What do you guys like? Thanks. BILL
I'm a wool fan. When its cold I like 24 oz. or thicker. It stays quiet, does not shine, does not make tapping noises when a twig slaps it. Can be rough if you continuously wipe your nose on your sleeve though!
Predator fleece w wind blok, dead quite wind proof and not to bulky, like an asbell wool vest under that. And you can get it from a sponsor here
Wool , the WORST part is price for most part and the fact that much of it lets wind thru...but still LOVE WOOL
Fleece with windblock. I don't hunt much in the rain anymore.
Im also a recent wool convert. To get around the cost I've started hitting the local resale shops and good will. You'd be amazed what they have. Once a week or so I go in and find 1-2 sweaters and the occasional jacket. My latest and greatest find was a vintage Woolrich fleece-lined wool coat for $8!!! Wearing it over a couple of my $3 sweaters keeps me toasty.
I like wool or Wooltimate with Windshear. Add merino wool baselayers, socks, hat, and a down vest.
I am having trouble convincing my wife how badly I need some KOM or Sleeping Indian (due to the price) I bought some Natural Gear with Winderceptor Fleece. Isn't as warm as wool would be I imagine, but for the price I got it I am definitely happy! I put on an ASAT 3d leafy suit so I just basically look for the warmest clothing that I can get at a reasonable price.
Wool
Cabelas Wooltimate has worked for me especially the pants.
I use a Sitka jacket that has a soft outer layer and gortex wind blocking core. I than wear a slick primal loft layer for warmth underneath and merino wool underneath that against my skin. The slick primal loft really keeps you from feeling bound up with too many clothes.
I wore KOM wool for years. The bowhunter jacket with windblock. It was just ok for me. I'm much warmer and have much more freedom of movement layering like shown above with the Sitka gear. I'm pretty lean and really like the tighter athletic fit of Sitka.
I used to use KOM wool exclusively. I bought a sitka stratus jacket. What I found is that wool has little if any give or stretch it is very rigid. In some postions made it uncomfortable feeling at anchor. I also had the KOM windshear jacket and bibs it was not warm at all to me. The stratus Jacket and bibs is what I wear now. It is pricey but there is nothing better for freedom of movement and wind breaking. And I do not get near as cold in sitka. I have since purchased ascent and the fanatic jacket and bibs. If freedom of movement, light weight materials, silent and warmth is what you are looking for then go with Sitka. Another pro is that it is way more water resistant than Wool.
Wool is the best material for warmth in the outdoors whether hunting and fishing, hiking, or just loafing around.
It's quiet when brushing against itself/your gear/trees, rain resistant, warm in a WIDE range of temps without overheating you, doesn't reflect light, doesn't hold human odor well, and keeps you warm even when it's wet.
I live in a cold climate and wool is not warm enough for me except early in the year . It seems the more you get it away from your skin by layering the less effect it has. A parka with thinsilate is the best, the more you layer the harder it is to shoot and the more you sweat getting to your stand .Keeping my feet warm is the hardest.....Tim
Ron La Clair,s longhunter wool shirt(heavyweight) it is light and warm, comes down past your butt(so no pull up and exposure when you bend or sit). best outer garment I ever owned.
Above 20 degrees to 55, my Swanee wool and below freezing my camo double Mac Filson wool, with the proper 'under the coat' layers to match the conditions. Wool and layering works for extreme temps, but if your wool is not tight weaved and you are out in a North Dakota ground blizzard, a wind breaking anorak will keep you warm in Arctic temps.
I wear a wool plaid Woolrich Stag Coat which serves me well.
I have not found anything better than my wool vest from Charlie Two Tracks.
George
Wool layered over fleece, can't be beat in cold weather, Merino baselayer underneath!
Low nap fleece with wind shear for me. I tried KOM wool and it picks up everything when walking in the woods. Wind goes right through it too.
Layering without something that cuts the wind don't do me any good. Windshear or something similar is key!! I would love to try some of the less bulky hunting clothes like the Sitka or the KUIU but as of right now, money doesn't permit! Maybe someday!!!
Jason
I have KOM, Sitka, etc. I like wearing merino wool next to my skin, then wearing layering Sitka jacket and vest. Then I wear my heater body suit. I like the sitka because it is not as bulky when I come out of the suit for a shot. I wanted the new camo Kuiu next year.
WOOL!
Wool is always a good choice, either in plaid or camo. If not wool, I would rely on surplus military camo (the dye does not contain brightners) as opposed to many commercial products.
