My wife and I decided to live a more health conscious life style. We joined the gym and have cut processed food from our diets. I'm down a solid 30 pounds maybe more and one of the side affects I'm noticing is that I'm not staying as warm as I used to. I'm sure age has something to do with it also. I know as soon as I hit 40 a few years ago, I wasn't staying as warm either.
For you people out there that struggle to stay warm, what are some of the ways that you've found to keep yourself warm on stand? I've been buying more light and medium layers made from synthetics. I'm hoping some of these items help. I'm also looking to buy wool foot beds for my boots.
Any thing else?
I think you are correct and you are on the right track. We lost ( i did too) some adipose insulation and we need to replace it with clothing, or be cold.
ChuckC
Try to incorporate foods such as herring and others with a high oil content into your diet
Try to incorporate foods such as herring and others with a high oil content into your diet
Oops, double tap
I have lost a little over 100 pounds in six months, and My hands and feet stay freezing. I have not been in the woods yet this year, but I am going to hunt Arkansas for a few days next month. Been wondering how I will handle it. Never worn gloves before while hunting.
bear bowman,
you are experiencing a very common problem. You ahve lost basically 30 pounds of insulation - gonna feel cold for sure. Also, you ahve less mass but are likely similar in size - in effect, gaining surface area, you more efficiently radiate your heat away. that is a good thing - except being stationary in cool to cold weather will make you shiver a lot more, hand and toes will get colder faster etc.
You will need to add to the insulation you have lost. Wear a wool hat, keep your core warm, like smart wool t-shirt, perhaps a vest under hunting clothes. Sometimes adding a thin silk sock under your wool hunt socks helps to keep warm without adding bulk.
Good on ya for losing weight, best of luck keeping warm and good hunting!
:thumbsup:
Bob.
One word. Wool. Layer with it.
A good vest will keep diwn bulk in your arms.
Solid wool undergarments. I like woolpower but others work also.
Use deodorant on your feet to keep them dry and warmer. Goid thick wool socks.
Good wool hat.
If it is really cold try to sit during peak deer times and learm to still hunt during other times.
Hand warmers
My dad even had my mom sew pockets on the back of a vest where the kidneys are- so he could put hand warmers there too
I like the hand warmers idea, I decided last year that I would be including them in my hunting gear gear this season.
Yeah I thought about the hand warmers myself. Never used them but they sound like they might be the ticket. Along with a lot of layers lol.
Hand warmers over kidneys , very old trick , but it works .
I use the hand warmers quite a bit. In my boots, under my toes. Also in my pockets. My toes are cold right now and I'm in my house, 70 degrees, with slippers on!
I have also found that if I cover my neck I'm much more comfortable. I have a fleece balaclava that just works wonders. Then I make sure my head is covered as well.
I've read about taping hand warmers to your kidney area. The thought is that the kidneys filter blood. Why not try and filter warm blood. One of these days I'm going to try it.
I also used to sit all day. Now I sit for a few hours at a time. If it's public land with lots of pressure I try and sit longer than the next guy. But I'm also done not enjoying my hunt because I'm so uncomfortable.
Good luck, I learned through continuing education at work (paramedic) that as we age we loose the ability to thermo-regulate or body temperature. I'm only 40, can't wait.
-Jeremy :coffee:
Use the hand warmers a lot. One tip - buy some of the larger hand warmers...I believe they are called "body warmers" and put it right on the nape of your neck. That radiates heat right along the nerve channels and it makes a BIG difference for me. Also, the toe warmers that stick to the bottom of your feet are awesome.
The biggest key of all for me to stay warm when back in the late season back home in WV is to not sweat in the first place. On real cold stand sits, I pack in a new shirt to put on as my base layer when I get to stand. I take the sweaty one off (after climbing the mountain with stand on pack) and put it in a plastic bag in my pack. That makes a world of difference! That's a pretty cold 30 seconds though when standing there shirtless!!!
Eat foods high in fats. Stay away from sugars. Your body used and burns fats better that foods you eat that turn to sugars.
