Wool as a dry suit undergarment

[Roggen]

Has anyone tried wool as a dry suit undergarment? If so, were you warm? Also, how does it hold up if the dry suit floods?

Thanks!

[ScaredSilly]

Well that is the one thing about wool - warm when wet. The problem is getting dry again as it does take some time. Oddly though wool seems to be making a come back as many companies are producing wool blends.

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/pata...o?assetid=8514

I used to wear wool all the time while skiing and climbing. Still do when I want to go retro for fun. I still wear wool socks all the time though.

[cummings66]

Wool is heavy, thinsulate is lighter and better. However, Viking has a wool undergarment layer you put next to the skin then you don the undergarment made of thinsulate. Ultimate in warmth.

[CompuDude]

Ironically, in Norway, where ice diving is pretty much all they have to offer, woolen undergarments are the norm. Not big thick wool sweaters, but thin layers of tight merino wool. They actually look down on synthetic fabrics as inferior and prone to getting stinky. I'll see if I can dig up the post I read from a Norwegian guy with links to the undergarment manufacturers that are popular over there.

I'll stick with synthetics, personally, but SoCal diving hits 48 at the coldest, so I do just fine with my Patagonia Capilene and DUI undergarments.

Edit: Found the posts:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/3135604-post45.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/3135684-post48.html

No links, though...

[r2t]

google Smartwool...I read they are good, I'm thinking of getting some soon.

[Kingpatzer]

I wear silk next to the skin to wick away moisture, then wool insulating layer - merino wool just can't be beat!

[Roggen]

Thanks Everyone! I think I may invest in a little wool to try under my thinsulates. I have tried UnderArmour cold gear, but I don't like the "Cool" feeling against my skin. The wool would probably feel warmer or at least not so cool against the skin.

For cold diving I will break out my 4th Element Xerotherm Artics, but the wool would probably be nice under that as well.

[bobbin-along]

Love my merino woolies. We use them for diving, ocean sailboat racing, and any other place where you know you will be wet and still need to be warm.
They also don't stink like polypro can after regular exposure to body oils and sweat.

As it is now I have a silk weight merino layer I wear under my thinsulate/merino baselayer. I'm finally warm. I was even warm when I had to flood my dry suit due to a freakish inflator problem.