I have been looking around for a bit for pants or bibs to wear in cold weather while setting in a treestand. I have a couple sets of nice insulated wool pants that work great but man am I tired of picking out all the stick tights, and burrs everytime after I go hunting. I was wondering what you all use for when the temperatures get real low.
Cabelas Berber fleece. Warmest clothes I've ever worn next to neoprene waders.
Sitka Fanatic... It's like wearing a windproof down sleeping bag. A bit pricey but with the new line coming out I'm sure some guys will be putting theirs up for sale could probably find some for a song.
I normally don't wear bibs but my camo hunting cold weather pants are bibs and I really like them. With the zipper front I can open it when I get too warm or keep it zipped for more warmth. The zipper legs make it easier to get in and out of with boots on and can be opened when I get too warm.
Stixbowdrew is the Sitka fanatic bibs real bulky like regular bibs. I have been looking at those, the price doesn't scare me as long as it would do the job.
I prefer bibs whenever I can wear them. I find them more comfortable and my day pack is not constantly pushing them down like it does to my regular pants. I have the Sitka Gear Fanatics in tree camo. Great pants. Wear them with a good base layer and I am warm down to about zero. Wear without base when temps are warmer. Comfortable. Quiet. Very good product. Only negative is the price.
Try this company...they offer quality cold weather clothing at decent prices. Made here in the US.
www.clarkfieldoutdoorsstore.com (http://www.clarkfieldoutdoorsstore.com)
I second calelas Berber fleece bib, had mine now for about 7 years and love them.
If walking, I like my wool pants. But for sitting I have Artic Gear. I bought them in 2003 my first trip to the arctic circle. Zipper legs to cool off and a 2 way front zipper. Still look great and still more than I need most days out. Plus light weight to pack.
For temps that get realy cold (sub zero) I would suggest you look into either Sitka Gear Fanatic bibs or Sitka Gear Incinerator bibs. With proper layering of each, they could both work. The Incinerators will take your comfort to a lower temperature, but he Fanatic will give you a wider range in utility. However, if there is no property void of burrs or stick-tights, then the Incinerator may have the advantage. The 2015 version of Fantatic has a berber fleece outer and utilizes windstoper. These are based on my own opinion. Good luck with your search. Mike
Start with a good quality base layer....maybe the First Lite Merion wool or Under Armour base layer 3 or 4 then layer LOOSELY on top of that with decent mid layers and finally top it off with a good insulated outer layer like several of those mentioned above. One big key is to not wear all of your clothes to the stand and cause yourself to sweat. My bibs are a cheapish 100 dollar insulated pair made by Walls and my coat is a Cabelas berber fleece with windstopper. I carry my bibs and coat strapped to my day pack and put the bibs on before climbing the tree. I usually don't put my coat on until sometime after that as I start to cool down. Lastly I wear a quality beanie style cap over a first lite wool headcover....I usually don't put them on until I've cooled from the walk in. Usually this combination is good down to near zero for at least two or three hours which is generally plenty long for a late season evening sit.
Thanks alot guys for the advice. Mike the places I hunt in Southeast Ks, are covered in burrs and stick tights. Any type of fuzzy clothes gets covered so trying to avoid that type of gear. I could give one heck of a seminar on how to use the burz off tool lol!
You might want to try insulated buck suede from day one camo.I have the parka jacket and I tend to hunt where there is alot of the burrs and never picked up any on the jacket.hope this helps.
The fanatic are overly bulky but they aren't thin either, I think they would do fairly well in burr and stick tights but I cannot comment on that. But I do know the cabelas Berber will catch every hurt you come across. I usually just pack my fanatic bibs to the stand with me nothing worse than sweating before a cold sit.
I hunted last Saturday and it was 5 degrees with 10-15 mph winds with gusts over 30 mph. I sat 4 hours and was very warm. I wear a merino wool base layer a few pairs of poly long johns top and bottom and cabelas wooltimate with wind shear. The stuff is amazing and is not very expensive.
I dont use the bibs, I use the normal pants and the hooded jacket. But the stuff is absolutely awesome.
http://www.columbia.com/mens-gallatin-range-wool-bib-HM8034.html
I layer up underneath my camo coveralls...my coveralls are a cheap brand I got years ago. I like to be able to layer with any color clothing and just throw that on overtop when I get out of the truck. Granted I Dont have the extreme cold like some so I've never had the need to drop big coin on hunting clothes. I know for some guys in different parts of the world that's not an option
Check out these pants we carry from Predator Camo
http://stjoeriverbows.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=10
My number one weapon against cold are bibs. I love Sitka versions.
Check out the price for those wool bibs in that link I posted ^^^
Really happy with my Nat Gear uninsulated bibs.
Cabelas stuff with windshear if you are not on the move. Great stuff but you will sweat moving around. I know I sweat in 30 degree weather walking in their vest. I usually put it on after I get to stand.
Thanks everyone for the advice. I know there are a ton of options out there its kind of a trick finding that perfect set of gear that keeps me warm but doesn't get covered in burrs.