Anyone mix and match merino and synthetic base and mid-layers?

[Edward Jursek]

I am new to winter camping, with one overnight trip last year, but do lots of snow shoeing day trips and skiing. Most of my cloths for active wear are now merino. In general, I like merino and have slowly made the switch away from synthetic. I have a good range of choices of merino wool in various weights for base layers ("next to skin") and mid-layers (2 different weights of merino sweaters w/ half or full zips for venting). I also still have some good legacy synthetic base and mid-layers I could not part with (Patagonia and Arcteryx stuff in a couple different weights). Does anyone mix and match merino and synthetic? If so why? Is there a thread that covers this that I missed?

Details: I expect to be snow shoeing and using my Arcteryx Squamish Hoody as a shell. I will have separate sleep cloths and a appropriately rated sleeping bag. I have a great down jacket for around camp. I will be out for 1 to 3 nights at a time in the North Cascades.

[Justin Baker]

Yes. For cool weather I really like a wool base layer under a fleece. I usually avoid heavier wool mid layers because they absorb too much water and take too long to dry. Also since a mid layer is in and out of my pack I would prefer it to be lightweight.

[Anonymous]

For colder weather, i often use a wool-synthetic or synthetic-wool blend baselayer, and use a Cap 4 hoody or the MEC equivalent (T3? i forget) that is also made out of Polartec Power Dry High efficiency fleece.

The only mid layer i use that is mostly natural, is a strange 7 oz, mostly Mohair sweater that doesn't absorb a whole lot of water because it's very airy.

Sometimes i'll use a fishnet baselayer and use one of those wool-synthetic baselayers over same as "mid layer". I've also tried the reverse of that.

[Author]

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