I like Sitka freedom of movement,marino base.Im Hunting and fishing the whole winter,even in -40 weather.I like to hunt and fish in the rain,and Ive had wool stink like a dog when wet.Wish I had the Sitka when I was in the Army back in the early70s.Bottom Line you have to find what you like good luck.
I'm with George, nothing better than my TwoTracks wool vest. NOTHING!
(http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa7/owlbait/IMG_0153.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by ripforce56:
Wool layered over fleece, can't be beat in cold weather, Merino baselayer underneath!
This. My outer has been KOM for several years and been completely satisfied with it.
Cabelas fleece with windshear does well here in Alabama due to mild winters.
It all depends on your definition of cold and what you are doing.
I love the look, feel, and tradition of wool, and it's great for certain things. Best there is for heavy exertion in extreme cold, for example. Nothing else comes close to wool pants for walking all day in deep snow.
I have some heavy wool I really like to wear in my tree stand when the weather gets cold. I try to wear it because I like it, really I do, but it isn't nearly close to warm enough for a cold winter day in North Dakota.
For severe cold, I wear merino long johns,wool pants, a wool shirt, and a wool jacket under a pair of insulated Gore-tex bibs, Windstopper pullover, a Windstopper hooded sort of balaclava thing, big leather mittens with wool liners, and a pair of LaCrosse's warmest winter boots. I stick bootwarmers in my boots and handwarmers in my mittens.
I might be better off with a down under-layer rather than wool, but the wool is quiet.
With that setup I can sit for a long time in subzero weather and wind. I don't stay warm, but I don't get really cold, either. It's like sitting in a cold workshop (say 50-60 degrees).
Heater Body Suit
I wear what I have gathered over the years. I shake my head at a pair of pants that sell for 265 dollars and a jacket that's close to 400.00 not to mention the 200 base layer I'd rather be cold than caught in that stuff.
Wool, and a windblocker/heat retention layer closer to my core. The layer against my skin is usually wool or a high quality heat trappting fabric like polypropylene.
My Swannie Bushshirt over a fleece jacket. Only wish they still made them.
QuoteOriginally posted by twistedlim:
My Swannie Bushshirt over a fleece jacket. Only wish they still made them.
They do still make them, just not in that awesome "New Zealand" camo. I use mine too, its starting to show wear in the elbows though after 24 years!
Try keeping a chemical body warmer wrapped in light cloth like a bandana on the back of your neck too. I cant believe what a difference this has made. A native up in Carcarjou Alberta showed me that.
I bought a pair of synthetic bibs and then a wool coat over that.
Unless I miss it, one thing I hate about wool and even these synthetic bibs is this. I must have spent an hour picking burrs, thistles, and whatever else out of them after hunting this weekend. But, I did stay warm.
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim:
I use a Sitka jacket that has a soft outer layer and gortex wind blocking core. I than wear a slick primal loft layer for warmth underneath and merino wool underneath that against my skin. The slick primal loft really keeps you from feeling bound up with too many clothes.
I wore KOM wool for years. The bowhunter jacket with windblock. It was just ok for me. I'm much warmer and have much more freedom of movement layering like shown above with the Sitka gear. I'm pretty lean and really like the tighter athletic fit of Sitka.
I am with TIM....
Woolpower Top against skin, Sitka Kelvin on top of that and fleece or wool outer jacket on top of that of choice..... Hard to get cold on the stand with this combo.....
I got myself an ASAT Jacket with brushed twill lined with Holofil. Lightweight and very warm. Not too much layering needed with this jacket and it's very windproof.
Ya I with Tim I like a tight fit on my 255# body the creatures look and just drop dead they figure that's better than remembering the nightmare they saw. VERY SCARY :scared:
Here are my thoughts based on sitting treestands in Montana for over twenty years:
I have s several friends who invested in the cold weather Sitka and they love it.......until it gets around zero, then the wool comes out. The Sitka is definitely less bulky and lighter than wool.
King of the Mountain has a fairly loose weave and won't stop the wind unless lined. However, their blowdown pattern coupled with the loose weave is the most effective camouflage pattern for me.
Filson stops the wind better but is bulky, making it hard to shoot a bow.
Swandrri is comparable to Filson but cut so its not as bulky. Their current plaid patterns suck And as mentioned before, they quit making a camo pattern
Fleece with wind shear works well and is light weight, but attracts every piece of vegetation that gets within ten feet.
My favorite clothing for sitting tree stands is Gray/Hidden Wolf. The weave is tight, comparable to Filson & Swandrri as is the wind stopping properties. The fall brown camo pattern is excellent, right behind blowdown. Burrs and shckers brush off with your hand ( I use a metal dog/cat comb).
Grey Wolf wool fall gray.