Loden wool backpack care/waterproofing?


cellis

cellis

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Bushclass II
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I have been googling this and searching this forum now without a decent answer for long enough now that I thought I would post. I'm hoping somebody knows anything specific about this.

This pack came the other day: http://www.norrona.com/Products/6090-11/finnskogen-integral-pack-40l

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The outer is loden wool maybe a millimeter thick or so, maybe less, and I am not sure how exactly I need to care for it. The bottom is cordura or similar and it does have a padded frame. The problem is almost all of the wool cleaning products I have seen are for washing garments and such and I'm not sure that is good for a mixed fabric backpack especially with the foam pads.

Also I am wondering if I should waterproof it? And more importantly how if I can't wash it? I searched for wool spray on waterproofing but didn't find anything. They were out of rain covers for it when I got the pack but even with one I'm not sure whether waterproofing is a good idea for the pack or not.

Sorry to be a newbie but a wool backpack is just completely new to me. And the only semi-decent info I can find out there on this specific pack is in Norwegian.

I will be doing a review here as soon as I can as pay back for anyone curious about it. It has some things I don't like but is mostly pretty sexy I must admit. Taking it out tomorrow for the first time. (Just hope it doesn't rain lol.)
 
Actually I decided then to google what the heck Loden Wool actually was and it mostly answered my question.

A Loden cape is coat of Tyrolean origin, made of a thick, water resistant woollen material with a short pile, first produced by peasants from Austria. The fabric is derived from the coarse, oily wool of mountain sheep and has a traditional bluish-green colour.

To produce Loden fabric, strong yarns are woven loosely into cloth which then undergoes a lengthy process of shrinking, eventually acquiring the texture of felt and becoming quite dense. It is then brushed with a fuller's teasel and the nap is clipped, a process which is repeated a number of times until the fabric is lightweight, supple, windproof and extremely durable.
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So it seems I don't need to worry so much, as it sounds like the fabric should be tough enough on its own. Also explains why the fabric was so much thinner than I expected. Neat old process I guess.
 
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