Durable survival clothing from Hycreek

[opsec]

Can you tolerate polyester? A 100% polyester shirt + bottoms worn next to the skin will wick moisture away from the skin which makes it easier to stay warm.

[silverseeds]

  polyester never bothered me that I can remember.... I will keep that in mind...

[Lady Lilya]

Silver, you might want to try an underlayer of something like bamboo fleece.  It is supposed to be excellent at wicking moisture away from your body, and very non-irritating, and very durable.  It is commonly used to line diapers for babies with sensitive skin. 

[silverseeds]

thanks for that lilya. this spring, I intend to buy a bunch of fabric. That just made my list for sure.

that said....

does anyone have tips for long term storage of fabric, or survival clothing you might not need now, or other clothing perhaps. I also go to goodwill and the like, and buy lots of clothing. Lots of old wool sweaters out there. especially if you dont care if it has a christmas tree on it or something.... Lots of quality well made pants and such as well.....

anyone have a company to source HIGH END socks? Ones that can be actually lived in?

[Mike]

Last spring I experimented with wicks for self-watering pots.  Polyester proved to be a very poor wick.  Cotton was vastly superior.  Straw caused catastrophic root loss before the summer was over.

It is probably polypropylene that is a good wicker.

Cotton is supposed to absorb 7% of its weight in water.  To me, absorb is not the same as wick, but they must be related.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?694043-duofold-a-good-choice-for-thermals

Duofold is fine, perfectly fine. Expedition weight is best for cold temperatures when you are not going to be very active - sitting on a deer stand, or walking to school are good examples. Mid-weight is better for active sports (jogging, power walking, hiking, etc) or when temperatures are in the 20's and 30's.

Base layers from Wintergreen are fine also, as are many others. Even cold weather base layers in Target and Walmart work pretty well.

Fleece (micro fleece) and wool are generally the materials of choice for winter warmth. I prefer wool but it usually costs more. Either work well though - as the material/weave needs to trap air. Polypropylene is best for active wear, when you are expecting to perspire (sweat) while working out. Polypro is the best wicking material - all things being equal. But for pure warmth, fleece and wool are really hard to beat. Keep in mind that these don't provide good wind protection so, you will need a windbreaker or softshell type jacket on top.

Under Armour is good for sports like football when you will not be exerting yourself for long periods of time. Its tighter weave doesn't provide good wicking properties, however this same tighter weave provides muscle compression and, protection from artificial turf burn. Good for football, soccer, etc., but not so good for aerobic activities like cycling and running.

I am not sure where the military fits in. They spec some properties on their garments but, I am not sure what it is.

Under Armour is most commonly polypropylene, I think.

Another thing to consider is the weave.  It may be that polyester can be woven into something wicky.

[opsec]

does anyone have tips for long term storage of fabric, or survival clothing you might not need now, or other clothing perhaps. I also go to goodwill and the like, and buy lots of clothing. Lots of old wool sweaters out there. especially if you dont care if it has a christmas tree on it or something.... Lots of quality well made pants and such as well.....

anyone have a company to source HIGH END socks? Ones that can be actually lived in?

Clothing storage is pretty easy. Put it in a garbage bag with a moth ball or two and then either tie or tape the bag shut. Your biggest threat is rodents. You need to store this off the ground so mice don't get into it.

Best socks I have found are made by a company called "Smartwool". The military makes a pretty good, cheap sock too. You an usually find them for $2.00/pair at surplus stores. A wheelbarrel full of those should be about a lifetime's worth.

Last spring I experimented with wicks for self-watering pots.  Polyester proved to be a very poor wick.  Cotton was vastly superior.  Straw caused catastrophic root loss before the summer was over.

It is probably polypropylene that is a good wicker.

Polypropylene wick water, but it retains oil, in this case, body oil. Polypropylene stinks so bad that it has been nicknamed "polystinkelene" by outdoors people. Polyester is very poor at retaining water within it's fibers. That is what makes it good for wearing next to the skin, you perspiration passes through it to the next layer of clothing, that way the clothing gets wet, but you remain dry. It keeps a layer of dryness next to your skin and that acts as an insulator. Cotton kills. It is precisely it's superior ability to retain water that makes it such a bad choice for outdoor wear. Search and Rescue teams refer to blue jeans as "hypothermia pants".

[Ryder]

+1 on the smartwool https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm  . Lots of garbage bags have various treatments I hear to stop bugs and smells, mothballs definately need some airing out when you pull the cloths out. The only problem I have had with storing cloths is when they get to much moisture and mildew. I also have dry canned in number 10 cans socks and such, still have those stashed away so they should be good to go.

[hancocs]

anyone have a company to source HIGH END socks? Ones that can be actually lived in?
[/quote]

Hycreek has Woolpower. They have a wool blend sock that is 50% Merino wool and 30-45% Polyamide. They also come in different thicknesses 200, 400, 600 and 800 g/m2.

I would also consider a layer system on your feet depending on weather coldness. I do feel a good pair of wool socks and a good pair of boots will keep your feet warm. Just be careful that your feet don't sweat and get cold, then you run the risk of frostbite in extreme weather.

[Dame]

I do not wear wool next to my skin as it wicks the natural skin oils so badly I would chronically have chaping.  As I seldom perspire unless I am wearing synthetics, even with heavy work in the sumer heat, cotton next to my skin with wool works, silk works better.  Synthetics do not generally breath very well so if I wear them I tend to become damp, even if I have been continuously cold.  Same thing happens with ruberized wear.

I store fabrics in paper products.  Either wrapped in paper inside a vacumn pouch in a rodent proof container or in cardboard boxes.  I have had some materials, keepsake stuff stored for 20 years or more.  It keeps rotating back into fashion and I don't change size.  I never use moth balls, Yuck, I would be willing to try bay leaf, or wormwood, or rosemary or lavander.  Or any handy combination of these.

And BTW, rodents will not go where there is neither water nor food. 

[Ryder]

Rodents seem to have very loose definitions of what constitutes food. i have replaced numerous wires on snomobiles and 4 wheelers and had the temp probe eaten off my digital thermometer buy those pesky rodents and squirrlels. They also like to make nests in various places which can end up a mess.
I sometimes have very sweaty feet and have used anti persperant to keep them dry and warmer.  Maybe this winter I will go interview some of the local ice fishermen....they like to set around on frozen lakes in the cold and wind all day. If they can keep warm they must be doing something right.

[Lady Lilya]

 Rodents hate the smell of spearmint.  You can get some spearmint gum pretty cheaply by the case, and put a few sticks in each plastic bag of clothing you pack. 

[Dame]

Spearming grows invasively here,  would be a good idea to dry some for more than tea.