You burn more calories staying warm on stay sitting on your but than you do going to the gym. Give your body long burning fuels.
Thanks for all of your input. I like the kidney idea.
Congrats! Welcome to skinny guy problems! Wear many layers of wool.
Msturm
I'll be watching this thread. I'm dealing with this problem myself, although a long-standing problem for me -- my spring/summer training includes 20+ mile runs in the mountains. I've only recently gotten back into archery and hunting so the issue has resurfaced. I went out last week for an evening hunt in the mountains. It was probably only in the 40s when I started shivering. I'm fine when I'm hiking but I get really cold sitting still or even still hunting. At the moment, I'm thinking about making a blanket shirt and/or figuring out some sort of layering system that will work better. Weight and quietness are a hard compromise when I have to hike 1-4 miles to get to my hunting area and the temps can be anywhere from 20-85 degrees, depending on the time of day or year. As ridiculous as it may look to bystanders, I may opt to just bring a wool blanket and use it like a cloak or poncho that I can take off when going into the woods but can wrap up in when sitting still. But the jury is still out. Wool is heavy but nylon/down is noisy. I have a month to figure something else out before I get to spend a few days on a late season coastal hunt. Thankfully, the coast isn't as cold as the mountains in late Nov. I may luck out and have it be 75 degrees & sunny.
In the meantime, what I found helps a little is getting up to do some isometric exercises. Wall-sits against a tree, chair pose, etc. It doesn't warm me up much but it does take the edge off a little to slow the shivering. I still need a better solution. So far, all I've been able to come up with is spending hundreds of dollars on expensive clothing or spending many hours and fewer hundreds to make it myself.
I hear ya.......some of it can be age. I'm 64, last year I got sick and lost over 20 lbs in less than a week. I was very weak and had to work my way back to better health. I gained the weight back and most of my strength but I can not get or stay warm. The only time I'm warm is when it's hot out. Sat in a tree today for 3 hours with wool and layers at 45 degrees.......had to take a hot shower when I got home to warm up.
As others have mentioned, layers. It is a pain sometimes, but carry your outer layers to the stand, then take a moment to cool off from the walk in and then dress before climbing into your blind or stand. The few days we have had into the 30s this year I have worn a silk base layer with a mid weight merino wool layer. I have Gray Wolf Woolens Wolfskin that I wear over that until it gets single digits on 20s and windy, then the wool comes out. Depending on where I am hunting, I have carried my entire outer layer and walked to the stand in my longjohns with a pair of gym trunks over them to keep from overheating.
I use a fleece stocking hat until it gets really cold, then I sometimes put a wool stocking hat over that.Unless it is single digit temps, I don't even wear my hat when walking in. Face is easy as I wear a facemask or use a neck gaiter all the time and I have a full beard that helps too.
For my hands, I found a rechargeable hand warmer that uses an Android phone hook up that works great, but the hot hands chemical warmers work well too. I wear a light weight glove with the little rubber gripper type dots on my bow hand and only my shooting glove on my other hand. Hands go in my hunting shirt pocket with hand warmer when the cold gets too bad.
Feet are tough for me. I have had surgery on both feet and ankles and my feet are always cold. I have been using the stick on toe warmers on wool socks with some success but would like to try the thermacell battery powered heated insoles, but of the guys I know that use them it is either they love them or they wasted their money.
Most people don't realize how much they sweat in cold weather and I have had people tell that they don't sweat in the wintertime. If you ain't sweating, your dead! Really important to take your time walking into your hunting area, not only to keep from spooking deer, but to keep your sweating down to a minimum. You may be chilly or even cold by not wearing your outer layer(s) on the walk in, but once you cool out for a few minutes and put the outer stuff on you may be surprised as to how warm you are and how long you can stay on stand. Good Luck!!
As you add layers remember to keep your clothing loose, so the core heat generated by the hand/body warmers can circulate out to the fingers and toes.
