Wool clothing

[Wanna_track_well]

couple of questions

1- I recently bought a Johnson Cruiser coat from ebay in mint condition for under 100 bucks. Newer ones from The Johnson site have a nylon lining that's sown in like a flannel jacket from Walmart unlike the one I bought that doesn't. I'm sure it will serve me well in PA mountains. The coldest temperature wasn't below 20 degrees and all these years I was sitting in a heated blind. Last year I sat on the edge of a feild and the heater I had wasn't big enough just a small heater buddy. Guy next me on his property bought two blinds built by Amish are very nice with tinted windows but fog up easy and take forever clear. SO this year I wanna try and stretch my legs and track, at my age 58 well.... I know my limitations and definitely ain't gonna be a Benoit ! So The purpose of this thread is to get some advice on undergarments with wool outer garments. I guess I'm sold on Johnson but am having a hard time finding a good deal on pants. I picked up DaMart long johns highest level along with Redhead long underwear and wore them together last year with Wrangler chapped pants... to noisy, warm but to noisy. Didn't pay them any mind but after reading Benoit's book and watching Bloods videos, it makes sense.

2- Been patient enough not to jump on the first Coat that came alone not to buy something I wouldn't be good enough I am still looking for other items, maybe long underwear, (but with wool pants my long johns seem they will work). Is Woolrich just as good as Johnson ? There are a couple of other brands I see, from years ago. Filson, LL Bean, etc... 36x32 (how many ounces) for under 100 bucks used. Last year I got bibs and jacket for under 300 bucks but it's waay too heavy to track. I would like to stay light as possible but stay warm as possible. The state game lands are pretty vast but don't plan on walking to far. Last year I walked almost 10 miles in two days, but didn't venture off the goat trail or main trail although there were plenty of deer everywhere. This year with the wool, I can feel confident I will stay warm and dry. Experimenting can get too expensive, so ebaying I can do well. BWB website is too much for me, other than their fanny pack, everything else is too high, an easy grand or more can be dropped at once. The big thing is If tracking isn't for me, i didn't drop a ton of money to do it. I'm not a die hard, never was never will be, unless I can team up with people which there are groups of guys at my motel who are related and know each other, some are old some young and are courteous but stick to thier own. Oh well.

3- Any other garments, ( I have a Stormy Kromer hat in mind ) anything else, gloves, neck gaitors I have.....

Thanks Ralph

 

[Steiny77]

Bought all that wool stuff several years ago and have gotten away from for outer garments.
Collects burrs like crazy and it's quite heavy compared to other materials. Only thing I still use is the hat and a wool sweater.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Bought all that wool stuff several years ago and have gotten away from for outer garments.
Collects burrs like crazy and it's quite heavy compared to other materials. Only thing I still use is the hat and a wool sweater.

If you got caught up alternative routes could have been taken to pick up the track again. If they aren't heavy enough then you aren't moving enough. If you don't move enough then buy heavier. Now you are probably making too much noise and getting burrs you're moving to fast through stuff.

 

[hank4elk]

Just got Scheels wool/fleece bibs and a coat. Windproofed, side zip legs. Sewn in knee pads. Outfitter style camo, faint.
Have a Woolrich coat & Stormy cap, for many years. Surplus pants have been trashed and gone.
Merino bases for years. Just got more new from REI. New head cover too. Dotti ate my fleece cords...LOL
Have many wool shirts and sweaters.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Just got Scheels wool/fleece bibs and a coat. Windproofed, side zip legs. Sewn in knee pads. Outfitter style camo, faint.
Have a Woolrich coat & Stormy cap, for many years. Surplus pants have been trashed and gone.
Merino bases for years. Just got more new from REI. New head cover too. Dotti ate my fleece cords...LOL
Have many wool shirts and sweaters.

Are they quiet ? Bibs and coat I bought used from a guy off ebay by Cabelas dry plus are nice but to bulky. There's no way I treckin all day in that outfit. I sat in a blind and snug, but not out in the woods.

 

[hank4elk]

Are they quiet ? The Bibs and coat by Cabelas dry plus are nice but to bulky. There's no way I treckin all day in that outfit.

Only wore them one morning for a bit when they came. Fit & finish very good.
They are similar to the old Columbia wooltimate stuff.
If I was into trudging through snow again I'd be wearing winter climbing or hiking stuff and worry about noise,but I'd be warm all day.
Or pony up for Sitka and all the layers.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Only wore them one morning for a bit when they came. Fit & finish very good.
They are similar to the old Columbia wooltimate stuff.
If I was into trudging through snow again I'd be wearing winter climbing or hiking stuff and worry about noise,but I'd be warm all day.
Or pony up for Sitka and all the layers.

That's the purpose of wool... you get wet but still be warm, especially moving most of the time. If you're wearing gear that's noise that's not good. Had to come back and reply about Sitka.... I tried on some at cabelas the other day.... little to heavy and pricey at that. They are quiet though.

 

[hank4elk]

That's the purpose of wool... you get wet but still be warm, especially moving most of the time. If you're wearing gear that's noise that's not good.

...why I have worn wool for years,70 of them. But adding goretex rain gear added some water proofing and keeps them from loading with snow.
Still way heavier than mountaineering togs.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

...why I have worn wool for years,70 of them. But adding goretex rain gear added some water proofing and keeps them from loading with snow.
Still way heavier than mountaineering togs.

when you say way heavier....what ounce wool were you wearing ?

