Warmest Blanket Material For Winter — Fleece vs Wool

Interesting article. But, as the the article points out and as it is with most things in life, it depends. There are multiple variations of each and we all have our different applications. So, it comes down to suitability to needs and personal preference.

Personal preference being a bigger factor than people realize. We like to think we buy things logically, but we buy things emotionally. We buy things because we like them.
 
Mors Korchansky, may he rest in peace, used to teach survival skills in Saskatchewan. He told his students to bring two pair of 100% wool socks. After couple of days, they found themselves on a frozen lake, and Mors cut a hole in the ice. He had each student remove one boot, and stick their socked foot into the cold water. Then, they were to step into a nearby snow bank. Those with 100% wool socks felt fast relief, as the sock immediately dried out in the snow. Those with a wool blend, not so much! In deep cold, nothing performs like wool.

BTW, deep cold also busts the myth that "cotton kills"... no fabric is as windproof and as breathable as cotton, hence it's use as an overgarment called the Anorak.
 
MacEntyre said:
BTW, deep cold also busts the myth that "cotton kills"... no fabric is as windproof and as breathable as cotton, hence it's use as an overgarment called the Anorak.
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Nothing is as cold as cotton socks on a long hike below zero. You can say that it’s breathable, but once you get it wet, water or sweat, it stays wet for a very long time, and for that time it has an R value of zeroish. I can see it working as an overgarment, just not an undergarment.
 
MacEntyre said:
Those with a wool blend, not so much! In deep cold, nothing performs like wool.

BTW, deep cold also busts the myth that "cotton kills"... no fabric is as windproof and as breathable as cotton, hence it's use as an overgarment called the Anorak.
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JimB said:
Nothing is as cold as cotton socks on a long hike below zero. You can say that it’s breathable, but once you get it wet, water or sweat, it stays wet for a very long time, and for that time it has an R value of zeroish. I can see it working as an overgarment, just not an undergarment.
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It's just like anything else. Match the material properties to the application/situation. Cotton canvas has some unique properties, so does wool, down, and synthetic.
 
All I have to add is that growing up hunting in Northern Michigan, before all of the technical fabric stuff, nobody ever said, “Grab those cotton pants and mittens, it’s gonna be cold today.” And I distinctly remember an actual fight breaking out over grandpa’s old red plaid wool jacket. And grandma always threw wool Hudson Bay blankets on us when we slept in their unheated 3rd floor loft.
 
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JimB said:
I can see it working as an overgarment, just not an undergarment.
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Nothing performs as well, as an overgarment.

Two or three wool shirts and a canvas anorak are all you need to wear on top when hiking in -30 degrees F. When you stop, just slip a down vest on top of the wool shirts, under the anorak.

Long johns, wool pants and a pair of traditional leather and canvas mukluks with two pair of wool socks and a wool liner suffice below that.
 
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Where can you buy 100% wool socks nowadays?
 
thrillhill said:
Where can you buy 100% wool socks nowadays?
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I bought some socks at Duluth Trading Co in Cary for rucking. I am amazed that even when I am dripping in sweat on a 95 degree day when I take them off they are dry. I also bought some at Cabelas. They are good too. Duluth is pricey, but if you sign up for their email list they will send coupons that make it tolerable. I also pretty much only shop their clearance racks for most stuff.

Wool is amazing stuff. Not sure if it is the warmest but it handles moisture really well on my stinky feet.

Surely there must be some Amish dude somewhere selling wool socks. Seems like a good niche for them.
 
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CZfool68 said:
I bought some socks at Duluth Trading Co in Cary for rucking. I am amazed that even when I am dripping in sweat on a 95 degree day when I take them off they are dry. I also bought some at Cabelas. They are good too. Duluth is pricey, but if you sign up for their email list they will send coupons that make it tolerable. I also pretty much only shop their clearance racks for most stuff.

Wool is amazing stuff. Not sure if it is the warmest but it handles moisture really well on my stinky feet.

Surely there must be some Amish dude somewhere selling wool socks. Seems like a good niche for them.
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Yeah, I've looked at Duluth. Can't find any that are 100%. Not saying they aren't there, but I can't find them.

Cabela's (and some other places) list some of theirs as being 100%, but then when you read the fine print it says that the only part your feet touches is 100%, but the "rest" of the sock is composed of parts nylon and other materials.

I've been wearing wool socks almost exclusively for the past 6 or 7 years, no matter whether it is hot or cold outside.

And I've looked off and on over the years and have yet to find a true 100% wool product. I'd love for someone to point me in the right direction. It's probably just my weak "google-fu" and limited patience for clothes shopping.
 
thrillhill said:
Yeah, I've looked at Duluth. Can't find any that are 100%. Not saying they aren't there, but I can't find them.

