Wool clothing

[Wanna_track_well]

I contacted Hal Blood about virgin wool, he mentioned that even virgin wool is only 85, and 15% nylon. He mentioned that nylon is added for strength. I just got a response email and he said his virgin wool line is 85/15. Also a gal from Johnson said virgin wool alone is more expensive and harder to care for. I saw tags that say 100% wool, it doesn't say 100% "virgin" but I'm assuming it is virgin. Dry clean only. He also said his wife washes his stuff in cold water by hand and drip dries.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Doug, thanks for the response and l get the base layers. I have Redhead elite (l have redhead breathable lightweight polyester) and DaMart extreme. When you say light weight poly you mean what l have ? The both bottoms together don’t seem to overheat me but l wasn’t tracking. Maybe just the DaMart alone while tracking then. Do you think my LL Bean pants will do the job going through the spruce/snow you pictured?

I wear those LL Bean pants too. They're just fine for tracking, but don't expect any wool pants to truly keep you dry. In my experience, you're just looking for those pants to keep you warm and quiet while you're wet. And yes, your long johns sound like what I wear. It's like anything else, you can probably improve a bit on all of these factors by buying more expensive wool pants, merino base layers, etc. But, if that's not in the budget, don't let it stop you. I think what you have is going to serve you just fine. And you may adapt some of it to match where you hunt. Most of the big woods dogma out there is based on northern New England and the Adirondacks. You may find that the differences in the PA woods mean that you can adjust the gear you use. And there are people who do this style of hunting with other kinds of gear. There's a guy on Youtube named Jeff Doyle, who runs a channel called Tracking 200. He tracks very successfully in more modern Sitka clothing. Another brand you might check out is Stagr. They make wool and fleece hunting clothing, specifically for tracking, that is generally more affordable that BWB, etc. I have one of their wool jackets and have been pretty happy with it.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

I know they won't keep you dry, but they will keep you warm, yes, from what I was told. Hal sells 24 ounce stuff so up there. Where I hunt in PA it may go down to the teens but rise to low to mid 20's, even with a cloudy forecast and occasionally low 30's. My pants are 18 which I do believe will do fine. I ain't tracking what those boys do up yonder ! You run out of free ranging !

 

[Dougfirtree]

I know they won't keep you dry, but they will keep you warm, yes, from what I was told. Hal sells 24 ounce stuff so up there. Where I hunt in PA it may go down to the teens but rise to low to mid 20's, even with a cloudy forecast and occasionally low 30's. My pants are 18 which I do believe will do fine. I ain't tracking what those boys do up yonder ! You run out of free ranging !

Incidentally, I just went to the Stagr website and their merino base layers are on sale...

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Incidentally, I just went to the Stagr website and their merino base layers are on sale...

Got my Johnson cruiser jacket under 100 bucks in mint condition. I'm assuming it’s 24 ounce.

Update...Johnson jacket gone. Came to small. Size is 42 which is Large, no where near a large. I'm not blaming Johnson.. but someone didn't care for it right. Almost bought a 46 but backed out with a Ebay refund....Unless the wool content is virgin, water soaks through, but virgin is a tighter weave and prevent this. Filson is virgin and the tag says so. It's pricier than Johnson and Woolrich 85/15. But as long as Filson is cared for or any other virgin wool garment, that don't shrink, or if they do it takes quite awhile ? If dry cleaned only they fair well ?

 

[Wolfshead]

I wear those LL Bean pants too. They're just fine for tracking, but don't expect any wool pants to truly keep you dry. In my experience, you're just looking for those pants to keep you warm and quiet while you're wet. And yes, your long johns sound like what I wear. It's like anything else, you can probably improve a bit on all of these factors by buying more expensive wool pants, merino base layers, etc. But, if that's not in the budget, don't let it stop you. I think what you have is going to serve you just fine. And you may adapt some of it to match where you hunt. Most of the big woods dogma out there is based on northern New England and the Adirondacks. You may find that the differences in the PA woods mean that you can adjust the gear you use. And there are people who do this style of hunting with other kinds of gear. There's a guy on Youtube named Jeff Doyle, who runs a channel called Tracking 200. He tracks very successfully in more modern Sitka clothing. Another brand you might check out is Stagr. They make wool and fleece hunting clothing, specifically for tracking, that is generally more affordable that BWB, etc. I have one of their wool jackets and have been pretty happy with it.

