Attention Cold People! Merino Wool or Polypropylene? Which will Keep you Warmer?

I was born and raised a hunter. And my dad always swore by wool! He told me, "wool will wick the sweat away when you're hiking and keep the warmth in when you're just sitting in the cold." And I have found that to be true, unfortunately by experience. Please believe me when I say cotton socks or even 3 layers of cotton socks just don't cut it! Well, a few years ago an army buddy gave my dad some older army surplus stuff and it was wayyy cool! One of the things we got was polypropylene long johns. I just thought it was some cheap knock of wool based long johns. Then, after being chilled to the bone one day while I was hunting, I decided I should look into this army polypropylene stuff a little more.

According to Adventure Rider: Ride the World, he says that he likes polypropylene better and here's why:

"Positives:

Arguably the best at wicking moisture

Quick drying
Durable, washable fabric does not wear out quickly
Comes in different weights for different activities

Negatives

Can retain odor
Needs a snug fit to work best

And just for a comparison here is what he said about Merino Wool:

Positives:

A natural fiber that is not itchy
Washable and won’t shrink
Moderately durable
Doesn’t have to be snug to the body to wick
Comes in different weights for different activities
Naturally odor resistant (not odor proof)

Negatives:

Can become saturated and lose some moisture wicking ability
Wears out faster than synthetics"

Now, according to Clear Water Outdoors:

"Both merino and polypropylene provide warmth and dryness to the wearer. With one being natural fibers and the other being synthetic, frequently purchasers will favor one type of material over the other. If you like natural fiber clothing with natural odor killing properties, then merino would be the right choice for you. However, if you prefer synthetic fibers or don't care either way then you may find that polypropylene suits your needs perfectly.

When deciding between the two materials, you should note that merino base layer clothing items will be more expensive than polypropylene items. This is due to the natural fiber aspect as it is often cheaper for the clothing manufacturers to produce synthetic clothing. Therefore, if you are shopping for base layer clothing on a budget you may want to go with the polypropylene over the merino items. If price is no object or you are happy to invest the money in quality, well made merino wool items, then choosing this type of base layer clothing would work well.

With regard to the warmth factor, many people find that merino wool provides greater warmth than polypropylene. In addition, the coziness factor which often goes along with this softer natural material draws people in and makes them take note of the warmth. However, polypropylene also does the trick with warmth even though it may feel a bit more synthetic than its merino wool counterpart may."

Conclusion:

After researching, it seems like wool might be the better overall choice. But, part of me wonders if most people (myself included) prefer merino wool just because it's what has been used and we know it works...? In my hunting experience, I had to say I couldn't tell much of a difference between the two, but I did end up going back to my merino wool stash of clothing. Basically, if you aren't worried about breaking the bank go with the quality, natural merino wool. (Also, when purchasing any wool product always make sure there is a HIGH percentage of wool in the blend! A lot of people get ripped off thinking they're buying quality wool socks, when in reality they are just buying a glorified blend.) But, if you are wanting to stay on the frugal side of things, definitely go for the polypropylene! It's cheaper and I wouldn't say it's much lesser of a product than wool.

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