Okay so I am leaving on the 10th to go to Kentucky. My issue, I have lived in central FL my entire life and have no real experience with single diget temperatures. You guessed it my vacation and hunting will include just that. For my leggins I have a pair of thermals, Military wool pants and Columbia's wool overalls. I purchased Redheads tracker boots, 100% waterproof, 600 gram thinsulate and gore-tex. My chest I have thermals, the top half of the overalls, a 100% wool fisherman's sweater bought in Ireland (extremely warm), and my Asbell wool heavy sweater in evening stand brown. I also have 100% wool beanie I will be wearing for head cover. Please, let me know what else I will need or if I need to change anything. I don't want to go into the woods unprepared.
Sounds like you are in pretty good shape. I would suggest you get a fleece neck gaiter.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Fleece-Neck-Gaiter/1380362.uts
You can pull it up over your face with your hat on and then if you get a shot you can pull it down as I am sure you aren't practiced in shooting with it on. You may lose your anchor point with the mask on and just a little different on your face will make a big difference on your point of impact.
Make sure you have some sort of wind break layer. I would get some toe and hand warmers if you plan on being out long. Also don't forget a arm guard if you don't have one. All those puffy sleeves will hit your string. I shoot with a glove and I cut the first three fingers out of a glove to put on my shooting glove. Would work with a tab also.
By all means put all those clothes on (including gloves) and practice shooting. Its not near the same as in a t-shirt. Hahaha you are going to be glad to get back home is all I can say.
(http://i57.tinypic.com/34imdzm.jpg)
OMG bring extra stuff whatever you do hahaha! I went hog hunting in Texas a year ago and they had a cold snap and it was "only" 19 degrees but MAN sitting for hours completely still it is hard to stay warm unless you have some good layering going on. My personal recommendation would be a tight fitting polypropylene base layer top and bottom and then go from there and try and trap as much air and wick as much moisture away from your skin. Also keep your bladder drained, hahaha, sounds stupid but its crazy how much energy your body expends keeping that liquid heated and not you.
Get some of those chemical hand and toe warmers. They last about 5 hours and help to keep your fingers and toes where you can feel them.
Get some good sock liners (I prefer wool if you can find them), and some good wool hunting socks. You don't want to wear cotton of any kind.I'll second the hand and toe warmers.
Good luck.
All good advice given so far. I second the neck gaitor/face mask.
Probably the best advice given is to practice shooting with all your gear on. Even though it has been 40 years ago I still remember the frustration early one morning of finding I was unable to draw my bow on a very nice buck because the coveralls I was wearing were too binding. Lesson learned!
One other item I have really come to appreciate in recent years is a hand warmer/muff that I wear around my waist. Keeping my hands in it until it is time to shoot allows me to wear light weight gloves which in turn makes my grip on the bow and shot feel more natural.
Hope this helps!
Make sure your thermals have good wickng properties. Marino wool are great. I also have a pair of the 70s style ladies knit leggings. When it is cold here I will put them on over my base layer. They pretty much go from above the ankle to above the knee, really helps. The neck gaiter as mentioned above is great also.
600 gram boots will not be warm enough. I suggest wool felt-pac boots and 2 pair of wool socks
You guys that hunt the cold weather should invest in a biking jersey, for two reasons. First it is usually made of a wicking material so sweating will not be a problem but the other reason is that they usually have three pockets sewn in the back right across the lower back. Pop a couple hand warmers in those( they are positioned very close to your kidneys) and you are going to be warm for awhile.
Try it and see!
Good Hunting,
Craig
so you wanna run with notherners!
ha!!this a ganger in -16F weather
dress warm -you can always take it off !
(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/kittitiny/2047b46f-c79d-4e65-ac0a-83d79a3219c9.jpg) (http://s275.photobucket.com/user/kittitiny/media/2047b46f-c79d-4e65-ac0a-83d79a3219c9.jpg.html)
p.s. boots will make or break you-worry more about warm than scent!!have fun!!
