What woodchucker said....until there is chance of rain or snow,then leave the cotton home!!!

This time of year you may still be able to find a mark-down price on a golf wind-shirt or vest.

Actualy Ron, Contrary to "popular belief" cotton,DOES NOT "kill"!!!!!

The whole concept is that wet cotton,with it's poor insulating quality,draws heat from the skin rapidly resulting in Hypothermia...

I have worn cotton as an "outer layer" for many years,(with my wool layers undernieth)and remained warm and cozy in spite of being soaked to the skin!!!!! (well,as "cozy" as you can be when you're soaking wet lol)

and... I ain't DEAD YET!!!!!     Actualy, A tight weave cotton outer layer sheds alot more water than wool does!!!    

I bought one of the hunters specialties base layer tops, Its a quarter zip but i zip it all the way up so it covers my neck. Then over top of it i wear my cabelas outfitter berber fleece jacket (no windshear). It does a pretty darn good job even on windy days. Now i just need to get the bottoms lol.

Cabela's Wooltimate with Windshear is the best I have found for the money. If you have a Cabela's store nearby, check the bargain cave. Mine were used and were about 1/4 of new price. They are a lot more used now, but still doing the job. I wear wool sweaters and wool underwear or fleece underneath. If it's really cold, I add a wool jacket. I just won a pair of wool long johns (union suit) from Joe Keith's giveaway that I plan to try out next weekend. Thanks again, Joe!

One other thing that helps me stay warm is a pair of mickey mouse boots (military surplus). Mine are the black ones as opposed to the bunny boots. Black are for -20F and up, while the white ones are for -65F and up. If it's anywhere near -20F, I won't be in a tree stand anyway!

The only thing I have trouble with is my hands. Even with handwarmers in my pockets, I still struggle to keep my hands warm, but I think that's probably a product of my misbegotten youth and too many broken/dislocated knuckles.

My new favorite windstopping layer is called Sporthill 3sp. It is a windstopping layer up to 35mph & it is quiet & stretchy. I like it better than any windstopping layer cause it is so much quieter. It is ski wear stuff, but it works great for layering. They have a pretty good website that gives the lowdown on the material. Thanks to Hornhunter for turning me on to this stuff.

Chuck, despite your thoughts,Wool keeps you warm when wet, cotton does not. A tight weave cotton may shed water for a bit but when it does soak thru its wet ...stays wet....at will not keep you warm. Wool will keep you warm even though it will weigh more than it started.

Jamie, I usually use four walls and a furnace    

Cant wait to bust some bun buns.

EXACTLY RON!!!!!!!!!!  

Actualy it is the WOOL against your skin that keeps you WARM!!!!! The cotton(yes even when wet)acualy helps to RETAIN the body heat!!! If the wet cotton is not against your skin,it cannot possibly sap any heat from your body!!!!!

If the cotton is wet,air connot possibly go through it. Think "waterboarding" for those of you who "know"...

It's much like wearing a raincoat on a hot summer day. It can be pouring out and although the rain can't get through,you are still "wet" from perspiration and sweating.

Where cotton creates problems,is people going out into the backcountry with ONLY cotton clothing!!! They have no means of drying thier clothing if it gets wet,and no other clothing to change into if the weather gets inclimate. BTW,when is the last timeyou heard of someone in your nieghborhood developing Hypothermia while working around the house or farm??? I work for the RailRoad. I'm out in the weather every day of the year. Many is the time I have come home from work in my cotton clothes,soaked to the bone. I throw my clothes in the dryer,take a hot shower,have something hot to eat,go to bed,and get up and do it all over again the next night!!!!!

Now don't get me wrong... Hypothermia is REAL!!!!! But, The REAL "killer" is NOT cotton... It's STUPIDITY!!!!!

 Whatever you say!

C'mon Ron, You're about as old as I am...  :rolleyes:  

Remember seeing pictures of Fred Bear Hunting in Alaska???

Wool Pants, Wool Shirt, AND a cotton "Woodland Camo" overshirt...  

The original subject of this thread is stopping the wind; a dense weave cotton is pretty good at that.  There is a reason why outdoor construction guys wear canvas Carharts.  

When cotton gets damp, the moisture fills in the insulating air space and transfers the heat quickly which is why wet cotton underwear is such a lousy insulator.  A cotton shell worn over wool insulation wouldn't be such an issue.

That's all Fred had to choose from. There are much better things today!I'm pretty much old school but I like some of the "NEW" trends in keeping my old butt warm and dry. That's why I choose to use wool and modern windstopper, for it's light weight and efficiency. When I'm 3 miles from the road and the weather changes I know I'm going to be comfortable and keep my core warm so I can finish the day!

Only 3 miles Ron!!!?? Well,you MUST be gettin' old!!!

I shot a big old buck back in '87 that dressed 242 pounds. I was 7 miles as the crow flies up the Union River in Maine and I shot him in a blinding snow storm. I'd probly still be dragging him if the nieghbor hadn't come get me with the snow machine. I didn't come home for Thanksgiving dinner and my Mother sent him out looking for me. I was dressed head to toe in wool and I never was cold. (I've never had much use for these modern "windstopper" things though)

Old enough Chuck, old enough...........

You guys should arm wrestle.

Ron's a "Tough Old Buck"...

But I think I could beat him!!!!!  

Y'all don't know much about being cold.  Come sit in a treestand here at an honest -25C with a good stiff wind and you'll have to learn some tricks fast.

The first trick is don't sit in a tree at -25, but get onto the ground.

Sew up a heater suit for yourself.

wear fur mitts and fur hat-nothing beats fur

chemical hand warmers in mitts, boots and a few thrown down your shirt.

get a good thick "dicky" for around your neck, one that has flaps to tuck under your collar is the best.

foundation layer of helly hansen underwear

use, wool, and fleece, and down-don't worry about down getting wet that doesn't happen when it's really cold out.

make some good thick over booties for your boots.

don't get sweated up

don't breathe into your jacket

a jacket with a good hood makes a great difference, you can feel the warmth rising up and surrounding your head-hell you're losing that heat anyway might as well heat your head with it on the way out.

use a closed cell foam pad between your butt and whatever it's parked on be that ground, snow or metal

eat high fat high carbs before going out

keep your arms inside your parka to conserve heat


have fun out there!

the chef

Thanks for the replies and the PM's everyone. I have used alot of the tricks mentioned, some are new to me.
Very much appreciated.

Another vote for Cabelas windshear sweater.