How warm is Aero's Alpaca lining or any alpaca lining?

[Windward]

Shearling is nice! I was wearing only a light sweater with my B6 in 10 degree F (-12 C) and it was warm!

Personally, I love the feeling of shearling and except for sporting activities, I would take it over down.

Agree - also love my shearling lined Windward when it gets very cold...it is the most warming lining I know.

 

[Windward]

Does anyone else have alpaca in the sleeves?

Yes - have it and love it! Since I was looking for a real Winter Windward I ordered shearling in the Body and alpaca in the sleeve with an overlay of satin. It always feel very nice and I can wear it even in bad cold with just a shirt - of course I always close the throat latch and feel in good wrapped.

 

[Philalethes]

Re-reading your post..you must mean that you have Alcapa 'under' the cotton drill inside the sleeves. I bet that would be hot.:eeek:

Hi HD,
Yes, to clarify, I chose alpaca under cotton drill in the sleeves. It is indeed warmer than I expected!

 

[Philalethes]

Does anyone else have alpaca in the sleeves?

Yes - have it and love it! Since I was looking for a real Winter Windward I ordered shearling in the Body and alpaca in the sleeve with an overlay of satin. It always feel very nice and I can wear it even in bad cold with just a shirt - of course I always close the throat latch and feel in good wrapped.

Hi Windward,
I think a shearling body and alpaca-lined sleeves would be a winning combination! Especially if one was aiming for a very warm winter coat.

I was aiming for a medium-warm jacket: for the body, I chose a 17.6 oz (550 g) closely-knitted tweed - very similar to Locharron's Strome offering. It is reasonably warm, but not nearly as warm as the sleeves.

My intention was to have a jacket that I could wear often and in many weather conditions (with layering). Perhaps once the temperature drops I will really appreciate those warm sleeves, but I am unsure whether having those warm sleeves will increase the jacket's wearability or decrease it. I would like to be able to wear this fine coat as much as possible.

 

[Windward]

Hi Windward,
I think a shearling body and alpaca-lined sleeves would be a winning combination! Especially if one was aiming for a very warm winter coat.

I was aiming for a medium-warm jacket: for the body, I chose a 17.6 oz (550 g) closely-knitted tweed - very similar to Locharron's Strome offering. It is reasonably warm, but not nearly as warm as the sleeves.

My intention was to have a jacket that I could wear often and in many weather conditions (with layering). Perhaps once the temperature drops I will really appreciate those warm sleeves, but I am unsure whether having those warm sleeves will increase the jacket's wearability or decrease it. I would like to be able to wear this fine coat as much as possible.

Hi Philalethes, yes - go for it....since I've overlayed the alpaca in the sleeves with satin or cotton drill it doesn't feel too warm ...I assume because it hasn't the itching feeling no more...

 

[ButteMT61]

I have an Aero HG-5 with Alpaca lining. Very nice! Now, it's new and it's just getting chill here, but so far, in the low 50ºs (F) it's been very nice with only a button down (Carhartt twill) shirt under.
I think it's likely good for much lower, but I'd likely need to put a sweater on as the sleeves are heavy cotton drill, not alpaca and I have no storm cuffs.

 

[nicholasb]

I find the alpaca lining reasonably warm. A lot warmer than the cotton drill. Infact with cotton drill in the sleeves, the difference is very noticable - ie. you end up with cooler arms than body. Putting alpaca under another fabric in the sleeves seems like a good idea.

All this advice sounds good, so I guess it just depends how warm you feel and how cold the weather you are likely to want to wear it in will be.

 

[ButteMT61]

I find the alpaca lining reasonably warm. A lot warmer than the cotton drill. Infact with cotton drill in the sleeves, the difference is very noticable - ie. you end up with cooler arms than body. Putting alpaca under another fabric in the sleeves seems like a good idea.

All this advice sounds good, so I guess it just depends how warm you feel and how cold the weather you are likely to want to wear it in will be.

It might be a warm combination, but it certainly must add to the initial break-in discomfort with all that in the sleeves? The FQHH HG-5 was tough on my inner-elbows for a while. If I needed warmer arms than this could provide, I'd be wearing a B3/B6/D1, etc. or another fleece-lined model.

 

[ando.thun]

All this advice sounds good, so I guess it just depends how warm you feel and how cold the weather you are likely to want to wear it in will be.

You're right there,
I have worn a Barnstormer with Alpaca lining (also the arms) over a light sweater in Sweden at minus 20°C and found it comfortably warm.
As it is really to warm to wear back in Switzerland I sold it to a friend in Sweden and he always wears it directly over a t-shirt.

