EKTOS 100% Wool Blanket

I have had a lot of people ask me about the EKTOS 100% Wool blanket and here are my thoughts on it. The information in this video isn't the best but I wanted to try to show the benefits of each blanket.
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[@stauguastine]

I would like to post an update to this video thread. I just picked up the Ektos queen sized wool blankets (90x90 inch), I got two of the dark gray ones. I will say they have improved on a great product. One, it is a queen size, they have king available now too. Two, the weave is tighter than the first series of blankets they were offering. Lastly, I am glad they are now offering larger blankets. For $75 each for the queen that is an awesome price. Yes, these blankets are made out of recycled wool, nevertheless, I have not had any issues with them and I am 7 years down the road using these Ektos wool blankets. Yes, I use them in the winter on my bed and they are doing great. No, I am not an Ektos representative, but like to show cheaper options for good quality wool blankets for those of us on a budget.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank you for the update. I will have to pin this comment so people can see it.

[@e.c.knivesandrazors2840]

I'd like to add to this guy's point the more you layer lofted wool the better it retains heat and limits conduction and radiation loss of heat. I have a vintage 4 point wool blanket and has a ridiculous amount of loft 90x72 and seems to hold heat as well as 2 - 90x66 ektos. Not everyone can afford a point blanket (I got mine on fb market place for cheap)

[@surjracer56]

I can tell you exactly why wool works when it's wet. It's because it is what's called a hydrophilic or hydroscopic material. What that means is that when warmth is on one side it wicks moisture to the exterior and keeps its loft so in turn retaining heat. It doesn't hurt that wool fibers are also hollow. So the combination of hollow fibers and hydroscopic capability allow the wool to keep its loft in turn keeping you warm and also helping you dry off if you are damp wet or sweaty. When will blends are are less than 80% wool they do not transport moisture and keep loft as well. Hope this helps. By the way I've used two Italian will blankets in 20° weather and stayed warm enough without a fire.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge. I have learned a lot after making this video. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain what hygroscopic actually means.

[@dontall71]

Sheep never get cold when they're wet, but the wool does shrink and what they're really saying is " Baaaad!"

[@3nertia]

I would like to add to this that the hollow fibers aid in what is called "capillary action" which is what wicks moisture away, the hollow fibers are what make it insulative; the natural lanolin (oil) coating is what makes it water resistant :) Wool is really fascinating at the microscopic level as it actually "grows" and expands when it absorbs moisture which adds a mechanical action to make the capillary action even more effective!

[@auraroldan1420]

rinse the blue blanket using hair conditioner it will get as soft and fluffy as your green blanket. Use gentle cycle and air dry after words. I have 3 of them and i love them!

[@newageselfreliance]

Do you rinse it in your Bathtub or Washing Machine?

[@averagejoe8213]

very helpful. thanks! My thought on two "blue" blankets: 1- half the cost of one pathfinder blanket. 2- doubling them up creates an air gap in between them and, as you said, you'll be warmer. 3- 10 pounds! 4- You'll have TWO blankets, twice the versatility

[@newageselfreliance]

Yeah, if money was tight (like it is now) I would much rather have two cheaper blankets than one Pathfinder Blanket. That said I carry both of these blankets and stay very warm. The Pathfinder I keep close to my skin and body and the EKTOS I use on the outside. Not only is the Pathfinder nicer on my skin but the EKTOS protects it from the elements. It really is a good combo.

[@jeremiahjensen8864]

Wool breathes a little bit. It will regulate you body temperature. But if you are working. You will get hot. Other materials don't breathe as well. This is why you sweat. Once you sweat and get other materials wet. They will like their thermal properties. Wool doesn't do this. Which is why it is superior. At 0 degrees you need a very thick sleeping bag to stay warm. A double layer of wool is all you need. I have done it and I can attest to this. You still need a shelter, fire, and ground insulator. As far as your feet. Change your socks before sleep. Your feet sweat and it lowers the thermal properties of your socks. Eat a hot meal before bed too. Digestion warms your body.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You so much for watching. I truly appreciate the Support.

[@warlock.420]

Thank you for this. Too many people are only focused on selling products at high prices. Stay you, and never sell out like the other "bushcrafters".

[@newageselfreliance]

I appreciate that!

[@GForceMN]

Really enjoyed this video. I've never heard anybody mention how much the warmth of wool depends on fire when it is COLD!

[@newageselfreliance]

The fire is the key to keeping warm with a wool blanket. I don't know why people don't talk about it. I feel it is important information to share.

[@brandweerquest]

Well researched. I really like wool. Sleep in it every night. At home and outdoors. Not a panacea on its own. The secret is layering. The 'green one' is bigger for a reason. You can lie in it diagonally and then put a flap over your feet and fold the left and right point over you. This creates 2 layers over the feet and 3 layers over the torso. I use a special pin to keep it all in place. That makes the extra size and weight plauseble. Especially if you have to carry everything with you. Dry leaves underneath make it comfortable and provide more insulation. More of a survival or summer situation. In a stationary sleeping environment where size and weight are less important, a supplement with a wind or waterproof layer such as a tarp or poncho is recommended. And a improvised reased bed. At home I have at least 4 small blankets at my disposal. As an underblanket (moisture transport!) A fluffy first layer directly on my skin. More blankets as needed on top when it gets colder. I love it! What you don't mention is the self-cleaning of a wool blanket. Shake or knock out once in a while. Just air out in the wind and sun. Will not stink. Especially when it comes to clothing. No sweaty smell after days (and nights) of wearing. That's why I like to wear woolen clothes. Merino wool is comfortable on bare skin. Often also part of my sleep system. I wear a military wool sweater and long johns during cold weather during the day and the wool blanket is extra insulation for when I sit still or lay down for sleep. With the small poncho shelter that is enough to get through a cool night even without fire.

[@newageselfreliance]

Self-cleaning is my favorite part and it is really easy to spot clean if it does get dirty. I love my wool blankets and every winter I always get them ready just in case the power goes out. Laying toasty warm in the winter with no heat is always a great feeling. It makes you feel confident you can make it through anything. Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate it.

[@morganillsley94]

I am a HUGE fan of wool. Thrifting blankets from thrift stores is the way to go. Save $$ It's a treasure hunt every time and you get lots of different ones always at a great price! Subbed.💯👍

[@newageselfreliance]

That is a great tip. We don't really have any thrift stores where I live. We have one Goodwill but it is always well kicked through by the people that work there. Many people also use it to make extra income. They get there as soon as it opens and collect all the quality items so they can resell them on the Facebook marketplace. By the time someone like me can get to the store everything is well picked through. I'm always jealous of all the people who find treasures in local thrift shops or garage sales.

[@estebanfernandez5393]

Hi, truly appreciate the way you explained wool` s properties, very clear and objective

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad it was helpful.

[@dharmapunk777]

Also lanolin helps makes it naturally water resistant. Although boiled wool shrinks makes a denser weave, the downside is the washing removes some of the lanolin. Although I think it retains enough to still shed some water. I used to a have wool and cashmere longcoat and once some dickhead drove sped through a puddle right beside me and I got doused pretty good, but none of it stuck. It all just slid off and I was bone dry.

[@newageselfreliance]

I never even thought about how it sheds water. That is important to have in a coat or blanket that is going to be exposed to the elements. Thank you so much for watching and sharing your knowledge.