High fat diet plus a really good down vest that goes down low in the back. Its really hard to beat down for staying warm and I am surprised that no one mentioned it yet. Here in the N. W. there are a lot of down wearers in the winter.
BTW I have gone from 310 lb to 245 and still working on it. Ditto for the getting colder easier. Its a fact.
God bless, Steve
40? Geeze yer just a puppy... :)
Wait till yer 68...
I feel this is worth mentioning,a full bladder will freeze you to death. Your body burns energy trying to keep all those fluids warm
Yep, fat is an effective insulator, so weight loss does create issues. Many of us are also diabetic, which greatly aggravates the issue even more.
Clothes make the man, especially a hunter on a cold day (applies to women as well). My favorite cold weather layering is a set of silk ski underwear next to the skin with merino long underwear. Sometimes my outer layer is wool, sometimes it is military BDU. I also like both my fleece and my down vests. Gloves, hat, and good socks are crucial.
Hand warmers are important, and as somebody stated earlier keeping the kidneys warm have an all over benefit. Long tailed shirts, vests, etc. really help. Even though I live in the sunny South, keeping warm is a tough issue for me.
It took a long time for me to learn to dress lightly while walking to the stand on a cold morning and then putting on my heavier garments after I cool down from the walk in. It keeps down the sweat, which will make you cold , no matter what you wear.
Lots of good advice. I've always been a skinny guy (like 125 lbs, 5'7"), get cold easily, I'm 62, and I've always been outdoors a lot in winter. This could be a long topic; I'lll try to hit some key points that work for me:
1) A light base layer on top- turtleneck- I prefer Capilene, or silk.
Next, "expedition weight" or heavyweight underlay over that (I'm very partial to Polartec Stretch), zip T-neck style.
A light wool low neck sweater in very cold over that.
And, down to single digits, a very good quality, tight weave wool sweater. I'm picky about how all that fits together so that I have decent freedom of movement and not a lot of bagginess, so as not to interfere with my shooting.
If it's windy,or single digits above to single below, I add a Carhardt lined vest.
A very light, thin windbreaker instead of the vest is very highly effective. Can also be worn with good results under the heavy wool.
2) Neck gaiter! WARM hat, or two lighter ones if need be. Keep your head warm!
3) Mittens. The best, warmest, you can find/afford. With warmers when it's frigid. NOTE: find what are labeled "hand/body warmers".
They're twice as large, and warm, as the regular hand warmers. And last 2-3 times longer. If you use them for just a couple of hours, put 'em in a ziplock sandwich bag- they'll re-activate when you open it. Even twice.
4) Boots: Hardest part. Need to fit well enough to walk/hike in comfortably, and well insulated to boot. I much prefer one pair of thick, high quality socks to two pairs. TRY YOUR BOOTS ON with the socks you'll be wearing, and make sure you have room to wiggle your toes freely.
5) Wool pants. Expedition weight fleece under that.
As a final note: A down or synthetic fill sweater or jacket over the expedition weight layer, with a light thin windshield over it, will be warmer, lighter, and less bulky than the heavy wool. I still hunt in cold weather, but would probably go that route if I were on stand.
Fat & protein food before you go out, preferably doused with hot sauce.
And that's trying to keep it brief!
Haha I know what you're going through. 4 years ago I weighed north of 350 lbs. I got serious about eating right and working out and now I'm 180ish. I get cold when it's below 70. But I'm good with it, I just bundle up. Congrats on getting healthy!!
Ginger and pineapple are excellent for blood flow. Poor circulation will make you cold no matter how lean or fat you are.
Dress in wool with a wicking base layer. Wear bibs, they will keep your core warmer than pants. Use a hand muff with chemical hand warmers inside. Use boot blankets with chemical handwarmers inside. And, as said above, place two over your kidneys. A warm hat or balaclava. Bring along a thermos with chicken broth and sip it throughout your stay.
