I'm not particular about feel, but I haven't heard much about Fred Ashbell. I don't mind paying $100 for one of their products, but I'd like to know a bit more about the quality of their wool from someone who owns them.
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Wool Sweaters
- Thread starter Fuori
- Start date
I'm not particular about feel, but I haven't heard much about Fred Ashbell. I don't mind paying $100 for one of their products, but I'd like to know a bit more about the quality of their wool from someone who owns them.
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- Jan 15, 2001
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On Sale by Individuals, Gadgets and Gear there is a Scottish Brenire sweater for sale right now. I have a Norwegian Army wool sweater and it is quite warm, some men were lucky enough to go to the Austrian Army's Mountain school, and their sweaters were also very warm. John
I went to Gadgets and Gear, but didn't see a Brenire sweater when I typed it in the search box.
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Fuori, I just went to the Advanced Search at the top of this screen and typed Brenire sweater, and the link came right up. John
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I've had good luck with discount retailers like Marshall's and TJ Maxx, and eBay too, although I understand that the latter can be a crap shoot. Brand name has never been much of a factor in deciding or an indicator of quality. Most of the name brand wool sweaters are thinner merino I use for base layers, while it's theoddball brands or mil-surp that are my go-to for heavier mid/outer layer.
Thank you I see it now.
What about the NATO/British/Italian wool sweaters on a certain auction site? They are 50% wool 50% acylic. Are the 100% wool warmer than the blends?
About wool sweaters in general I find that the ones with an airy weave, high turtle neck, and loose fit are the best. A half zip or full zip allows venting and makes them much more versatile.
If you have the coin Devold makes really good quality heavyweight sweaters.
Though you might have to think twice about just how much use something like that is in your day to day life. It is a very warm layer and gets dirty easily. The insulation level (and lack of full zip) could quickly lead to frustration if you spend even a small part of your day indoors in modern climate controlled environments. Even outdoors it's still a lot of insulation in one layer so you will need a pretty cold day and consistent activity levels for them to make sense. You can't just remove half your big sweater if you start to heat up during a hike.
The ultimate form-follows-function wool midlayers are the wool/synthetic blend, loop knit garments from woolpower in Sweden. Notice the long back, long sleeves, full zip, and high neck. You won't be winning any fashion prizes but they are sensible features for seriously unpleasant weather.
If you have the coin Devold makes really good quality heavyweight sweaters.
Though you might have to think twice about just how much use something like that is in your day to day life. It is a very warm layer and gets dirty easily. The insulation level (and lack of full zip) could quickly lead to frustration if you spend even a small part of your day indoors in modern climate controlled environments. Even outdoors it's still a lot of insulation in one layer so you will need a pretty cold day and consistent activity levels for them to make sense. You can't just remove half your big sweater if you start to heat up during a hike.
The ultimate form-follows-function wool midlayers are the wool/synthetic blend, loop knit garments from woolpower in Sweden. Notice the long back, long sleeves, full zip, and high neck. You won't be winning any fashion prizes but they are sensible features for seriously unpleasant weather.
a little blend helps with durability, too much blend and you start taking away the benefits of wool
WoolPower (Ullfrotte) (pic'd above) makes nice wool garments- I have several of their socks, balaclava and heavy mittens- they make a 400 and a 600 g/m2 "jacket" that would serve as a good sweater
WoolPower (Ullfrotte) (pic'd above) makes nice wool garments- I have several of their socks, balaclava and heavy mittens- they make a 400 and a 600 g/m2 "jacket" that would serve as a good sweater
Dunno about the sizing on the dutch sweater. I got mine directly from a surplus store and it is now stashed in a kit in another time zone so I can't check for you. Sorry.
Blends come in many shapes and sizes, there is too much variation to generalize. There are different types of synthetics and blending processes. Sometimes they blend to save money, other times it is to add some favorable trait from the synthetic fabric. It all depends and the end products need to be individually tested.
Blends come in many shapes and sizes, there is too much variation to generalize. There are different types of synthetics and blending processes. Sometimes they blend to save money, other times it is to add some favorable trait from the synthetic fabric. It all depends and the end products need to be individually tested.
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Buy an army surplus wool blanket.
Find someone with a sewing machine.
Find someone with a sewing machine.
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There are tons of ho-hum 80/20 wool /synthetic Army, Navy and RAF surplus jumpers here with free shipping. They go for about ten quid as grade 1 surplus. Elbow and shoulder patches, mebe with velcro epaulettes, and in crew and V neck. Light blue darker blue or green.
These are typical -
Bit more interesting is the 100% wool Army job in beige. As I type this is selling for 15 quid and looks like this -
If wool is your thing though it might pay to dig about for an old WW2 US Army sweater in 100% wool. The one below is brand new with an NSN 8405-00-163-8907. It's going for £14.99
That said, if I was a wool fiend I wouldn't piss about with any of that crap. I'd go straight for the Austrian surplus gear. This is the old school boiled wool gear à la the Dachstein Mitts. Looks like this -
These are typical -
Bit more interesting is the 100% wool Army job in beige. As I type this is selling for 15 quid and looks like this -
If wool is your thing though it might pay to dig about for an old WW2 US Army sweater in 100% wool. The one below is brand new with an NSN 8405-00-163-8907. It's going for £14.99
That said, if I was a wool fiend I wouldn't piss about with any of that crap. I'd go straight for the Austrian surplus gear. This is the old school boiled wool gear à la the Dachstein Mitts. Looks like this -