Its way cold here right now but by the 10 th it could be 70. You never know with our weather. Where are you going to be hunting if you don't mind my asking.
x2 on the chemical hand and feet warmers. I usually only use them for my feet and they've kept me outside way longer than I would have stayed if I didn't have them. Fleece neck gaitor is awesome also.
This is my fist year at cold temps also all the advice i have gotten includes no cotton, to relay what i have been told is against the skin needs to be something the wicks the moisture into the wool layers and away from the body. "Cotton Kills" It has worked very well so far.
One more, not sure you have a windbreaking layer in the list above. You should have some type of wind stopping jacket or layer. You can get a golf windbreaker cheap.
These are priceless in cold weather...
http://www.rei.com/product/760936/grabber-hand-warmers-10-pairs/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-7609360016&mr:trackingCode=574464C7-9A2E-E411-92FA-BC305BF82162&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c &mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=53280440200&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=70392682960&msid=hKx8E3pc_dc|pcrid|53280440200| (http://www.rei.com/product/760936/grabber-hand-warmers-10-pairs/?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-7609360016&mr:trackingCode=574464C7-9A2E-E411-92FA-BC305BF82162&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=53280440200&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=70392682960&msid=hKx8E3pc_dc%7Cpcrid%7C53280440200%7C)
Great stuff guys thanks.
You've had a lot of good advice here so far. What I haven't seen is any mention that you have practiced shooting while wearing the new-to-you clothing. It makes a big difference sometimes, a difference you want to discover on the range at home and not on your hunt.
I like to wear vests under my top layer. One or two base layers, shirt layer of some kind, vest(nice if it is longer cover for the kidneys & back end some), then coat layer. I use lots of wool. I feel the vest gives my core some warmth but allows the arms some freedom of movement to draw and shoot better. Works for me. If your going to have to travel on foot a while to get to your spot, dress down, keep sweat to a minimum, put on layers for warmth once you get to your spot and settled in.
I've been hunting my whole life in the cold and the real difference makers are hand/toe warmers (and i mean buy A LOT of these), neck/face gaiter, bibs, good boots, sock liners, and a thermos full of warm black coffee. That can be a real life saver in the cold. Sometimes that's all it takes to rejuvenate you and allow you to sit that extra hour.
Good luck!
You should come to Iowa for the last week here, it is going to be blow zero for highs. One thing that do if it has not been mentioned, I take larger modern material sleeping bag and sit in it while on my Huntmor, when game is approaching, I let down. Hopefully, I am in enough cover and see the deer or whatever soon enough. It keeps the body warm and I can handle the extra cold for that long.
Neck gaiter as mentioned, hand warmers and when it is real cold I wear a muff to put the warmers in for my hands. I don't line to wear gloves. Load your bottom half and control your temp by adjusting your upper half.
Don't worry about it, it's a "dry cold"...HA - like the dry heat claims of Arizonia....
All great advice. I do everything listed here. One more thing I do is if I am walking in a ways I carry my hunting socks and toe warmers with me. I get all set and cool down a bit then change socks and put the warmers on.
Wet feet (from water or sweat) will quickly lead to cold / miserable feet and can end a hunt quickly. You need some room in your boots too. Too tight doesn't work for me in the cold.
I hope you have a great time!!
Lots of good tips here. I depend on a down vest as part of my cold weather "system". It really cuts down on sleeve bulk as well as being extra warm.
Here's a short list of must haves.
1. chemical hand warmers..for hands, neck area, chest and boots if the boots are big enough. They are cheap... use them freely.
2. micro fleece neck gaiter
3. Poly pro or wool long unders (top and bottom)... absolutely do not use cotton for this layer.
4. micro fleece cap
5. carry most of your clothes to the stand and finish dressing there.
6. Don't wear all your stuff while driving to your hunt area
X2 on everything mentioned plus keep your kidneys warm with a scarf or body warmer pack and keep hydrated... You should be good to go.
Wool neck gaitor for sure. I also like the artic shield booties. You will also want a layer to break the wind-- wind vest G. Fredrick Asbell. If you really want to be on the safe side buy a heater body suit or iwom (I have both) as back up for stand hunting. Good luck.
