So How do you guys Keep WARM and Not get too Bulky With Clothing? I wear As little as I can with out sacrificing My Comfort and Shooting ability.... and freeze my @$$ off! This weekend in 32* I was wearing an Under armour cold gear Shirt (Tight), Cabelas Middle weight Thermal top and A Camo (cotton) sweatshirt. Which I feel is very bulky (Combined), then on the Bottom. Middle weight thermals, and Camo, Cotton/poly pants. Wool lined boots.
Point it I like to be Comfy & warm When I shoot/hunt. How do you do it without Adding Bulk?
I too have spent many years freezin to death, I've tried everything and recently got my hands on some wool clothing. I still wear a merino wool set of thermals as a base but this past weekend I was nice and toasty. What I had on: merino wool base, merino wool socks with polypro liner, wool pants(cabelas wooltimate), wool vest(same wooltimate but with wind shear), predator button down shirt, predator jacket, 600 gram rubber boots(hate these beacause of sweaty feet), wool balaclava, wool hat, polypro glove(one hand), hss vest. The key I think after all this time is to layer and layer with wool of some type. I haven't been able to afford it yet but the predator shirt and jacket I have is cotton which I will hopefully replace with additional wool. Shooting ability with this amount of clothing on can be overcome by practising with the clothes you intend to hunt with on. In the past I felt like I was the abonidable snowman trying to keep warm. I gave up on under armour since it made me feel wet and clammy. So if I can solve the cold feet problem and get away from the rubber boots and replace the remaining cotton stuff I have then I believe I've got it whooped! Good luck, hope this was at least somewhat helpful, I know hunting while freezing cold is not that much fun!
layering :thumbsup: SITKA GEAR - Core top and bottoms,then Ascent Pants with a Celsius Vest. it costs around $450 for all but it feels so good to be safe warm and bombproof. I only pay once but it will last for years,check it for your self :archer:
Todd: sounds like you are wearing A ton of clothing! :scared: I would Never be able to shoot wearing all that.
Kelly: Seems like an awesome Option. I'm skeptical After all the posts on here If it were that easy I would be all over it.. $$$ is not an issue if it is worth it. But to spend $450 to get the same result would agrivate me.
You would think someone would come up with 1 or 2 layers to keep us ULTRA warm with keeping shootability!
I have never tried UA as their main ingrediant is nylon, not good moisture transfer. What you feel as cold is the evaporation of moisture on your skin. Too many tight base layers will trap this moisture making you feel clammy and cold. I have worked outdoors for 30 yrs. and seen many guys freeze their butt off wearing 3 layers of cotton. it is the worst, get rid of it. Get down to the Salv. Army Thrift Store and get yourself some WOOL.
COTTON KILLS! thats what i was always told by my dad hunting in the adirondacks. layer up with some good long johns and then a techwic t shirt over that, through on my guide series fleece and then my camo fleece, with some thinsulate boots and pants and im warm for quite some time, through in some hand warmers too lol. that and i move around alot when i bowhunt becuase i love to stalk so that helps.
I use layers, but my Sleeping Indian wools are awesome..pricey, but I don't get cold either.
I was hunting on Sunday and it was minus 18 celsius with a 15 km wind and I was toasty warm. I had to sit for about 45 to 60 minutes after calling yotes, but I was fine.
Stay away from cotton period.
Wool clothing, good tech underwear, Smart wool socks and a wool touque and you should be set
Jer Bear
I layer too and make sure I dont wear to much clothes for the walk in so as not to sweat. I have found I can get away with less clothes if i carry a few Hot Hands. Of course I live in Alabama so I dont know what cold is. It was 30 deg. this morning with a crisp breeze. it was nippy.
I stopped wearing under armour when it seemed to me it was making me feel colder. I know that sounds strange, but it always felt cold against my skin. I switched to merino wool bottoms and top and was instantly comfortable. My next layer (when really cold-30 degrees or colder) is a lightweight fleece quarter zip top, often times with a thin fleece vest. My top layer is a Sitka gear 90% jacket with medium weight wool pants. This keeps the bulk out of my outfit, allowing me to stay more mobile while staying very warm. You can get all of the upper body layering through Sitka gear, but I already had most of the layering from skiing and only had to buy the Sitka gear jacket. It really is that simple and does work. No need for the bulk. I do believe the real difference is having wool against your skin.