[@stauguastine]

I love those Ektos wool blankets and use them on my bed. For the money, they cannot be beat. What you are trying to refer to is what is known as "loft". The tightness of the weave of the Ektos does make it lose loft, and yes, it prevents wind from moving through it as easy. However, if one is on a budget and still wants to use the Ektos wool blanket there is an easy fix to the issue of lack of loft, so to speak. lol Just put it in a drier and run it on medium heat for about 20 minutes. If you want to soften it up a little more put a tennis ball in the drier with it. Do this when the blanket is dry and not wet. If it is wet it will shrink it a little. I have a Hudson Bay 4 point Blanket and have compared the two, after running it in the drier. Is the Ektos as soft as the Hudson Bay? No, but it is darn close now. The Ektos has a tighter weave and it will add to the life of the blanket believe it or not. However, whether you are talking about Faribault (that is who makes the Pathfinder's blanket), Hudson Bay, or Pendleton, the blue Ektos does a fair job holding its own with them and at a fraction of the price. I am looking into picking up either the Pathfinder or a Pendleton soon. Yes, I love wool. It is fair to say that the Ektos is a cheaper blanket, but you are not sacrificing much as far as quality for the Ektos. You hit on a point about wool's breathability, yes, you need a windbreak to maximize the warmth of the wool. I have used a wool blanket inside my USGI Goretex bivy down to the low 40's before and stayed nice and warm. Just make sure you have some kind of windbreak and you will be fine. Thanks for the review man, keep up the awesome work. The short answer for the Ektos wool blanket, it is an awesome budget blanket that you get much more than the usual budget garbage, it is a respectable 5.5 pounds, all 5 of mine have weighed that and is the specification on the Ektos site.

[@newageselfreliance]

If you do get a Pathfinder Blanket you will have to let me know how it compares to the Hudson Bay. I have never seen a Hudson Bay blanket but I hear about them all the time. It would be nice if I could get a side by side comparison with the Hudson Bay, Pathfinder, and Ektos. Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge, I really have learned more having a KZbin channel than I ever did just watching.

[@stauguastine]

@@newageselfreliance will do if I get one, I am really knocking it around in my head man. It would be nice to get a queen size wool blanket. I have been looking at those Alpaca wool blankets too, you can get a queen size for about $150. I will definitely let you know when I do decide. I may do a video on all three if I do.

[@newageselfreliance]

What size is your Hudson Bay?

[@stauguastine]

@@newageselfreliance 72" x 90".

[@poisonousbadge126]

@@stauguastine any news?

[@briangreen256]

I stand by wool keeping you warm in cold weather! When I was in boot camp in Chicago in the winter it was cold as hell in the barracks but my thin wool blanket had me sweating till I took it off! You don't have to be in front of a fire👍

[@newageselfreliance]

In the barracks, you also had the body heat of everyone around you and you weren't exposed to the elements. Wool is a great insulator don't get me wrong but it does have its limitations.

[@briangreen256]

@Wolf Pack Woodcraft You are right. I was just sharing my experience with wool.

[@newageselfreliance]

What is crazy is how old wool blanket are. Such an old technology that is still the best we have today.. Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate your support.

[@briangreen256]

@@newageselfreliance Yes sir👍

[@bannaxe7338]

Hooyah go Navy

[@scottmattila8318]

I’m new to this subject but I read the biggest difference is ‘virgin’ wool vs. ‘recycled’ wool. The virgin wool fibers are longer and considered ‘better’ quality and thicker. Whereas the recycled wool has shorter fibers making the blankets thinner. But I digress… great video… thanks for sharing.

[@newageselfreliance]

That makes sense. I'm sure the virgin wool is more pure than the recycled wool. The recycled wool would have to go through some refurbishing treatments.

[@markcoffman9522]

During the peak of the fur trade, the Hudson Bay Company issued wool blankets to their trapper that were 3/4s of an inch thick. Each man received 3 blankets. Try carrying that load on your back!

[@newageselfreliance]

They had horses carry a lot of the weight back then. I would love to have one of those blankets today. It would probably be the best piece of kit anyone could own.

[@scottbee501]

Wool 100% and a fire are a good combo. I think a mistake some people make is too small of a blanket and then they wrap themselves too tight in the blanket. A bigger blanket with some space between your body and the blanket will allow for a warm dead space. Just a thought.

[@newageselfreliance]

I think people just wrap up to tight in any size blanket. I don't know why but most people think being a "burrito" or "as snug as a bug" is a good way to use a blanket. It took me years to convince Caroline that having space inside the blanket is warmer than being cocoon-tight inside the blanket.

[@DUNKIN_DEAN]

I thought your video was very informative and I clearly understood what you meant. Thanks! I appreciate your evaluation.

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm really glad you enjoyed the video.

[@MarkRuslinzski]

Hi, I'm Mark i just wanted you to know that your video was Great , i appreciate the way you described everything that i needed to know without all kinds of hype, you honesty was very much appreciated

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm really glad my video was able to help.

[@edwardshaw6231]

I am trying to make a budget bedroll out of the Ektos and a waxed canvas tarp from Tractor Supply. So far I am happy with the thickness and warmth. I do think with the wind resistance and insulation the waxed canvas has will help the wool hold the heat. We will see, I am going on a winter camp with my son in Minnesota at the end of the month and while we will have camp stoves in the tents, I'm hoping this bedroll will end up working out perfectly.

[@newageselfreliance]

What are you using as a sleeping pad? If you can get up off the ground so the heat of the stove can circulate around you then you might not need the wax tarp. The tent should block the wind for you and the wool will soak up the heat making you nice and warm.

[@kingsoutdoors4379]

I bought a wanted tarp from tractor supply that was soaking wet with something. I tried to make a shelter and the eyelets immediately tore loose and the tarp ripped in numerous places. I never got to use it and I didn't even have barely any tension on the eyes. Very disappointed for 70 bucks. I'll never buy another from tractor supply

[@the_long_wait]

This is a really excellent breakdown. I think wool can keep you alive in colder weather but without a fire it’s definitely not going to be comfortable. Still experimenting though.

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Wool is warm and does it's job really well but it is not going to keep you as warm as people think. I live in Minnesota and there are plenty of winter nights where wool itself will not keep me warm.

[@scottfulghum4398]

Back in the 80’s I did a 30 minute run every night in a wealthy neighborhood Highland Park Dallas. It was safe with little traffic on the streets. I wore an old scratchy grey wool sweater that was drenched in sweat every night. I would hang it up to dry. Surprised that it didn’t smell at all on the second day I pushed it to three and four days. After two months it still didn’t smell. The temp normalized in about five minutes into the run. It never felt heavy. Hot summer nights I went shirtless at first but the wool ended up being cooler. I wouldn’t have the guts to try wool during a hot summer day though. It gets crazy hot in Texas.

[@newageselfreliance]

Wool is antimicrobial so it doesn't hold onto bacteria like cotton will. It really is a great material for clothes because like you said it neutralizes temperatures and is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The only problem with wool is that it is so expensive.

[@MLKusername]

Excellent video! Thank you for making it. People don't have time for sales pitches and constantly enabling the "influencer" great chain of being. Keep up the good work!

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad it was helpful.

[@jsoutdoorz7390]

You get what you pay for... Buy once cry once. I bought the pathfinder wool blanket and I'm very happy with the purchase. After this video I may buy another... Thanks

[@newageselfreliance]

I really enjoy the Pathfinder wool blanket. Like said the there is nothing wrong with the EKTOS but the Pathfinder is by far much more comfortable.