I agree 100% with everything you said here.
I have some of Kuiu’s attack pants and wear them early season when it’s really warm.
The thing about wool is this (my opinion and experience) is that it is warm, helps keep you warm when wet, and it is very quiet!
I was still hunting through some thick brush this past fall, early in the season, wearing my attack pants, and I was shocked at how noisy they were compared to my wool pants.
The typical day hunting I wear a merino wool base layer, top and bottoms.
I have a heavier weight merino pull over that I can use on those very cold days.
Over my base layers I wear a plaid Pendleton wool button up shirt and a pair of Big Bill wool pants.
My jacket is either a Stagr trackers wool camo pattern jacket which is I believe is 18 oz wool or a Johnson woolen Mills 1842 Jac shirt which feels a bit heavier, in the green black check.
If I’m sitting in a stand especially on a field edge and not moving I have bibs and a parka I’ll wear over the top of what I’ve explained.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

I agree 100% with everything you said here.
I have some of Kuiu’s attack pants and wear them early season when it’s really warm.
The thing about wool is this (my opinion and experience) is that it is warm, helps keep you warm when wet, and it is very quiet!
I was still hunting through some thick brush this past fall, early in the season, wearing my attack pants, and I was shocked at how noisy they were compared to my wool pants.
The typical day hunting I wear a merino wool base layer, top and bottoms.
I have a heavier weight merino pull over that I can use on those very cold days.
Over my base layers I wear a plaid Pendleton wool button up shirt and a pair of Big Bill wool pants.
My jacket is either a Stagr trackers wool camo pattern jacket which is I believe is 18 oz wool or a Johnson woolen Mills 1842 Jac shirt which feels a bit heavier, in the green black check.
If I’m sitting in a stand especially on a field edge and not moving I have bibs and a parka I’ll wear over the top of what I’ve explained.

how do they, John, Stagr, Big Bill last? They aren't virgin wool are they ? how many years until get soaked through wet unless the person who told me this is being a little over done getting wet, yeah as long as you're warm but yet wet ? I was told 85/15 LL bean only lasted two years, so I don't know exactly how wet is too wet for him. They aren't virgin wool.

 

[Wolfshead]

On my fourth year of the big bill pants and wear them almost everyday I hunt and they’re still in great condition.
And I wash them two or three times during the season.
Stagr is well made and Johnson is really well made.
They are not virgin wool. I don’t understand what you mean by “how many years until they get soaked through wet?”
If you’re out in the pouring rain it’s only going to take a little bit before you get wet, regardless to whether it is virgin wool or not.

 

[David58]

I contacted Hal Blood about virgin wool, he mentioned that even virgin wool is only 85, and 15% nylon. He mentioned that nylon is added for strength. I just got a response email and he said his virgin wool line is 85/15. Also a gal from Johnson said virgin wool alone is more expensive and harder to care for. I saw tags that say 100% wool, it doesn't say 100% "virgin" but I'm assuming it is virgin. Dry clean only. He also said his wife washes his stuff in cold water by hand and drip dries.

I think virgin wool is hard to find, have heard tell that those Scots sheepherders keep the number of virgin sheep low.

David
NM
(I make jokes about Scots due to the amount of Scots blood in my pedigree)

 

[hank4elk]

I think virgin wool is hard to find, have heard tell that those Scots sheepherders keep the number of virgin sheep low.

David
NM
(I make jokes about Scots due to the amount of Scots blood in my pedigree)

Same reason there are not ships floating that have virgin in the names. A target for my Portagee pirate forefathers. For sure.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

On my fourth year of the big bill pants and wear them almost everyday I hunt and they’re still in great condition.
And I wash them two or three times during the season.
Stagr is well made and Johnson is really well made.
They are not virgin wool. I don’t understand what you mean by “how many years until they get soaked through wet?”
If you’re out in the pouring rain it’s only going to take a little bit before you get wet, regardless to whether it is virgin wool or not.

Fella made a comment about LL Bean

I don’t understand what you mean by “how many years until they get soaked through wet?”

The recycled wool fibers pull out going through brush and then wet through easier.

