Best cold weather brand and materials

[Walleyeking]

Hunted 3 days in nebraska, temps from 15-30 with high winds. Got cold each sit, I am layering up and outer layer is Cabela's brand extreme wool and still got cold. Just looking for recommendations from guys on what works, I would like to stay as light as possible.

 

[Wyatt_burp]

Bibs, merino wool base layer, warm coat. Spent my formative years hunting northern PA rifle season, first Monday after Thanksgiving and continuing for 2 weeks single digit Temps were regular. Right now I have first lite solitude bibs, kiln long john, kiln henly, some stupid insulated mittens, a furry face mask hat, the uncompagre jacket & vest. I didn't buy the big jacket because I hike so far in i unzip the legs and only wear the henly up top until I get where I'm going, put other stuff on at the top of the tree.

You don't need to spend a fortune, but no cotton. Merino wool is the best, buy nice socks and base layers, and get bibs, they help with saddle bunching jackets and lower back getting frozen in the wind.

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[raisins]

Best things for me: Hot Hands adhesive body warmers on my thermal top (I use 2 to 4) and I found a quality Sierra Design goose down puffy mid layer jacket that was on sale (like 75% off). It is 800 fill down that has been treated to repel water. Usual down is 200 to 500 fill. I think high loft down is the warmest material hunters can use and pound for pound and packability, there is no contest.

If you pack that down jacket in and put it on under your outer layer once sitting still and throw in 3 adhesive body warmers...guaranteed you'll be warm.

As far as wind, the other layer I pack in is a windshirt pullover (v neck that football coaches, golfers, and dudes on yachts wear). I put it over the down jacket as a midlayer. Having an inner wind blocking layer (even if your jacket also does this) really increases your warmth. The pullover style is cheap and packs small due to no zippers and other parts.

I now think in terms of layers and as a system and I do not get hung up on brands (and most of what I use is not "hunting" brands, except for camo outer layers).

 

[Rivers387]

Following... I'm interested in the recommendations. I've always bought the cheap Walmart junk and cotton base layers and haven't had much luck.

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[Jay_Disarray]

i bought a pair of military surplus mukluks with wool liners and double wool inserts, a pair of carhartt or similar bibs worn over a good winter coat. hand warmer muff for the fingers. you can layer underneath from there. a good flannel usually goes underneath my winter coat, and my bibs are pretty warm, so i usually wear a pair of long underwear and a pair of pants. my son made me a camouflage hat that doubles as a neck warmer.

 

[raisins]

Following... I'm interested in the recommendations. I've always bought the cheap Walmart junk and cotton base layers and haven't had much luck.

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To do it affordably, watch the super discount sites that sell outdoor gear and then buy throughout the year as things pop up. Half the stuff I wear is hiking brand stuff that is just as good as the big name hunting brands.

In case you don't frequent them, check out

sierra trading post
steep and cheap
mountain steals

I think my Aspen expedition weight polypro thermal bottoms were bought 75% off (I got them for like $10). Merino wool socks for $5, etc.

In the single digits, I wear up to 6 layers (some are very thin ones, such as two sets of thermals) and wear an armguard to compress it down for my bow string to clear. But I can sit for 6 hours and not move and be warm. My philosophy is think of how many layers you'll need and then add one more (I've never sat still in 15 F and thought "I really should've left that fleece vest back at the truck"). I have a 30 liter roll up stuff sack that I'll use to carry half of the stuff to the tree and put it on once there.

 

[Rivers387]

To do it affordably, watch the super discount sites that sell outdoor gear and then buy throughout the year as things pop up. Half the stuff I wear is hiking brand stuff and just as good if not better than the big name hunting brands.

In case you don't frequent them, check out

sierra trading post
steep and cheap
mountain steals

I think my Aspen expedition weight polypro thermal bottoms were bought 75% off (I got them for like $10). Merino wool socks for $5, etc.