Bob
I use wool and HotPocket hand warmers. You just open the package and sake it up and they get warm (130-140) in about 10min or so. I put them inside my hunting shirt next to my kindneys. Just don't put them next to your skin! :eek: I also put one down the front of my hunting shirt and one in my front pant pocket, to keep my shooting hand warm. They last up to 8-10hrs. You can buy them at Wal-mart or any hunting store.
By doing this I don't have to wear that may layers, and stay nice and warm. Some times I get to warm and have to vent some heat out. Keep your core body temp up and the rest of your body will thank you on a long cold day!
Good luck!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Dump the cotton, boost your thermals. Switch to wool pants and a Polartec 3 jacket or the like.
What's on your head? Most of your heat escapes through your topknot.
If you are out all day, do you change your socks in the early afternoon? The ones you put on that morning are wet.
Use the Grabber Mycoal 12 hour warmers.
Killdeer
check this out I made one and I am going to try this weekend in 30' temps
http://wibowhunters.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=diy&action=display&thread=685
Killdeer hit the proverbial nail on the head (pun intended) by adding what is on your head is probably the most important article of clothing. I personally use a wool knit cap. Works perfectly.
Bob
Didn't read all the replies, so if its been said already...sorry.
Loose the cotton.
Also, a nice vest is a great way to add a layer to the vitals and not the arms. AND, make sure your vest has pockets as they are great for the hot hands heaters.
Boots not to tight with great quality wool socks, and warm head wear.
I see alot of folks out there hunting in very cold weather without enough on their head. I will wear four hats or balaclava combinations if needed. Yes I will have some what reduced hearing, but will not have as much bulk as simply putting on another hat. Mike
HEATER BODY SUIT..............
Well this is what I have learned from working 12 years in the textile/clothing industry and I have been in weather were literally my eye lashes have frozen together.
Your two enemies are wet and wind. You have to manage these two factors. Cotton as stated above sucks up water. It will get you every time.
The newer under armor type products work by generation of electro static friction. If you don't move they don't work. That is why some guys/gals swear by it and some hate it. Most of the synthetic materials are constructed for sports with a large degree of movement such as skiing or mountaineering. It looks nice but if you are sitting it wont do much for you.
The way your body stays warm is by trapping air around it and heating that air up. Wind will steal this insulation from you by blowing the warm air out of your layers.
So what is best. A system that stays dry and blocks wind.
A bottom layer that wicks away moisture.
A second layer that holds air.
A top layer that blocks wind and wet.
This is what I wear.
Bottom layer of Capline or Wool.
Down filled second layer of about 3 oz fill
Top layer of wool with a wind barrier in it.
If you can wear bibs this helps too as any warmth that comes out the top gets trapped in your top layers.
Don't wear gloves! Use mittens or a muff.
You must have a tuke to keep your heat from escaping from your head. Our body knows that the brain is very important so it sends a lot of heat its way.
Don't zip your jacket up over your mouth. As you exhale you put moisture down around your core. Use a face mask if it is that cold out.
Push ups will do wonders to help get your body temp back up. When sitting you need to do this about every half hour. If you wait until you are shivering the game is up as this is the very first sign of hypothermia and your core temp has fallen.
The best thing I did was get a wind proof polar fleece jacket and a XL goose down vest. The vest is big enough to wear over the jacket and is actually too big to wear alone. Carry the vest when you walk in and you don't sweat. Arms are free to shoot and you are warm. The vest can make a mid-weight jacket into a cold weather coat. I just can't shoot my bow with a big coat on.
I do not like Under Armor at ALL for sitting. Heat Gear OR Cold Gear make me "feel" cold when I am sitting even when I know I am not. Works pretty good when you are moving, but I sit a lot.
I have found only one undergarment that comes even close to my Sitka Gear base layers and that is the SmartWool types.
I bought the Sitka Gear Celsius Jacket/Vest/Bibs this year to fight the warmth/bulk battle. The next couple weeks will prove its worth and I will be able to let you know if I have found perfection. It has been too warm to test it out so far.
I use a Heater Body Suit and layers of wool and synthetics as needed. I love my HBS. I got one years ago as a gift. Last year, I ran across a newer model on sale and bought it.
Yes....lose the cotton and switch to wool...it doesn't have to be expensive. Yesterday was cold here; I wore a polyester turtleneck, then a light wool sweater over that a poly hooded sweatshirt and a wool shirt over that. It was not bulky, even though it was four layers. I wore wool undies and wool outer pants; wool socks over liners and my Bean boots...since I was walking most of the time. On my head a cap with a stocking cap pulled over the top....wool of course. Most times I have to carry the heavy wool shirt around my waist until I stand for awhile.