I really like the feeling of the Alpaca lining but only wear it 2-3 times a year would have been a pity...

 

[ButteMT61]

The argument or discussion of "what's warm" is really moot. It's completely dependent on the individual. Weather plays a part, but everyone has a different tolerance for "cold".
It's like asking if the food is too spicy or coffee too strong. Based on what?
You need to try things based on your needs. All of this is only a guideline for what MAY work for you...

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

I also find it colder with plus one celsius then minus 5 celsius because of the humidity it creeps inside the skin at just a few plus.

 

[Philalethes]

I have been doing some "field testing" of my alpaca sleeves...

I have found that when I have been hot in them, it is because I am a) wearing a sweater, and more importantly b) going in and out of doors.

I have learned to forgo a sweater at times I really don't need one. I had been conditioned to layer heavily after so many years of not-so-warm mall coats. With the Barnstormer, I still need to layer but at lower temperatures than I am used to.

I gave the coat a significant test last night: I took an hour walk in windy conditions a little above the freezing mark - and I wore nothing under the coat but a thin shirt and undershirt. I was definitely "running cold" - i.e. comfortable but cool. I was just warm enough, but certainly not too warm. I would probably have been most comfortable by adding a thin sweater underneath.

One more point: Butte wondered whether the sleeves are bulky with alpaca and cotton drill. Indeed, during the first few days of wearing the coat, it felt like my arms were wrapped in a thick, comfy sweater. But after less than a week of wear, the sleeves are breaking in nicely, bend more easily, and feel more serviceable. There is now also more air space between my arms and the coat. The coat seems to be breaking in very quickly because I chose oil-pull HH, which is very supple to begin with - and highly recommended!

In short, now that the temperature has dropped, and I am more careful how I layer, I am very glad I chose alpaca-lined sleeves. I can't wait to see how it feels in 20 F!

Philalethes

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Great! I think that you'll get used to it..and just love it..!
Post up some pics when you get the chance!
HD

 

[Rudie]

Philalethes, any chance that you open a Barnstormer thread and show some good pics of you wearing it? Plus a review, if possible?

 

[ButteMT61]

Dying to see the current Oil-Pull as that's what I ordered and am picking up next week!!! Pics please lol

 

[apba1166]

I have an oil pull steerhide Aero Route 66, alpaca lined and like it a lot. I think because the oil pull is more flexible the alpaca lining works better than in the FQHH where it does not help the bulk/movement restriction.

As for warmth, I feel the alpaca is only warmer than than the tartans or drill in a style of jacket--perhaps like the windward, or a HH 422 I have--where the waist is tight. The real heat comes from your body, and trapping the heat in, and Aero has a lot of jackets with open, even flared hems. I am always surprised how warm my no-name A2 satin-lined is because of the ribbing, or my LW rigger (again just satin) because of the tightness at wrists and waist and neck. I do have one HH sheepskin with tight waist and storm cuffs and that is so warm that it can actually get uncomfortable when zipped too long unless it's frigid out.

The more layers you can "tuck in" the warmer you'll be--and the shorter and tighter jacket you can wear.

 

[Jules]

Alpaca insulation

I find alpaca no different to the tartan wool linings when it goes below 10 degrees c, as previous posts have stated you need to layer to get any insulation.The problem with the layering option is when it gets really cold you end up with too many layers and it becomes bulky/uncomfortable plus if you have to go in and out of warm places you have to strip off your layers . I have an alpacca lined Hercules and a sheepskin lined Highwayman and when it gets really cold i always go for the Highwayman because it is much warmer. For really cold weather or humid cold weather the only lining that i find suitable in an Aero jacket is a sheepskin lining. I am considering having my alpaca lined Hercules relined with sheepskin to make it a true winter jacket the only other problem is the sleeves but Aero do offer alpacca under cotton drill lining.

Hope this helps
Jules

 

[normanf]

Nothing beats down for effective insulation in very cold weather. As the temperatures plunge to freezing, one stays warm. And the jacket can be lighter than sheepskin or a leather alpaca fleece lined jacket, all things being equal.

 

[Windward]

One more point: Butte wondered whether the sleeves are bulky with alpaca and cotton drill. Indeed, during the first few days of wearing the coat, it felt like my arms were wrapped in a thick, comfy sweater. But after less than a week of wear, the sleeves are breaking in nicely, bend more easily, and feel more serviceable. There is now also more air space between my arms and the coat.
Philalethes

YES - I totaly agree with Philalethes - also like here ....

 

[Windward]

Dying to see the current Oil-Pull as that's what I ordered and am picking up next week!!! Pics please lol

I am suffering with you Butte....maybe someone will here us ....as you also know pics...pics...pics....