For those of you who hunted the midwest yesterday it was cold and windy.I layered well and was warm until I decided to move on to a ridge.first time i ever left a stand early because i was cold from the wind slicing threw me.any suggestions on a good outer layer for blocking the wind.....
abell wool is warmer than can be!
Asbell wool is warm, but doesn't block wind. I wear a t shirt and then either a wool or flannel shirt under an Asbell outer layer, with long johns and wool pants. If it is really cold, 10 or less, I have some Muckboots that keep the toes toasty, and various wool hats top me off. I use the chemical warming packets, and they work great.
Depending on how windy and cold i am i use a down vest or a cabelaswool sweater with windstopper in it. I've also used my peter storm raingear jacket if it is really windy to block the wind.
Wool is awesome but it dosent stop wind. Wind liner is a must on cold and windy days. I have the Cabelas wooltimate with windshear and it does an excellant job of stoping wind. I would say any kind of wind liner would work.
Good hunting, Jason
Winstopper, windstopper windstopper. What a difference when you stop that razor wind in how much longer you can stay.
heater body suit, I have two and they offer the windstopper I believe. The wind really blows here in the mountains, sometimes moving my trees 1.5 to 2 ft and I have no problems. If it gust over 40, I just get down because the deer do not seem to move or I go to ground.
Water proof jacket for me when its really windy. I got one thats not too heavy and a size bigger than I need. Makes too much noise on a calm cold day but when it's windy that doesn't matter much.
Rob
The cold, damp & windy hunting seasons of New England have been brutal the last couple of years or at least to these old bones. I started useing Cabelas Wooltimate jacket & pants with wind shear liner with good results. I usually start with good merino wool or fleece base, several shirts & sweater and a down vest with the Wooltimate outer layers while on stand in the worst weather.
I have several options I use. Packable rain gear under my outer layer works well. For the stuff we've been gettin the past few days i wear my cabelas wool bibs with the windstop liner. But man do i getcwarm walkin in to my stands with those on. For run of the mill cool days i wear the unlined wool bibs.
I also have a fleece windstop lined vest that is my favorite. Its a rare day i dont wear that along with my woolsweater and First Life merino wool base layers. For my feet if its cold electric socks. They work awesome to keep my toes toasty.
I also have a fleece hoodie w/ windstop liner. Its a bit bulky but nice on cold mornings. Im a big fan of cabelas outfitter series wool and fleece.
I,too, wear a light fleece vest with Windblocker lining under my wool outer clothing. It is not bulky and does an amazing job cutting the wind. The wool supplies the insulation.
I hunted the other day too in central illinois, when the wind cut to the bone. I went out with my wool power longjohns, then underarmour, then cotton pants. Upper, was polypro top, laclair shirt, with dayone asat wool top. Legs got cold, but I carry an old mossy oak nylon pants and put them on and warmed back up. I know the nylon is noisy, cut on ground would rather be still and get a shot then freeze.
There's some great wool on the classifieds.
I use Cabelas Legacy Fleece with windstopper.. It is very inexpensive and I am finally warm in all but very wet conditions. Never even got a hint of being cold last year. It's not bulky either. It's bowhunter quiet. Couldnt ask for more.
cabelas wool with windstopper for me...needed it today...trees were coming down in that wind today..
I like my goxf rain gear, but any light weight Gore Tex rain suit will work. Mine has a hood in the collar. Tight knit, reasonably quiet, especially under your camo. Ski masks, or a face mask, gloves, and if you need it, heat pads for the gloves, feet and lower back are available.
Sometimes you'll find this stuff on sale, below what might find in some stores. Check online.
I don't buy the windstopper products, as they are too warm in other conditions. Prefer to layer, with light weight, non-bulky clothers if possible. My rain suit will fold up real small, until needed. Weight in the ounces.
I love wool, it just does not stop the wind sitting in stand. I have a cabelas windshear trek sweater that i wear under my sleeping indian wool highline shirt, works great in wind. My most valuable piece of clothing is my SI vest. It keeps my core warm. Add a neck gaitor and Im set. I also have a Heater body suit that works wonders, I wear that late season.
sold me on the vest DD...I've been contemplating one for awhile...was looking at the asbell gear.
I have some hidden wolf woolens from years back...good stuff but like all other wool doesnt stop the wind. early season rain gear doubles as wind blocker, late season, dress in layers is the best I've done. I have one jacket I purchased for this hunt I am leaving on tonight with windblocker on the upper, its a full jacket, not quite what I wanted but it will suffice.
