[levocardia]

You can tell the author went deep into reddit because they fell for the wool meme. Sorry but synthetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture.

One pattern I noticed that was missing: the classic reddit experience of saying "I'd like a new shoulder season jacket, and I want to spend less than $100" and having some know-it-all try to convince you that what you really need is an ultra-nano-pore down puffer made by a blind Italian artisan that costs $950, and that anything else is Wal-Mart-tier garbage.

[tmnvix]

The best warm underlayer garments I've ever owned have been merino Icebreaker brand. They can be worn multiple times without needing a wash. Synthetics stink really, really quickly.

I asked claude to remind me of what Sir Peter Blake had to say about merino underwear:

>> Sir Peter Blake wore Icebreaker merino prototypes during his record-breaking round-the-world yacht race. After returning from the Southern Ocean, he claimed the fabric was "superior in every way to anything I had ever worn before" and revealed he'd worn his Icebreaker for 43 days and 43 nights without changing. He also reportedly greeted Icebreaker's original merino farmer, Brian Brakenridge, as "the sheep farmer responsible for stopping my undies from smelling."

[boonzeet]

Having spent a lot of time in denial before investing in a few light wool turtlenecks and some Aran jumpers, I can only disagree.

When wool gets warm it expands, which cools you slightly. It seems to have a much better range of temperatures you can be comfortable in.

Synthetic jumpers and sweaters get stuffy quickly and after a few washes can end up itchy.

And no, good cable knits from non designer brands go for $100-$200 and will last many, many years.

[evenerhejjr]

wool IS better if you are gonna stay outdoors for long periods of time in anything but extreme cold

wool will keep you warm and comfy

wool is the difference between happiness and tears

ignore at your own risk

[gib444]

Team wool here too

My carpets are 80% wool (with wool underlay). My base layers are wool. My jumpers are wool. My curtains are wool. Much of my mattress is wool. My next sofa will be wool.

The only thing better than wool in a duvet (comforter?) is down. My duvet is down lol

[galleywest200]

Wool will keep you warm and comfy even if it is soaking wet. It is also used for fire blankets.

[xnyan]

> sythetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture.

Synthetic fibres such as polyester and acrylic absorb little water, as such they are good insulators but poor at thermal buffering. They have minimal heat of sorption (about 5–7 J/g) [7], and are limited to moisture wicking. There are also more likely to develop odors and are much more flammable.

[skithrowyouknow]

Wool is an excellent fiber for active base layer. Probably in a blend. The bacteria growth on anything poly is brutal, giving me a horrible stink and wrecking my skin once I wear it for more than an hour of activity. Do I want wool as insulation? No, I don't want the weight or time to dry.

[gib444]

> synthetics (for anything active) are far better: lighter, warmer, better at dealing with moisture

True. But I hate synthetics on my skin. Merino base layers and then layered synthetics/more wool works for me for low-activity cold weather. Feels much better. I like wool hats too as they seem to deal with odour better.

I only tolerate a synthetic breathable top for the gym. Though when they misconfigure the A/C I have to wear a heavy cotton tshirt to not freeze!

Synthetic socks can be dangerous too - slippery as hell on a smooth floor! Nearly came a cropper the other day when I forgot I wasn't wearing cotton lol

Modern merino is quite affordable. £20-50 per base layer item. My 100% wool hat was like £15 or something. My modern merino jumpers are £40-50 ish, and they look very posh too

Wool still has its place and isn't going anywhere

[exidy]

I can walk down a Bangkok street in my suit and be comfortable. Why? Lightweight Italian wool fabric, silk-lined jacket, cotton shirt. Meanwhile the guy next to me in short sleeve polo and jeans is a puddle of sweat.

Synthetics definitely have their place. Uniqlo's Airism is a game-changer in the tropics and lots of outdoors activities like hiking or skiing are much more comfortable with modern technical fabrics, but natural fibres are far from obsolete.

[cromka]

I am at loss with what you're trying to say here. Is cotton better or worse for tropics? Because afik it fails miserably compared to synthetics.

[g8oz]

Synthetics stink quite quickly.