How critical is a puffy late October

[Okie_Poke]

I'm planning a second rifle season hunt in Colorado with some friends. Three years ago my BIL and I hunted 3rd rifle season in mid-November. We started with snow and got more as the week went. The last two nights got down below 0 F. Our morning sits were rough those last two days. Honestly, our feet were the biggest problem as we'd get sweaty hiking in and then they got cold when we sat. I'm taking a change of socks (and maybe booties)---and the courage to take my feet out of the boots and actually use them---to address that problem.

But . . . to the question at hand. How many of you pack a puffy with you to put on when you get somewhere to sit, either for glassing or ambush? I'm a full believer in hiking in cold and adding a layer when you get there. Do y'all accomplish that with a puffy or do you pack your big softshell or extra midlayers? Interested in how y'all go about this.

 

[Armored farmer]

I usually tie my outer heavy coat to my pack.
Sometimes I tie my wool blanket to my pack if it is going to be bitter cold.
An insulated seat helps enormously if you're sitting on a frozen rock or log.

 

[jmr40]

I've hunted Colorado a few times, but do the same even here in GA. November and December can see temps in the teens here and occasionally single digits. At least at night. It usually warms above freezing during the day.

I always walk in pretty lightly dressed with extra gear in my pack for when I sit down. Plus many of the places I hunt are pretty remote and in the event I had an injury or something that forced me to spend the night I have some basic survival gear.

I tend to dress in several lighter layers on my upper body but just don't like long underwear bottoms. I have some military poncho liners I've had forever and one is usually in my pack. They only weigh a few ounces and pack small. When walking my legs never get cold, but when I sit I wrap my lower body in the poncho liner.

https://www.amazon.com/MEDALS-AMERICA-EST-1976-Emergency/dp/B07MK3MHNV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=1333708169770403&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.l7EXf_oamKesVzLsefVuef26rbYa-aBoWvfQ33yhEcCZliT_GWh9V8KhL1Qvj1P6pPJsmaI_cl64kTXf4aCs7lZGqQOBcxWEB6HtCFHfbA5LZ7LIZ5k4ySr1hcUKW6OExV5xb5HdmJAfQLIUJkeKkhAuTx_S0lLPdT61-TEQL9u0Uqw0FfUo1uIAQf9_ihs-YTpC_xL-3mZNK0pjK9GBdwBP3YMEw_dAfz8-hUH8aXGYm8b4CelO4kGeWfiwLecgvNdL3hEsRoaparhbMXlUsl5485OR11fordhupGMtASM.1OYRYi-nuuBfWRg84bmDPyxdMcqUxvWGJMIsEpjQ7oo&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83357147400095&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=80231&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83357108681827%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=24633_13770096&keywords=military%2Bponcho%2Bliner&mcid=138f864af5c53b33b4302591271d5de8&msclkid=b28a5eb648de14e821b1394daf5437de&qid=1744562064&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1

 

[Roverguy]

I’ve been hunting Colorado high country for 10 years now. I never have warm enough clothes for sitting. Bring more than you think you’ll need. A couple of down layers weigh very little but are warm. The warmer your core is, the more warmth can be sent to your feet.

 

[Chuck R.]

I have a KUIU puffy vest, it's fantastic, warm, light and takes up very little room in my pack. This coming JAN a couple of us are heading to SD for a Bison hunt, so I'll be getting a full puffy jacket.

My normal hiking to hunt attire:

Army "silky's" base layer.
IF it's real cold, I have a pair of KUIU thermals that goes on top of the silky's: "pro merino 200 "zip-off" bottom". Zip off is key!!
Kuiu Attack Pants
T-Shirt
Pro merino 200 Zip T-Shirt
Army "waffle" shirt
Army Brown sweater
Super Down Ultra vest
Guide DCS jacket (most of the time while moving strapped to my pack)
Neck gaiter (real bad, a balaclava)
Darn Tough Heavyweight socks
Kenetrek mountain boots 400 gram

The above keeps my warm enough for shortish periods of glassing, while moving, a lot of the outer layer is either in my ruck or strapped to it. .

in MT a few years ago 0 degrees, -10 wind chill:

Used the same in WY last year when the temps went from teens to 70F (it sucked). After a couple days I carried/wore less and just stayed cold during the early mornings.

