Hunting gear for cold weather?

[crimsoncomet]

I am looking for gear advice for a Canadian whitetail hunt that I will be going on in mid November. I believe the temperatures will be around 0 to 25 degrees. Hunting will be done from stands and blinds. I would like some advice from people who hunt in weather similar to this. I live and hunt in VA, so it is unusual for the weather to get that cold. I need advice on footwear, under insulation, insulated jacket and pants, and gloves. Or anything I may not think of. I really appreciate everyones help. Thanks.

 

[natman]

Layers.

No cotton next to your skin. Cotton soaks up sweat which will freeze as soon as you stop moving around. Trust me, you want to avoid this. Get some good poly long underwear.

It's every bit as important that a cold weather parka (not jacket) let heat out as keeping it in. You want adjustable cuffs to let heat out the sleeves when you're walking around, then when you get in place you can fasten them up again.

You will want a lightweight blaze hat for walking around and a warmer one for sitting. I use a blaze twill cap with a knit hat to pull over it.

 

[jbkebert]

The heater body suit. Far and away the best $325 you will ever spend. It's like a sleeping bag with feet. A pair of straps go over your shoulders. You un-zip which is whisper quiet. Grab your bow of rifle. When you shoulder or draw the suit slides back. It does two things it gets out of your way. And second it prevents you from being skylined. The black interior is wider than your body at this point and blocks sun from your silhouette.

Buy one size bigger than you think you need. I use a wide tall. A tight system will place your knees against the fabric when sitting. Get a size to big and so you have room while sitting. I dress for around 40 degrees or so when using this suit. For walking to my stand or blind. Once settled put on the suit and relax.

I have taken some really good naps in really foul weather while hunting. Harshed expousure I have hunted. -8 degrees for a little over 7 hours. No problem. They come with a set of booties to put over your boots before getting into the system. This prevents mud and crap getting all over its interior.

I have literally better than a thousand dollars in cold weather gear. All of it is crap by comparison. Just my humble .02 http://www.heaterbodysuit.com/

 

[bad_aim_billy]

Cover your neck-- gaiter will do fine. 10-20 bucks.

Overboots over your hunting boots. About 30-40 bucks.

Heaviest gram muff for hands. 30-45 bucks.

And a load of hand and footwarmers.

All told, for not much over a 100 bucks, you'll be good to go (assuming you have decent insulated bibs and layers of non-cotton clothing already...)

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Layers.

I'm not really a "quoted for truth" kind of guy, but I think this really needs to be emphasized. I was elk hunting last December and it was -2. Even when it was that cold, hiking up a draw had me peeling off things and unzipping where I could.

Once you stop, however, you'll want to bundle back up.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Layers.
Layers.
More layers.

I always have cotton against my skin, as I cannot stand the feel of anything other than.

I have never had a problem of wicking unless I have about four layers too many on my body when I should only have like one or two at most. That will happen if you start before sun-up at five below zero, then after several hours of sitting, I start walking around in the bright sun. Things warm up pretty quickly, even if it is still only ten above zero out once I get moving!

I have boots that are about a size or two larger than my shoe size and I wear like four pairs of really thick socks in the boots.

The important thing is you need to be able to easily "dress-down" as you warm up, and easily dress-up as you get cold.

Now, that heater-suit that was mentioned is just what I need, as I am always cold, no matter what, even when I am in my house, and everyone else says it is hot, I am always freezing!

 

[crimsoncomet]

Thanks for the suggesions guys! Does anyone have any boot brand suggestions? I was looking at 1000-1200 gram thinsulate one size to big so I can wear two pairs of wool socks.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Im a big fan of Under Armour clothing. Last winter, I worked for a few days in a commercial freezer doing electrical work. I wore a under armour base layer bottoms and top, my work shirt, an under armour hooded sweatshirt, denimn pants, under armour beanie and non-insulated bib coveralls. I was pretty warm while working -20 def F temperatures.

 

[oneounceload]

In addition to the layers - start with silk or polypropylene to wick moisture away - both from your body and your feet. I then preferred wool or wool/nylon blend - again, both body and feet; then a good insulated outer layer - goose down or similar synthetic that is also water proof (Goretex or similar)

For sitting for long periods in a stand, really good insulated boots. I picked up a touch of frostbite when living in ND - when my feet get cold, I am done as in go inside and quit whatever I was doing - and I was wearing wool socks with battery heat and Sorel pac boots. If you are sitting, you'll also appreciate one of those seat pads that help heat your butt

Extra devices like hand warmers, battery socks, heaters inside the blind will all help. Staying motionless for too long can lead to getting real cold real fast

Stay warm

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Frame of reference-Korea, winter of 1979-80

Today, I'm a Danner Man,

But when I was in the service, I wore a bunch of different boots. Korea, the temps fell to -25 (without the windchill factor). We stood on our aluminum personnel carriers 24/7. The oil wouldn't pour, it was cold.