It's not how much you wear, it's more what you wear. Goodwill stores always have those great wool sweaters for layering. I bought one last week...100% lambs wool, for $3.99.
I have two mad bomber hats I use. One is made of rabbit and I use it until the temps are in the 20's Once it's below freezing I break out the wool bomber and have never had a cold head. Keeps the ears warm too!
If it's REALLY cold I normaly wear.....
Heavy weight wool pants
1 pair of good wool socks on my feet
1,2 or sometimes 3 100% wool sweaters
Top it of with my "stupid lookin" Red&Black plaid huntin' hat (with ear flaps)
I never have a problem being cold.....
(BTW, ALL of my wool clothing is worn directly against my skin) :thumbsup:
wool or the heatet body suit. Sitka gear is not for cold weather (even the new stuff-celcius line cannot compete with wool or the heater for cold weather).
Two little tricks that I have found.
1. Take one of those little hand warmer things and fold it in a bandanna (like the old time bank robbers in a triangle then roll it up) and wrap it around your neck with the handwarmer on the back of you neck.
2. Take another handwarmer and fold it in a bandanna and put it on top of your head and then put your hunting hat on over that.
I use these for when I'm on stand and it's really cold. Brokenwing
This is what works best for me in Montana: I tried the Sitka and love it when moving, but prefer my KOM and Gray Wolf (GW) wool when sitting on stand in cold weather. I wear wool long johns, wool shirts (Filson or Pendleton), and a fleece or wool vest underneath my KOM or GW pants/overalls and coat. Like Mike mentioned, keeping the head warm is paramount to keeping the body warm, I wear a thin balaclava over my head and under my wool with wind blocker KOM or GW Bomber style hats. One other thing I learned from Doug Campbell that helps a lot in windy conditions is to use of a silk neck scarf wrapped around my neck to help regulate the heat; Guess there really is a reason all the cowboys have been wearing them since before I was born (I am a slow learner at times). If it is warmer than zero (F) I cover my face with half a spandoflage head net (I cut the top off and wear it upside down) that covers my nose, face and ears, instead of the balaclava, this allows the moisture to leave and not build up too much, while staying tight to my face. Most thrift store or army/navy wool works great if you can control the bulk and have some type of wind blocker to go with it, but I have never regretted buying my KOM or GW wool.
What is on my feet depends on the temperature; Down to 32 irrigation boots with wool socks, from 32-0 Schnees boots that are a size too large, which allows for an extra pair of socks as needed, 0 and below a set of Mickey Mouse boots that I put on when nearing or while in the stand (don't walk very far in them or your feet will get sweaty and they will be cold for the entire time on stand.). One other thing that helps keep my feet warm is putting on a set of "bear's feet" made for stalking critters from the ground. These go over your boots, have a lot of fluffy stuff like fleece, and about half an inch of foam on the bottom, which insulates your feet from your cold metal tree stand. With these on, I have found the Mickey Mouse boots are not needed until it gets to -20, at which time I start questioning my sanity but remain on stand anyway.
Like others, the use of hand warmers can really help, if used properly. I don't put them in my boots because they make my feet sweat, and then stop working due to lack of fresh air after an hour, then my feet gets extremely cold. However, I do sometimes put them over my toes, outside my boots, and underneath the "bear's feet" which keeps the air flowing to them and do not over heat the feet. If it is less than 20 degrees I keep a hand warmer in each of my jacket pockets for the entire hunt and sometimes put one over my right shoulder to keep it warm and flexible (had shoulder surgery). Last year they came out with warmers for the lower back that are in an elastic band and they work well at maintaining body heat, if kept outside of your shirts and beneath your jacket.
gota Gray wolf wool pullover and pant's a few year's back with the wind stopper lineing. What a difference good wool clothes make.
doug77
I wear a fleece turtleneck top and bottoms then it's all wool after that including my hat. I normally wear a $2.00 wool sweater and then my Woolrich stag shirt over that, if it's real cold I'll put on a vest. My hat has ear-flaps, it's a Gray wolf bomber hat and it is the best hat I have ever owned, I also have a set of bibs from Gray wolf, bibs are nice because they add an extra layer on your back.