[@mikefox7947]

Very true I'm going with the Pathfinder as well jus because Dave Canterbury is in involved so I trust his input on the item and feel it will be the right kind of wool and not lowest end wool out there

[@WDCallahan]

Thank you for being the only youtuber brave enough to admit that the whole " wool still works when wet" has absolutely zero primary sources. Maybe it's true.. maybe not.. All we really know is EVERYONE says it verbatim. But you say it like you actually care about the truth.

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I do care about the truth. I would love to learn more about wool. The problem is everyone just repeats what they heard from someone else who heard the same thing from someone else. Just because enough people say something doesn't automatically make it true.

[@kurtbaier6122]

My experience in Scouts, military, re-enacting, and camping with wool is that it’s a good buffer between you and the cold, as shirt, jacket, coat, wrap, or placed over the top of a sleeping bag inside or outside of a tent. But not in place of a sleeping bag. If you are chilly it will warm you, if you are cold you will still be cold because there is not a lot of loft to it as far as insulation. Activity, food, and drinks, will internally warm you. Dry clothing and Fire will externally warm you, and proper ground mattress. And if wool gets wet you will eventually get chilled and if it’s below freezing it will freeze. Ask me how I know. I would pick the thinest tightest weave blanket around 3 lbs and augment it with wool clothing for early to late Summer. During the Fall, Winter, and Spring a 4 lb US GI wool blanket with down or other insulation works great. I personally take a black sheep skin or fur and 2 wool blankets when reenacting and either a US or European Military blanket and sleeping bag during the cold months. I usually sleep in my clothes.

[@newageselfreliance]

I worry about sleeping in my clothes sometimes. One of the worst things that happened to me during winter camping was one night I went to bed as warm as could be, but during the night, I ended up getting sweaty. I woke up warm, but getting out of the sleeping bag wet and having wet clothes made for a miserable time. The fire couldn't even warm me up because my base layers were wet. I had to call it and go home. The heat of my vehicle was on full blast and even still I didn't feel warm. So now I make sure to have sleeping clothes and day clothes. I always make sure my day clothes are dry before going to sleep.

[@patriotrob7066]

I have a swiss link 80% wool 20% polyester and its huge and $35 best blanket I've used so far ..

[@tbrew8222]

For 80% wool, the swisslink is hands down the best buy! 80% should be the minimum, you can feel every percentage of other fibers, especially in damp areas. They are local to me. He survived the famous "Camp" fire, and is rebuilding his business down in the valley.

[@varun009]

Get yourself some blankets from Turkey. These blankets are often made of garment grade melton. People tolerate a stiffer drape for a more matted finish (few loose fibers projecting outward). I went to a blanket manufacturer looking to buy some blankets to make a few coats and he just sold the fabric to me by the meter. Super cool that he did that otherwise it would have either been buying a hundred meters or paying 10x the price.

[@newageselfreliance]

Where do you buy Turkish blankets from??? How can you tell if they are the real deal?

[@601salsa]

The biggest feature is wool helps retain your body temp even when wet. I would compare the different percentage wool blankets both dry and wet with temp readings. Wool is a good insulator or it wouldnt retain body temp even when wet

[@newageselfreliance]

It does help insulate as long as you can keep the wind out. You will need some kind of tarp or outer shell to stay warm if the wool is wet.

[@fladderkatt3123]

No, you have to be dry yourself to kerp warm. A proper wool blanket will resist water to a very good degree and below freezing it does a excellent job insulation you, not to give your precious body heat to the crows. Needing a fire or not is irrelevant.

[@FawnandEvon]

Thank you, I think I will try using a wool blanket inside my sleeping bag for winter camping.

[@newageselfreliance]

As long as your sleeping bag is big enough. You don't want to pack the sleeping bag full because you will lose your loft in the down feathers.

[@FawnandEvon]

@@newageselfreliance okay, I’m lucky then, none of my camping gear has down feathers. I haven spent the money on that stuff yet, still working with what I have at home.

[@James-sir]

Pair wool with a sleeping bag of your choice for winter

[@newageselfreliance]

Do you prefer the wool blanket inside or outside of the sleeping bag?

[@dianneiverglynne]

Heavily felted is good in windy conditions. I have lots of time on trail using will bedrolls. You have to include a way to stop the wind. Tarp or plastic for a burrito without any blanket or bag is half the equation without fire.

[@newageselfreliance]

I liking using my wool blanket inside of a bivvy bag. It helps with wind and condensation. A good tarp can go along way too.

[@bcb2585]

So I agree with your assertion that the "magical" properties of wool are overblown. Years ago I bought into the hype and took my wool blanket in the field on a 35F night, and I froze! That Wool blanket is 100% virgin wool, and is a pricey one at that. I won't say the brand because it doesn't matter, this conversation is about Wool itself. Wool is Wool. The sheep doesn't know which manufacturer looms its coat. Wool is great for many reasons though! Because it's not as warm as people say, you will need to be by a fire... well, Wool is uniquely suited for being by a fire because it is really hard to burn. That is a plus! Another plus is, unlike many synthetic materials, it does regulate body temperature well (probably because its entire purpose was to regulate the body temperature of an animal). Wool is great in a variety of temperatures. It won't burn you out even if it's a little warmer out, and it can perform well in some colder temps too. It's a good all around material. I like Wool blankets, socks, and coats, and I use them the majority of the time. On a side note. I appreciate that you were honest that you weren't sure why Wool is this or that, and you didn't just spit out a lie for the video stating "facts" that you aren't sure are true. That said, why don't you just talk about what you do know. Don't try and explain something to others that you yourself, admittedly, have no idea about. I watched the entire video, and as a viewer, I wish you would have instead just talked about your experience. It was clear that your opinions about Wool and its properties are just wild guesses. I would have liked it so much more if you just said... "I took both blankets out on numerous camping trips and in several different temperature ranges, and here are my thoughts about their performance." You could talk about how the material felt on your skin, their durability over time. You could measure the thickness of blankets, talk about their loft, how tight the weave appears to be, whether light comes through or not (that would pertain to how consistent the looming process was throughout the entire blanket). You could talk about published manufacturer specifications, like the source of the Wool, the manufacturing process, the size and weight dimensions. You could even talk about how they smell out of the box. Sometimes when you buy Wool blankets online they have an odor. I mean there are a hundred things that you could talk about based on your actual experience, and what is published online from the manufacturer. I wasted so much of my limited time watching you fumble through explaining properties of Wool that you admit you actually don't know are true! Talk about what you know, and by the way, there is no obligation to do a video if you don't actually have something important to say! Don't just make videos to make videos. I am tired of content creators putting videos out about things that they don't actually know anything about. This is not a criticism, just some words of advice from a person who thought enough of you to take even more of my limited time to help you.