Dress in layers, wool and fleece. I like using both, usually wool undies, fleece middle and wool outside for late season. Learn what comfortably cool is (to keep from over perspiring), and dont be afraid to change socks when you're feet are cold....or adding an extra hat, hood, or layer when you start getting the shakes.
Warm fluids helps too if you can carry them...this is the first year I've tried it, warm mango peach crystal light....yummy! And beef boulion cubes in warm water is a dang fine soup to drink also...helps warm the core from the inside!
I have a Gray Wolf wool jacket lined, it's awesome.
Great info. It was blowing cold here the other day. Was a hard decision to grab the sweater or long sleeve t-shirt LOL But then again it was our coldest day of the year so far, I think it went as low as 62 degrees lol Feel for you guys up north, but you have way nicer deer!
I just can't believe more people don't use a heater Body Suit.
Milwaukee Tool is now selling a camo jacket that is heated by 12 volt lithium batteries....anybody have one?
QuoteOriginally posted by AkDan:
Dress in layers, wool and fleece. I like using both, usually wool undies, fleece middle and wool outside for late season.
:wavey:
Day Dreamer,
I feel the same way about my Gray Wolf Woolens vest as you do your SI vest. Mine is lined with comfortmax and lite loft so it bucks the wind like no other. Just ordered the final piece for my late season windy cold days from Cabelas and maintain a decent thickness bow arm. had everything last year except the Cabelas windshear sweater and my arms would get cold with the wind getting thru a regular non windshear sweater.
1) Ullfrotte' 400 gr turtleneck longjohn top
2) Ullfrotte' 200gr vest
3) Cabelas windshear 100% wool sweater
4) GWW lined vest
This and good chemical hand warmers with good head gear keep me warm down to 10 degrees even with a 10-15 mph wind. Love my wool but late season wool MUST be windproof or it is useless IMHO. :coffee:
like alot of other people, anything with windstopper/windshear as a layer and your good to go.
Steve
Put a good down coat/vest under light camo of choice and use the old arm guard for the bow arm--dry and windy cold are no problem.
Very much liking primaloft as well.
And yes, I have lots of great wool...
I use the KOM wool standmaster Parka with liner. Warmest thing I have found. Kind of wish their pants had the liner at times.
I use a wind shirt that are popular with golfers either over or under my insulating layer depending on how cold it is beforehand. It does a great job of stopping the wind blowing through. The colder it is or the more windy it is will determine if I put it under or over the insulating layer. Usually I just carry it in my pack and put it on after the wind starts to cool me down.
I wear quilted nylon underwear or thin jacket under fleece or wool. Works great. I don't mess with wind linings, though a few (like Gray Wolf) are quiet enough... thin OD windshirt I got at a surplus place is almost always in my fanny pack.
Thickly woven wool outer layer along with wool thermals, wool sweater and a wool or fleece vest will keep you out there all day. A sweater is easily packable if it gets too hot but it will save you when the mercury dips.
Under Armor Top and Bottom
PolarTec Union Suit
Fleece Sweatpants
WindShear Top
Fleece Top
Ron LaClair Wool Long Shirt
Bibs
Raven Wear Vest
Artic Shield Muff
Woody Armor Muck Boots
Liner Socks
Heavy Wool Socks
Stretch Cover with Fleece Gator attached
Wool Hat
This is only for when it's really cold, other times, the ghillie keeps me warm. No Vest or fleece top needed.
KUIU crowd?
The key to staying warm in the wind is to simply have your "windcutting layer", weather it be a windshirt, rainjacket, etc, as close to your outer layer as possible.
The most effective is when its your outer shell.
The further in you cut the wind, the more insulation you lose!
So in other words, if you wear it under a heavy jacket(wool, fleece,etc.), you are pretty much render that layer useless.
As far as noise and raingear, if its blowing hard enough to worry about keeping warm, they aren't gonna hear the bit of extra noise.
Highpoint, Is there something specific you want answered?
I suffered without my Spindrift two weeks back. Ugh, miserable even with both merino layers on.
Wind/ water proof outer layer is key.
Good insulating layer underneath.
I use Cabelas rain suade as it has a brushed finish and relatively quite compared to a dedicated outer shell, has its place in the woods.
For real inclement weather I use my Kuiu Chugach as I think there is nothing better as a water proof shell. Just my opinion.
I also hunt the midwest where the wind seems to constantly blow and nothing will work that well unless you have something either as a under or outer garment that contains Windstopper or a material designed to stop wind.
