Camping clothing

Ive done a lot of cold weather camping. Snow, rain, you name it. Spent a month in the Grand Canyon. Synthetics are where its at. If you cant afford Capilene (Patagonia) or Smart Wool, the military cold weather underlayers are cheap and do well. I had three or four Capilene tops and two pairs of Basketball shorts (champion) and they did me for the entire GC trip. Washing them every few days. Wool is great, but it wont allow you to "shake the sweat out" like your synthetic fleeces will.

Tell us more about what you are planning and are you just going car camping or backpacking? makes a huge difference on loadout.
 
Wool was the way to go 40 years ago. It is heavy compared to synthetic fibers available today. Slow to dry compared to newer fabrics. . Sneaky medic has it right.
 
Funny this comes up, I just read somewhere about European ( wool wearers ) complaining about how Americans "stink" in their synthetics, compared to the wool not stinking. I do not know about the wool, I know I get pretty rank in my Poly Pro. I will follow this thread with interest.
 
Funny this comes up, I just read somewhere about European ( wool wearers ) complaining about how Americans "stink" in their synthetics, compared to the wool not stinking. I do not know about the wool, I know I get pretty rank in my Poly Pro. I will follow this thread with interest.
you are very, very correct…..many of those synthetics stink.
 
Of course, you are correct, synthetic is the way to go, especially when water can be wet.

I use wool exclusively, with no synthetic fibers at all, but only when temps are below 20*F and there is no chance at all of any water in the liquid state. At minus 25*F, with my thrift store wool, a Molly Mac Gear Anorak and Mukluks, I am toasty and comfortable. There's a bunch of us'n who look for those deep cold conditions in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan every year.

Three layers of regular weight wool shirts, plus a canvas Anorak outer garment, are all I need when snow shoe hiking and pulling a pulk sled in minus 20*F. For sitting around, I add a down vest. Below, I use long cotton underwear and heavy wool pants. My feet are in two pair of 100% wool socks, a wool felt liner, and lightweight canvas and leather Mukluks.

In deep cold, a down underquilt (or two) and a down top blanket keep me toasty in my hammock. I also use a canvas hammock sock, with no tarp. Snow just falls off, and I have what the young'uns call a "micro-climate" inside, about 10*F warmer than ambient conditions. Canvas is more breathable and more windproof than any synthetic, and as an outer layer in deep cold, it performs the best.

One thing wool can do that synthetic fibers cannot... a woolen tee shirt will not smell, even after several days of use without a bath! (Ha! Ya'll are talkin' 'bout that while I was typing!)
 
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Huh, I thought I was the only one that stunk it that stuff... And bad enough that I can smell it.
I have to stick to natural fibers.
 
Is the question about cold weather camping?

Hmmm... If it's that cold, I'm not camping...

I prefer wool to synthetic though. Antimicrobial with good insulation even when wet...

I like smart wool base layers, people's wool socks, and my Merrill wool sweater as far as that stuff goes...
 
We talking cold weather? Synthetics on the body, wool on the feet - socks to rotate. Eat plenty, stay hydrated, sleep well, avoid alcohol, it is shocking the effect these four things have when you get into extreme conditions and it doesn't have to be very cold if you can't get dry to get there.

I left AK seven years ago so I haven't stayed current on materials, haven't had a need for anything special here.
 
Huh, I thought I was the only one that stunk it that stuff... And bad enough that I can smell it.
I have to stick to natural fibers.
Getting off topic, but I have to wear a cotton t-shirt under synthetic golf shirts when I can’t avoid them entirely.
 
I switched from wool this year to Kuiu synthetics for the weight savings and I can’t ever see looking back. Even in sub zero temps I needed less layers and was able to move much more efficiently and comfortably.
 
For insulation properties, wool is king. The issue is several days with wearing something wet even though you are wsrm....can cause issues. So for a global "good" synthetics win. But like Mac said, not worried about water, and being smart and taking layers off BEFORE you get sweaty are valid points to consider. And weight. I'm big, and sweat like a pig. But, I hike just on the verge of being cold. Avoids the sweaty issues. I add when I need it, but most of the actual hike is done bare bones clothing.

Taking off layers after you are sweaty isn't the best way to manage backcountry dressing.
 
The only things I like about wool is 1) it stays warm when it's wet and 2) retains heat like a sauna. But the synthetics today are so much better. BUT....the newer stuff can be pricy (Arcteryx base layer bottoms are > $100). I love me some REI garage sale/outlet, Sierra Trading Post, etc., for deals.
 
Taking off layers after you are sweaty isn't the best way to manage backcountry dressing.
In deep cold, you can't allow yourself to get sweaty in the first place. Venting is the solution, not removing layers. Neck opening, wrist opening and skirt are the ways that an Anorak vents. Also, through the fabric itself.

A highly breathable fabric is a requirement in deep cold. You would think that you want to hold all the heat you can, but we generate so much heat that we must get rid of some even at minus temps. We also need to get rid of insensible persperation, by allowing it to go out with the heat. We generate a lot of excess heat, but we also generate a ton of moisture along with it. Hence, your outer layer must be able to pass moisture without it condensing and making ice. That's the magic of canvas.

But all this about deep cold is a bit academic, because only me and a few other knothaids hike and camp in deep cold. When they say, "Cotton kills" they are talking about cool weather. From 20F up to 45F, you can be in grave danger from being wet. Even if it is only your feet, but especially if it endangers your core. Feet generate about a cup of water a day. If you are a person who sweats a lot, you have to find a way to manage it, or risk hypothermia and even death. So, having a good clothing system that works for you is of utmost importance.

What you learn about moisture management in deep cold will help you understand the issues in the danger zone (20F to 45F), but the solutions are totally different.
 
I don’t plan on going under 20 at peak cold at night.

I was thinking of the polartec fleece pull overs, I have different sets of thermal underwear.

Looking at different pants and outerwear to stop wind.
 
Picked up some better wool socks today.

What’s a good wind / rain breaker for pants?

My hunting pants are Cabela’s Dry Plus. One of the best rain paints I have ever had. I had a pair of Helly Hanson pants that I used for backpacking and ski patrol that were awesome. Patrolling took a toll on them but they didn’t leak until I got cuts in the legs.


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my minimal experiences have proven to me;

a wool/ cashmere overcoat I had, hardly if ever smelled after wearing it out to bars/smokers or even at campfires. so I agree with the non smelly effectiveness of wool

odd experience this fall, while wearing my clamshell support for my broken back. proved that fleece will wick moisture through my cotton undershirt and be wet when taking off my clamshell yet my t shirt seemed much drier in comparison. a cotton shirt alone would be wet from sweating in that thing. HTH
 
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