Cashmere Hoody- waffle thermal

I know this is super old post, but I thought i could respond. I cold weather camp every winter, and I love cashmere, and use the heck out of it! It is almost the only thing I take in freezing weather. For pants I use Italian wool dress slacks. Stay toasty and warm.

long johns, gloves, hats, balaclavas, sweaters, vests, wrist buffs, etc.

Also, I have good advice on diy for most of that stuff.

I love cashmere. Periodically I will find one at a great price (like on clearance from STP).   In less than a year I have typically worn holes in it and it’s piling pretty badly. It’s ok to wear on the trail but my wife wouldn’t let me be seen in it.

Am I particularly hard on my tops or is this common for others who have tried it?  Any tricks to keep cashmere from getting beaten up by life on the trail.  I found 100% merino, or even better with merino with 5-10% nylon, are significantly more durable.

I like high quality cashmere for strength.   Poor student so ebay is my best friend. Johnston’s of Elgin and brooks brothers 3-ply are great. For a base layer I like a cashmere silk blend sweater. 70% S/ 30% C. Again e-bay! I can also find cashmere joggers for leg base layer.

Also wash as infrequently as possible.

They won’t last as long, but cost and comfort are worth it to me. With regular perusing on ebay, I get pretty nice sweaters for around 10.00 bucks.  I cut sleeves off, then layer multiple vests. I keep the sleeves for wrist buffs/hand covers/ foot covers at night.  I also take an old vest, fold in half horizontally and sew into abeanies (nothing warmer than an 8-ply cashmere hoodie), and can take a vest cut in half vertically and make a balaclava (8-ply t0 10 ply!!!).  Use vests unmercifully, and when a little ragged Lucy inherits them, and when she is done with them I toss under outcroppings for the mice to make homes with. I know they love it, because I lost almost an entire sweater to an industrious mouse!

Top down cashmere.

Balaclava, beanie, base layer, vest, then two wrist buffs.

Beanie  and balaclava were sweaters that were wearing ragged. Wrist buffs keep arms and hands warm without the bulk in under arm area. Good ventilation = low perspiration

I like my Uniqlo cashmere jumper but there is a lot of junk out there. The Uniqlo are pure cashmere but not top quality yarns. Still wonderfully warm tho.
I’ve found used/worn cashmere in junk shops a few times but not as many as in prior years and usually not in my size [ XXL] if you really want a garment you need to find a knitters circle and have some made for you. As for wear resistance the best I have ever worn was a blend of Shetland wool, cashmere and silk from a small and very expensive shop on Bond Street London whose name now escapes me. It was reduced in price to half or I wouldn’t have been able to justify it; it lasted almost 20 years but by then it was more holes than yarn. Recycled cashmere a-la Patagonia is not a patch on the good stuff