All good tips. I find even 1200 gram thinsulate boots don't do it for me if I have to sit very long....and that's generally the rule in the crunchy late season. Chemical hand/toe warmers help, but I find they seem to lose their effectiveness after only about 4 hours. On a long sit, I stick a second one in about midway and keep the heat going. Some kind of overboot or the sleeping bag idea is best for the feet. This season made me think about modifying an old sleeping bag to extend above the knees but easier to drop quietly. Good quiet gaiters help too.
I have a pair of 1600 gram lacrosse rubber boots that I wear for late season hunts up here in cold country of North Dakota
Firstlite balacalava. And a firstlite thermal top with the extended thumbhole cuffs if you dont have one.
Disposable hand warmers. These I put in my chest pockets of the layer closest to my baselayer and preferably under my wool vest. Also put one in each coat pocket to warm the hands.
Disposable footwarmers. I agree the footwarmers only last about 4 hours.
Put the warmers in the pockets and on the feet before you head into the woods. The wrapper makes lots of noise.
Short of the Heater Body Suit (because it works like a mitten, not a glove) I dont care what you put on your body.....sit a while in the true cold and you wont be happy....because you are not producing heat. You need to produce heat or have something that does. People mentioned hand warmers....they are awesome! Whats even better, are the Thermacare Heat Patches!! Find them in the local drug store, Walmart, whatever. They should be with the Advil and cold medicine and all that jazz. They are made to administer theraputic heat to areas of pain, like the lower back. All it is is a hand warmer on steriods! When its stupid cold out, I use the back warmer model that comes in a bandage like belt with a hook and loop type "buckle" ....I believe they stay warm for 8 hrs. They do not smell! A tip, put it on over your first layer of clothing (t-shirt or thermal underwear top) so its not directly on your skin. I think it is more comfortable that way. It will keep your torso warm and your spirits up! That with something in your boots and you'll be ready to take on anything! :thumbsup:
He won't die, forecast for next week is upper 30's to lower 30's. Although until he acclamates he may think he is going to. But it won't be crazy cold.
Windproof layer is essential for comfort in the cold--I'm just saying.......
A good wool scarf so worth its weight in gold. I wear a golf shirt on top of my base layers to hold heat in and keep wind out.
For really cold weather the only boot we've found that works is a pair of Sorel Glaciers or something similar. Not great for a long walk but for sitting in a stand they work.
Well, it's been pretty well stated what to bring but if your from Fla., Bring Extra warm weather gear!
Deff. no cotton.
I subscribe to layering, ideally with wool items, and a shell which will block wind and rain.
One of my layers is always a vest, which keeps in core body heat but not bulking up in the ams, which would make it harder to shoot.
Neck gaitor or scarf and something for the face.
Make sure you can move / wiggle your toe's with your sock / boot combination. If your toe's are to tight in the boot you'll get colder faster. If walking a lot I bring an extra pair of wool socks.
Yeah, you just might want to get those hand / feet warmers to.
**It is very important to practice shooting your bow while wearing your jackets, hat, pack, etc. to ensure your not "binding up" and that you are getting good string clearance of your bow arm and chest area.
Might want to carry a plastic bag in the event you want to sit somewhere that is wet...
I really struggle with cold weather..+20 degrees is about my max due to heart condition and blood thinners.
My hands give me the most problems, especially my left one. I can't take my heavy duty gloves off for very long and that makes everything more difficult.
I got this hand warmer the other day and it has really helped me a lot...even lets me hunt in a little colder weather. It gets much warmer than the packet type warmers.
Celestron Elements ThermoTrek Rechargeable Hand Warmer 4400 mAh battery
Up to 6 hours of continuous heat. You recharge it with USB hooked to computer...comes with it.
I carry it in my hand warmer muff and when one hand or both get too cold just stick in my muff and they're warm in no time.
30 degrees??? That is not near as bad as what my wife's grandmother was making it. Thanks a lot for the update. I am able to keep warm in the duck blind here in FL when it's 30 and windy. I purchased a bunch of hand and feet warmers the other day so I have them. Just need a face fleece.