Hello everybody,

Does anybody use wool clothing on their trapline?

If so what do you use?

Socks, that's about it.

You bet....wool everything. Its been a big topic in my hunting/trapping camps the last few years....guys are paying literally hundreds and hundreds of dollars for garbage that doesn't keep them warm and doest last.....think Sitka, and some other big name brands. The best thing I can say about those companies is they have some top shelf PR guys. Been dealing with this company lately.....first class stuff and great service. I have their wool anorak as well as the canvas. Would highly recommend this stuff. boreal mountain anoraks

Waggler
What do you wear normally? synthetics?

Yukon254
Thanks for that link. Looks like a nice company to patronize. Do you wear wool long johns? how many layers do you wear at 40 below? If you don't mind could you explain what your outfit consists of typically?
Also do you put the canvas anorak over your wool one?

Thanks for the responses =)

Wool feathers or fur only way to go

I wear the canvas over the wool in really cold weather or when riding a skidoo a long ways. It also works great by itself in windy cool weather. Yes I wear wool long johns...mostly in winter, but also on late fall hunts.

My fall guiding and early winter outfits is much the same. I will have wool long johns, medium weight shirt then the wool anorak or Filson coat. I also wear wool pants when it gets below zero. During the day when it warms up I will often be in just a shirt. I like wool because it always works no matter the weather. In super cold I do wear a Wiggys parka...but still prefer wool/canvas. Yes that company is great to deal with and the products are top shelf.

Most of the time whether I'm in, in southwest or southeast Alaska, my main adversary is moisture. In either of these regions my experience has shown me that once wool gets wet it gets heavy and stays wet. I can almost always get poly to dry out. I've had clients on bear hunts on the peninsula get wool clothing wet and it's wet for the rest of the hunt.

Wool does dry slower....but its warm even when it gets wet unlike some stuff.

I'll give you that it's warm when dry, and retains some thermal value when wet, but I'm not feeling the love for wool. Weight is a factor if you're doing any kind of walking, especially on snowshoes. Snow and moisture sticks to bottom of pants adding even more weight. I hate wool underwear. My kids splurged and bought me top of the line set and I can't wear them. Still feel itchy to me. I don't even wear wool socks. Too sweaty. Now that I think about it I hate wool so much I'm having lamb chops for supper tomorrow.

I'm about layers when I'm out. synthetic underlayer first, wicks sweat off. Next are fleece MEC pants, super light and dry in minutes behind a wood stove. Or in a worst case scenario can be twisted around a tree to squeeze water out if you go through ice. Yes I've done it. On top of MEC pants I wear a pair of tear resistant rain pants or Helly Hanson overalls if not too cold. below -20 I add another pair of light weight sweat pants. Nothing fancy for a shirt, any work style. But I wear a vest over my shirt stuffed with essentials like lighters, camera, etc. For my coat I've come to really like down. I own a variety of styles, from light version right up to my Canada Goose Down parka. Usually go with a lighter down version though.

So for me weight and water resistance are key. While down is no good in a rain storm I've never had a problem in the winter.

But Yukon I'm thinking a down jacket under one of those canvas anorak's would be slick.

I'm in the "I hate wool" camp also.

I do wear some Duo-fold long johns. Cotton inside and wool outside. No itch.

Usually just wear jeans over those and if it gets minus 20 I will add down pants. Long sleeve poly under shirt with flannel over the top of that. Medium weight fiber fill coat. Really cold and I'll switch to my down parka with a BIG hood.

Amen to the hood W17

Hairy like sasquatch. Dont need no fancy clothes.

I stay away from down because I saw a guy on a long distance dog race get in real trouble with a Canada Goose parka......condensation built up, the down got wet, and he was left with nothing but a shell ! There are wool blends out there now that don't itch. My two biggest complaints with synthetics and some of the new stuff is, A-it won't last very long, and B- you better not get close to an open fire! I had a hunter last fall that was in Sitka from head to toe...he told me later his outfit cost him over $1000 ....one tea fire and that was that! My $250 wool anorak is almost 4-years old and still going strong.

I need stuff that not only works but will last...in an average year I will spend more than half of it in the bush, between trapping, guiding, and fishing. I don't see town often and since we fly everywhere I can't take a lot of extra anything. Wool is tough stuff. The anoraks are light, very warm and I don't have any trouble drying it out. My Filson is on the heavy side but its nice when your sitting on a mountain in the wind and rain for 12-hours!

How can you not be in love with a look like this? My stuff gets as good a work out as you can get. I'm not knocking your choices yukon, what works for me might not be right for you. But in over half a century no one has had to bail me out or provide me with clothes but I've sure shared a lot of my extra gear over the years. If anything I'm over cautious and pack extra gear in a wet bag.



I learned to stay away from hot stuff when I was kid Dave. Plus that's what they make tuck tape for, jacket repair.

Ha ha I do love that look! I recognize those HH rain pants too. I think it pays to be over cautious, and you would be one of the last guys I would expect to need any "assistance" out in the bush. Never thought about tuck tape to patch holes...good idea! Heading to the line soon, you need to come up for a visit and do some ice fishing once it cools off!

I'm so cautious I use both a belt AND suspenders !!

Carry dry gloves, dry sox, two axes and a swede saw.

Don't your hands get cold wearing nitrile gloves,lol.

This is what I wear in winter.

We SEE what you use for insulation there. I have some of that on me too...!

Pete

LOL.