[@newageselfreliance]

On my channel, I get asked a lot of questions and I always try my best to answer those questions the best I can. I may not always have the answers people are looking for but I try to give enough information for them to further do research on their own. Content creators are not professional scientists. We simply share a portion of ourselves for the people that care to watch. If you are looking for facts find a class to take. If you are looking for entertainment there are a ton of shows and movies that can help with that as well. I do not make videos for the whole world I only make videos for those who care to watch. You should never take a KZbin video as fact unless the person in front of the camera is a trained professional with proper credentials. I appreciate your advice and input and I will apply some of the things you mentioned in my future videos. However, my number one goal will always to create a pack of like-minded people that can learn and grow together. I have learned way more having a KZbin channel than I ever did just watching and I'm confident that will continue to be the case. This video alone has lead to people leaving comments and links that have taught me a lot about wool. Randy's link has really helped me out a ton - www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/875-wool-fibre-properties

[@nonyobussiness3440]

Have you concidered two wool blankets

[@gaylecoombs5510]

OK so good video popped up on my page so I have the pathfinder wool blanket as well and I can tell ya this I do sleep in a hammock in all 4 seasons there has been couple times when I have slept in low teens with nothing but wool blankets I use the queen size pathfinder fold it in half long ways and pin it to the bottom of my hammock and make it like a under quilt then I have two slightly larger than twin size wool blankets that I use to go over top of me a yoga mat in the bottom of my hammock with a tarp over top and I've yet to freeze to death with no fire. I know guys that say you can go below zero with wool blankets but not sure if I'm that much of a bad ass lol but I wouldn't be worried one bit with sleeping with them in low 20's or teens. Good video tho buddy

[@newageselfreliance]

With enough wool blankets, I'm sure we could stay warm at any temperature. The problem is when people think they can stay that warm with "one good wool blanket." It's more about the layers than it is the blanket itself. The more layers the more heat will get trapped. The other thing is that our bodies are producing the heat, not the blankets. So people that can produce more body heat are going to be much warmer with fewer blankets than people that produce less body heat. There are so many things that go into staying warm at night and I wish people spent more time looking at each one instead of just the gear itself. I really appreciate the comment and I plan to steal your idea of using the Pathfinder Blanket as an under quilt. I think that is a really good idea.

[@gaylecoombs5510]

@@newageselfreliance that is so true layering is what it's about I guess I forgot to mention that I also was wearing the appropriate clothing not just shorts and tee shirt.

[@voraciousblackstn]

Long hunters would usually use 2 wool blankets folded over and overlapped (think 2 tacos overlapping) and then used an oilcloth as a bivy. The entire system can keep you warm to very low temps, each component doesn't do so well on their own.

[@newageselfreliance]

The blankets work really well together. I like putting the Pathfinder inside the Ektos so the softer blanket is against my skin. I don't have a bivy that can fit around both blankets so the wind is my biggest problem when it comes to any wool layer.

[@voraciousblackstn]

@@newageselfreliance oilcloths are easy to make. Take a canvas sheet, spread it out, paint the entire thing with linseed oil. Cheap bivy/tarp that is waterproof and extremely durable. Just make sure it dries completely before use. Otherwise because linseed oil can self ignite, it can be dangerous. Also keep away from flame. I used to do reenacting before i joined the army. Great for bushcraft skills. Better than boy scouts even back in the 90s.

[@scpc2006]

Great video for description of wool blankets. I believe it’s the hollow fibers that work as insulation.

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@apleparulo3958]

Thanks for the video. It seems that wool blankets can be densely woven (as the Ektos is) or have a thicker, more lofty feel (the Pathfinder). I believe the more lofty feel comes from a napped finish. Anyway, the more dense blanket style will provide better wind protection and I think not collect as much dirt or be easier to brush off (better for laying on the ground/picnic), while the blanket with the napped finish will be softer and provide better insulating value.

[@newageselfreliance]

I think the thicker blankets are warmer. Yes, the wind does play a factor but a tarp or tent is going to play a big role in using a wool blanket. I like sleeping with the Pathfinder wool blanket and I like using the EKTOS for sitting next to the fire. It is easier to brush off and keep clean because the leaves and sticks don't tangle in them as much.

[@firstbloodbushcraft8354]

Great review as always! Bought the Elton’s brand blanket and got a great blanket. Thanks for the review and keep them coming

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm really glad you enjoy your blanket.

[@puddin94]

Did you wash the blue one? I did mine and it fluffed it. Also try it under a rain poncho. I have a few ektos blankets they are great for cutting up and making gear. Also get yourself a pair of winter boots with felts in them at a yard sale I paid $5 for mine the felts are great for sleeping and those midnight trips to the tree. I threw away the boots. Great video well done 😊👍❤️

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I have a pair of Sorel boots with felt liners. I like wearing them when everything is wet because it's easy to take the felt liners out and dry them. My Muck boots are tough to get dry.

[@johnschmalbach8243]

A little late but here is the thing with wool. It's not that it keeps you just as warm when wet. As others pointed out wool, if taken care of, will have hydrophobic properties. This means that it will take longer to "wet out" than say cotton or a non-DWR synthetic. So it feels like it keeps you warm when wet, but only relative to other materials. I have seen different #s but the consensus seems to be that wool can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water before "wetting out". Once wool has wetted out however it's just like any other insulation, namely you will be colder wrapped in wool than you would be if you had no other insulation on you. So whether it's wool, cotton, down, whatever, keep your insulation dry. The only difference between wool and the rest is that it gives you a more margin for error.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You for sharing your knowledge. That does make sense. That is why you always need a waterproof/windproof shell when wearing a wool sweater. It can handle the rain for a while but it can't handle it for long.

[@The_Saxon_of_Riverstone]

Sleeping bag with a wool blanket in colder temperatures. I spent some cold nights in Northern Ontario like -35°C inside.

[@newageselfreliance]

What kind of sleeping bag do you use? Also, do you use the wool blanket inside the sleeping bag as a base layer or over the top?

[@The_Saxon_of_Riverstone]

@@newageselfreliance In my sleeping bag (Military sleeping kit)I put on merino wool sock and light wool blanket. The military sleeping kit is ok but now they have better sleeping kits. The reason I used a light wool blanket is I would over heat if I used a thicker blanket. My lesson I learned I got stuck on a sofa in a cabin and I very far away from the fireplace. So I have to improvise… now that I am older I cherish being comfortable and not freezing my butt off. 😂😂😂.

[@scum1633]

I totally agree that just wool keeping you warm in very low temperatures is a myth, but i have found a good sleeping system that I use for mountain man rendezvous. Two pure wool blankets and a white tail deer pelt, with a smaller 55% wool blanket under me keeps me comfortable down to upper 20s and low 30s.

[@newageselfreliance]

Sounds like a really warm system. I'm sure the layers help keep you comfortable as well.

[@bizzlecrafts]

Late to the conversation but I second this. I do historical re-enacting which results in a lot of "experimental" activities to make for better camping with period tools. I bring 2-3 sheep skins with me and lay them "inside" my wool blanket when I wrap myself up. I also pin the wool blanket closed with a few fibula, which helps with any gaps that might appear while I sleep.

[@Hoonozit]

I got lucky. I ran into a thick 100% virgin wool blanket at the Salvation Army. It's probably a 300 dollar blanket I got it for 7 dollars.

[@newageselfreliance]

That is super lucky. I'm sure whoever sold it for that is still kicking themselves right now.

[@Hoonozit]

@Gospel Ninja That would be a lucky find for you but...no thanks. :-)

[@Hoonozit]

Sometimes the things you find at those places makes me wonder whats the thinking going on.

[@TheBigLeeg]

It’s absolutely an amazing find. Those who do pricing at Salvation Army aren’t slouches when it comes to valuation. It used to be a wool blanket wasn’t an uncommon item. However nowadays 100% wool (vs wool blends ) is very uncommon indeed. Excellent wool blankets like Pendleton’s , Hudson Bay company, or Wooly Mammoths, are super rare and when they do pop up they tend to slip out the back door instead of making to the shelves. If they do make it to the shelves the price reflects their uncommon value. SHORT VERSION. YOU WERE BLESSED. like Wolf Pack Woodcraft said, “...still kicking themselves right now.”

