Synthetic or Wool

When going on extended long back country camping trips is is vital to carry the best, and toughest gear. Do not fail to take into mind the power of  mother nature. When it comes to wearing synthetic material or wool material you should take into mind the climate you will be traveling, what time of year it is, and  the altitude you will be traveling in. I will tell you some of the synthetic materials that are available.

Synthetic 
 Modern synthetics are great for a base layer and offer great moister wicking abilities. They are very comfortable and can come in many insulating strengths. Many companies offer a whole line of layers that can be used independently or as a system. They dry out fast and pack light. Patagonia has many options as far as synthetic clothing goes. If you are looking for a comfortable, durable light weight material then go synthetic.
Here is a link to Patagonia's website for their Capilene line.
http://www.patagonia.com/us/shop/mens-capilene-baselayer?k=1D-6x

Wool 
This  material has been used for ages for clothing. Wool socks are a must in the winter if you are hunting or hiking in a cold environment. Wool socks also offer a cushion between your foot and your boot. So it makes for a less likely situation to form blisters. To some wool is uncomfortable but their are multiple types out there that come in different textures.  Wool is great for insulation and also works good for a mid layer. Wool does however take a little longer to dry and is not as packable as synthetic material but overall it has worked for hundred if not thousands of years and wont let you down. If you are looking for a durable material that will get the job done and insulate when wet well wool is for you. Many company's offer wool clothing lines and even a blend with synthetic material.

Weather
When you are deciding on the material that you are going to be outfitted with make sure you take into consideration the elements. I have seen first hand the weather in the Yukon change from 85 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and raining, then to snow and back again. Luckily I did my pre-trip planning and was hiking with seasoned outdoors men and women. You will want to make sure that if you will be hiking hours on end to have a layer system that offers maximum breathibility. For this I recommend synthetics such as polyester or capilene. However there are many other synthetic materials out there. The most important thing is that you stay warm. Wool and these materials will insulate you when your wet. If a flash rainstorm catches you off gard you can through a layer over top and let your body heat dry it out and be nice and toasty at the same time. Do not and i mean do not wear cotton. It will not insulate you when wet and also takes a long time to dry out. So spend the extra money and get the best material!!!  Because a little more money spent here in the front country could end up saving your life in the back country. And most important learn about the environment you are entering and do not under estimate the power of mother nature.

 If you want to learn more about layering systems I have put up a link to the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) blog that includes tons of information for beating back the elements. As a NOLS alumni i highly recommend it.
http://nols.blogs.com/nols_news/2010/02/fresh-from-nols-teton-valley-the-latest-video-from-nolsywood-debuts-today-featuring-the-nols-layering-system----get-a-glimp.html