Mostly sitting, short walk in.. Bibs, heavy coat Sorrel pack boots.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I’m down the puffy rabbit hole at the moment. It seems a lot of them are marketed at backpack hunters (or just backpackers) for earlier seasons. To get something really helpful for sitting in cold temps, it gets spendy.

 

[Roverguy]

I’m down the puffy rabbit hole at the moment. It seems a lot of them are marketed at backpack hunters (or just backpackers) for earlier seasons. To get something really helpful for sitting in cold temps, it gets spendy.

Up in the Rockies it’s all about layers as you noted. I have a couple of dirt cheap down jackets from Amazon. Zero frills, they pack small and weigh little. A couple of cheapos under a wind proof outer does a lot of good. As Chuck R notes above, base layers are key - the “waffle shirt” he refers to is really important because it creates warm air spaces around your core. Good wool base layers, some down layers, and a good wind proof outer will do immense good.

 

[Okie_Poke]

My general layering system for cold weather:

Top: Cabela’s fleece base layers; weight depends on how cold it is. Grid fleece mid layer quarter zip from Midway. Might add a fleece vest. Have another fleece jacket too if needed. Sitka Jetstream jacket outer. Glommets, neck gaiter, stocking hat. Last time in November I used my soft shell Parka from Midway instead of Jet Stream. Hiked in it unzipped and added mid layers upon arrival. Hand warmers in mitten part of glommet helped fingers a lot when it’s real cold.

Bottom: Base layer and Sitka timberline pants. Zip off base layer pants would be clutch as I don’t like hiking in them once sun comes up. Darn tough socks and Danner Vital 400 gram insulated. (Looking for new boots this year but not due to insulation.)

I’m wanting to run Jetstream entire time and maybe just add a puffy over it while sitting.

 

[H&Hhunter]

This is the time of the year to find your down or synthetic down coats on sale. Don’t wait until fall. You don’t need a Sitka or Kuiu if you can find a good down jacket in an earthy tone you’re good to go. I’ve got a Kuhl that’s kind of OD green that does a lot of hunting with me.

Caution on the kuhl stuff, it got an athletic fit so for me it’s one size up.

Last spring I found a synthetic fill First Light camo jacket with a hood in XL on close out for $100.00. First light XL tall fits me perfect. Kuhl I need XXL.

Another brand I like is Stone Glacier. But as mentioned any quality brand in the right color will work. And sale season for winter Coates in now. Stay away from Duluth branded Alaska Hard Gear, it’s bulky and heavy.

And to answer your question, yes you’re going to need a jacket for second season in Colorado. I’ve seen it snow several feet in early October or it could be 80 degrees or do both.

 

[tominboise]

I will often carry my rain gear and put it on as the outer layer when I get to where I am going to be awhile. One has to balance the weight and volume you are carrying with you, so dual duty is handy. I second carrying along a foam pad to sit on. I generally forget mine and then regret it for the rest of the day.

 

[wayneinFL]

What is a puffy?

 

[Chuck R.]

What is a puffy?

Something like this:

Super Down PRO Hooded Jacket | Vias

The Super Down Pro Hooded Jacket offers unbelievable warmth with an ultralight weight. Shop down hunting jackets for cold weather hunting at KUIU.

www.kuiu.com

Unbelievable warmth at an ultralight weight, the Super Down PRO is the ideal down jacket for locking in heat and blocking out wind. Insulated with water-resistant Quixdown, it's warmth-to-weight ratio is unrivaled.

Weight​

14.8 oz / 420 g (L)

Protection​

Water Resistant, Wind Resistant, Insulated

Material​

850+ FP Water Resistant Quixdown, Stunner Stretch Nylon

Conditions​

Frigid - (Below 32°F / 0°C)

Layering Position​

Outer Layer - Insulated

Key features, warm, lightweight and packable.