Like brushing a dog or a horse to get the old hair out. Granted I wear mine more than the average hunter who hunts a week a year. The short fibers in recycled just can't be woven into strong threads

I regards to Woolrich

Yes, woolrich was great stuff. We used to buy their wool for our clothing

 

[Wanna_track_well]

On my fourth year of the big bill pants and wear them almost everyday I hunt and they’re still in great condition.
And I wash them two or three times during the season.
Stagr is well made and Johnson is really well made.
They are not virgin wool. I don’t understand what you mean by “how many years until they get soaked through wet?”
If you’re out in the pouring rain it’s only going to take a little bit before you get wet, regardless to whether it is virgin wool or not.

being wet and still keeps you warm is across the board, but how nonvirgin wool holds up to the brush and gets pulled out verses virgin wool with longer strands and doesn't. What holds in the long run being drug through the brush for longer hunts, verses the one week I hunt will satisfy me more so.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

In all fairness the guys here who mention who well their pants held up through brush when "wet", the non virgin wool, maybe you guys are not through the brush as much? Longer season guys tend to experience more damage then others ?

Generally speaking ?? Either they do or they don't ......

Yes, Sitka gear generally holds up well in brush even when wet

Sitka often uses high-quality fabrics with good tear strength, making them less prone to damage from brush contact.

either they do or they don't, why would they do sometimes or other times they don't? I tried on a jacket that was close to 500 bucks, and I didn't tell the guy the material is too soft, and to me that's not durable in my eyes.

Very thick or thorny brush can still damage even the most durable hunting gear, regardless of the brand.

this ^^^^ is more like it.
the stratus line are supposed to be more rugged than the other line but the price isn't in line with the durability, under 200 bucks, to me that price should be higher to stand the test of what they say they can do. And........ are they quiet ?

I watched a video from MOE and the guy raves of his Johnson cruiser...

I have been incredibly hard on that jacket. Every season since I was 14. It’s still going strong after almost 30 years. Crazy. You can’t buy new stuff like that nowadays.

I just got off the phone with Johnson, they've always used virgin wool and still do.

 

[Dave N]

Sounds like you won't be satisfied until you raise some sheep and knit your own clothes.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Sounds like you won't be satisfied until you raise some sheep and knit your own clothes.

no I just don't feel like buying stuff to toss it too soon. Like to have good stuff that will stick around for awhile, is that a crime ?

 

[Wolfshead]

This is some of the brush that I work through hunting.
And, this is not the thickest by any means. We have a lot of wild rose around here and they will shred you while passing through. I avoid that at all costs but there are time when you are in it before you realize it.
I hunt probably 3 days a week on average for the season, and this is wear I hunt most, in this public land area.
So, for four years my big bill pants have held up very, very well.
My Johnson 1842 Jac shirt for two years….

I didn’t know the Johnson wool was virgin.
I’m pretty sure the big bills are not. But, are holding up extremely well.
I’m not sure the Stagr is virgin, I think not, and it is lighter weight, and not as tight a weave as the Johnson. I use that in warmer weather.
I don’t want to jinx myself, but I have no tears or any real pulls in any of my clothing. I’m not busting through as I’m trying to be as stealthy as possible but I’m not babying my things either….
Everyone is different, and I’m not trying to sell you on what I have. I am just giving you my experience with these items to give you the best opportunity to make an educated decision.
Best wishes to you I know how difficult it is to get your kit the way you like it.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

View attachment 360709

This is some of the brush that I work through hunting.
And, this is not the thickest by any means. We have a lot of wild rose around here and they will shred you while passing through. I avoid that at all costs but there are time when you are in it before you realize it.
I hunt probably 3 days a week on average for the season, and this is wear I hunt most, in this public land area.
So, for four years my big bill pants have held up very, very well.
My Johnson 1842 Jac shirt for two years….

I didn’t know the Johnson wool was virgin.
I’m pretty sure the big bills are not. But, are holding up extremely well.
I’m not sure the Stagr is virgin, I think not, and it is lighter weight, and not as tight a weave as the Johnson. I use that in warmer weather.
I don’t want to jinx myself, but I have no tears or any real pulls in any of my clothing. I’m not busting through as I’m trying to be as stealthy as possible but I’m not babying my things either….
Everyone is different, and I’m not trying to sell you on what I have. I am just giving you my experience with these items to give you the best opportunity to make an educated decision.
Best wishes to you I know how difficult it is to get your kit the way you like it.

The Johnson Cruiser I believe is thicker than the Jac shirt. As far as your Big Bills or Johnson..... what about when they are wet ?

 

[Wolfshead]

The Johnson Cruiser I believe is thicker than the Jac shirt. As far as your Big Bills or Johnson..... what about when they are wet ?

