Wool vs. Synthetic Clothes

A quick video pointing out some key differences between wool and synthetic fleece clothes. Polyester melts, and wool is expensive.

For more information, custom orders, or questions:

Follow us @ironwolfindustrial on Instagram for all our latest projects

[IronWolfIndustrial]

Agree 100%. You don't have to be rich to buy nice things either, just spend wisely and save up for nice things.

[St.FighterZ]

I do constuction so im out in some pretty bad weather. Decided i needed a really nice underlayer. Went with a nice thick wool 1/2 button. I hope its everything i expect it will be. It was a 100 dollars to.

[mkrafts]

Since you don't seem cocky I'll try to be nice in my comment here. But for the record I'm pretty dissapointed, not just in you but in pretty much everyone on youtube who discusses this topic. Everyone fails to mention the primary reason that wool is better and its because everyone doesn't spend more than 3 days outdoors at a time.
People don't understand that if you havent taken a shower for 3 days or more nor have you washed your garments then there is a build up of oil/grease that comes from your body and gets into the garment. Just like water, this oil/grease saturation reduces the insulating value of the fabric by..alot. Synthetic fibers are really good until that 3 day mark. If you're living outside longer than that and you are not washing your clothes with a DEGREASING formula then your synthetic clothes will lose their insulating value and you will not be able to change that until you can wash yourself and degrease the fabric.
However, wool is a protein based fiber and literally cleans itself when it gets wet. It will not lose its insulating value even after days and days of neither washing yourself or the fabric. People understand the water issues but they never talk about the oil buildup from the body because all of you NOOBS never spend more than 3 days outside without running home and taking your cute little showers and washing your cute little clothes! This is why you don't ever learn about the real reason all hair/fur based fibers are better for REAL WOODSMEN! I'm tired of you non-experienced noobs!

[CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

I remember wearing the old wool military sweaters back in the 80's. I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB and was stuck in -30F weather for 3 months out of the year. They even started replacing them with synthetics back then but at that time the wool sweaters were more durable. Now things have changed and some fleece products are excellent. Wool will always be a good choice if one has the cash to buy the good stuff but there are lots of cheapie wool rip offs not worth a dime.

[vitopetre]

Great video!
I'm always astonished, that everyone talking about clothes, outfit and so on but only very few actually know or think about the material as such and it's properties...
. .
Still my personal (but maybe not as experienced) point of view is:
Wool is expencive, heavy and hard to wash, but gives you the best heat insulation.
Polyester (not fleece) is cheap, light, easy to wash and takes almost no time to dry.
Fleece seems to be good, but once gotten wet, it will doom you...

[PaulMorini]

Both synthetics and wool work well... I choose layering synthetics over wool for a few reasons. Synthetics come in several different weaves and weights for specific applications, wicking, loft, wind and rain barriers, wool, not so much. Wool underwear or wool rain coats like a pea coat work but only till they saturate and then take hours to dry, bad on day 2 or 3 in the cold wet woods. The fire thing is a drag, my cloths have burns all over, no matter how I try to be careful.
All that said, I use the very same pant's T's etc in the summer that I use in the winter. each season I add an appropriate layer. I've been out in the pouring rain 35 degree weather completely soaked thru, but completely dry with in an hour of getting under cover...
If you bother you can find synthetics made from recycled material, I'm sure it only helps a little to buy recycled but it's worth trying... 
After a few days in the woods the synthetics like wool smell, the synthetics can go in the wash when you get home... If I were going to live in the woods like Dick Proenneke I would go with all wool as wool lasts way longer and is much stronger. For a few days in the local forest synthetics hands down...

[IronWolfIndustrial]

This is true. Wool is nice, but fleece is so darn cheap! Plus, if you layer right and toss in some thermals, then you're good to go. I still always wear a wool hat though, just for the warmth.

[onlinekicker]

In my opinion, there's no point in buying something less effective just because it's cheaper. It is always better to save up and buy the best of what you can get. The only exception is in emergency cases, in which case, take what you can get.

[Molokoro]

test different socks, for it's hard to know what kind of socks to buy for the winter or summer :D

[TYMGhosT]

At the time of this video 10 years ago synthetic was better. At the current time it’s head and shoulders above merino.

Merino has small victories on paper. That’s it. If you like to go backpacking in the rain with only a base layer then merino wool is good. Other than that it’s just an expensive less good version of synthetic.

[captainobvious]

I have worn a Omni-Heat fleece for the last 4 years and there is no fleece the same weight anywhere near as warm. It's purpose is to have a much lighter garnet with the same insulation as a thicker heavier one. It does that 100%. It's also far more durable than the issue Polartec I have. They are not "dots" that are applied either. You really should have wisdom before giving your personal faceless opinion. I clicked on the link for knowledge but I clearly know far more than you do. Too bad I don't have the free time to make videos all day and call myself a woodsman.

[pinoinsegno]

Synthetic garment? No thank you. I do not to be an human torch

[adelarsen]

Wool - Layers - dress to the conditions

[CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

I like both for different applications. Fleece kinda gets a bad wrap vs. wool but it does have it's good points mainly its light weight, layerability and packability. Cheaper wool clothing will come apart easily too... the good stuff is crazy expensive. Also, wool gets too much credit for keeping one warm when wet. Soak a wool sweater down, put it on and go out in the cold... above freezing. You will notice that there are no miracles... the warmth factor while wet is minimal.

[St.FighterZ]

I do constuction so im out in some pretty bad weather. Decided i needed a really nice underlayer. Went with a nice thick wool 1/2 button. I hope its everything i expect it will be. It was a 100 dollars to.