 

[ms6852]

I always dress in multiple layers for my upper body. My backpack is always heavier than most because I carry a wool blanket and a couple of my army poncho liners. The wool blanket is great to sit on or wrap around by the campfire without having to worry about it catching on fire from an amber and my butt won't get wet from the snow as wools repels a ton of moisture and water, though not completely water proof.. Unlike my poncho liners, they go up in flames pretty quick, but are the warmest. There is always a tradeoff between natural fibers and man made so I carry both.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm a firm believer in modern fleece and the long undies we were issued in the mil- we called them waffle gear, no idea what the official designation is. On a few very cold days last season {we had 8" of snow in the panhandle at one point} I wore my battery powered heated flannel shirt I originally got for riding my harley as a underlayer.

 

[Okie_Poke]

That Kuiu one is nice for sure, though at $400 it's very pricey. Other options I'm looking at are Stone Glacier's Grumman and a couple from Rab or Mont bell (non-hunting brands). None with roughly equivalent down stats to the Kuiu or SG are under $300 MSRP, though I'm hoping to find something on sale by expanding the brand options. The Kuhl Crossfire looks promising (particularly if on sale somewhere), though I can't tell how much fill is in it or what synthetic it is blending with the down.

I tried the SG Grumman on in Scheel's this weekend. It is puffy and warm, but man that fabric feels thin and fragile. I know puffies can be like that, but it's definitely not for moving around much in.

 

[Shooterbob]

Did you consider a batter powder jacket or vest? I have a heated vest and like it keeps me warm. Also have heated socks that are wonderful. Just another option. Hope your new cold weather gear works out for you. Bob

 

[nick22]

I may have missed it if someone else mentioned it, but if it's cold outside start your hike cold as in just your thermals on your top if you can stand it. I like wool for winter hunts puffy jackets are great but if they get wet they're almost useless. Where wool maintains 70 percent of it's heat retention when wet. I know wool is heavy but hunting in the mountains in the winter isn't for sissies.

 

[WestKentucky]

Late muzzleloader and the tail end of archery in Kentucky get kinda rough a few days each year. I’m usually tagged out by then, but adding kids to the mix has had me out in the cold a bit. I wear heavy insulated bibs with zippers on the legs. I walk in unzipped but snapped at the ankle. That keeps any snow or other wetness away from my legs and feet, but lets me be cold enough to not sweat while moving around. Up top I do pull off my coat when moving around and toss it in my backpack. I will sit for a few minutes before I put my coat back on or zip my pant legs because I have figured out that even if the skin is cool the core may be hot and still cause sweat. I tend to stay a bit on the cold side intentionally.

 

[Okie_Poke]

@nick22 What type of wool jacket do you use?

 

[Okie_Poke]

Late muzzleloader and the tail end of archery in Kentucky get kinda rough a few days each year. I’m usually tagged out by then, but adding kids to the mix has had me out in the cold a bit. I wear heavy insulated bibs with zippers on the legs. I walk in unzipped but snapped at the ankle. That keeps any snow or other wetness away from my legs and feet, but lets me be cold enough to not sweat while moving around. Up top I do pull off my coat when moving around and toss it in my backpack. I will sit for a few minutes before I put my coat back on or zip my pant legs because I have figured out that even if the skin is cool the core may be hot and still cause sweat. I tend to stay a bit on the cold side intentionally.

I have warm soft shell bibs, insulated pants, and parka for whitetail hunting. They are just really heavy to climb mountains in and bulky to pack. I made the coat work last time I hunted Colorado in November, but it wasn’t ideal. I may have even worn the lined pants that last morning over my timberlines (can’t remember). May do it again but am just considering options.

 

[.38 Special]

I don't have much winter hunting experience, but do a fair bit of winter mountaineering. I'm moving more toward "ultralight" and really like my down puffies - both pants and jacket. It's great to be able to pack them down into tiny, lightweight packages while moving, and still have really warm clothes in camp. The downside is that the best ones are painfully expensive, while more reasonably priced ones have cold spots. My stuff is Arc'teryx, and the two garments set me back almost a grand...

