When it's real cold and the wind is on your back, I tuck a hand warmer into my collar or Balacava so it is on the base of my neck. The heat runs down my spine and feels nice.

I heard if you take a Doritos bag (personal size) and put it over your toes after the socks are on the bag will reflect all the heat back to your feet.
Later for a snack you can suck on your toes...

Paul

QuoteOriginally posted by rascal:
 The valve is simply to equalize pressures at altitude of you hadnt guessed already and if you happen to leave an air valve open and walk in water the water gets the encapsulated insulation wet and they are about impossible to get dry again.

Use a vacuum pump like what is used in A/C repair. Water boils in a vacuum. Effectively boil it out. Talk to your car mechanic.

I use the self adhesive chem heat packs (made for sore backs), peel and stick right to the skin above my kidneys.  also the chem toe warmers (stick them on top of my toes).  and the fleece muff they sell at wally world with a chem hand warmer in it.

I also discovered the fleece balaclava a couple years ago and have to say its my new best friend!  half the time I don't even wear a hat under it.

A chemical hand warmer in a sock and hung around my neck with a shoe lace (laying against the center of my chest) has also helped.

More than one hat- two or three work awesome- warms the whole body.  I always carry a small thin wool bicyclers hat. It is a hunt/life saver.  Acts as a liner under my hat.

That heaterbody suite looks very warm but I dont think I could use it hunting on the ground. Takes a lot of movement to get out of it. The biggest tip I can give is loose boots. Its amazing how much warmer a pair boots can be if they are loose fitting.

when real cold two stocking caps for me. also a thermos full of coffee! just pour a cup and something will show up while your bow is leaning against a tree- murphy at work again!

Those valves in mouse boots are important.  I used to be the commander at the USMC Mountain Warfare Center. Every year we would use them to test the integrity of the boots.  If the boots were ruptured, they would not hold pressure, once that happened we sent them to DRMO.  Make sure you don't get those that are ruptured-they won't be near as warm.  The bottom line of winter is venting-vent the moisture away from body and hold in the heat.

The HeaterBody suit doesn't take much movement at all to be able to shoot.  To take it off, yeah.  But to shoot you use the inside zipper to unzip.  Raise your arms to shoot and the suit slips down and hangs behind you with the straps it uses.  With a little practice there's noting to it.  I love mine...

A pair of womens nylons under your longjohns and socks is very warm---and comfortable, too. Probably best not to parade around in them in camp though...

Raodkill,
How do you check for integrity of the mickey boot?

Paul

the only mickey boots I have seen for sale in the catalogs were white. Do they come in O.D. or black?

On the really cold days I take an old army sleeping bag up the tree with me.  I only zip it up halfway and pullit up over my shoulders.  When a shot opertunity presents itself I just slip my upper body out and take the shot, kinda like a poormans heater suit.

Okay, it seems that we have the feet covered pretty well. How about the hands? I don't like to shoot with gloves on, just doesn't feel right.

On really cold days I like to carry a can of Sterno which can be fired up every now and then to get the feeling back in the fingers. Just be careful, it's a very hot flame and I've burnt a few coat sleeves over the years.

-Sharps

Toe Warmers on the underside of your arms (between elbow and armpit) and as someone else stated before Keep your head warm. Both work great for keeping your hands warm.

Geno,
The black military issue Mickey Mouse boots are the only ones I have ever had. I have heard the white arent as good but I do not know that to be a fact.
Danny J

QuoteOriginally posted by Danny J:
Geno,
The black military issue Mickey Mouse boots are the only ones I have ever had. I have heard the white arent as good but I do not know that to be a fact.
Danny J

The white ones I believe are rated for colder weather than the black ones.
The valve is for letting the pressure out of your boots if you are in an airplane.

We had a machine that hooked up to them, inflated and measured the integrity.  RRead above posts to find a way to inflate them