agree on, polyester shirts suck! (yeah I know, not all of them, but you know what I mean)
 
For cotton, I like sweatshirts and flannel, if you aren't finding good cotton sweaters.
 
I also like a fitted full zip hoodless sweater for hunting, hiking and outdoor chores. Sometimes hoods and pockets just get in the way. I sweat profusely and have found merino wool to provide the best combination of wicking, odor control and warmth. One of my favorites is the Minus33 Denali Expedition sweater which compares favorably to similar styles I have sampled from Icebreaker and Smartwool. Minus33 sizing runs more true to size where Smartwool, Ibex and especially Icebreaker run small.
 
I like full zip cotton sweaters too, as an outer layer for winter activities. Wool is my insulating layer. The cotton pulls the moisture away from my body and it evaporates. I'm of an mindset where I don't wear sweatshirts, because hoodies catch twigs, etc., and I was brought up that no matter what you're doing you should look good. I get sweaters from casual mens clothing stores for 20 to 40 dollars. Llbean has them too, as mentioned, but don't just look in outdoors stores, and you'll find them. Hope that helps.
 
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