Your 2023 visit to one of the best Vancouver Island lodges, Sointula Lodge, is still months away. But unlike other vacations that come with endless details that you’ll need to plan, our all-inclusive luxury vacation packages come stress-free! After choosing between our Fishing or Wilderness Tour packages, the only other planning that you’ll need to do is to decide how you’ll get to one of the best fishing resorts BC interior has to offer! Except, of course, for packing!
At Sointula Lodge, we provide all of the fishing gear that you’ll need. This includes your fishing tackle, float coats, rods, reels, and more. But you’ll still need to pack your regular clothes and personal items. British Columbia summers are truly beautiful. But the weather can sometimes be a unpredictable. Mornings and evenings can be crisp and cool, with warm, sunny afternoons in the middle. Dressing in layers can help you stay comfortable, no matter what the weather sends your way. And perhaps the most important layers to consider is your base and mid-layers.
Wool is a popular, and smart choice for both base and mid-layers. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the pros and cons of wool, and how to choose the right layer for your next visit to Sointula Lodge.
A Brief History of Wool Fabric
A far cry from down and fleece, both of which came around in the previous century, wool has been woven and worn from around 400 BC to 300 BC. While sheep were first domesticated between 9000 BC and 7000 BC, these animals were covered in a more hair-like fur rather than the wool that we know today. They were selectively bred for wooly coats. These were hand-plucked or sheared using bronze combs.
Most of the popular wool options today are made from Merino wool. This variation began in Spain, where Merino sheep are thought to have originated. This wool is thinner and softer to the touch. This makes it ideal for wearing outdoors in both warmer and cooler temps.
The Benefits of Choosing Wool
Because both fleece and down are newer inventions, wearing wool for outdoor activities might seem an odd choice. However, there are a number of benefits to wool. There are many reasons why wool has stood the test of time, being worn for hundreds and hundreds of years and still in use today, despite the many alternatives that are readily available.
Wool is all-natural and renewable, making it a great, eco-friendly choice for outdoor wear compared to synthetic alternatives. It’s also biodegradable. It breaks down after just 12 years in the ground.
Another benefit of wool is that it’s able to absorb a large amount of water. This makes it ideal for wicking sweat away from your skin to keep you dry and comfortable in hot temperatures and prevent hypothermia in colder temps. Because of its natural stretch, wool moves with your skin, offering plenty of giving so that your range of motion is never limited.
Wool is proactive. This means that it will react to changes in body temperature throughout the day. That makes it perfect for wearing on days when temperatures may vary from chilly in the morning to hot in the evening to cold again as the sun sets.
Sometimes wool gets a bad reputation for being tough to care for. However, many modern variations are actually incredibly easy to wash. Unlike a down jacket, you can toss many wool jackets and sweaters in the wash, and simply hang to dry. Wool is naturally odor-resistant–perfect for anyone who works up a sweat on the trail!
While it may not be something you think about when choosing outdoor gear, merino wool is actually fire-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about stray embers while you’re sitting around the campfire.
The Drawbacks of Opting for Wool
While wool is undeniably warm and offers many benefits, there are a few drawbacks to using it as your base or mid-layer.
While Merino wool is far softer than traditional variations, many people still find it itchy against their skin, especially compared to other synthetic options. Wearing a layer underneath of your wool sweater or jacket can help with this, but keep in mind that short sleeves underneath will still expose your arms to the material. Luckily, merino wool is often much softer than traditional wool, but offers the same benefits!
Wool is great for wicking moisture away from your skin. Unfortunately, it tends to hold onto the moisture that it absorbs. That means that after a sweaty day or a rainstorm, your sweater or jacket is likely to stay saturated until you can hang it up for a while to dry.
Another drawback is that wool, and especially Merino wool, tend to be more expensive than synthetic alternatives. Perhaps for this reason, and the amount of work that goes into producing it, there are far fewer options for jackets and other mid-layers on the market, at least compared to fleece and down jackets.
Planning Your 2023 Visit to Vancouver Island Lodges
Wool is great for staying warm, dry, and comfortable during your stay at Vancouver Island lodges.
Of course, before you can get packing, you need to book your next trip! Spots are already filling up fast for our 2023 season at Sointula Lodge. Check out our available dates and book yours today to guarantee your place at one of the best fishing resorts BC interior has to offer!