Waterproof my surplus wool pants?
February 26, 2010 10:12 AM Subscribe
I recently bought some cheap ($20) army surplus wool pants to try out as winter rain & snow hiking pants. I took them out for a rainy Pac NW stroll and a sunny snow hike and they were comfortable but I was surprised by how soaked they got when they got water on them. (Granted I try to avoid getting them wet but stuff happens.)
Like a lot of people I've been wearing a lot of wool and I consider it almost a miraculous fabric. I'm a bit disappointed in these pants. Should I waterproof/treat them? If so, how?
A lot of my wool stuff is expensive of course but I was hoping I'd found a loophole. I vaguely recall in the distant past that I had a similar pair of surplus wool pants that were magical in the snow. And I have an even vaguer recollection that I had scotchguarded them. I haven't needed to treat any of my other wool but I also haven't been using wool as my outermost layer under wet conditions.
A lot of my wool stuff is expensive of course but I was hoping I'd found a loophole. I vaguely recall in the distant past that I had a similar pair of surplus wool pants that were magical in the snow. And I have an even vaguer recollection that I had scotchguarded them. I haven't needed to treat any of my other wool but I also haven't been using wool as my outermost layer under wet conditions.
Response by poster: That would definitely be a concern, wenestvedt, but this vague memory is making me want to give it a try, and I figured I poll the crowd here first. With most of my wool moisture on the inside (me) or outside just seems to either disappear or at least I don't notice it.
Maybe these pants are just too cheap.
posted by Wood at 10:33 AM on February 26, 2010
Maybe these pants are just too cheap.
posted by Wood at 10:33 AM on February 26, 2010
If you waterproof them they're not going to breath very well and you'll sweat like hell.
For winter hiking, I just use a pair of polypro (or equivalent non-cotton, wicking material) long johns with gaiters over my boots and a pair of nylon shorts. This keeps my legs from getting too hot. If it's cold and/or windy or I'm going above treeline then I'll wear a pair of Gore-tex long pants instead of the shorts.
I can't think of any situation, other than the coldest of days, when wool or fleece pants wouldn't be too hot to hike in.
posted by bondcliff at 10:42 AM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
For winter hiking, I just use a pair of polypro (or equivalent non-cotton, wicking material) long johns with gaiters over my boots and a pair of nylon shorts. This keeps my legs from getting too hot. If it's cold and/or windy or I'm going above treeline then I'll wear a pair of Gore-tex long pants instead of the shorts.
I can't think of any situation, other than the coldest of days, when wool or fleece pants wouldn't be too hot to hike in.
posted by bondcliff at 10:42 AM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
You can treat them with lanolin every few washes.
posted by sunshinesky at 10:51 AM on February 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by sunshinesky at 10:51 AM on February 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
Scotchguard doesn't really waterproof things, does it? I was under the impression that it was a hydrophobic coating that allowed fabrics to shed water.
posted by electroboy at 10:52 AM on February 26, 2010
posted by electroboy at 10:52 AM on February 26, 2010
Part of the point of wearing wool, is that, even when it gets soaked, it should still keep you warm. It doesn't have to repel like some other fabrics.
posted by hungrysquirrels at 11:06 AM on February 26, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by hungrysquirrels at 11:06 AM on February 26, 2010 [3 favorites]
Wet wool is only a problem if you put it in the dryer. Just lay it out when you get home and let it dry naturally.
posted by rhizome at 11:14 AM on February 26, 2010
posted by rhizome at 11:14 AM on February 26, 2010
Did you know that polarfleece was invented to be "as warm as wool" without the annoying "gets really wet and stays wet forever" part.
Back in the day when your winter choices were wool, cotton, or down, wool had the advantage because it still continued to insulate when it was wet. You could use a DWR finish on them (ReviveX) is the brand that comes to the top of my mind) which would cause them to shed water for a while without impinging on their breathability much (DWR is what companies like Gore use as a finishing agent on their waterproof breathable membranes); but the question I'd ask you back is his: What do you want these pants to do?
- If you want them to keep you warm and dry, then you're really looking for an insulated waterproof/breathable membrane with either down or synthetic insulation.
- If you just want them to keep you warm, then they're probably fine. Or you could try a polarfleece for a similar warmth at a lighter weight.
- If you want to look stylish, you've probably found your best choice.
posted by anastasiav at 11:24 AM on February 26, 2010
Back in the day when your winter choices were wool, cotton, or down, wool had the advantage because it still continued to insulate when it was wet. You could use a DWR finish on them (ReviveX) is the brand that comes to the top of my mind) which would cause them to shed water for a while without impinging on their breathability much (DWR is what companies like Gore use as a finishing agent on their waterproof breathable membranes); but the question I'd ask you back is his: What do you want these pants to do?
- If you want them to keep you warm and dry, then you're really looking for an insulated waterproof/breathable membrane with either down or synthetic insulation.
- If you just want them to keep you warm, then they're probably fine. Or you could try a polarfleece for a similar warmth at a lighter weight.
