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Heavy Merino Base or Merino Sweater - advantages?

TreeCreep

TreeCreep

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Messages
870
While reconsidering a few highly used base pieces and reviewing my existing sweaters / mids .
Is there any real advantage to a heavier base layer (200-300ish weight) vs a quality sweater, both used over a 150 or lightweight base layer?( assume sweaters are mostly wool to 100% merino / lambs wool),

Layers- can be slightly more packable?, available in camo, can have a longer length for tucking , fitted , most have nylon or similar mix for durability. Hood and zipper options .
highly revered by forum guys that invested too much on said layers.

Sweater- already paid for or possibly better value new, bulk but warm , can use for work / street wear and cycle into outdoor clothing. Makes me look like my dad


If I reverse engineer the weight of well known camo heavyweights ( on sale) vs sweaters
My sweater wins .
 
Somewhat anecdotal experience- wearing two "base" layers to me is more comfortable/provides better wrist, neck, and lower back coverage than a sweater over base combo for me. Base layers seem to be cut a bit different/more coverage than a wool sweater, so when I tried a sweater I was getting cold spots. Minor annoyance to be honest so wasn't worth replacing at the time and I continued with the sweater last season, but a mouse got into it over the summer when it wasn't stored in a tote so I replaced it with a heavy base layer that I've occasionally worn as a double layer.

Added bonus- with a 400g and a 150/200g base layer, I can wear either separately or both and cover the whole range of temps I generally see. Also not a direct benefit but sweaters generally don't have pants, I buy base layers in sets.

Slight tangent- More knowledgeable people than I may chime in on this but there's also advantages to combining different types of base layers like merino over synthetic etc. I haven't fully gone down that rabbit hole yet but it's interesting.

Edited to add: I don't generally wear sweaters any more in regular day to day so didn't really consider that angle. Has some merit as long as you're not a scent control person I suppose.
 
Thanks , about what I figured . I’ll keep playing with combinations .
I didn’t part with cash for a few heavier tops while they were 40% off, for now.
 
T shirt, old Army issue wool sweater and hoodie. Works for me, but member down South we aren't in single digits during the winter...lol
 
The tighter fit and tuckable length of a base layer win for me. I hate feeling like your arms are crammed or fighting folds inside coat sleeves due to too much bulk. I find tucking in a shirt, even a lighter one, seems to keep me warmer than wind creeping up an untucked shirt.


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I am not a big fan of merino base layers for warmth. They work well to keep you dry, but they aren't all that warm imo. I much prefer synthetic base layers. They are much warmer at the same weight and also transport moisture away from your skin.

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base layers function is to wick sweat and keep you dry while providing warmth which is why they are meant to be snugger fitting. A sweater is a mid layer. About the only reason I can think of to go super heavy base layer would be if you’re in really cold temps and won’t move much or exert yourself getting to your spot. Otherwise you’ll be a drippy mess and saturate your base layers. Light or medium weight with a mid layer over that then outer shell is the way. Go heavy as you want on the mid layer as you can always shed it to lose heat.
 
I think that what works is incredibly individual. We all have radically different body constitutions and we are in vastly different climates. Personally I love wool base layers and have a variety of different weights for different conditions. I used to use synthetic base layers and while they work really well, overtime they accumulate body odor. What I found was that no matter how often I washed them, or what I washed them in, by the second season of use all it took was an hour of body heat in them and they smelled like I’d been wearing them everyday for a week.
 
Wool is warm and I love it for a base layer. 120 to 140 weight is very nice. However, for a second layer I don’t like wool at all. Wool just doesn’t cut the wind very well at a usable weight. I think you can stay warmer and lighter in synthetic at this point.
 
Camelcluch said:
Wool is warm and I love it for a base layer. 120 to 140 weight is very nice. However, for a second layer I don’t like wool at all. Wool just doesn’t cut the wind very well at a usable weight. I think you can stay warmer and lighter in synthetic at this point.
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I like wool for an outer layer if I’m going to be constantly moving all day.
 
So is merino warm or not? I see so many different explanations.
 
Exhumis said:
base layers function is to wick sweat and keep you dry while providing warmth which is why they are meant to be snugger fitting. A sweater is a mid layer. About the only reason I can think of to go super heavy base layer would be if you’re in really cold temps and won’t move much or exert yourself getting to your spot. Otherwise you’ll be a drippy mess and saturate your base layers. Light or medium weight with a mid layer over that then outer shell is the way. Go heavy as you want on the mid layer as you can always shed it to lose heat.
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I don’t like a bunch of layers, especially when it’s going to be cold all day. Too binding and too much going on. Base, outer, and puffy vest as insurance is my standard in such conditions. So, I actually really like a heavy base layer.

I deal with the sweat problem by hiking in wearing a merino T shirt. I pretty much change into my hunting wear at or near my spot.

In variable conditions, more extensive layering can make sense and layering can offer an all season system with fewer total pieces. But I just buy different weight coats and bibs and wear merino base layers in warm weather.

I find synthetic base layers far superior for inactive cold weather performance.
 
Yea I noticed I didn’t wear my first lite furnace series last year. Was debating on selling it and going synthetic
 
I experimented with a bunch of combos this offseason and played with options while snowboarding , scouting and turkey hunting. took a southeast trip in January for piggies. The most versatile I’ve found are 150ish hooded merino and zip off long johns. Then just layer preferred synthetic or heavier wool with your warmer outer layers or shells accordingly.
The heavier bases were really only noticeable sleeping and I think I prefer a orvis/ ll bean / asbell wool like piece over the 150 base vs something pricey like a furnace .
I’ll post feedback when I start killing critters again. I’ve really struggled since switching to stickbows , countless encounters within shotgun / compound range though
 
Plebe said:
I don’t like a bunch of layers, especially when it’s going to be cold all day. Too binding and too much going on. Base, outer, and puffy vest as insurance is my standard in such conditions. So, I actually really like a heavy base layer.

I deal with the sweat problem by hiking in wearing a merino T shirt. I pretty much change into my hunting wear at or near my spot.

In variable conditions, more extensive layering can make sense and layering can offer an all season system with fewer total pieces. But I just buy different weight coats and bibs and wear merino base layers in warm weather.

I find synthetic base layers far superior for inactive cold weather performance.
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Absolutely on the synthetic.
Plebe said:
I don’t like a bunch of layers, especially when it’s going to be cold all day. Too binding and too much going on. Base, outer, and puffy vest as insurance is my standard in such conditions. So, I actually really like a heavy base layer.

I deal with the sweat problem by hiking in wearing a merino T shirt. I pretty much change into my hunting wear at or near my spot.

In variable conditions, more extensive layering can make sense and layering can offer an all season system with fewer total pieces. But I just buy different weight coats and bibs and wear merino base layers in warm weather.

I find synthetic base layers far superior for inactive cold weather performance.
Click to expand...
totally agree with the synthetic. My military polyprops kept me very warm.
 
When it is cool to cold, my first two layers are merino. I sweat quite a bit and the merino base layers I can wear to dry. When I wore polypro at a minimum I had to change out my Tshirt once I was on stand. If I am in real cold and could end up waist deep in a swamp I am wear all wool.
 
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