Which COLD weather hunting pants from Cabelas or switch to bibs?

Now days I avoid wool except in socks. Too heavy. I usually tree stand hunt fully exposed in cold weather in Northern Minnesota. Silk or poly long johns, fleece set over that. I have used one piece overalls for years but switched to thinsulate bibs and jacket for easier climbing and less bulk. Depending on weather I wear a wool blend shirt and sweats under the bibs. This year I needed and extra layer and hand warmers on my shirt pocket. Handwarmers in my gloves and toe warmers in my 800 gram boots. I also bring a muff with handwarmers in it as needed. An insulated wind proof full coverage headgear. I used to wear a facemask but since I started wearing glasses it makes them fog up. If you are walking in dry weather just jeans or hunting pants and long johns and a warm jacket below freezing, no long johns and lighter jacket above. I always wear good goretex boots. But that can vary a great deal. At my age I limit myself if it is -15 temp or windchill. But a great deal depends on your situation.

How will you be hunting? Advice for someone who is hiking and moving while hunting will be completely different for those who go sit in a stand for four hours.

I had a buddy from Idaho come to hunt with me in MS and he said it was the coldest hunt of his life. How could that be? Because in Idaho he's walking up and down hills all morning looking for game. In MS he sat in one spot all morning and couldn't generate any body heat.

If you're sitting still for hours at 0 degrees, the heavier the better, and you're still likely to suffer some. If you're moving you can go with a much lighter garment.

I put wool socks in my sock drawer on labor day and take ALL the cotton socks out on veterans day. Its all merino wool socks from here to the end of turkey season.

gspn said:

How will you be hunting? Advice for someone who is hiking and moving while hunting will be completely different for those who go sit in a stand for four hours.

I had a buddy from Idaho come to hunt with me in MS and he said it was the coldest hunt of his life. How could that be? Because in Idaho he's walking up and down hills all morning looking for game. In MS he sat in one spot all morning and couldn't generate any body heat.

If you're sitting still for hours at 0 degrees, the heavier the better, and you're still likely to suffer some. If you're moving you can go with a much lighter garment.

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Pretty much why I dress the way I do in three layers. One needs to have garment flexibility out west here or one will be too cold when glassing or too hot and sweating hiking which leads to being cold due to sweat when one stops exerting oneself.

One has to know what type of hunting one is doing to understand how to dress.

<*(((>< said:

Pretty much why I dress the way I do in three layers. One needs to have garment flexibility out west here or one will be too cold when glassing or too hot and sweating hiking which leads to being cold due to sweat when one stops exerting oneself.

One has to know what type of hunting one is doing to understand how to dress.

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Indeed! Layers, layers, layers. I always have a stuffable down layer in my pack, even when it’s hot. Because at 10,000 ft at 3pm in the sun it can be 55F and feel 75F. Two hours later it can be in the 30s and snowing.

DocRock said:

Indeed! Layers, layers, layers. I always have a stuffable down layer in my pack, even when it’s hot. Because at 10,000 ft at 3pm in the sun it can be 55F and feel 75F. Two hours later it can be in the 30s and snowing.

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And hunting out here it’s not a short stroll across the field one is sitting on to a vehicle to get more layers. It a hike back to camp, layers, lightweight and quality.

One can get warm clothes for cheap but they will be made of less than ideal materials and probably heavier than one wants to carry. Hunting clothes for out here one has to spend a little money if one wants good performance. But take care of the layers with a durable outer Gortex shell and they will last forever.