- If you want to look stylish, you've probably found your best choice.
posted by anastasiav at 11:24 AM on February 26, 2010
I'd pair them with a thin, uninsulated soft shell pant with DWR, or even a hard shell pant to keep them from getting wet. Obviously you'll lose some breathability, but will gain a ton of water and wind resistance.
posted by Diplodocus at 11:53 AM on February 26, 2010
posted by Diplodocus at 11:53 AM on February 26, 2010
Wear some waterproof breathable pants on top of the wool.
posted by ssg at 11:59 AM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ssg at 11:59 AM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
I've got a pair of $20 surplus wool pants (actually, two pairs, one a little heavier then the other) and I swear by them in any kind of 'cool' weather for camping or hiking. I've been through some pretty soaking rains (literally soaked for a week) and found that you get used to the clamminess after a while and that it doesn't really interfere with the warmth of the wool that much.
The only real problem is the weight, though that can be remedied by tying some helium balloons to your belt...
All of that is to say, I've used surplus wool pants for years and haven't found any reason to waterproof them. If the dampness really bothers you, get some thin long underwear. I recommend silk for that all-natural feel, though nylon is ok.
posted by ghostiger at 12:11 PM on February 26, 2010
The only real problem is the weight, though that can be remedied by tying some helium balloons to your belt...
All of that is to say, I've used surplus wool pants for years and haven't found any reason to waterproof them. If the dampness really bothers you, get some thin long underwear. I recommend silk for that all-natural feel, though nylon is ok.
posted by ghostiger at 12:11 PM on February 26, 2010
I think the two most important factors in the robustness of wool as insulate against cold+wet are the natural oils, and the tightness of the weave. Any chance that the most recent army surplus pants are either worn out (approaching thread bare) or over-washed in harsh detergents?
(ps. Silk rules for extra insulation -- super light-weight & easily compressible. When thrift stores have $1 item clearance sales, I harvest for silk -- at that price, it's worth it for the material!)
posted by Tuesday After Lunch at 1:16 PM on February 26, 2010
(ps. Silk rules for extra insulation -- super light-weight & easily compressible. When thrift stores have $1 item clearance sales, I harvest for silk -- at that price, it's worth it for the material!)
posted by Tuesday After Lunch at 1:16 PM on February 26, 2010
Per sunshinesky, lanolin is supposed to repel water when used to treat wool. The site I linked to sells baby soakers which are essentially wool diaper covers. You normally treat them with lanolin periodically to keep them water repellant.
posted by cabingirl at 1:47 PM on February 26, 2010
posted by cabingirl at 1:47 PM on February 26, 2010
So you're hiking old school, great! The proper way to do this is layers,as you've discovered.
Silk is great as a base layer, it feels amazing on the skin and wicks water away from the body. On the downside, it's very expensive and rather fragile. An alternative is mesh cotton underthings, but those are even more fragile and aren't as warm as silk; their main advantage was price.
Wool, as you've discovered, is a great middle layer, breathes well and stays warm even when wet. It can be really itchy though and if a loose weave or a knit is more porous than wind- or waterproof.
There are two options: wear an outer layer, waxed cotton ("duck") or linen was common, or felt the wool. Wool felt is very windproof but still not very waterproof. It will do in a light rain or mist, but will still soak through quickly in a sustained rain.
Note that almost all of these problems are solved better and cheaper by synthetics now. Wool still makes a great insulating layer though. Marino "super" wool even makes a decent wicking layer too. Wool has never been a good water-repellent shell layer though.
posted by bonehead at 2:09 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Silk is great as a base layer, it feels amazing on the skin and wicks water away from the body. On the downside, it's very expensive and rather fragile. An alternative is mesh cotton underthings, but those are even more fragile and aren't as warm as silk; their main advantage was price.
Wool, as you've discovered, is a great middle layer, breathes well and stays warm even when wet. It can be really itchy though and if a loose weave or a knit is more porous than wind- or waterproof.
There are two options: wear an outer layer, waxed cotton ("duck") or linen was common, or felt the wool. Wool felt is very windproof but still not very waterproof. It will do in a light rain or mist, but will still soak through quickly in a sustained rain.
Note that almost all of these problems are solved better and cheaper by synthetics now. Wool still makes a great insulating layer though. Marino "super" wool even makes a decent wicking layer too. Wool has never been a good water-repellent shell layer though.
posted by bonehead at 2:09 PM on February 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seriously, the answer to this question is not "you do not need to waterproof your pants" or "get different pants"--it's "you can waterproof your pants using lanolin".
Sheesh, tough fricken crowd here today.
posted by sunshinesky at 4:36 AM on February 27, 2010
Sheesh, tough fricken crowd here today.
posted by sunshinesky at 4:36 AM on February 27, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Wearing wool in the snow works as long as it stays dry: just dust off the snow before it has a chance to melt. *shrug*
posted by wenestvedt at 10:29 AM on February 26, 2010