long johns question

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DennisStrickland

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i've not kept up with the newer products & wonder about the pluses & minus on the newer products. i take blood thinners & get cold easier than when i was young. cost is'nt important since i only need these a few times a year. i've heard 100% merino is the best but need feedback. i'm not a long distance hiker anymore but still hunting & short packtrips [5 or 6 miles] cover my current activities.thanks guys.
dennis
 
Don't need the stuff often in Florida, but I have a couple of pairs of PolarTec stuff, and one set of silk.
The silk seems to work best for me.
 
I've got a couple sets of Helly Hansen and Minus33 long johns that have done well for me. I think as long as you get a merino set you'll be happy. I think you'll probably end up in the $30-40 price range for a nice piece of gear.
 
i usually go old school waffle style but on the occasion that i do wear a synthetic, i usually wear a pear of remmingtons, they were like 20 for the set but i have used under amor and sent lock and they keep you just as warm.
 
If you get cold easily then your best option is Woolpower 400g top and bottom. They are expensive but they don't itch and can be washed in hot as well.

Less expensive would be Stanfields 80/20 heavyweights. They can be purchased from davidmorgan.com. They are a bit scratchier. But if yiu wear wool for around 3 days you'll stop noticing the itch (just a matter of your skin getting used to a new fiber).

Filson also makes some very good merino long underware. But it is lighter weight than the two above.

I wear my Stanfields every time the mercury dips.

Personalty I don't get cold real easily but I can't stand the feel of the synthetics. The synthetics don't wick as well as wool either.

I have several friends who have had real quality problems with the smartwool brand so that may be one to stay away from.
 
Most of my longjohn experience comes from riding motorcyles in cold weather. I like the silk upper and lowers -- not bulky at all, but I can sure tell the difference when wearing them.
 
I like anything polypro, you can just toss them in a washing machine and they stay warm when wet. I'd start with the lightweight ones first, they are incredibly warm.

I used them for bowhunting and on a job where I stood still on overnight shift outdoors 8hrs at a clip exposed to shore winds on the ocean. They were so warm that any amount of activity would get you heated back up again down into minus 10F or so. It had to at least be freezing out or I wouldn't bother with them at all.

Poly should be skin tight fit.

UnderArmor as a brand are fantastic materials...I also have their "loose gear" heat wicking stuff that I wear on the water in place of sunscreen while kayaking...amazing stuff. I wear the long sleeved stuff in 90F temps, just dunk in the water, the evap cools and they keep the sun off...comfortable when soaking wet too. Just don't buy the heat wicking ones for winter by mistake heh.
 
Good quality merino is my choice. Note that some merino has finer hairs than others - this is by far this is the more comfortable. I don't worry about it on hats, gloves, socks, heavy coats. Any other wool clothing of mine (the stuff against my legs and torso) is the finer stuff. Damn stuff is pricey, but very much worth it.

For my use-
Cons: pricey, a little heavier than synthetics (certainly heavier when wet), slower drying vs synthetics when wet.
Pros: Much warmer than synthetics, much more comfortable in a wider range of temps than synthetics, doesn't melt like synthetics (mainly a concern from campfire sparks), does not stink like synthetics (eg: polypro stinks after 4-6 hours of heavy exertion and gets downright putrid after a day or two, I have not had my wool stink after wearing it for a month without washing), warmer and less funky feeling when damp, feels better to my skin in general, feels better in hot/sweaty weather (lighter fabrics) - (maybe due to better wicking?).
 
IceBreaker longjohns are really nice. I don't own Woolpower but, I would certainly consider them if the IceBreaker's ever wear out.

When packing light, a single set of Merino wool longjohns can be worn for weeks without stinking or getting stiff like synthetics. They are also very temperature flexible if it warms up I don't overheat in merino wool like I do in "polypro" synthetic stuff.
 
Sierra Trading Post is having a sale on Outlast long underwear. Outlast is a supposed to be a self-regulating insulator. It is different than other insulation IMO. It's not as warm by weight as others but it's more comfortable in temp swings. It takes longer to feel overheated during exertion and it's not that uncomfortable indoors depending on the temp inside. Great stuff if you move between inside and outside frequently.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/13473_Kenyon-Thermal-Underwear-Top-Outlast-Long-Sleeve-For-Men.html?utm_source=NexTag&utm_medium=PaidShopping&utm_term=Kenyon_Thermal_Underwear_Top_-_Outlast_Long_Sleeve_-_For_Men&utm_campaign=PCNEXTAGUS2KX&codesProcessed=true
 
Smartwool, patagonia, and Icebreaker. All Merino wool, and in that order of preference. Wool is far superior to synthetics. I wear wool 365
 
Just wore my Gordini "midweight" base layer 'johns for the first time on a mountain bike ride last night. Granted, this is a very specific niche but bear with me.

First, let me say that the moisture management was phenominal. Snow was deep and thick enough to make it a serious workout and I experienced no overly wet areas- they seemed to wick quickly and evenly even under a full shell. Secondly they seem to be very good at thermal regulation. I did not find myself getting overly warm at any point as I am used to with other layering solutions I've used in the past. Coupled with not getting overly cold when stopped for a break or loading/unloading the car before and after.

For other activities these would definately constitute a base layer as they are quite thin, but worn next to skin their performance seems very promising. One thing to note, the sizing chart on the REI website for them is fairly accurate but the cut (leg length, torso hem and sleeve length) are a little short for me. Not a big deal in a properly layered setup but something to consider if you may be wearing them alone (eg: bumming around camp in the top). But I also bought them on the tight side since I fell between sizes.
 
Helly Hansen has a really good polypro/meniro wool mix for long john's.
I highly recommend them (Northern Ontario Canada)
For O.P.P. ERT/TRU teams is standard issue now. Still very warm and light, after sweating it out on a dog trek, then standing around soaked.

The Under Armour Level 2 long johns were OK, but not as good as the straight polypro Helly Hansen brand, IMHO. Comfort being the main issue when wet.
ARCRYEX (hope I spelled that right) make really good kit but is expensive. If you can afford it, great long johns.
 
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