Anyone complaining about the cost of these natural fabrics hasn't priced high end synthetic clothing. Especially waterproof breathable outerwear.

Leather can definitely have it's place, most often for gloves when it's well treated with an oil/beeswax mix it is excellent at stopping the wind, moisture, and fire resistant. Heavy though so perhaps leans more on the bushcraft side of things. I enjoy it here or there nonetheless

Great video! I fully agree on the value of natural materials. Thanks for adding the info on the importance of reducing plastics into the environment. Natural fibers work exceptionally and are sustainable.

Thanks for sharing your gear favorites. It is my opinion that the cost of good gear that lasts will be equal in the long run to buying cheap gear and replacing it frequently as it wears out or fails. I tend to get by with what I have while I save up and watch for sales on the big ticket natural fiber items. When my journey comes to an end, my outdoor gear can be handed down to my kids and grandkids. Love your videos!

Alpaca is amazing! Be careful around burr balls & velcro (both can/will cause holes, or worse, in AGC Alpaca Fleece Hoodies) & store [most] wool products in sealed plastic to prevent moth damage! For more protection, I wear a $15 or less, 4.5oz, windbreaker over anything expensive I don't want holes from campfire, thorns, velcro & other "clingy things", etc in; the windbreaker also provides wind protection so I'm overall warmer because of it. I do something similar in cold temps for my legs with the same hole & wind protection benefits by wearing lightweight nylon Columbia Siverridge convertible hiking pants over whatever I'm wearing on my legs for warmth -- oftentimes the Columbia hiking pants are protecting my puffy pants from campfire sparks, the wind, & sharp/pokey things! I've got a whole relatively extensive modular glove layering system that's too much to put here but warm hands is really nice!

@safromnc8616

8 ай бұрын

FYI - somehow tore a hole in my AppGearCo hoody and they sent me some free patches to use. Fortunately, I have a neighbor who does sewing work and she was able to repair it for like $7.

@ChrisOUTEC

8 ай бұрын

@@safromnc8616 yes, I got a patch too! In fact, I've had several repair jobs needed, albeit some of them relatively minor, and I generally baby my clothing whether expensive or not. 80% (blended with tencel, etc) to 100% Alpaca clothing needs some extra TLC sometimes, it seems.

I used to love merino wool before I developed an allergy. I have mostly replaced it with synthetics, but have slowly started phasing a lot of my synthetic stuff for alpaca.

17:37 Muskox is really warm! Cashmere is warm, I've a chest deep freezer and store the animal product warm stuff in zip lock bags in the freezer- ontop of the other stuff, helps insulate and kills moth eggs!

Jeremy - much thanks for the Brynje suggestion, that has become a new go to for me & helps relieve some bulkiness in regards to layering as well. Duckworth is probably my wool gear go to, but I also have some stuff from other companies like Woolly. The opossum wool socks are pretty good for sitting around the campfire. I think Z Packs carries those, but they are a bit bulky for hiking IMHO. I do like the intra knit (& other names) that companies like Smartwool and Ortovox use which tends to be more breathable in those areas that need it.

Thanks for all your videos, and here's to another 10k subs next year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

@MidwestBackpacker

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for supporting the channel. Merry Christmas!

Great video! Love natural materials. ESP that app gear hoody. Now I want a anorak

If wool and silk were good enough for Shackleton, they’re good enough for me. Natural fibers all the way!

@MidwestBackpacker

8 ай бұрын

I was waiting for the first silk comment. I still need to give it a try.

@matthewpulliam7473

7 ай бұрын

@@MidwestBackpacker Capilene works fine and is marginally more durable, but a layer of silk under wool is just soooo comfortable for strenuous work in the cold.

@MidwestBackpacker

7 ай бұрын

@@matthewpulliam7473 how does silk wick sweat?

@matthewpulliam7473

7 ай бұрын

Depends on the weave; the “open weave” of the REI silk long underwear is very breathable and only wets out if it’s high humidity/temp. For Midwest (Michigan here) winters, I’ve never felt an issue with moisture.

@matthewpulliam7473

7 ай бұрын

That said, you wouldn’t wear silks in the summer, at all. :)

Opossum wool, well thats a new one for me. Lol i would give it a go though.

@MidwestBackpacker

8 ай бұрын

Opossum isn’t the same a possum. 2 different animals. Possum is native to Australia. I didn’t know that until I did this video.

@izatt82

8 ай бұрын

@@MidwestBackpacker what? Lol learn something new everyday!

Ugh. Amazon. Support your local outdoor supplier or Garage Grown Gear or REI instead if you can. Amazon is ruthless. I buy from them, but only if I can't find what I'm looking for anywhere else. I like merino wool, but I've been disappointed with Smartwool quality. 121 miles on a trail and I've got snag holes in a Smartwool shirt and wear holes in my Smartwool boxers. A Smartwool neck gaiter was way too snug to be used to cover my nose and mouth comfortably for a 26° overnight and the logo has started peeling off. Lame. But I'm in Arkansas, so I don't need the warmest gear. I may have to look into some of the alternatives. My wool Injinjis got a hole in them. I wish they had the same kind of guarantee as Darn Tough socks.

@MidwestBackpacker

8 ай бұрын

My smartwool shirts have been durable. The Injinji are not very durable.

@Dante07cid

8 ай бұрын

I have gone to mostly just straight mid-weight Injinji, mini-crew. I like Darn Tough alot but I like the toe freedom more. Putting DTs over Injinji liners just scrunch my toes too much and negate the reason I wear toe socks in the first place. Not as durable but my feet are happy.

I was curious about where you got your wool bibs?

@MidwestBackpacker

4 ай бұрын

Used on Facebook marketplace.

Great info! Don’t be a dick!🤣🤣

Thanks for sharing your gear favorites. It is my opinion that the cost of good gear that lasts will be equal in the long run to buying cheap gear and replacing it frequently as it wears out or fails. I tend to get by with what I have while I save up and watch for sales on the big ticket natural fiber items. When my journey comes to an end, my outdoor gear can be handed down to my kids and grandkids. Love your videos!