When I was in, I didn't like the "issue stuff", now that I'm retired, I went back and bought all the issue stuff from surplus stores.

Black "Mickey Mouse" Boots ($35). Wool long-johns, wool pants and shirt under cotton field pants. Mittens with inserts ($20), cold weather parka with linner is $25, Balacalavas are $20. Poncho linner for $25.00.

Polypro and gortex came out in the later years, matterhorn boots were the "cats meow". The weight difference is amazing so I wear my surplus stuff when I'm on my OHV or sitting and the newer stuff when I'm on foot.

As mentioned earlier, layers is the key, if you are going to be moving, strip down before you sweat, as soon as you stop, dawn a dry t shirt and socks. that'll make you feel like a million bucks.

Don't tie your boots too tight when sitting, drink lots of water, no cafine, keep your optics aclimated.

Enjoy your dream hunting trip, send pics.

 

[HarcyPervin]

I used to wear a lot of Under Armor products when I was playing football, rugby, framing houses in very cold weather. I found that its excellent at keeping you at a reasonable temperature when you're moving around, but still prefer old fashioned long underwear for an extended sit. I've always worn carhart coveralls or bibs, the zip-up/down legs and underarm vents allow you to ventilate if you get too warm and start sweating (which is much worse than being cold)
As for boots, make sure they're waterproof, 1000-1200 grams of thinsulate should be more than enough. One thing I look for now is the thickness of the soles. I've found that my feet get much colder wearing boots with relatively thin soles (1''>). The thicker soled boots get your feet a little further from the cold ground which acts like a heat sink.

 

[spclpatrolgroup]

+1 for making sure you have insulation on the soles of your boots, I will often bring one of those foam coushins you use to for bleachers to put under my feet. Wool is your friend, when ti comes to socks, make sure you get them extra long, and duct tape your pants over them to keep them from balling up around your toes. I havent found a great pair of glove yet that will keep my hand warm and fit in most trigger guards, so I wear one of those muffs with a few hand warmers inside for my trigger hand.

Layers are also key, you wont want to dress for -30 weather and then have to walk 2 miles to yoru stand, you will be a ball of sweat by the time you get there. Make sure you can strip off layers to keep cool, then put them back on when you get to yoru destination. And no matter what the temperature feels like, when you sit in a stand and ramain still, it will feel cooler than when you set out. Do it right and you can sit out in any weather. I fell asleep in a blizzard at -15, no one could find me beacuse I was covered in snow, until they got close enough that their yelling woke me up.

 

[crimsoncomet]

Big thanks!

Thanks to everyone! You all have pointed me in the right direction. Bass pro had a sale this week, so I went to take a look. I bought their cold weather systems parka and bibs. I got 25% off. They seem niceand heavy, waterproof, and very flexible to dress in layers. I also picked up a pair of Rocky gortex arctic bear claw boots.

Next on the list:
-Hat (I found a fleece pullover full face hood that is camo outside and orange inside. Reversible)
-Gloves
-Socks
-Long johns

Can anyone suggest a place for good wool long johns? Also, does anyone know if they make layers for your hands? Like something very thin on your hands first, and then your gloves. Thanks for the education.

 

[IdahoLT1]

I know under armour makes a liner for gloces. Cabelas does have their brand as well. Look under "lightweight hunting gloves".

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/browse/_/N-1102425?WTz_l=SBC;MMcat104797080

 

[Caddisflied]

I think the weak link on that list is the gloves?
A good pair of lined leather mittens, larger enough to allow you to use a second pair of
knit mitten liners inside will keep your hands warmer then gloves when it's real cold.
You can pull them off quickly to make the shot. IMHO

 

[Barny]

From where I'm from it gets nasty cold. Three things I will never winter hunt without again is a Filson wool vest, mittens with the fingered liners, and a Stormy Kromer cap. I usually stay nice and warm when everyone is shivering.

 

[scythefwd]

Layers is right. I don't get that cold when hunting round here. I might see freezing every now and again. I F'd up and got a parka and bibs that were insulated. Pretty sure I could be comfortable down well into the teens sitting still in that thing.

As for brands of boots... I am using Rocky Mountains that I was issued in the Army and the extreme cold weather wool socks.