I'm also a huge fan of wool base layers. When I'm working hard I sweat, even in below-freezing temperatures, and then when I make camp, if I'm wearing synthetics or cotton I'm wet and miserable no matter how much my clothes cost. So far my best combination has been cheap silk longjohns, cheap wool base (light, medium, or heavy, depending upon conditions) on top of that, and then a Gore-tex shell. The silk and wool dries quickly and is warm even when damp, and the Gore-tex keeps out snow and ice while still allowing some of my own humidity to escape. Then in camp I trade the shell for the puffies - and not only do I change socks, I usually change shoes: even dry running shoes are warmer than wet boots!

My one piece of luxury is a folding chair. I use the Helinox "Zero" which is a flimsy little thing, but weighs only a pound. Other climbers have made fun of me for lugging it around, but I get the last laugh when they are arguing over who gets the most comfortable rock to sit on in camp. A lighter and cheaper option is a small square cut from an insulated foam sleeping pad, which may be just the thing while hunting.

 

[.38 Special]

Oh, and one other thing: my younger son, who occasionally climbs with me, uses an REI "flexlite" stool. The thing weighs nothing at all and takes up no space. I don't find it very comfortable myself, but then, I'm just lounging in camp. For glassing while hunting it might be perfect.

 

[Wolfshead]

@nick22 What type of wool jacket do you use?

I’m not nick22, but I can give you what I’ve worn and me experience.
i mostly still hunt and I’m moving a large amount of time, so take this into consideration.

i wear layers, and what I’m usually wearing is a Kuiu long sleeve wool base layer shirt, with a short sleeve wool base layer shirt over it.
A Pendleton wool button up shirt over top of that and then the wool jacket.
on really cold days I may have a wool sweater or heavier weight wool base layer also.

i mostly wore my Johnson woolen mills 1842 Jac shirt.
it is an athletic cut for a wool jacket. I am 5’7” and approximately 186 lbs. and I wear an XL.

Northwoods x 1842 Jac Shirt - Green & Black Buffalo Check

This Jac Shirt was designed with Northwoods White Tails for Johnson Woolen Mills. Made with our famous Green and Black Small Buffalo Check, the Northwoods jacket provides many advantages to the Tracker and still Hunter with features such as the classic cape over the front and back shoulders and...

www.johnsonwoolenmills.com

i also have a camo version of the Stagr gear tracker’s jacket. It’s a little lighter than the Johnson’s jacket shirt.
Stagr is relatively new and they have some really nice things geared towards tracking and still hunting.

Tracker's Jacket

The STAGR Tracker's Jac-Shirt - a lightweight, affordable wool option for the Northeast hunter. This jac-shirt is made of 18-ounce wool blend that offers warmth and breathability in even the harshest weather conditions. But that's not all - we've also incorporated a moisture-wicking polyester...

stagrgear.com

and I have an Asbell Wool hooded jacket with the side pockets.
very well made in evening stand green. Nice and heavy weight wool.

Jacket w/side Pockets | Asbell Wool

Options, and all very well made.
Of the three, I probably like the Johnson jacket the best as it has all the qualities that I like the most.
If I’m sitting for a really long time I’m wearing my bibs and a parka over top of what I’ve mentioned.

 

[HB]

Get a pair of puffy pants if you really want to increase comfort once you stop moving. I love my Sportmans’s brand pair.

 

[tdbmd]

I'm planning a second rifle season hunt in Colorado with some friends. Three years ago my BIL and I hunted 3rd rifle season in mid-November. We started with snow and got more as the week went. The last two nights got down below 0 F. Our morning sits were rough those last two days. Honestly, our feet were the biggest problem as we'd get sweaty hiking in and then they got cold when we sat. I'm taking a change of socks (and maybe booties)---and the courage to take my feet out of the boots and actually use them---to address that problem.

But . . . to the question at hand. How many of you pack a puffy with you to put on when you get somewhere to sit, either for glassing or ambush? I'm a full believer in hiking in cold and adding a layer when you get there. Do y'all accomplish that with a puffy or do you pack your big softshell or extra midlayers? Interested in how y'all go about this.

I hunted that season in Colorado in 2023. I used a down vest over an Origin Stealth Wool hooded jacket and was fine but of course, weather certainly can vary, year to year and even day to day. Could take the down vest off and put in pack if it got warmer.