I need to replace wool sweater

Hi Shaun,

For what you are describing, I'd recommend a down sweater. If you're on a budget, you'll find the stores will start clearing them out in the next few months. I picked up a cheapie from Eddie Bauer last year for $25 and it's incredibly warm. With 550 fill, it's not the lightest down sweater in the world but it'll work until I buy the Montbell EX light.

Also check your local Costco to see if they still have the Hawke & Co or their Kirkland brand down vests/jackets in stock, both are very affordable. There are a couple threads on them here in BPL. If memory serves, the Kirkland brand uses a higher quality down but unfortunately our local store never stocked it so I can't speak to its quality. The Hawke and Co vest I have is fine for the money but I'm constantly picking feathers off of me. For less than $30 and ~ 7oz, I'm not complaining.

30-40* isn't all that cold so another possibility would be to buy a lightweight fleece or polartec base layer.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Classic-Ragg-Wool-Sweater-Regular/1241123.uts

I won a gift card to Cabelas a few years ago and used it to get one of their ragg wool sweaters, I have been happy with mine as a mid layer…They're also on sale right now

I would check Uniqlo sweaters out:

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/store/goods/072793?gareco=r_l4

I've worn their lambswool as a midlayer – it's warm, comfy and cheap.

Thanks for the replies i will check those out

I also found the LLBean Cresta midweight merino wool 1/4 zip

thanks

+1 on LL BEAN wool sweaters.
Very reasonable prices. I got a /4 zip T neck for Christmas. Love it!

x3 on the LL bean sweaters excellent value

Shaun,

Does it have to be a wool sweater? If not, i would recommend one of those expedition/winter weight "baselayer" Polypropylene tops as sold per military surplus or the like. Usually they have a high, zippered collar and brushed fleece on the inside (smooth outer).

Cheap, very warm, great moisture management, and fairly light. The big weakness of woven PP in my mind is the odor buildup and retention, but it's less of a problem with mid or insulating layers (unless you're sweating it out), especially if you're wearing wool or antimicrobial baselayers.

If you combine this with a a baselayer, and a MB UL TW jacket should be more than fine at those temps. As someone that runs warm as a trend, i think i could bring down that combo to 25-27f for camp.

I have one of the PP tops i was talking about. Weighs i think 11 oz. Quite warm for the weight. Would love to try a full fleece polypropylene top, but they are very hard to find.

Thrift Store good place to pick up an old, quality wool sweater. Will probably have some minor moth holes and be a lousy color – but I don't look to be fashionable in the back country.

Sierra Trading post is another good place to look; Woolrich Merino sweater $29 today after the coupon in their daily email.

I also use a down shirt as others mentioned, got one at Little River Trading Company in Maryville, TN last year 50% off. It is a pretty ugly yellow/gold color and after my late fall trips it has some nice soot stains to boot. Look for such sales around March.

Wool has an advantage over down shirts in that you don't compromise warmth by adding layers on top of it. You put something over a down shirt, you reduce loft.