I use fold back mittens for my hands. I asked my wife to sew in a pocket for hand warmers into the fold back area. Gloves are too hot down to mid 30's, I've yet to use a hand warmer in them. I usually end up sitting with my coat opened up, my bibs unzipped a bit (just to get some air flow to my chest and core so I don't over heat) in 35-40 degree weather. I might zip up after a few hours.

 

[natman]

Can anyone suggest a place for good wool long johns?

Might as well have the best:

http://www.filson.com/products/alaskan-long-john-midweight-pants.15003.html

I have a set of these and they are very warm and unlike many wools, actually feel good to wear. They have a heavyweight set, but there's no need for them unless you hunt where it's below zero F.

 

[JohnBT]

I strongly suggest Cabela's Thermax/Thermastat poly long johns. They're softer than cotton and thinner and they're warm and wick sweat. I use them for duck hunting and it does get below 25* in Virginia in the winter. Sometimes way below. I've always been comforable sitting in a blind or duck boat wearing Cabela's long johns, a surplus (German army?) wool shirt and a Columbia Quad parka with Thinsulate zipout liner. There's that layer again.

The secret to warm feet (once you have good boots or chest waders) is to leave space around your feet. I personally believe that one good pair of wool socks is better than two. There has to be some air space - dead air is a great insulator.

I love fleece hats and neck gaiters. I got mine at a ski shop. On the nastiest mornings on the bay I'll wear a wool Filson ball hat with the fleece watch cap over it (to hold it on for the boat ride out to the blind.) I only use the hood if it is pouring and blowing rain.

There are no good gloves. The insulated wool mittens that fold back to expose your fingers work, but aren't waterproof. The bulky Goretex duck hunting gloves are warm and waterproof, but bulky. I carry 3 or 4 kinds in my bag. Gloves get wet.

 

[scythefwd]

Hey John, I have some fleece fold back type mittens. The fleece is water resistant enough that I can run my hand under the fawcet and the mitten stays dry. They will get wet if I play with snow too much, like making snowballs.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I think the coldest I have been out was -20 F. My water froze solid in the pocket of my hunting coat. I had to keep the water in my sleeping bag at night inside the tent or it would freeze. Luckily it only lasted a couple of days and then it was like +40.

I use midweight poly underwear and double it if it's not enough. I wear heavy wool pants. I use a wool "bogen" to keep my head warm. I use the wool liner gloves with a pair of heavy wool gloves over them if my hands get cold. I wear a regular shirt with a wool sweater. I wear a 3 in one parka with a liner if it might rain and just a down jacket if not because it is lighter and less bulky. This year I may just take the down jacket and a goretex parka to put over it if it rains. I like leather boots and take a couple of pairs of 800 thinsulate in case they get wet. I wear Thorlo hiking socks because the walking is tough and extensive.

A backpack is a must because you are going to have to come out of some of this at times or you will get wet with sweat and then you will get really cold.

Here is the last photo that I have because my camera is up on the side of Winter Point somewhere.


564394[/ATTACH]"]

 

[Daveboone]

Typical hunting weather here. I wouldnt do the wool long johns. I agree with others saying the Cabelas long underwear is great. Go for the heavy weight. It is synthetic, wears well, doesnt itch and is comfortable against the skin.
Avoid any cotton anywhere- especially socks. I swear by Merino long wool fiber socks.Make sure your feet do not feel snug in your boots, they will lose circulation and compress the socks losing insulation.
Just as important: Avoid caffeine: it is a vasoconstrictor. Stock the furnace! Eat a full high carbohydrate breakfast in the a.m. Nibble on Gorp / trail mix to keep the energy up. Stock up on pocket warmers. When it is real cold, I put one in each arm of the jacket, my front bib pockets, boots and mittens.

 

[crimsoncomet]

Thanks again for the input guys. I have put together several opinions and think I have what will work for me. Advise is still welcome.

-Bass Pro CWS Parka and Bibs (waterproof)
-Merino wool long johns
-Merino wool heavy socks
-Fleece jacket and fleece pants
-Under armor glove liners
-Gloves and hats to come

Any other suggestions? Will i need more layers than this for 0-20 degree weather? Thanks!

 

[ZeroJunk]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have an extra pair of insulated underwear just in case. You can double up on them and it really doesn't add much bulk.

Each individual is different. Where I might be chilly another man might be quite comfortable wearing the same cloths. And whether you are still for long periods of time or moving regularly makes a big difference. Wind makes a big difference.

So, take a little extra. You can always adjust down, but you can't add if you don't have it.

 

[KodiakBeer]

To reiterate about the layers, ten degrees can be quite toasty when there's no wind and the sun is out. That same temp can freeze you like popsicle with a little breeze and overcast skies.

You need to be able to shed (or gain) layers throughout the day.