[@Hoonozit]

@Leon Corriveau I don't know anything about the blanket. The tag says "100% virgin wool" "Coming home" "made in USA" I just knew it was worth 7 bucks.

[@jolier1313]

I have already bought two Ektos 100% wool blankets. I got the gray/charcoal one which weighs about 4.4 pounds, and it cost $39. The blue one weighs about 5.5 pounds, and it costs about $49. Both are twin sized 66" by 90". These are the cheapest options I could find for a 100% wool blanket, and I think they actually pair well as a 2 layer system, like a sleeping bag and a wool blanket combo, or pairing it as a ground/outer layer cover with the Pathfinder wool blanket as the inner layer. I got the charcoal one for three reasons: I like the neutral color of charcoal more than the blue; I saved $10 over the blue blanket, which allowed me to spend that money on other gear, like a water bottle or ferro rod; and not that my backpack is meant to have a superlight-weight sleeping system, but the gray one is also 1.1 pounds lighter, which means I can carry 1.1 pounds of other gear over the blue one. The benefits of a wool blanket are not over-hyped. A wool blanket isn't the warmest or lightest option, but it's probably the most durable and versatile option. It's uses are almost as varied as a shemagh. I'm actually more curious about how the Pathfinder blanket holds up to a Pendleton blanket. Does the quality of the Pendleton justify a one and a half or double the price of a Pathfinder blanket? I think you should do a Pathfinder vs the Pendleton blanket comparison.

[@newageselfreliance]

I would love to compare the Pathfinder with both the Pendleton and a Hudson Bay but I just can't afford to spend that kind of money. I really like wool during the warmer months of the year but once it starts getting cold I always go for my sleeping bags. They are just way warmer and much lighter.

[@mofun01]

Many, maybe all, Pendleton wool products contain cotton. Cotton will increase risk in wet,cold climate. Polyamides like nylon or polyester when used, reduce weight, are quick drying, but make items less high heat/fire tolerable.

[@nomsolo9935]

Loft is what keeps you warm. Down loft is superior but wool also offers loft. Wool maintains its loft even when wet, just like synthetic fibers do in synthetic sleeping bags. This is because wool is hydrophobic. This property of wool fibers is also why it can have a cooling effect - it’s wicking moisture away and enabling evaporative cooling.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I have learned more from having a KZbin channel than I ever did just watching videos. I really appreciate your support.

[@surlycyclingrag3347]

Thanks for the opinion I was just looking on Amazon for a blanket extos seem to be a deal to good. Glad to see the your video on you tube because a honest opinion can be seen if we look closer. I think the coldest I have been in a sleeping bag is around 15 degree and unfortunately the coldest I got with a reproduction Italian wool blanket was four degrees with out a fire! Very long night. Had a sixty four oz stainless canteen freeze completely solid even the bottom push out. The right gear and knowledge is very important. 🥶

[@newageselfreliance]

Yeah, that must have been miserable. I don't understand why people think wool is so warm. It is warm but like all things, it has its limits. The Ektos is a good wool blanket for the money. It's not as nice as the higher price alternatives but if you wear clothes or put them on top of a softer more comfortable blanket it is a really good option. Again as long as you understand its limits.

[@surlycyclingrag3347]

You are correct a wool blanket is only good with a warm fire in cold weather. I grew up in southern California and the only time we can really have a fire in safe condition is raining or high mountain snow. There's been plenty of times I have been stuck with just a wool blanket and temperature have drop down in the thirty's in Mojave and the Los Padres N.F. I would always say I am never taken this wool blanket and canvas tarp again. I think I mostly like this set up because of packing in morning no tent poles stuffing a sleeping bag. Goes with the jealous of watching Bushcraft channels with only carrying a one quart canteen. Can't even find a straight branch in some counties in SoCal sometimes we would pack two gallons of water. But we learned to make it. When it's over a hundred degrees dig a hole stick the box of beer in it and throw the ruck sack on top.

[@ryv2582]

Thank you for this video, I've been looking for a perfect wool blanket, and this video is really helpful~

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jg4634-d2y]

You have a great channel mate, really straightforward way of getting your info across. Keep it up!

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

Bottom line in my opinion: Friend with $200 Wool Blanket: i am warm You with $5 Army Surplus Wool Blanket: i am warm lol

[@newageselfreliance]

We will both be warm but one of us will be more comfortable. Thank You so much for watching.

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

@@newageselfreliance Surplus blanket is super comfy tho! lol

[@ddthedogmanoutdoors]

Thanks for this video, it's my kind of thing (honest and experience based). Much appreciated 🙏

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@trynsurviven2440]

The blue one would be good to store in the car for emergencies.

[@tacticalcenter8658]

harbor freight has 20$ wool blankets that i keep in the car. havent used one yet to know how warm or not it is, but, its there when i need it.

[@trynsurviven2440]

Tactical Center I forgot they have those. I need to go and check them out. Thanks for the reminder.

[@newageselfreliance]

I keep that 70% wool blanket in the Jeep. I use to cover stuff up to either keep it hidden or keep stuff from banging together. It comes in really handy. I think the Blue blanket would work really well as a Vehicle blanket.

[@janhbhugo5085]

You did good buddy ! From 🇨🇦!I have an Ektos and a Hudson Bay / for me whatever you have good enough with a reflectic ground sheet !

[@newageselfreliance]

How do you like Hudson Bay? I have heard a lot of really great things about the Hudson Bay blankets, but I don't think I will ever be able to afford one.

[@janhbhugo5085]

Actually my Hudson Bay is my every night blanket in winter ! The best !

[@janhbhugo5085]

Actually in Africa my Grandma gave a merino blue a white blanket when I was 13 years old ! It’s all I ever got !My daughter has it now 56 year old blanket still at the end of her bed to pull over when it gets real cold !

[@newageselfreliance]

That's awesome. I might have to get one. 56 years and still going strong really shows its true value.

[@smcvaymcvay5770]

Good information. Thanks for checking out wool for us.

[@newageselfreliance]

Any time!

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

Thanks for a very interesting video. Don't feel bad about sharing your experience & learning. I don't have to share your opinion to appreciate it and (gasp) consider learning from it😉!

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Hopefully, as time goes by I can learn more and update my video based on real facts.

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

Very interesting information about wool. Thanks for that. Good job on the video.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeffrichards5106]

I have a GI wool blanket I got at my local army surplus store. If I remember right, it wasn't more than $25. I use it in Spring, Fall and Winter but only for car camping and I only use it to cover my feet over my sleeping bag. I do like my Smartwool socks which are warm don't remember what percent of wool is in them. I can't handle the pure wool that's scratchy as sandpaper. I'll take a good sleeping bag over a wool blanket any day. Michigan winters are no joke. I'm sure you can relate up there in Minnesota.

[@newageselfreliance]

Yeah, winter here is nothing to take lightly. I was watching a video the other day of a guy "winter" camping and he was wearing a T-shirt lol. It's crazy to think about how different people's views can change based on which side of the country you live on. If I even think it might get cold I bring a sleeping bag. To me, wool blankets are for warmer weather.

[@jeffrichards5106]

@@newageselfreliance Yeah, for sure. I'm a cold sleeper anyways. I just can't see myself trap camping either. I'd be eaten alive by mosquitoes and you have to be careful of ticks too, and I'd freeze my butt off in the winter without a long fire.

