Hi: I recently rediscovered how warm and practical wool clothes are. I would like to know if there are a lot of manufacturers of wool clothes in Aus. or NZ or is the above mentioned Swandri the best [PS i don't want to buy Chinese etc.]What do you guys use? Regards Dan

Swandri is(was) a New Zealand icon.

I havn't wore one for years as there is better gear like Huntech and Swazi.

I'm not know if Swandri are still made in New Zealand or not.

Thank's TP. I am going to outfit the whole family in warm hunting clothes. I will investigate these companies. Regards Dan

I still have some Swandri coats but for first layer clothing I use the NZ ICEBREAKER line of clothing.
This micro fiber wool product is comfortable against the skin and stays warm even when damp.
It does not smell even after many day of use.
Polly products against my skin leaves sweat rash where the natural fiber doesn't.
Icebreaker is expensive but you only need a couple of their products anyway.

I loved my Swandri on the flight line at Williamtown on a winter night shift. It wasn't very military (blue and black) but when it got to -3 nothing the RAAF gave me kept me warm. Was a bit itchy however if worn against the skin.

Thank You all. After my recent outing wearing decent hunting gear[loaned to me] i am deffinately getting the best i can buy and use only for hunting etc. Regards Dan

ICEBREAKER

SWAZI


Can't go wrong with these two NZ products.
I've tried and tested them all over the world, and have always been impressed at how they perform when required.
Next month they'll be with me hunting Cougar in New Mexico and Wild Boar in Slovakia.
Not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Nothing much wrong with the good old Swanni, I still have one that I used for years, but it has shrunk as I got older, keep it for nostalgic reasons, puts me back into meat hunting days. Swanni, Woolen shearing singlet, black rugby shorts and a pair of Buller GumBoots with holes poked in the side to let the water out, and two pairs of norsewear socks.
Green River skinning knife and my Sako .243.
When it got cold a wooly norsewear balaclava. Gloves never. Hydration systems....get real.

No Bullers in those pix bro - you're over dressed!

Swazi & Stoney Creek are best for middle and top layers. Icebreaker is excellent as a first layer, but there are quite a few other brands of fine merino now that are cheaper, but still good quality.

Tracker: Thanks for the Icebreaker link. Looks like there is a store in my home state of Oregon.

I've been wearing Swanndri stuff for years, and still wear it hunting. It's not neccessarily a replacement for a goretex outer layer, but it is bloody tough, and good when wet. The classic green bushshirt makes you look like one on Robin Hood's mates esp when you wear stubbies - short shorts underneath. It's a good look...

Swanni, Stubbies, Double Pluggers - what every well dressed hunter should wear!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Tracker: Thanks for the Icebreaker link. Looks like there is a store in my home state of Oregon.

The Icebreaker stuff is great, but when Patagonia started their wool underwear line, I took one and it surprised me, how much more soften it was and it´s perfect insulation when I am sitting out in the cold...

I would prefer the Patagonia more than the Icebreaker...

Gunbug,

We were in N.Z. last May and I picked up a couple sets of hunting clothes made by Ridgline.
They feel great and I am anxious to try them in Kyrgyzstan this fall. The price was great for the complete outfitts as well!

Hawkeye47

Hawkeye,i would test your ridgeline clothes before you go,as that is a very big trip.

I have found Ridgeline to to be crap and would not buy it ever again.

I bought one of those ridgeline kits - the beanie and socks are OK, the rest of the stuff....

Ridgeline's fine around the house, and the bushman Tshirts not bad, but there's better out there......

Top Pred,

Thanks for the heads up on the Ridgeline stuff. I will certainly try them before the trip! I will also have some additional Heavier stuff with me, ie, wool sweaters and Polar tech fleece. If the stuff proves not to be huntworthy it's worth what I gave for it just to wear around the ranch here in Missouri!

Hawkeye47