Need a good base layer for bow hunting in Texas winters and Penn State football games in November. Not sure if First Lite lightweight or midweight Merino is the way to go? Socks??? Open to all suggestions. Thanks

Check out montbell wool thermals. Mid or heavy weight. Same quality as smart wool but less expensive. Mine have held up very well.

Watch for merino wool sales on campfire

Well priced for quality wool

Camofire???

AnScAggie said:

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Camofire???

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https://www.camofire.com/

Sign up for their daily blast and prepare to find some really good deals and also spend a lot of money on crap you don't need.

I know those cheap deals sure add up. My wife sale shops and it's always a good deal. I sale shop and it's wasting money because I already have something that'll do, especially if it's camo or hunting related.

It's pretty easy to find Merino wool on sale through camo fire or sierra trading post or even cabelas. I've had really good luck with Cabelas branded stuff.

I have some first lite merino and it is good stuff but it's pricey, sizing varies between their lines, and returns are difficult and slow. I like their regular merino more than their aeriwool.

Also look at their parent company, BlackOvis. They always have a good selection. Their own brand, I really like as well. Have a few of their items that work well.

BlackOvis

As others said Black Ovis merino off camo fire is the way to go. First lite makes great stuff but will be more expensive and not really enough difference to justify the money unless you want camo.

But whatever you get, merino wool. Took me a while, but huge believer now.

Patagonia's Capeline

I use Cap 1 as my all around base layer when I'm active.

I am a fan of the Wal-Mart two layer wool/polypro.

Cheap, warm, and serve their purpose well. Some of mine are 15 plus years old now.

stdeb11 said:

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As others said Black Ovis merino off camo fire is the way to go. First lite makes great stuff but will be more expensive and not really enough difference to justify the money unless you want camo.

But whatever you get, merino wool. Took me a while, but huge believer now.

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Color is unimportant, never really understood putting on camo bottom base layers. A shirt I can understand from being in quite a few hot south Texas deer blinds, but if I ever had to consider going hunting in my underwear I might have to realize it might just be a little too hot to hunt.

I have some ASAT FirstLite boxers, but that's just because they were cheaper than the solid colors.

Blasphemy!!!! Camo underwear is the most essential peice of Camo you can wear.

Seriously, don't buy Camo long johns unless you can't keep your pants up. The shirt you can make an argument if you're going to shed enough layers, but the pants no. Unless you guys strip down to your leggings on spot and stalk hunts.

First Lite is the most comfortable merino I have ever worn. Comfort alone is worth the extra price. Most other merino, especially the cheaper options is a bit itchy

I'm a First Lite hoar fan all the way.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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Unless you guys strip down to your leggings on spot and stalk hunts.

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Have done!

My favorite merino long John top is core4element. Probably 10 years old though, don't even know if they're still in business

NRD09 said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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Unless you guys strip down to your leggings on spot and stalk hunts.

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don't even know if they're still in business

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They aren't.

Firstlite aerowool is the best baselayer I have used. I've tired Patagonia Capilene 1 (stinks very quickly, stays stinky, fabric has a shine in sunlight) Pure merino from Montbell (takes forever to dry, not very durable, best odor resistance) and Icebreaker tech tees (merino blend, not durable, odor control ok, dry times ok).

I usually just wear exofficio for my legs, with REI merino long johns or UA coldgear tights if it is very cold or somewhat cold and I am going to be stationary, but I hate having to take them off once I start moving so I usually avoid it.

I airdry all my hunting clothing after washing it and Firstlite aerowool and Patagonia capilene 1 take about the exact same amount of time to dry. Both are quite durable in my experience. I will always buy aerowool going forward, it is a very impressive fabric. I hope they do zip off aerowool long johns for their 2019 line.

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I've tired Patagonia Capilene 1 (stinks very quickly, stays stinky

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Huh. Thats interesting. I've had the opposite experience with my Cap 1 base. Wore it every day on a week long elk hunt. On top I wore First Lite half zip merino. At the end of the week, they were identical in performance.

That said - I did wear some Sitka merino boxer briefs under the Cap1. Maybe that was the difference?

I would recommend KUIU over First Lite. I was very unimpressed with the fit of First Lite. It is not remotely an athletic fit and even if the size fits, the shirt length is too short. The material is great though.

I'll be using some of Bass Pro base layer (similar to Under Armor) light weight and Academy level 2 to get me through Sept and most of Oct in North Dakota.

If I'm still working up there in Nov and Dec, I'll get some Under Armor 4.0 (recommended by an Air Force guy and some farmers) or try some store brand versions.

ursusguy said:

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I am a fan of the Wal-Mart two layer wool/polypro.

Cheap, warm, and serve their purpose well. Some of mine are 15 plus years old now.

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I've been using the cheap Academy stuff. It works, too.

FYI, camofire has their BlackOvis stuff posted today. If the sizes are right, jump all over it. It's a great product and it's all 50% off.

tmaggie50 said:

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I would recommend KUIU over First Lite. I was very unimpressed with the fit of First Lite. It is not remotely an athletic fit and even if the size fits, the shirt length is too short. The material is great though.

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I like Kuiu I just can't figure out the sizing. From a hunting clothing size perspective I wear L or XL. Sitka XL, Orvis, GameGuard, Browning, etc L/XL. A guy on our lease had a bunch of Kuiu stuff that he used in CO and MN hunting, he's at best a medium or large and his XL Kuiu jacket fit me like I was wearing my sport coat from my middle school days.

AnScAggie said:

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tmaggie50 said:

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I would recommend KUIU over First Lite. I was very unimpressed with the fit of First Lite. It is not remotely an athletic fit and even if the size fits, the shirt length is too short. The material is great though.

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I like Kuiu I just can't figure out the sizing. From a hunting clothing size perspective I wear L or XL. Sitka XL, Orvis, GameGuard, Browning, etc L/XL. A guy on our lease had a bunch of Kuiu stuff that he used in CO and MN hunting, he's at best a medium or large and his XL Kuiu jacket fit me like I was wearing my sport coat from my middle school days.

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Ya, I now have 3 items from them and they were all different. I always buy more than 1 size and mail the one back that doesn't fit.

I like Kuiu as well, but not their base bottoms. I keep going back to the First Lite over my Kuiu and Sitka merino.

For synthetic the Sitka with polygeine is awesome. I wore it for 6 days and didn't smell. I won't buy any synthetics unless they have polygeine

Kuiu and Sitka both run a size small (at least) and still fit a little slim. My XLs are really schmedium in both lines. Hell, the pants I just got from KUIU, in my waist size fit like football pants. They're comfortable, but are like Camo skinny jeans.

Yep. This is why I ditched all my original under armour stuff. Gets ripe pretty fast.

I freely admit, when hauling meat back to camp at 11k, 3 grown a-- men were hiking back and forth in nothing but our thermals, boots and required blaze orange. A nice mix of Sitka, military and Wal-Mart. We were a sight for sore eyes.

I have a long sleeve top that I use next to skin. That probably explains our different experiences.