Wool or Fleece?

Which is really better?

There are many factors that will come into play when speaking about this topic.

There is a place for both wool & fleece, although improvements in Fleece has it displacing more & more wool. Look at the facts: Wool is tough & it's quiet but it takes forever to dry & it weighs a ton when wet. Fleece is light & dries almost instantly. Neither is windproof or waterproof. Fleece is an excellent insulator, yes, even better than wool, but it's not as "tough". Wool makes many itch while fleece is hypo-allergenic.

Now look at applications:

For quiet pants in nasty brush, nothing beats wool. Both wool & fleece are available with a waterproof barrier — but that's behind the wool or fleece.

For layers you can peal off as needed, especially on mobile hunts, lightweight matters. Here fleece wins hands down. A very warm fleece vest and/or shirt weighs next to nothing in your pack, yet it will provide great insulation when needed. What's critical here is your outer layer. If it's wind & water proof either fleece or wool will stay dry & you will stay warm.

Another place fleece shines is scent control. Fleece is easy to wash & it dries FAST. This means you can hunt with clean SCENT FREE clothing every day. As a rifleman, that's important but as an archer, that's critical.

IT looks like they both win. There is a place and time for both. With children the fleece will typically outshine the wool, because it is lighter and much more comfortable to wear and have next to your skin.