What percentage of wool is needed?

[Higgins617]

I'm looking for a wool flannel for hiking and other general outdoors use, all I have really are cotton shirts and sweatshirts and everyone knows that if you sweat in them, you're going to feel the chill pretty quick. But finding a shirt for a reasonable amount of money isn't turning out to be as easy as I had thought it might be. 1st, what percentage of wool in the composition is effective? 2, do you guys own or use anything like that?

[glorn]

Big fan of wool here. I have lots of merino wool, lambs wool, etc.

I prefer 100% hands down, but.. I do have some 80-20 and 60-40 blends that are usually some kind of wool/poly and they are still effective.

But.. Good wool is worth the investment and care.

I watch sales at men's stores. The suit places. I do not wear suits, but those types of places usually have V neck lightweight wool sweaters at either deep discounts or on some kind of "buy one get three" deal. Obviously they are intended for less casual wear,  like with a tie and undershirt, but.. they work terrifically well for hiking and bicycling by themselves.

Here in my area there is Jos. A. Bank:

http://t.josbank.com/menswear/shop/Product_11001_10050_330449

Right now their basic merino is listed at $109 USD, but I bought four for $90 USD in December during their Christmas sale that happens every year.

[glorn]

And though not cheap, Grant at Rivendell is a wool fanatic and always has quality bicycle centric wool for fair prices.

Bicycles, wool, axes, and books.. These are a few of my favorites things.



http://www.rivbike.com/Tops-s/126.htm

[jcs0001]

I've a Helly Hansen long sleeved wool blend tshirt - it's 57% merino wool and 43% polypropolene. I also have a light 100% merino wool tshirt (actually one short and one long sleeved).  They are great.  Warm even when wet and they don't smell bad like the old poly pro (after being worn a while).  They are light and work really well under a medium wt sweater or shirt.

None of the above are inexpensive but they stand up pretty well if looked after.

John.

[toolguy]

I have all kinds of wool garments. Some of them such as the Woolrich Alaskan Guide shirt,is no longer made as heavy as they were years ago.The Alaskan shirts I own are 14oz. per square yard and are 85% wool and 15% nylon.The shirts made now are 11oz. per square yard and are 80% wool and 20% nylon.

You might want to look at L.L. Beans as they sell heavy wool shirts.They also sell Commando sweaters that are really well made,very competitively priced and are now on sale.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/23238?feat=alaskan%20wool%20shirts-SR0&page=men-s-maine-guide-shirt

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43324?feat=594-GN1&page=commando-sweater-crewneck

If expense is an issue,I would wear some form of wicking material as a shirt and opt for the wool sweater as the second layer.

[Higgins617]

I have all kinds of wool garments. Some of them such as the Woolrich Alaskan Guide shirt,is no longer made as heavy as they were years ago.The Alaskan shirts I own are 14oz. per square yard and are 85% wool and 15% nylon.The shirts made now are 11oz. per square yard and are 80% wool and 20% nylon.

You might want to look at L.L. Beans as they sell heavy wool shirts.They also sell Commando sweaters that are really well made,very competitively priced and are now on sale.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/23238?feat=alaskan%20wool%20shirts-SR0&page=men-s-maine-guide-shirt

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43324?feat=594-GN1&page=commando-sweater-crewneck

If expense is an issue,I would wear some form of wicking material as a shirt and opt for the wool sweater as the second layer.

That first link is exactly the type of thing I'm looking for, thank you man. I don't know why I didn't even think of LL Bean

[toolguy]

You're welcome.

If you buy something,please let us know if the product works well or not.