Matty...wool is a better choice imho...In cold weather I use Cabelas MTP mid weight thermal underwear and shirt. Over this is a wool sweater with wind shear lining also from Cabelas and then wool vest. For pants I use either a heavy fleece or light weight wool. I have a real thick wool watch cap that I use on stand. My boots are not insulated but I use a polypro liner sock under a wool/poly/cotton blended heavy sock. If I have a long walk to my stand I wear very little for the walk in and keep the warm stuff in my pack and dress when I get there after I've cooled down a little. I frequently change socks once i get there because no matter how slowly I walk or how cold it is my feet will sweat.
Like you I cannot shoot well with bulky clothes on. I find if I am careful not to sweat on the walk in then I can sit a good while with the clothes mentioned above. The body heat generated from the walk in keeps me toasty for several hours.
Stick with wool and polar fleece....dump the under armor for anything but constant movement. I work outside year around and it does very well for that but I froze my tail off the first month I had it using it on stand.
This is my kind of thread - great stuff here! Lol - I have a couple of hand warmers still hot from today and one is in a bandanna around my neck - good call.
If the problem is staying warm while avoiding bulk, when sitting on stand when it's cold enough, I like to wrap in an old wool blanket. It keeps me much warmer and can be shed quickly and quietly if/when it's time to shoot.
I agree with all the wool advice - no cotton. And I especially agree with the use of good head cover. Another favorite of mine is to wear the thin silk under garments the skiiers use. I wear it under the heavy thermal under wear. Use good boots with wool socks. I am diabetic which affects my ability to keep my feet warm so I often use pac boots. Looks funny down here in the South but it works. Wear several light layers instead of just a couple of very heavy ones. Carry a lot of it to the stand and put it on AFTER you walk in so you don't sweat.Use hand warmers liberally. A high calorie snack helps replace energy used up generating body heat.
Another trick with the hand warmers, is to put them in a zip lock sandwich bag after your hunt, if they haven't run out yet. The lack of air will de-activate them and you can re-use them a couple of times.
Really look into using vests. It is a fine way to cover your torso and leave your arms with less bulk. I hate having too much bulk on my arms and I can get away with only a couple layers if I keep my body covered and warm. I have never had any luck with hand warmer pouches. Would like to get a pair of those wooly boogers that Screamig Eagle used to sell. Bet they would work fine.
High calorie snacks ??? why wait for cold weather ?
ChuckC
Whatever layers you wear is up to you. Here's my trick Take a couple warm wool sweaters and cut the left arm off (if you shoot right handed) Wear a couple layers that will cover the left arm a bit and full layers on the rest of your body. Wear a mitt wiht a handwarmer in it on the left hand. Your left arm will get cold but not as bad as you think as long as the rest of your body is toasty warm the heat will migrate to your arm. It also helps to keep it tucked close to your body.
I made a heater suit last year and I just love the thing. I have stayed out to -25C and it was darned cold but I could still hunt.
the chef
RightTrailWrongTime is right on in my book. I hunt a lot of cold stuff, and wool, wool, wool, silk and make sure the outer layer is windproof. Also, a vest of down is nice! also it won't impede movement. I use KOM wool outer with wind blocker, down vest, heavy Ulfrotte wool with the little thumb holes (nice for tab hand but not bow hand), smartwool top, then silk..good to go.
Just silk and smartwool midweight unders on bottom and then KOM wool pants. Or substitue a fleece with windblocker.
How to cure cold feet: use the stinkin Toastie Toes that you just open and stick on the bottom of your toes after you are settled in your stand. Also, since we use a shooting glove/tab, just use the same little hand warmers inside mittins and then remove when you see deer coming. You can even wear a thin skin tight one on your bow hand and so the bow doesn't chill it immediately. Those little air activated warmers are quite cheap, about 1 or 2$ per sit (4-5 hrs). so is well worth it.
My stuff costs some $bling$ but I have been able to continue using my KOM and repairing it if necessary. Some of it is 15 yrs old and I used to hunt almost every day of the season (until gun season...)
By the way!! Fleece and synthetics can easily catch fire and will really get you, wool doesn't have quite the same problem, it won't melt to your skin. All of the wool I use is machine washable and I dry all but the outer KOM stuff.
PS, I don't even need an armguard...
Me neither overspined. I tried one of those armguards that is made to compress your coat sleeve and it actually deflected my shots about 6" and was LOUD. I found that if I just shoot with my coat on the string will hit my coat, but no shot deflection and lots less noise than the armguard.
Going to try the smartwool underwear this year and compare to the polypro army surplus we have been using. It works pretty good I guess and at $10-15 per piece it is cheap.
nocams
I'm thinking of getting a Shrew Longbow Shirt