Hello folks

I've been using polar fleece jackets & coats for some years, but am now keen to find a woollen jacket alternative.

I've looked over the Filson range, but they are too much of a good thing for Australian conditions, and I'm also after a waist length jacket, as opposed to the longer coats. Generally, when back packing, I use multiple layers and finish off with a rain coat if required, so I'm interested in a mid weight jacket and want to avoid anything that is too bulky.

So guys, I'd appreciate you opinions.

Cheers

Jim

Have you looked at Woolrich? I have this one:

http://www.woolrich.com/woolri...g-shirt-jac/_/R-6138

I have a German Rascher one, it's too fancy for the Victorian highlands. Columbia and FirstLite make wool hunting clothing.

When I lived in Canberra (a year ago) I hunted a bit in the Rasher and a bit in Firstlite. I have never owned Columbia, they are cheaper but quality seemed fine.

Ibex Europa Loden Jacket.
Washable wool and its very comfortable.

G Fred Asbel.com,pullovers, zip up jackets, pull over mackinaw,etc. Different weights of wool, bunch of different plaid patterns, and solids. The guy is a bow Hunter, so the jackets leave you with a good range of motion. I,'ve got one of the heavy weight jackets, 85 bucks plus shipping, and I,d have to say I,m pretty fond of it. Nice tight weave, pretty smooth(non-itchy), lot smoother and softer feeling than the woolrich wool shirts.

I picked up a nice custom wool coat, which you could order to any length.

WhiteOak Bushcraft
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...php/112024-Wool-Coat

Wool Shirt Review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...-s-quot-AWESOME-quot

Wool Jacket/Coat review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...y-WhiteOak-Bushcraft

I had my coat made a bit longer,@ knee length

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...shcraft-pic-thread!!

Aka: PAPI, Thee Junkyard Perro

Jim

I tried this Filson "liner" on just the other day in Orvis. I think it would be perfect for what you describe. It is a thinner wool set up to be a liner in the Filson outer coats. It comes to the waist and would be quite comfortable in a wide range of temperatures and you can open it to adjust too. And it looks quite good as a stand alone jacket too.

This is not the heavy style cruiser and Mackinaw outer jacket that they make in their jacket line. It is definitely not bulky in any way.


They offer it in blue , grey, and in green.

I was looking for a col weather and colder temperature safari jacket - but I also to have another layer for my Berretta duck jacket so this didn't exactly work with the synthetic Beretta gear.

But now you got me going back to get it afterall.



http://www.filson.com/products...s&fmetaProduct=1011/

The woollen Swanndri smocks and jackets (not the more open weave shirts) are still around in some Australian retail outlets, although I am not sure if they are still being made.

You may need to modify the length to suit, but the quality of these, particularly the cloth, is as good as anything in the world. They are made for hard work and are very durable.

Another place to check out is Empire Wool and Canvas

Thank you gentlemen for the great advice.

I think the Filson Liner is just what I'm after. The G Fred Asbel gear also look great quality at a great price, so I'll look into their range as well.

The other options seem all great quality garments, but I suspect are too bulky for what I want, and more suited to climates that are far harsher than Australian winters.

Secondtry, I wanted to buy a Swandri bush shirt, but they're made in China these days, and that's put me off that option.

Again, thanks men for your help.

Regards

Jim

Hi Spartan (long time no see),

Generally woollen clothes are thought too heavy for backpacking hunts. We use them for sambar hunting in the wet-sclerophyll bush here, which is generally not steep, but even without a full backpack I generally only get 10 minutes down the track before I have to take the shirt off.

If you are sitting in a hide, on the other hand, you would not be overdoing it to wear one of those 'sleeping bags' popular in Germany.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by PAPI:
I picked up a nice custom wool coat, which you could order to any length.

WhiteOak Bushcraft
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...php/112024-Wool-Coat

Wool Shirt Review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...-s-quot-AWESOME-quot

Wool Jacket/Coat review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...y-WhiteOak-Bushcraft

I had my coat made a bit longer,@ knee length

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...shcraft-pic-thread!!

Aka: PAPI, Thee Junkyard Perro

love really that coat.

what kind of liner if any is inside?

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by PAPI:
I picked up a nice custom wool coat, which you could order to any length.