Cabela's (and some other places) list some of theirs as being 100%, but then when you read the fine print it says that the only part your feet touches is 100%, but the "rest" of the sock is composed of parts nylon and other materials.

I've been wearing wool socks almost exclusively for the past 6 or 7 years, no matter whether it is hot or cold outside.

And I've looked off and on over the years and have yet to find a true 100% wool product. I'd love for someone to point me in the right direction. It's probably just my weak "google-fu" and limited patience for clothes shopping.
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I’m guessing that a sock upper that’s 100% wool would sag pretty bad, a little nylon keeps it limber. My ankles and calves don’t sweat nor get as cold as my feet.
 
JimB said:
I’m guessing that a sock upper that’s 100% wool would sag pretty bad, a little nylon keeps it limber. My ankles and calves don’t sweat nor get as cold as my feet.
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I'm sure there is a reason why they are hard to find and reasons why even when I am willing to pay up to $25 per pair (Darn Tough brand, LOVE them) I still can't find 100% wool.

I'm sure there probably is a manufacturing or logistical reason why they are uncommon.

But I would like to try some out and understand exactly what the issues are. I have seen them mentioned over the years in "survival bushcraft" discussions but have yet to be able to find any and at this point I'm wondering if the "100%" label is being erroneously used in those circles or if some modern esthetic or convenience like "sagging" or "itching" has caused the 100% notion to largely be abandoned.
 
thrillhill said:
I'm sure there is a reason why they are hard to find and reasons why even when I am willing to pay up to $25 per pair (Darn Tough brand, LOVE them) I still can't find 100% wool.

I'm sure there probably is a manufacturing or logistical reason why they are uncommon.

But I would like to try some out and understand exactly what the issues are. I have seen them mentioned over the years in "survival bushcraft" discussions but have yet to be able to find any and at this point I'm wondering if the "100%" label is being erroneously used in those circles or if some modern esthetic or convenience like "sagging" or "itching" has caused the 100% notion to largely be abandoned.
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I am actually surprised you don’t have your own sheep and make your own socks. I have that high of an opinion of your commitment and skills to self sufficiency.
 
@thrillhill have you looked into Duray socks? Dachstein is probably more than you want to spend. Duray is Canadian, Dachstein is Austrian. I don’t know if either is really 100%, heck I don’t even know how to find out.
 
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JimB said:
@thrillhill have you looked into Duray socks? Dachstein is probably more than you want to spend. Duray is Canadian, Dachstein is German. I don’t know if either is really 100%, heck I don’t even know how to find out.
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Thanks! Dachstein was exactly what I THINK I am looking for. I think they really are 100%. And you are right, they cost a lot but I wanna find out if they are what I want by buying one pair then we may very well try to make our own.

I think maybe merino wool is what "most" wool socks being marketed today are made from since merino doesn't itch. And maybe they aren't able to push merino to 100% for whatever reason.

I see the Dachstein are listed as "boiled wool". And they seem to be marketed exclusively for cold weather wear.

Maybe merino (like I've been wearing) is good for hot weather and "mild cold" and this boiled wool is the go to for the very cold?

Hey @mj1angier , have you learned anything new in this vein? I need to learn all this stuff before we get to Idaho.

Here in NC, not so much.
 
I'm in the sweaty feet crowd & have worn wool socks exclusively for several years. Typically a medium weight wool blend when it's warm & heavier, all wool socks in cold weather.
 
@thrillhill, If you know anyone who knits, have them make you a pair of socks using Alpaca wool, but it is pricey. Alpaca wool is not itchy like sheep wool and is extremely warm.

We currently have 1 alpaca, used to have 2, and my wife sent several years worth of shearings to a company to have it processed into sport weight yarn. Ended up with over 25 lbs of yarn. She knits a lot of stuff, especially sweaters for herself and she made one alpaca wool sweater that she says is so hot that she cannot wear it even on the coldest days and she is cold natured. She mainly uses it for scarves now.
 
I have just been going with a higher % sock. I think a 100% would be tough to keep up unless it was used with a sock suspender. There's some hand knitted one on Estay that are made in Ukraine that say 100% ( https://www.etsy.com/listing/729242320/hand-knitted-wool-socks-pure-sheep-wool?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=100%+wool+ragg+socks&ref=sr_gallery-1-5&pro=1&col=1) not sure if it is or not but I think it's a cheap enough way to try.

Donegal socks are listed as 100% Sheep wool- not sure if that means they are 100% wool or if the % of wool in it is sheep

These are the last few that I have gotten and like them- JB Fields and Loose Fit Stay up
 
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