Windblocker type gear helps, but is crazy expensive. Check out the Asbell windblocker pullover vest. Very nice, not much money. I have a great treestand up on a ridge where the wind blows hard on a good day. Here is my cold weather recipe:
Non cotton very thin (wool or polypropelene) long johns
Asbell windblocker vest, first layer after long johns.
A very thin Merino wool zip up sweater that I found at an REI store, I think it's made for rock climbers.
A zip up wool sweater vest
An Asbell Evening Stand Green pullover
Surplus (cheap) wool pants
Medium wool socks
Medium insulated leather boots (my feet don't get cold)
Stormy Kromer hat
Fingerless wool gloves
This outfit gets me down to below 20, with wind, for about a 3 1/2 hour sit. Any colder than that, I may add another thin wool sweater I got on the clearance rack at Cabelas.
My theory with wool is many thin layers beats 1 thick layer. Also, putting the wind blocker layer over the longjohns does double duty of keeping the core heat close to the body.
If it's really windy and cold I wear my old Columbia duck hunting parka with lots of layers underneath. That and Cabelas goretex waterfowling pants. Deer don't seem to mind brown camo either.
I was hunting IL that day. Here is what I was wearing and stayed very comfortable.
merino wool
Fleece Union Suit
Wind Pro Fleece Pants
KOM Wool Shirt
Filson Wool bibs
Gray Wolf Insulated Wool Vest
Wind Pro Fleece Jacket
two wool socks under Muck Boots
Fleece Neck warmer
Wind Pro toboggan under fleece boonie hat
Gray Wolf Wool Mitts (old style no longer made)
I did throw a Thermacare back heating pad on over merino wool. This was the first time I had used these and they make a HUGE difference and last all day.
Best Wind Cutter I have ever Worn was either Light Leather or Buckskin. NO MORE WIND PROBLEMS!!
Being an old school old fart, if it ain't wool you can keep it...PR
I swear by my Rivers West gear. H2P Law jacket and pants. Waterproof and windproof, unsulates well enough and super quiet. Won't get crunchy hard in the cold. I have the boonie hat too and the bill bends well when shooting the recurve. Stretchy too. I've found nothing better yet. Can layer under it as well. Oh, and it has a radial collar that come up the back of the neck. NICE!
Longhunter shirt from Ron La clair. It goes past your but and is made of blanket wool and will keep you warm without the overheating and sweat issues. Best item I have.
Oh and a set of Polartech 300wght fleece works great as a base layer
Been wanting to add my final piece this year and got the chance since Cabelas has them on sale right now. Wool sweater with windshear lining so my arms can stay as warm as my core under my GWW vest. I hunted this morning 35 degrees and a stiff 15-20MPH North wind. Here is what I had on and got a tad chilly for about an hour before the temp went up enough around 9AM.
1)Ullfrotte' 400 gr top and bottom
2) Cabelas Microtex pants ( blue jean thickness )
3) Lacrosse Alpha Lites 7MM thick boots
4) Cabelas wool / windshear sweater
5) Predator fleece beannie hat
Looking back I wish I would have worn my thin neck gaitor and had a set of chemical hand warmers and I would have been totally comfy. The back of my hands got cold being that NO one seems to line the outside face of pockets on windproof tops ??? Pockets should be lined folks ! So far I really like this sweater from Cabelas and they are $100 off right now guys !
I'm trying to figure out how some of you guys can move with all that stuff on, don't get me wrong, I know you probably need it or you wouldn't wear it but it does sound pretty bulky.
Here is what I wear,
Fleece zip turtleneck (thin)
smart wool sweater (thin)
Swanndri shirt, I have never noticed if the wind gets through it or not.
Gray wolf woolens vest with wind blocker.
wool long john bottoms
wool pants.
merino wool/or fleece socks, thick wool socks
Mickey boots.
mittens that the finger part comes off so your fingers are exposed ( I shoot with a tab )
This list makes it sound like mine is a lot also. :dunno:
The cabelas stand master bibs are awesome. The best part is I wear just a thin merino wool long john and microtex pants in and when I get to the stand I trap in all the warmth with the bibs.
I love them.
Nahtan
golfers use a wind shirt, a very tightly woven synthetic meterial shirt (and pants). I use one and it works great. Who cares what colors, they are worn beneath the outer layer and are covered. These can be substantially cheaper than many other options and I have found them to be awesome for stopping the wind. That means needing to wear less bulk in clothing too.
ChuckC