Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synthetic

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Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synthetic

Postby 63ChevyII » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:48 am

Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synthetic

After talking with Minus33 a few times about their products, I ended up with a Merino Wool Kodiak Expedition Full Zip Hoody and a set of their Merino Wool Day Hiker Socks. Here is a link to the review I wrote:

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After testing the hoody and being very impressed with it, I became interested in the possibility of using merino wool as my primary insulation layer. I am moving to New England, where it is wet and humid. Despite being much heavier than down, I like the idea of merino because it still insulates when wet and sweat does not degrade it.

What are your thoughts on Wool v. Down v. Systhetics as an insulation layer? Other than weight and "compressibility," are their other reasons to not use merino?
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Re: Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synth

Postby Pitownpi » Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:40 am

pi switched to merino years ago, no regrets.
expensive but well worth the investment when conditions need.
although sad to go tearing merino wool up in the brush!

No STINK!
One can fester in an icebreaker long sleeve tshirt for weeks and it really doesn't stink!

synthetics are a joke, wrapped in plastic all i do is sweat...AND STINK!

in summer/never below freezing;
still use COTTON long-sleeve-hooded tshirts, they stay wet longer and the swamper cooler effect is greater.

standard is the Hanes Beefy T - long sleeve hooded!....WELL stocked up on those, buy white and tie dye to match the desert sometimes.

Wear ONLY long sleeves/cover up!
although one might feel warmer, it retains moisture in the desert and keeps the skin cancer from festering up!
........... look at the arms of desert dwellers and you can see who is baking!

AND when I see folks in 'wife beaters' cooking their flesh........I really laugh out loud!
gotta keep those dermatologists employed!

I'd guess that for New England, Merino wool will be ideal.
always hand wash if you can!!!!!!
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Re: Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synth

Postby Viper » Tue Aug 09, 2016 3:28 pm

And don't get DEET on merino wool! As with certain other fabrics, merino wool tends to disintegrate when in prolonged contact with DEET. I learned this the hard way.
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Re: Gear Review: Minus33 Merino Wool & Wool v. Down v. Synth

Postby Hikin_Jim » Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:45 am

Viper wrote:And don't get DEET on merino wool! As with certain other fabrics, merino wool tends to disintegrate when in prolonged contact with DEET. I learned this the hard way.
Hmm. Interesting. I did not know that.

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