Little Wolf
Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2006
- Messages
- 43
Deer season has ended here, but the lessons it has taught have not. My jacket just wasn't warm enough, we had some cold cold weather days, 15 - 25 degree days and when still hunting one gets cold fast. My jacket is just simple polyester layered thick (the Remington 6 in 1), and it just doesn’t do the trick
Well, I have learned my lesson, it is time for a major GEAR upgrade. However, I need your help. Which, out of all the jackets out there, is the best fort general purpose cold weather activity? The best jacket would fit all of the following criteria.
1. Warmth:
This is possibly the largest most important factor for me, it has to stay warm. I don’t want to freeze when still hunting. Simple polyester doesn’t seem to do it, what materials would you recommend? A traditional like Wool, or Down insolated? Or a newer fancy synthetic like thinsulate, or artic shield’s “re-tain”?
I want to be warm, but at the same time I don’t want a jacket that will make me sweat and freeze later if I have to move around a bit. Does this pretty much confine me to a gortex shell?
(description of retain can be found here)
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat601737&hasJS=true
2. Noise
Noise is a big factor, esp when hunting. The last thing you want to do is alert the deer and scare them away. Many hunting jackets out there, mostly the synthetic ones, can be a bit noisy. I am not trying to be unrealistic here, if there is a jacket that is perfect in all other respects, but is just a little noisy, than that is a fair trade. But I don’t want to be squeaking loudly through the forest.
3. Utilitarian
Part of what makes a jacket useful are it’s extra features. Things like lots of pockets, hand warmers, a hood, etc. That was one thing that I did like about my Remington 6 in 1 jacket, it had a LOT of pockets and a LOT of other little nifty features. A hunting jacket should at least have a lot of pockets for items, gear, etc.
Another thing is camo, I appreciate a good camo pattern, like real tree, and consider that a nice utilitarian feature of any good jacket.
4. Durability
A jacket should be able to be worn and weathered a bit without going to pot. What comes to mind the most is something like a jacket with down lining. Very warm when dry, but if it were to ever get wet then it actually accelerates heat loss. So a down jacket that got torn, could allow moisture in and thus be a hindrance. Not sure how the newer fabric technologies like thinsulate and retain hold up to abuse, rips, etc. This is an important factor.
So those are the criteria I believe are the most important, if you believe I’ve left any out don’t hesitate to let me know. So far, I am sort of thinking between a few different jackets.
1. Is the Arctic Shield H3-H5 parka/jacket. Have heard good things about it’s heat retaining ability, but have heard that the retain fabric can get very noisy. The colder it gets the noisier it gets is what I heard.
2. The Remington Down filled Bomber (How does a “Bomber” differ from jacket?). Seems fairly light weight and warm, but again I am not sure how well the jacket can hold up before moister penetrates and permeates the down insulation.
3. Some thick Wool jacket of some sort. Quiet, warm (even when wet), old fashioned. Cons of this would be heavy and expensive. Also, I know wool is fairly warm, but I don’t think it’s quite as warm as down or the new retain stuff.
These are the only three jackets I am aware of, if you know of any good ones that meet the three criteria listed above please let me know. I need to find the perfect cold weather survival jacket. And I am still not sure which material is the best to construct it, never mind which brand/type to get. Any personal experience provided would be much appreciated.
Well, I have learned my lesson, it is time for a major GEAR upgrade. However, I need your help. Which, out of all the jackets out there, is the best fort general purpose cold weather activity? The best jacket would fit all of the following criteria.
1. Warmth:
This is possibly the largest most important factor for me, it has to stay warm. I don’t want to freeze when still hunting. Simple polyester doesn’t seem to do it, what materials would you recommend? A traditional like Wool, or Down insolated? Or a newer fancy synthetic like thinsulate, or artic shield’s “re-tain”?
I want to be warm, but at the same time I don’t want a jacket that will make me sweat and freeze later if I have to move around a bit. Does this pretty much confine me to a gortex shell?
(description of retain can be found here)
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat601737&hasJS=true
2. Noise
Noise is a big factor, esp when hunting. The last thing you want to do is alert the deer and scare them away. Many hunting jackets out there, mostly the synthetic ones, can be a bit noisy. I am not trying to be unrealistic here, if there is a jacket that is perfect in all other respects, but is just a little noisy, than that is a fair trade. But I don’t want to be squeaking loudly through the forest.
3. Utilitarian
Part of what makes a jacket useful are it’s extra features. Things like lots of pockets, hand warmers, a hood, etc. That was one thing that I did like about my Remington 6 in 1 jacket, it had a LOT of pockets and a LOT of other little nifty features. A hunting jacket should at least have a lot of pockets for items, gear, etc.
Another thing is camo, I appreciate a good camo pattern, like real tree, and consider that a nice utilitarian feature of any good jacket.
4. Durability
A jacket should be able to be worn and weathered a bit without going to pot. What comes to mind the most is something like a jacket with down lining. Very warm when dry, but if it were to ever get wet then it actually accelerates heat loss. So a down jacket that got torn, could allow moisture in and thus be a hindrance. Not sure how the newer fabric technologies like thinsulate and retain hold up to abuse, rips, etc. This is an important factor.
So those are the criteria I believe are the most important, if you believe I’ve left any out don’t hesitate to let me know. So far, I am sort of thinking between a few different jackets.
1. Is the Arctic Shield H3-H5 parka/jacket. Have heard good things about it’s heat retaining ability, but have heard that the retain fabric can get very noisy. The colder it gets the noisier it gets is what I heard.
2. The Remington Down filled Bomber (How does a “Bomber” differ from jacket?). Seems fairly light weight and warm, but again I am not sure how well the jacket can hold up before moister penetrates and permeates the down insulation.
3. Some thick Wool jacket of some sort. Quiet, warm (even when wet), old fashioned. Cons of this would be heavy and expensive. Also, I know wool is fairly warm, but I don’t think it’s quite as warm as down or the new retain stuff.
These are the only three jackets I am aware of, if you know of any good ones that meet the three criteria listed above please let me know. I need to find the perfect cold weather survival jacket. And I am still not sure which material is the best to construct it, never mind which brand/type to get. Any personal experience provided would be much appreciated.