Most of your posts in this thread are confusing, and lack complete context in my opinion.
For example what would you say if I were to ask you “what about your rifle when it is wet?”? How would you answer that question?

As I see your question right know all I can answer is “they are wet”.

What do you want to know about “when they are wet”?

This season for example I’ve hunted in 65 degree weather with sun, 45 degrees weather with a light drizzle, 40s degrees weather with heavy rain at times, and snow with sun and snow while it was snowing, etc….
Most of it I wore my wool as explained. The one day in the pouring rain I knew it was going to rain and adjusted to it. The drizzling day I didn’t know it was going to rain where I was and I lived with it.
My clothing and I came out of without a scratch, but a little damp.

I think at this point you’re going to have to take the plunge. Use what you have or get what you are wanting and put it to the test.
As I’ve stated before I’m not trying to convince you what to buy. I’ve given you my experience and what works for me in an attempt to give you a better understanding and the ability to better make an educated decision.

 

[Wanna_track_well]

Most of your posts in this thread are confusing, and lack complete context in my opinion.
For example what would you say if I were to ask you “what about your rifle when it is wet?”? How would you answer that question?

As I see your question right know all I can answer is “they are wet”.

What do you want to know about “when they are wet”?

This season for example I’ve hunted in 65 degree weather with sun, 45 degrees weather with a light drizzle, 40s degrees weather with heavy rain at times, and snow with sun and snow while it was snowing, etc….
Most of it I wore my wool as explained. The one day in the pouring rain I knew it was going to rain and adjusted to it. The drizzling day I didn’t know it was going to rain where I was and I lived with it.
My clothing and I came out of without a scratch, but a little damp.

I think at this point you’re going to have to take the plunge. Use what you have or get what you are wanting and put it to the test.
As I’ve stated before I’m not trying to convince you what to buy. I’ve given you my experience and what works for me in an attempt to give you a better understanding and the ability to better make an educated decision.

I was told that LL Bean doesn't hold up but for a couple of years after getting pulled out from brush while wet. Wet regardless of rain, or snow or dew or whatever it takes to get "wet". From what they said about Bean wool pants, it's not virgin wool, and non virgin wool is recycled wool, which the strands aren't woven tightly as virgin wool, hence isn't as strong even with a mix of nylon.

Virgin shorn is best in woven wool than recycled wool and is shorn once to strands . The guy who told me this mentioned they used to use Woolrich wool, but didn't mention what he uses now.

So I guess even the best virgin wool with Lanolin from the sheep it's originally shorn from eventually dries out and has to be replaced, regardless of what brand, and nylon helps prevent shrinkage. 85/15 sounds like a good mix.

I have to ask how long virgin 85/15 wool lasts when wet and through the brush? I inquire not to take the plunge, unless you want to buy me these pants, I'd be more than happy to take the "plunge".

I didn't mention before, the bean Pants I just bought have four repairs on each leg. Looks like they were torn, kinda wondering about a different brand. The seller on ebay is more than happy to take them back. Thicker pants, more ounces to me might be to warm tracking. So far Hem is the only one here that recommended Johnson and about having the same pair for over twenty years.

 

[MTTW]

I was told that LL Bean doesn't hold up but for a couple of years after getting pulled out from brush while wet. Wet regardless of rain, or snow or dew or whatever it takes to get "wet". From what they said about Bean wool pants, it's not virgin wool, and non virgin wool is recycled wool, which the strands aren't woven tightly as virgin wool, hence isn't as strong even with a mix of nylon.

Virgin shorn is best in woven wool than recycled wool and is shorn once to strands . The guy who told me this mentioned they used to use Woolrich wool, but didn't mention what he uses now.

So I guess even the best virgin wool with Lanolin from the sheep it's originally shorn from eventually dries out and has to be replaced, regardless of what brand, and nylon helps prevent shrinkage. 85/15 sounds like a good mix.

I have to ask how long virgin 85/15 wool lasts when wet and through the brush? I inquire not to take the plunge, unless you want to buy me these pants, I'd be more than happy to take the "plunge".

I didn't mention before, the bean Pants I just bought have four repairs on each leg. Looks like they were torn, kinda wondering about a different brand. The seller on ebay is more than happy to take them back. Thicker pants, more ounces to me might be to warm tracking. So far Hem is the only one here that recommended Johnson and about having the same pair for over twenty years.

I don't think you will be happy until you get Johnson pants. Take Hem's advice and bite the bullet.