Wool Jackets/Coats?

I have used Filson a little bit in the past and liked it mostly for around town. It was all my grandfather ever had on.

However, I have used an entire outfit of King of the Mountain for hunting in MN and guiding in MT and it performed great.

Price is very high for new but they have a system of ind. reps who sell direct and often have used or seconds. They have added neutral colors (blues/grays)in some pieces.

My dad contends that cheaper wool from Army Surplus does the same thing.

I think he is probably right, but I would consider how tight the weave is on whatever brand you decide.

Usually pair it with something more wind resistant like a Cloudveil Serendipty soft shell in cold temps and it is a great combo. Before that it was a wind proof Patagonia fleece.

I have been able to dry it out every night so getting wet hasn't been an issue, but on an extended trip I would leave it home because of weight and water retention.

My brother recently went on a 10 day hunt in AK and was very glad he left it home. He had warm, dry synthetics under Gore-Tex. His friend had wet, heavy wool for 9 days.

Matt

I have a wool shirt from my Boy Scouting days that I still wear. It is a Woolrich wool button up shirt that also has something like 5% polyester in it (collar and cuffs mostly). This was about 10-12 years ago, I found it at the Salv Army for a couple bucks and it has been going strong since. I usually bring it car camping with me because of weight, but it does come with me on some winter hiking trips. I would love to find another one, perhaps in a better plaid pattern.

This shirt goes great with my wool pants. Navy blue wool dress pants were another find at the salv army for a few dollars. Mostly car camping duties, but they are one of my insulation layers for winter hikes under a pair of shell pants. Base layer is Pataguchi Capilene, Wool pants then Marmot (Precip I think) shell outer.

When teaching canoeing in upstate NY at Scout Camp, my wool shirt helped a young scouter fight hypothermia when our canoe capsized during a quick storm. It was easy a couple hours stuck in a swamped canoe, in cold water, rain and wind before our aquatics staff could come to pick us up.

I love wool, but I would suggest wool works best when used in layers as opposed to the heavy wool hunting/barn coats of yesteryear that were I think, meant to be casual every day wear for the working man.
Thats why that kind of style dosnt translate for hiking or athletic pursuits that well.
I would suggest somthing like:
base: merino wool light weight ( smartwool/icebreaker ect.)
Mid: merino wool mid weight or light virgin or shetland wool sweater.
insulation: virgin or shetland wool sweater ( woolrich/orvis ect.)
– merino wool has been disscused to death on this site. The high expense and the fact that it wears out quikly leads me to keep it for a base layer.
The shetland wool or virgin wools are pretty tough and long lasting which is why I like to wear it over the merino layer.
– I only wear wool as a midlayer or insulating layer when "camping" as its heavy and bulky compared to modern sythetics but its great for sitting by the fire ( doesnt melt ).
I also suggest sweaters over anykind of "jacket" because they are lighter, simpler, and less bulky.
An extra plus -Good quality wool sweaters can be had for cheap at thrift stores and ebay.

In order of quality: (for woods use, that is)
1. Filson
2. Pendleton
3. Woolrich

All are good. Filson (Oregon?) is the toughest, Pendleton (Oregon) the most stylish and Woolrich(Pennsylvania) the least expensive while still being very durable. The original and ubiquitous Woolrich red & black plaid heavy wool hunting coat and pants is known as "The Pennsylvania tuxedo".

I've heard of Woods clothing (Canadian?) and I'm sure there are other non-Chinese made brands out there.

Eric

Ibex makes some very nice pieces. Many but not all of them are made in the USA. The Shak full zip had a pretty good review here awhile back. -dave