[@newageselfreliance]

@@jeffrichards5106 I have to have a tent or bugnet. Not only would the bugs eat me alive they would annoy me to the point of no sleep. I'm all about being as comfortable as possible and staying away from bugs is a big part of that.

[@jeffrichards5106]

@@newageselfreliance Me too brother, I go out to smooth it instead of roughing it.

[@TheBigLeeg]

Guys, I’m here in MN and I’ve been using an Army Cot and wool blankets(2-3) for the past 25 years of winter camping. Im a big guy and sleeping bags are way to confined. When I was younger I could deal with sleeping bags but since I hit my 20’s it’s been air mattress ,army cots, or bunk(ice house) and the sleeping bag is underneath me and only there as an absolute emergency measure. Usually I, will start with 3 blankets (Italian Military Surplus 90” x 64” 100% wool) and will usually peel one off after an hour or so of thawing out. I use an old school canvas tent and pipe in heat using a 1-1/2” L shape pipe that I set inside of a Swedish Log . It keeps the old army tent plenty warm for 5-7 hrs even when it -20 outside. Check out “ Advoko Makes” you tube channel. He is in St.Petersburg , Russia and is the only guy who I’ve ever seen use the pipe and Swedish torch my grandpa ( old iron ranger r.i.p.) taught me. Cold climates we live in men. We need to share the woodman wisdom. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5areHeobZaLra8

[@randyyeager]

I heard that wool is...hollow...like a tube...water will get around wool, but the inside holds air in it and that's why they retain their warming and cooling properties...

[@newageselfreliance]

I read that too. The thing that confused me is if the outside holds the water why doesn't it feel wet to the touch. I would think the water would have to be held in the middle making the outside of the "tube" feel dry.

[@randyyeager]

@@newageselfreliance yes it's held between the fibers...not in them...each fiber is hollow ish...not enough room for water to get in but enough room for air.

[@dbchillin7747]

Also the hairs have a natural oil

[@pjmnash]

Hi Bro! I too love to research--it's my only addiction! I was hoping however, that you'd be able to specifically report your field testing on two separate nights for each one [blanket]. Theoretical knowledge sometimes is counter-intuitive to real life experience. I. do agree that wool is [probably] a regulator of heat, holding it in air pockets. Yes, wool is amazing--your connecting it to our body's natural heating is a wonderful insight. You remind me of my profs in grad school. But sometimes I wanted to ask them when I took another course in microbiology, "Yes, but have you ever met a person who recovered from necrotizing fasciitis?" (I have!) Thanks for the difference on colors of the blanket--yes, you reported your field experience there--thank you! I'm ordering a blanket tomorrow. I'm subscribing! Patty Nash, still camping (age 73)

[@newageselfreliance]

The Pathfinder is warmer but the EKTOS does the job. You will have to let me know what your experience with the blanket is. I hope it meets your expectations.

[@gwpattrick]

There's one way to find out. ask a sheep. You don't see the complaining during cold months. Good video

[@newageselfreliance]

Sheep wear a way thicker blanket of wool than anything I've seen. I've always wondered how warm a wool blanket that was as thick as the loft on a sleeping bag be. I'm sure that would be the warmest sleeping bag ever.

[@silvermountainman2562]

Keeps your feet worm if your hiking. Totally agree that wool breaths well, while it returns your body heat on a cold wet hike. I think you need a “cold weather duck down” in your system in super cold temperatures … 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@newageselfreliance]

Putting a wool blanket over my sleeping bag doesn't have the same effect as just using the wool blanket. It is warmer but my feet don't stay as warm. It's like the sleeping bag stops the wool from distributing the heat. Maybe a down blanket or top quilt would work better than an enclosed sleeping bag?

[@silvermountainman2562]

@@newageselfreliance Funny you bring up the top quilt. Just got my first one in the mail today. Now I just need an under quilt, for my hammock. I went with a 800 fill, we’ll see what happens … 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@newageselfreliance]

You will have to let me know if it works better than an unzipped sleeping bag.

[@josephmarino3045]

My guess would be that it retains heat due to the high lanolin content of the natural wool. Since it is very water repellent water cannot soak into the fibers as much as around the fibers. So the fiber still give some insulative value because they're separating the inside from the outside with some air. My 2¢

[@newageselfreliance]

In my head, if the water doesn't soak in, that must mean it's on the outside of the blanket next to your skin. With evaporative cooling or just the cold air on the moister to me, it should feel colder but it most definitely is warmer. I think about this all the time and the best I can do is just accept the fact that it does work and not worry so much about how it actually works.

[@3nertia]

Cold is just the absence of heat; the cold doesn't move in, the body heat bleeds away. When it's cold enough, it's like being surrounded by water, there's no way your body can produce enough heat to compete with the massive amount of [condensed] cold air and thus it feels like the cold is seeping in. Wrapping up in the wool and then wrapping a reflective layer (like a mylar space blanket) just around that should abate this!

[@newageselfreliance]

The water analogy really helped me visualize what is actually taking place. The wool blanket and mylar blanket together would help with convection and radiation, but does it help with conduction? Could you lay on the cold ground with just a wool blanket and a mylar space blanket?

[@3nertia]

@@newageselfreliance I s'pose that would depend on the quality (thickness) of the wool blanket. From my research, it seems like you could survive that way under most conditions but it's gonna be _very_ uncomfortable at anything < 50 degrees F There's a channel called Grunt Proof that has a video where he shows how the military peeps do it - he used a bivvy bag, a wool blanket, and I believe some mylar but I do not recall the exact conditions; I think it was chilly but _not_ freezing

[@CRJines]

Everything that I bought from the Pathfinder store has been fantastic... Except for the blanket. You would be better off buying two of the blue blankets and using them together. $190 is just way too expensive for that blanket. I was hoping it was going to be a lot thicker than it is.

[@newageselfreliance]

I wish I could touch and see what a Hudson Bay blanket was like. I think if I had something of quality I could compare to my opinion may be different but the Pathfinder is WAY better than the Ektos in both thickness, and softness.

[@CRJines]

@@newageselfreliance yeah but for 50 bucks I can get two military surplus wall blankets and sell them together. Very disappointed in the blanket

[@Mel-qr5ob]

Honestly didn't know about the heat "spreading" effect of wool. I was already looking into it but now I'm very very keen to get a wool blanket or some sort of wool sleeping bag liner. Like most women I've always got cold feet and hands (god I hate biology sometimes😞). I got a sleeping rated to -11°C transition and -5°C for women's comfort (EN standard)... I tested it on a 8°C night, my toes were numb but my core was warm, which is both miserable and bloody ridiculous considering I went overboard on the temp rating so I could be comfy at 0°C winter night, yet it's not even warm enough for me in autumn, I tried adding a "thermal reactor fleece bag liner" still not warm enough for me at 0°C, still got numb feet. Adding a wool blanket is my next bet. Otherwise I'll have to be bringing extra water and a hot water bottle for my toes on hiking trips.

[@newageselfreliance]

The issue most people have is that their feet don't give off heat making the insulation worthless. Your core gives off heat which is trapped by the insulation in your sleeping bag or reflected off of your Mylar heat sheet. So what I like to do is put hand warmers down by my feet right when I climb into bed which gives off heat allowing my sleeping bag to capture it. If you use Mylar it works even better. The issue I get sometimes is my feet get to warm and start to sweat making it hard to get warm outside of the sleeping bag. Even just wearing Wool Socks in bed and making sure your feet are warm before you climb into the sleeping bag can really help a lot.