I get emails from Sierra but have never heard of the other two. Thanks!

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[Jay_Disarray]

To do it affordably, watch the super discount sites that sell outdoor gear and then buy throughout the year as things pop up.

the best time to buy new gear is in the offseason, totally this. the military surplus boots i bought, which came with the liners and inserts i won on an ebay auction in like june for $30. the boots themselves are $35 now, liners are $15 a pair and the liners are like $8 a pair, i got 2 pair. i scored a big win on that auction. i was the only one looking at mukluks in june, and was the only bidder

What did you buy today?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-360-Phone-Holder-Tripod-Mount-Adapter-Clip-for-Selfie-Stick-Monopod/372845122057?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=641656951450&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649...

saddlehunter.com

 

[Still Kicking]

I use Kuiu outerwear and a lot of different layers depending on weather but always merino base layers. When it's downright bitter I use down top and bottoms or IWOM (which is awesome) in my opinion. For the feet I use vapor barrier, merino socks, and if really cold Thermacell footbeds in 2400 gram insulated boots.

 

[swampsnyper]

I have a lot of Kuiu. Their lightest 125 merino base tee shirt I’ve wore alone from fishing in south Louisiana during the summer to next to skin layer hunting. It’s the best next to skin material I’ve ever put against my skin. If it’s colder, I’ll use the 145 weight material. But after 145 they blend it with other materials and I don’t like it. I just bought some FirstLite for a heavier merino layer. The kiln and the furnace. Both in a 1/4 zip mock t. I think that’s important. To be able to unzip your neck and chest to breath while hiking and climbing is huge for me to stay dry. Dry is the key to staying warm.
And in that note, my Kuiu outer layers have pit zips and thigh zips to vent. Works great. If it’s really cold, I’ll bring a down vest to put on under my jacket once I cool down in the tree. It’s hard to do in a saddle though. It’s not good as an outer layer because it’s noisy and sensitive to brush. Depends how open your woods are. I guess it could be layered over my jacket while in the tree. It’s not that loud. Doubt it will alert a deer anyway. Take it off before I climb down. I think I might try that. You could wear the down jacket but I like to keep my arm clothes bulk thin for bowhunting.
But I’m from the south so I don’t know what real cold is. I’ve hunted Illinois in December but it hadn’t snowed while I was there. Nebraska in Nov but again, not in snow. So take it for what it’s worth. My cold and your cold may be different.

 

[Jtaylor]

Hunted 3 days in nebraska, temps from 15-30 with high winds. Got cold each sit, I am layering up and outer layer is Cabela's brand extreme wool and still got cold. Just looking for recommendations from guys on what works, I would like to stay as light as possible.

It's been cold and windy here lately for sure. I layer by switching to a bigger pack to bring the layers with me. Don't sweat walking in and setting up, add layers as you cool off and try to make sure one of the layers is a windstopper material. I don't think Nebraska, cold weather and lightweight go hand in hand. I still get cold but at least doing it as I mentioned is manageable.

 

[Camelcluch]

Goretex wind stopper is awesome. Clothing with that will be warmer for sure. If it’s just crazy cold, IWOM, Heater Bodysuit and Arctic Shield are great choices.

 

[Exhumis]

All good info so far, I’ll add my thoughts. I’ve hunted from Alaska to Florida and points in between. Now, every piece of gear I buy is windproof. I find if I can block the wind I stay far warmer longer which is obvious which allows you to go lighter with your gear. First and foremost keep your grape warm and keep your dogs warm. Look into maybe a heated vest, scentlok has one. Merino wool is superior as far as insulating and sweat transport goes. Bibs are great for long sits in cold weather. Natural gear makes a winterscepter line that is stupid warm. I wore the suit in a snowstorm here in VA and had to open the zippers I was sweating. Pay close attention to why you are cold, is it because you aren’t dressed correctly or are you actually sweating and don’t realize it, especially your feet.

 

[Drslyr]

Yup