WhiteOak Bushcraft
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...php/112024-Wool-Coat

Wool Shirt Review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...-s-quot-AWESOME-quot

Wool Jacket/Coat review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...y-WhiteOak-Bushcraft

I had my coat made a bit longer,@ knee length

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...shcraft-pic-thread!!

Aka: PAPI, Thee Junkyard Perro

love really that coat.

what kind of liner if any is inside?

I dont believe White Oak lines any of their coats as a standard but they do quite a lot of custom stuff so he'd probably accommodate someone if they wanted a liner.

Sambarman, one of the problems with polar fleece & other synthetic fibres is they stink only after a few days in the bush. Wool on the other hand, is a lot more user friendly - it keeps you warm without the stink! Merino garments have developed quite a lot these days to give the warmth without the bulk of the old swannis - Ice Breaker is another manufacturers hat produces good gear, albeit, unfortunately in china now.

Cheers

Jim

I like to carry a light wool sweater with a waterproof outer layer in cool rather than cold weather. The wool layer seems to warm much better than its weight.

Silent Predator made in Canada and better customer service than King of the Mountain

One of the best wool jackets (really more of a sweater) I've come across is a Swedish Army zip sweater. It is warm and great for layering or for as an outer layer. I used it as my outer layer during most of our 2nd rifle elk hunt in CO this year. It is inexpensive and the only problem I have with it is that it is a left-hand (European zip).

You might check out the "VOORMI" line of products. I have several of them and can highly recommend them. Warm, reasonably priced and comfortable.

I would go with fleece.Wool does not seem to last and it takes a long time to dry.

quote:

Originally posted by Spartan:
Sambarman, one of the problems with polar fleece & other synthetic fibres is they stink only after a few days in the bush. Wool on the other hand, is a lot more user friendly - it keeps you warm without the stink! Merino garments have developed quite a lot these days to give the warmth without the bulk of the old swannis - Ice Breaker is another manufacturers hat produces good gear, albeit, unfortunately in china now.

Cheers

Jim

I can't talk about the stink, Jim, but the Kiwis seem to think 100% Polyester lets the sweat go straight through, while merino underlayers get heavy with it after a while.

I'm inclined to carry a nub of stick deodorant even in the bush, so at least I can stand the smell of myself, and I doubt if the critters find it more alerting than human sweat.

Get in Loden

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop...wool-parka-primaloft

I really like the looks of that Bushcraft wool jacket.

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by PAPI:
I picked up a nice custom wool coat, which you could order to any length.

WhiteOak Bushcraft
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...php/112024-Wool-Coat

Wool Shirt Review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...-s-quot-AWESOME-quot

Wool Jacket/Coat review:
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...y-WhiteOak-Bushcraft

I had my coat made a bit longer,@ knee length

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...shcraft-pic-thread!!

Aka: PAPI, Thee Junkyard Perro

love really that coat.

what kind of liner if any is inside?

No lining except on special orders.

I.E:
"I know, that's alot of wool I won't give you details, David has that covered in his vendor section. I will show you some of my custom stuff I had done. I added reinforced elbow patches. In the hood, collar and cuffs was added merino wool for itch factor, wool tears me up pretty good and this makes a huge difference. "

Wool Jacket/Coat Review
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...y-WhiteOak-Bushcraft

P.S.: I sprayed my coat with " NIKWAX " to improve its water resistant.
http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/pr...il.php?productid=273

I also picked up some natural " Lanolin " to treat a Wool Blanket.
http://www.tkbtrading.com/item.php?item_id=295

I sprayed on a solution and rubbed it in really well. Its a bit on the tacky side.
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/...=1578937#post1578937

I have yet to test either one of them in a Heavy downpour, to evaluate which worked best

Wool is warm when wet, that's one of its pluses over down or whatever. I have a couple of heavy wool coats and I like them when its snowing in Idaho..Just get a high percentage of wool, I like 100% personally..Downside has always been weight, and two layers of wool beats one heavy layer IMO.

Cabellas sells a large wool coat and the large side pockets have elastic shell holders on each side, 10 rounds to the side, they don't rattle and they are easy to get too..I like that coat, had mine for several years. Woolrich always made tight woven 100% wool coats and its good stuff and virtually waterproof.

I also like down best perhaps but you can't get it wet, but that's usually not a problem, just cover it with a pancho or whatever, I like oilskin Aussie coats, but they must have a sheep skin liner otherwise they are cold as hell.