[@EdmundoAyarzagoitia]

To keep your feet warm on a wool blanket check this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpvTlaJ3i7SXbbM from WayPoint Survival.

[@Alberto7tube]

Nice review love it thanks 🇺🇸🇲🇽 I’m going for the Blue one ☝️ It came down to $44 now in Amazon

[@newageselfreliance]

That is a really good deal. I'm sure you will really enjoy the blanket.

[@tyler8259449]

Great review/compatison/education... What sleeping bag do you suggest for winter

[@newageselfreliance]

I use a military modular sleep system or an MMSS military surplus sleeping bag system. Affiliate link - amzn.to/3Nbfks5 They are getting harder and harder to find though. A lot of winter sleeping bags aren't as good as they say. They only work if you keep all of your cold weather gear on inside the sleeping bag.

[@ericpatton5211]

The EKTOS is machine washable. I wonder if you can soften it up a bit by running it through a few times. Very helpful video. Thanks!

[@ericpatton5211]

So yeah it seems it does, the comment section was helpful too. Nice job. ) Someone even mentioned rinsing with hair conditioner which makes a lot of sense.

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The comments are always a good place to find tips and tricks. My favorite part about KZbin is that we can all learn together.

[@BIGMINION502]

I turned in to see if he was comparing these two blankets but 6 minutes in I can't tell if that's going to happen. Let me know how it turns out.

[@newageselfreliance]

The expensive one is softer and more comfortable than the cheaper one.

[@911life5]

I’m not an expert of wool or staying warm when it’s cold but I used to sale house insulation and generally enjoy science. What I know is that heat is energy and cold is the absence of energy. So technically in the sense of radiant temperature exchange you don’t let the cold in, you let the heat out. not talking about air exchange in which you can let cold air in. When you talk about insulation it’s similar to talking about insulation with electricity. It’s just something that energy has difficulty transferring through. When you use Home insulation the purpose is to trap air because air doesn’t transfer heat well. The reason yeti cups insulate so well is they go a step farther by using a vacuum which gives heat nothing to transfer through.

[@newageselfreliance]

So it's like Light and Dark. You can't add dark only remove the light. So heat is the light and cold is the dark. By controlling the heat you eliminate the cold. Makes sense to me. The problem I have with wool is a slight breeze will remove the heat you have accumulated inside.

[@911life5]

Wolf Pack Woodcraft good analogy and I could for sure see that happening

[@wolfking2281]

Wool is hollow natural fibre so it has air pockets within the hair how ever it is not completly hollow... Also its exo thermic which mean it actully heats up when wet ..you can detect it with a sencitive temp cal. Ima fool for wool

[@newageselfreliance]

Wool is definitely a fascinating fabric. I have learned a lot about it over the years. I just don't use it that much. I actually learned a lot from this website www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/875-wool-fibre-properties Randy linked to it in this video and this is what I use to reference from now.

[@bradwjensen]

I don't think wool helps evaporate more than cotton does. I think it just keeps the warmth inside better than cotton does when wet. I think they both take about the same amount of time to dry. One just feels warmer when wet. Probably has to do with the way the micro fibers do or don't react when wet. Polyester will also wick moisture but tends to be more like a plastic that doesn't soak up water into the actual fibers themselves as much as cotton or wool so it does evaporate faster, but when you treat them with a water repellent finish they don't wick as well and keep water on the side it's coming from more so it feels more wet until it has sun to evaporate, but will dry quicker once it has that sun or wind.. It's kinda like wearing a plastic shopping bag and feels sticky when wet because moisture can't pass through as well with the water repellant finish. There are certainly weave designs and other techniques that could be used to make one side less likely to let heat out while allowing water to soak through to another type of fabric weave inside or on the other side to help that wick away and evaporate on the other side of the garment.. For now it's probably a good idea to have a thick wool blanket that will trap heat from your body, and soak all of your sweat up into the garment and spread the sweat throughout the garment to keep you dry until it's saturated; while having a fabric outside the wool that will block the wind from creeping through the fibers and making you cold. Better if the wind can be blocked away from your body so the wool can breathe better on the side away from your body better..

[@newageselfreliance]

I've always wondered when combining a wool blanket with a sleeping bag, do you think it would be better to put the wool blanket inside the sleeping bag or the outside? Part of me thinks having the wool on the inside to keep you dry is the way to go but on the other hand, having the blanket on the outside can do the same thing and keep your sleeping bag dry. Which do you think is the way to go?

[@bradwjensen]

@@newageselfreliance I would imagine having the wool on the inside would work better, so long as you're not breathing into the sleeping bag all night long. It would be kind of like a wool base layer; while the bag would be like a puffy jacket outside of it, blocking any wind and capturing whatever slowly leaks through the wool. One thing I haven't tried but heard once was hanging a t-shirt or fabric over your head area while sleeping to help capture all of the moisture from your breath as you sleep so your tent stays dryer..

[@SusanLand]

What you say about how wool works makes sense because it has to regulate the body temperature of sheep, not just insulate them or they would ov erheat.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You so much for watching. I truly appreciate the Support.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Now the Pathfinder is $245, the Queen EKTOS is still $75 while the twin is still $50, but I think the Twin is too small, I prefer a queen

[@newageselfreliance]

Yeah, everything is more expensive these days. I agree the Queen size is better. It allows you to fold up into more layers keeping you even warmer.

[@What_Fred_Said]

I bought a 70% wool blanket at a gun show for about $30 bucks. Not paying $200 or more for 100% wool. Can’t be that much better. I’m sure someone will disagree. I want to get a really good sleeping bag and a tent for extreme cold weather someday. Just in case I should ever need it. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[@newageselfreliance]

I would spend more money on a Sleeping Bag with a waterproof bivy than on a tent. If you have a good sleep system you can use almost any tent you want. The only thing you have to be careful of is condensation. A good double-wall tent will work in all four seasons. Unless of course, you want to use a wood stove inside. Then you will need an expensive wall tent.

[@CRJines]

Personally I'm very disappointed in the Pathfinder blanket. $190! Basically you could take two military surplus blankets and sew them together. It's very thin

[@newageselfreliance]

The Pathfinder blanket is bigger than the Army Surplus blankets. The Army Surplus is 4 pounds compared to the 6.2-pound Pathfinder so if you sewed two together you would have an 8-pound blanket that is smaller than the Pathfinder. I'm sure it would be WAY warmer and Much thicker. I'm just not that good at sewing.

[@danieltait5995]

My nitehawk blanket has a polyester trim around the edges, thought it was to finish the edge nice but now I'm thinking it helps stop the heat escaping out? Hmmmm

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm sure the polyester feels better on your face when you are using it as well.

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Just ordered an etkos wool blanket for $24 on Amazon nice review

[@newageselfreliance]

That is a really good deal. You will have to let me know what you think of it.

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Will do

[@tbrew8222]

Agreed on it being a regulator. Also agree that many exagerate its warmth. I think the reputation comes from when everyone was outdoors more and would often get soaked to the skin. Its definitely the warmest when wet, and you dont notice the moisture either since it pulls it from the body better. I do have an all wool cold weather sleep setup: pure wool inner wool blanket, a 600 gsm (camel) wool comforter over that, and 2 swiss link outer blankets, all enclosed in a heavy unwaxed (breathes better than waxed). It hasnt dropped below 15f here, but it worked for that.. but is a bullet proof tank that I would never want to carry ant further than the creek on our own property... However, you can line your sleeping bag with the wool blanket and will add 20 degrees or more to your bag rating, and mitigate moisture very well.