 

[MTTW]

couple of questions

1- I recently bought a Johnson Cruiser coat from ebay in mint condition for under 100 bucks. Newer ones from The Johnson site have a nylon lining that's sown in like a flannel jacket from Walmart unlike the one I bought that doesn't. I'm sure it will serve me well in PA mountains. The coldest temperature wasn't below 20 degrees and all these years I was sitting in a heated blind. Last year I sat on the edge of a feild and the heater I had wasn't big enough just a small heater buddy. Guy next me on his property bought two blinds built by Amish are very nice with tinted windows but fog up easy and take forever clear. SO this year I wanna try and stretch my legs and track, at my age 58 well.... I know my limitations and definitely ain't gonna be a Benoit ! So The purpose of this thread is to get some advice on undergarments with wool outer garments. I guess I'm sold on Johnson but am having a hard time finding a good deal on pants. I picked up DaMart long johns highest level along with Redhead long underwear and wore them together last year with Wrangler chapped pants... to noisy, warm but to noisy. Didn't pay them any mind but after reading Benoit's book and watching Bloods videos, it makes sense.

2- Been patient enough not to jump on the first Coat that came alone not to buy something I wouldn't be good enough I am still looking for other items, maybe long underwear, (but with wool pants my long johns seem they will work). Is Woolrich just as good as Johnson ? There are a couple of other brands I see, from years ago. Filson, LL Bean, etc... 36x32 (how many ounces) for under 100 bucks used. Last year I got bibs and jacket for under 300 bucks but it's waay too heavy to track. I would like to stay light as possible but stay warm as possible. The state game lands are pretty vast but don't plan on walking to far. Last year I walked almost 10 miles in two days, but didn't venture off the goat trail or main trail although there were plenty of deer everywhere. This year with the wool, I can feel confident I will stay warm and dry. Experimenting can get too expensive, so ebaying I can do well. BWB website is too much for me, other than their fanny pack, everything else is too high, an easy grand or more can be dropped at once. The big thing is If tracking isn't for me, i didn't drop a ton of money to do it. I'm not a die hard, never was never will be, unless I can team up with people which there are groups of guys at my motel who are related and know each other, some are old some young and are courteous but stick to thier own. Oh well.

3- Any other garments, ( I have a Stormy Kromer hat in mind ) anything else, gloves, neck gaitors I have.....

Thanks Ralph

I have never had Johnson wool pants so I can't speak about them. I have worn out several pairs of Woolrich, a couple of pairs of Filson, and I am on my second pair of LL Bean. The crotch wears out of them from walking, but I get several years out of all of them that I have had. If you have a choice, you want hemmed pants. Some are cut to length, and they fray and build up with ice and snow much worse than hemmed pants. I like to wear gaiters with them but in brush I don't know of any gaiters that are anywhere near as quiet as wool. When hunting brushy country I skip the gaiters.

The LL Beans that I have had are lined and I much prefer them in the wind. The wind will blow right through regular wool pants. We get a lot of wind which is a lot of the reason that I like to hunt in the timber. I prefer green wool pants over the dark gray/ charcoal colors. I am usually in Pine/ Fir forest. It is no big deal, but I have settled on the green over time. The dark Filson pants are more stylish and if you wax your mustache you might want to go with them. They work fine and I know several guys that wear them.

They pick up burrs like crazy, but I don't know what you do about it other than keep your eyes open and try to avoid them. I hunt a lot in temps below 20F and down to below zero at times and all that I have tried are warm enough if I am moving. If I sit still very long my feet get cold first.

I don't know what ounce any of mine have been, but they aren't particularly heavy.

Here is a picture of the tag on my preferred pants.

 

[Hem]

Johnson...buy once, cry once.
Had the same pants for 20 years.
Burrs are a minor inconvenience.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

wind hasn't been real strong the last few years. If wind is that strong, noise wouldn't be an issue, as with rain, so day by day would be a choice with gear to block the wind. Your choice seems like a good one.... for colder temps and wind, the LL bean pants

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Johnson...buy once, cry once.
Had the same pants for 20 years.
Burrs are a minor inconvenience.

what ounce are light enough to walk and how do they prevent wind cutting through ? I don't know if my redhead long johns will cut the wind

 

[Hem]

what ounce are light enough to walk and how do they prevent wind cutting through ? I don't know if my redhead long johns will cut the wind

They are the thickest pair they sell, I think.
No idea on ounces, don't care. I always wear long underwear too. The pants cut the wind nicely.
I don't consider them bulky. Pretty trim design.
The point is they are warm and quiet. Stalking through the timber is not a foot race. If you want ultra light then buy goretex.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

They are the thickest pair they sell, I think.
No idea on ounces, don't care. I always wear long underwear too. The pants cut the wind nicely.
I don't consider them bulky. Pretty trim design.
The point is they are warm and quiet. Stalking through the timber is not a foot race. If you want ultra light then buy goretex.

thanks for that....I'll look on thier site if I have to.

saw some thick ones on ebay but not my size, but I'll keep looking. Depending on thier pace, and the tracks will dictate, rutting after does, yes it can be a fast pace, but if not it is a normal walk.

 

[Wolfshead]

I wear a lot of wool.
I have a Johnson woolen mills 1842 jacket which I wore up to the last day of the season.
My pants are Big Bill wool pants. I think 18 oz(?) and are merino wool.
I’ve had my first pair for four years I believe and I just bought a second pair before last season to alternate with my first pair.
My first pair is still in great condition, and I would have no problems recommending them.
I’ve never worn a pair of the Johnson pants so I can’t comment the fit and quality (which I’m sure is great) but my big bills are about $100 less, and have worked well for me.