I like the higher quality polar fleece as well as wool for that matter, its the best stuff to layer in the last decade or two.

Lots of stuff out there today works great, I remember when wool was the only safe material for a cold weather hunter, still is a viable option.

"King of the Mountain" and "Sleeping Indian" have excellent gear.

Expensive but very high quality.

quote:

Originally posted by Spartan:
so I'm interested in a mid weight jacket and want to avoid anything that is too bulky.

IceBreaker does some HQ Merino Wool jackets, some even have windproof laminates in the construction.

http://au.icebreaker.com/en/me...68_color=003&cts=003


http://au.icebreaker.com/en/me...67_color=003&cts=003


http://au.icebreaker.com/en/me...68_color=003&cts=003

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I would go with fleece.Wool does not seem to last and it takes a long time to dry.

Pigs flew I agree with shootaway

I second King Of The Mountain Wool

Mostly always wear a woolrich jac-shirt with a fleece hooded zip-up. A couple of years ago I found a Scoutmaster wool shirt for 4.99 in a thrift shop and it's the best ever. I do like a fleece hooded type especilly when wearing raingear,, a lot!

Most Woolrich stuff for many years has been wool/poly blend. Pendleton is still 100% and until recently has been all US wool and US made. Some pieces are now made offshore. At any rate, the best buys are Pendleton off Ebay. I've gotten several Pendleton shirts and jackets off there for peanuts when compared to the quality and price of today's retail junk. Just be sure of not just the size but the actual measurements since wool WILL shrink.

Leave to A10ACN to come up with the lowest price to get the best he can find.

I sure like wool. Those wool thongs chafe a bit but other than that I am good with it.

Take a look at Alpaca
I like it far better than sheep's wool.

http://www.altiplanoinsulation.com/mens/jackets

Wool is great with the following caveats:

1. A lot of the wool is not wind resistant and a strong wind blows right through it. I learned this the hard way with Columbia's previous wool line.

2. Some wool is sticky and and you need a good underlayer. Ditto on Columbia.

3. Merino is nice and soft, but not very thick. I like it for socks

So:

Get wood that is windproof (I have a wool sweater with a liner, keeps the wind out and the itch away) or don't use it as an outer layer

I think a jacket with wool outside, goretex, and then maybe fleece on the inside would be ideal. Someone, I think Lands End, makes a fleece lined wool jacket.

I was in South Africa in 2006 and had a number of days of rain in cool weather while hunting bushbuck and I didn't have a rain coat. I wore the wool sweater I mentioned above, along with a waxed cotton, wool lined Filson hat, and was fine. I was damp, but insulated. Hung everything by the fire at night to dry.

King of the mountain! A little heavy but warm when wet. Also, tough as nails!

Look into WeatherWool also. Their wool is unique and has greater benefits than normal wool or even Merino. They have a pretty wide range and are continually developing their product line. Great folks, too.

I solved it by buying two cheap wool army blankets ( green )
Had a lady that saws to make me coat down to my ankles with deep packets ( jaegermeister style ) and I tell you.
Best thing for cold ever plus you can sit on your ass in snow and you got wool underneat it

For everyday out door work in Idaho, and its snowing like hell today..I like a Outback oil skin short jacket that stops wind, andt has a wool liner, and comes with a thick sheep skin button in the coat vest (cost extra), a wool sweater and/or a wool shirt over my Underarmour underware..Stays good and warm and its -4 right now. I like to layer as much as possible so I can take off layers or add them.

Unless its bitter cold I don't like those wind proof liners in wool sweaters, they make me sweat and get clamy...I have a nice one, and they are expensive, but I seldom wear until the wind is blowing hard and the temps in double digets below zero..

I have found my old worn out military Field jacket is the best final layer and rain coat in the world, and it was free of charge.

I've owned a bunch of wool coats. The filsons are hands down the best heavyweights. But the Mackinaw and Double Mackinaw are a lot of coat. The double in particular is good for me about 4 days a year here (well, 9 days so far this year) For lightweight, the Ibex are outstanding. Well designed, great freedom of movement. I used one as my everyday coat in Seattle for several years when I was still up there, in temps from about 34-45 degrees.

My favorite wool sweaters are a light one by HARKILA and a lined(windstopper) one also made by harkila, however the secondd one is much too heavy for anything unless its really cold.