[@newageselfreliance]

I think you might be right about people thinking it's so warm because it is still warm when wet. I remember my first tent and the condensation and moister that would accumulate inside and would make everything wet. The wool would have 100% been nice to have back then. It would have been WAY warmer than anything I was using.

[@knowledgeseeker3188]

Thanks for your review. It would seem that the 'perfect' blanket would be to sew both of these together! ...your thoughts?...especially if one already has a dense and more "airy" one?

[@newageselfreliance]

It would get too heavy if you sewed them together. I like being able to separate them. Sometimes I bring the lighter one or I might bring the heavier one and when it gets really cold I can bring both. I like being able to pick and choose which one I want. Plus if I get hot I can remove one or the other to find a comfortable warmth for sleeping.

[@violetpurple6191]

If not wool, what do you use for winter? Down sleeping bag?

[@newageselfreliance]

I use synthetic sleeping bags. I think sleeping bags are way warmer than blankets. They trap the heat better and can keep me warmer in much colder temperatures.

[@matthewjacobs141]

IMO...the tightness of the weave has an impact on the blankets' heat retention...

[@newageselfreliance]

The tightness does make a really big difference. I think it keeps you warmer and drier at the same time. The wind doesn't cut through a tighter weave blanket as much either.

[@jeremiahjensen8864]

Wool is a natural substance. It is the coat that sheep's, and alpaca grow. In the wild sheep are found as far north as the Arctic Circle. If they can stay warm there. So can you with a few layers of thick wool. It is naturally water resistant due to natural oils found in the hairs. As for bring naturally flame resistant. I don't know

[@newageselfreliance]

Wool is an amazing fabric. The thing that is really crazy is even with all the advances in technology wool is still one of the best fabrics in existence.

[@jeremiahjensen8864]

@@newageselfreliance El naturale is always best. Doesn't matter if it's wool, natural remedies, or titties....real is always best

[@voidwalker5784]

All I know is I've been drenched and the wool kept me from dying so it's good. I don't need to know the 'science' on why I didn't have my family cry over my casket.

[@newageselfreliance]

The proof is in reality. I agree, just knowing that it will is more important than knowing how it does.

[@shyamlynn243]

If you want quality and don't want to suooprt slave labour it will cost more money. Well worth it believe. Just my initial thoughts and no, I don't know forsure where the green blanket was made. Consider country of origin and labour practices is all I'm saying. Cheaper isn't always better. There's a much higher unseen cost. Thanks for the video and your observations of wool blankets.

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You so much for watching. I truly appreciate the Support.

[@eddiedean4471]

Can you review a Pendleton wool blanket. Please and thank you.

[@newageselfreliance]

I can't afford a Pendleton blanket. Maybe someday my channel will be big enough I could ask for one but to be honest I don't really see that happening.

[@FT4Freedom]

wool is a hollow animal fiber. It has air trapped inside its fibers. It's similar to synthetic hollowfiber.

[@newageselfreliance]

The part that always confuses me is how it doesn't feel wet on the skin. With it being hollow I would think the moister would be on the outside of the fibers making the outside of the blanket feel wetter than it does. Being able to hold air in the middle which allows it to stay warm even when wet makes sense but how does it still feel dry next to my skin.

[@darnelljohnson5313]

I think you did pretty good

[@newageselfreliance]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@jimstewart5739]

Well done! Thanks for sharing...

[@newageselfreliance]

Thanks for watching!

[@ratoneJR]

good pros n con. thanks.

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad it helped.

[@captainmarvel2058]

Found you with this video. Subscribed soley because you use "Woodcraft" in your channel name instead of "Bushcraft". :D

[@newageselfreliance]

Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart was my inspiration for the channel name. Even though I don't get out in the woods as much as I would like to these days I do plan on getting out again. Maybe once the world calms down I can venter off into the woods again.

[@jeromeknasinski3862]

I'm a Subscriber Good review... I bought the Blue one

[@newageselfreliance]

It is a good value. What do you think of it?

[@jeromeknasinski3862]

@@newageselfreliance I'll let you know when I get it... I ordered as per your review.

[@Patriot-jv2kz]

Solid review and breakdown

[@newageselfreliance]

Thank You so much for watching.

[@jamesgleason2159]

So what Temperature would the EKTOS be good for? 30f? 20f?

[@newageselfreliance]

If you are wearing good layers you can probably get down to the 30s. With a fire, you could get down colder. A wool blanket will never be as warm as a sleeping bag.

[@jamesgleason2159]

Thanks for the information and video!

[@carpmon7016]

What would you advise for a 3 day with no fire in -5c?

[@newageselfreliance]

I would get a -20c sleeping bag. The sleeping bag is going to keep you way warmer than a wool blanket will. Just make sure the comfort rating is higher than what you need. Some sleeping bags have a "you will not die at this temperature" and then some will have a "you will sleep comfortably at this temperature." Make sure you double-check to make sure you have a good comfort temperature. The other thing to keep in mind is that it might get a lot colder than you think, so having a sleeping bag that is rated for 10-15 degrees colder than what you are expecting can really make the trip that much more enjoyable. You can always unzip, uncover, or remove layers of clothing but once you get cold it's hard to warm back up.

[@carpmon7016]

Thank you saves shivering a couple nights

[@jessejames7074]

Wool is hollow and breathes. Your body temp regulates the evaporative process

[@newageselfreliance]

How does the body heat counter the cold outside when it comes to the evaporative process?

[@swilson20122]

excellent review

[@newageselfreliance]

Glad you liked it

[@jeremynicoletti9060]

comparison begins @ 12:00

[@TristanChicklowski]

This was a great video / review!

[@newageselfreliance]

Thanks so much!

[@campplanet823]

CAMP PLANET camping blanket is also good !!!!

[@newageselfreliance]

I will have to look into that.

[@chrissonik]

adding for the community, watch Dave Canterbury's video on how to wrap yourself in the wool blanket, it helps a ton. you wrap diagonally and double up at your core and hav a decent thermal barrier underneath so you're not losing heat, it will in fact keep you warm but warm for survival is not the same as warm and comfy. I agree with you, there are many misconceptions about wool. the pathfinder way is not just the one component ie the blanket, its the whole package of fire, shelter, etc. Thanks for the vid though! was curious about the ektos to use for a homemade anorak

[@newageselfreliance]

The EKTOS would make for a really good homemade Anorak especially if you plan to make a practice one and then later on a very high end one out of a more expensive blanket. Even if you made a couple EKTOS Anoraks you could sell them to help fun the more expensive one. For me the EKTOS doesn't feel as nice against the skin as the Pathfinder. If you only plan to use the Anorak in really cold weather and always wear long sleeves underneath it I think the EKTOS would be fine in that since.

[@stephenclarke3990]

Playing Devils advocate here, however Bushcraft Spains 100% Merino wool leaves both of those for dead. These blankets really do keep you warm, they are a quarter of an inch thick ❗️

[@newageselfreliance]

You only get a twin size instead of a queen size for the money. There are pros and cons to everything. The Bushcraft Spain King size would keep anyone warm. It is more than I can afford though.

[@stephenclarke3990]

@@newageselfreliance I completely understand, Bushcraft Spains goods are not cheap by any measure. In fact they are expensive. I had to save to buy my Blanket and carrier. Anyway thanks for the video, it was very informative and I enjoyed watching.