Wool vs. Synthetics

H

HLBennett

Joined
Jan 4, 2000
Messages
78
Does anyone have experience or an opinion as to which material makes the best all around outdoor/survival gear? Wool is noted for it's heat retention ability even when wet. However, sythethics would seem to have the edge in the area of weight and maintenance.
Which would be more reliable in a survival situation? Is one more durable than the other?
 
Hi... Wool is a wonderful insulator - wet or dry. However, if I had the choice, I would go with the synthetic fleece. I've had it soaked down with salt spray and rain, and it still kept me warm. Now, don't mistake me... Anything fully saturated is going to lose its thermal retention value. The synthetics do a lot better in my opinion.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
I am partial to wool. But some of the new synthetics are wonderful, msot of my camo is either wool or polar fleece. One big advantage of some of the synthetics is that they are cheaper, good wool is not cheap, it lasts just about forever if you take care of it, but it is not cheap. If price is a factor you will do better buying synthetics, but choose carefully and buy good quality. And remember to layer, sweating will make you cold no matter what you wear. Buying one heavy parka thinking that is all you need will make you sorry in the end, better to get multiple lighter layers.



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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
Here are the advnatages and disadvantages to each:
Wool lasts longer, is heavier, and does not melt or catch fire easily. It insulates when wet, soaks water faster. Wind blows through it easier. Some people are allergic to wool.

Synthetics (I assume you mean Capilene, Thermax, Polartec, and Polypropylene) are somewhat warmer. All synthetics are lighter and pack tighter (they also don't pile much compared to wool). Synthetics don't last as long. Some synthetics (like Polypro) melt very easily (I once melted the knee on my thermals when I was trying to get warm by a fire). If they catch fire, the hot oil will cause bad burns. They all still insulate well when wet. Water runs off of many synthetics, so you ca stand in some light rain without getting soaked. Wind does not go through as easy. There are no allergies to wool.

My preference. Wool for outer layers and synthetics for close to body stuff (like thermals and socks). Synthetics feel nicer, are warmer and insulate when wet. The outside wool layer does not catch fire easy.
Hope this helps.
 
As said by an earlier poster, ALL clothing looses its insulative value when wet.

Polyester fleece has the distinct advantage that it can be shaken out with one snap to practically dry! This doesn't work with wool, which does a terrible job of insulating when it gets wet, and it really gets HEAVY.

The myth of wool insulating well when wet comes fromt the comparison to cotton, which becomes a heat sink when it's wet. Wool is nice for wearing around the house and out on the town, but I've taken it out of my outdoor gear completely.

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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
Hi all,

I use all types of middle layers. From wool to fleece to winter weight polypro. All work well and each serves a purpose for what I am doing.

Lots of good posts on the subject... however, I have to disagree with the comments that these materials (especially wool) lose their insulation quality when wet. I can speak from many personal experiences and must say "this is not true". Wool probably retains about 75 % of its insulation quality when wet and has protected me well. As has fleece.

So if you want to experience the value of these middle layers... try them out... under a controlled environment of course.

Best to all

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
*With a nod to Davenport* You are correct about the wool retaining a significant portion of its insulating capabilities even when wet. You still lose heat a lot faster when wet and all things considered, when you are out and about, it is better to shed your cold wet stuff and put on the dry ones. I can remember times when I was unfortunate enough to be soaking wet in the middle of winter with snow everywhere; and I was actually a LOT warmer having stripped naked until I could get my dry stuff out and on. Isn't one of the axioms of arctic/winter survival, "If you sweat, you change or die"? Good to have you back Greg. We've missed your posts. I hope all is well.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
Well, I guess there's damp and there's wet. I used to use wool exclusively, and it did quite well even when it got damp from exposure to rain and sweat.

The situation that prompted me to dump it was rather extreme. It was a hike in West Clear Creek Canyon in northern Arizona. The hike up this narrow canyon involved frequent wading through chest deep water, and at times swimming through the pools. The criss-crosses were too frequent to warrant taking my top on and off each time I crossed, and it was too cold outside to hike without it.

When my wool top got soaked, it got heavy and very cold. I found it to be next to useless, and even after wringing it out, it stayed cold, wet and heavy.

I realize that most trips aren't that demanding on clothing, and perhaps such a specialty situation can't be a reasonable basis for generalization( my bad
frown.gif
). But when I know I'm going to get wet, I won't leave home without my polyester fleece. It's the only article of insulation I know that can go from soaked to practically bone dry in one shake.



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-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
I prefer wool. I like wool on blankets on my bed, wool shirts on my back, and wool jackets when it gets cold. The majority of my wool stuff is second hand, synthetic stuff would not make it to a second hand in my experience. Nor would people, in this modern, faddish age, be willing to part with it for what I can get good wool stuff at.

Synthetic stuff, or high quality things anyways, will wring dryer, repel water better, and be lighter in the long run. Wool will look better, feel better, cost less, perform well under wet working conditions, and use less oil or recycled plastic bottles, whatever your preference may be. I believe a synthetic garment will weigh less and pack smaller than an equally warm wool garment, but most of the time, weight on my back is of less concern than the weight in my belly, at least any weight a spare traped animal managed...

Stryver
 
I have to agree with the people who say wool does retain insulating value when wet. I have been out in driving rain and sleet and still been "warm". Sure it was probably not the most comfortable time I have spent in the woods, but I would hate to spend the same time without the wool, I could have been in serious trouble. None of the synthetics I have tried have impressed me any more, they work, but I would not say better.

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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
One more thing...

I was looking at a training site this last December (during...of course... a bad downpour of rain and snow mixed
smile.gif
) when my mid weight fleece got pretty wet... IMHO and experience, I found it to be less effective then wool in similar circumstances. In fact, I took it off and put my wool shirt on and finished the rest of the day in it. Just food for thought.

Once again, I still use all types but actually prefer a light weight wool shirt as my middle layer... secondary to the trials and tribulations I have had with the synthetics.

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
As an insulating layer, primaloft is very, very good. Better than wool, at least for me, where wetness, water and sweat, are big factors. It really saved me last august up on Ellesmere Island at about 80 North in both ocean kayaking and climbing. But it isn't as tough as wool and you have to be careful. I don't know how badly it reacts to extreme heat or flame and further south where the luxury of big fires is available, I shy away from polys and do prefer wool too
 
Hi folks,
a big nod to David vS on changing when wet. From my personal experience from some time at the winter warfare school in Germany:
when we had mountain marches and got wet (mostly thru sweat) we had to get the wet clothes off during a break, but then had to put the dry ones back in our ruck, so that for the next break we had dry clothes. It´s ugly to put on wet clothes, but after a couple of meters walk you feel alright again.
Robert
P.S.: I cannot stand wool on my skin, but use it as middle layer. On the skin I use thermal underwear which is used for skiing (some synthetic material)
 
Gregory,
You don't say in your post what brand of wool you were wearing. There are a lot of people making inferior wool products out there. Either using recycled wool mixed with other materials or making wool/cotton blends.
They definately don't insulate as well as the quality stuff. If people stick to Filson, Woolrich, (usually 85% wool !5% nylon) L.L. Bean, etc... they will have a product that performs excellent and lasts a lifetime. My personal favorite is Filson. It isn't very fashionable but is extremely tough. Do you remember what you were wearing?

Take care,
Jim
 
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