Neck gaiter. Finish dressing at your stand. Great ideas. I also lost a bunch of weight some time back. What I did, and still do that wasn't mention is to aclimate yoursel, sort of. I don't know how often you go outside but do it lightly dressed. Walk the dog, bring in wood, jog whatever you do outside do it in less clothing. It will get your body conditioned a little. It's not a cure all but it helps. Congratulations on the weight loss. That's tough to do. Good Luck
First, congratulations on losing the weight.
Lot's of good advice, if you follow all of it you will look like the Michelin man.... Just joking. I do a lot of cold weather treestand hunting and this is what works form me:
Wool base layer, if it is really cold, a second base layer.
Wool pants and shirt.
Insulated Wool vest with wind stopper.
Important is at least one good silk or wool scarf/gaiter for the neck and face.
Multiple wool cap, wool bomber, and a large wool cap.
Muck Boots with toe warmers.
This keeps me warm down to 10, sometimes zero if there isn't much wind. Lower then that it takes a combination of the below items
Insulated Wool Coat with wind stopper.
Important is a good silk or wool scarf/gaiter for the neck and face.
Wool cap, wool bomber, and a large wool cap.
If it is extremely cold I will add fleece and or quality down. I love fleece but it stinks fast. I love down if hunting when it is dry conditions, but it is noisy.
Insulated Wool bibs with wind stopper.
Micky Mouse boots
Everything goes on in layers.
Hand warmers and toe warmers are nice. Use a couple of the sticky toe warmers on top of the first base layer between the shoulder blades and on the lower back.
Oh ya, I think most of you are using the toe warmers wrong. Expose them to the air for five-fifth teen minutes then put them ON TOP of your toes. When you get into your stand loosen the shoelaces or roll the tops of your muck boots down so a little bit of air circulates, otherwise they will quit working.
My one word when it is cold on my stands-
Heater Body Suit.
I always noticed that when my weight went down, getting cold easier happened. Might check out the Gerbing battery operated heater vests. I have heard good things about them but I haven't actually used mine yet. Not sure how I'm going to accomplish recharging the batteries on multiple day hunts though. They advertise 8hrs on low setting so we will see. I also bought some boot blankets for this year. My feet and hands are my biggest problems!
I also have the boot blankets and they do work ,but they are not ideal for tree stand setting. I only use them in a ground blind . In a stand I use a old rug on the stand floor to insulate my feet from the metal floor . I also put toe warmers in my pack boots.
Hand, foot, and body warmers. Loose fitting layers.
Ive always been lean. Drives me crazy on hunts with mates who are carrying more insulation. I dont want to hear, 'Man this bag is too hot!, ill have too sleep with it open.' as I pull on another layer of clothing and do the zip up tighter. :D
To an extent you just have to get used to it, and pack more layers and enjoy waiting for them on the steep parts.
Heated jacket works great for me and I get cold really easy. All the major tool companies have great offerings so get I got a dewalt since I already had lots of batteries for my cordless tools. I bought mine to fit snug and then layer my camo over the heated garment. I don't even need to wear gloves or heavy boots because blood is allowed to stay in my extremities instead of being pulled to my core in an effort to stay warm.
Hand warmers! I take a pair of long socks and use rubber bands to block off section of each sock, inside each section is a hand warmer, I'll then connect the two socks at the top and drape them around my neck under my coat, so I have two long strip of hand warmers hanging down my chest, really works well for me.
As long as my feet stay warm, I'm usually okay. Once my feet get cold, I'm done. My feet sweat A LOT!! I've tried toe warmers and I drown them. Sock liners do the best for me. I put 2 more pairs of socks on, the first pair light weight, the second pair heavy weight. I also wear a light wind shear or wind block jacket as an inside layer, something that's quiet and blocks the wind.
Being one of the lucky ones that have been slim my whole life (125 lbs. when graduated high school -n- 140 now at 43 yrs old) all I can say is wool in layers.I spent many a year trying to stay warm using all the fancy new fangled camo clothing with little success.Switched to wool clothing -n- have been comfy since.
its way easier just to stay fat