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Heater style body suits

T

tmattson

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
1,088
Location
South East Michigan
So due to an illness and some weight loss, I suspect I will get cold very easy this late season, especially since I always got cold easy anyway.
Back to looking at HBS and IWOM, and see a newer one as well (Blizzard Buddy). Anyone used or have any experience with the Blizzard Buddy?
I like some of the features of both the HBS and IWOM, going to assume from a "keep you warm" perspective both are well equipped to handle that,
any little difference probably not of significance. I like that you can wear the IWOM as a parka and walk in with it. One thing I have found researching
these is that when opening the HBS most of the captured body heat escapes and if left open long enough it is hard to regenerate that level of warmth,
which I guess could be an issue on long sits in cold weather. Looking at them I think both are great products. Know this topic has been debated before,
but any suggestions appreciated.
 
I started off with a product called Half in the Bag on amazon a couple years ago and really saw a difference. It was a little constricting in the legs. Last year I purchased insulated boot covers that you put on once in the stand. I also got the HBS last year. It was a big game changer. Being a bigger guy and still feeling like I had a ton of room in there. I never felt like there was a need to open the suit up to let heat out. I could put just my hands out the collar up top to glass if needed. I could have both hands inside the suit with my phone doing my thing and pull the collar up over my face a little to look down. Having your legs and feet enclosed by just about any of these suits was a big deal for me.
Also the use of hand warmers inside the suit put off more heat than I was really ready for. They lasted for all day hunts too. Not sure any of the options are going to be used with the saddle though because Ive not worked out those logistics.
 
I have the HBS and have it for ten years at least. I have been in it at temps problems 0-5 degrees. Also two years ago it was snowing and windy. 20-25 degrees. When it’s cold...below 40...make sure you are dressing appropriately under the HBS. When you do open the bag the heat does escape but as soon as you close it it takes about 3-10 minutes to get the warmth back into the bag.

This year I cut off my feet and added slits on the sides for my saddle hunting.


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Tried IWOM, HBS, Half in the Bag and Arctic Shield body suit. I used Arctic Shield body insulator suit last year and liked it the best. Sizing runs big though.
 
I tried HBS, Half in the Bag, and IWOM. IWOM gets my vote as the best at keeping me warm and giving me the mobility I like.
 
tmattson said:
So due to an illness and some weight loss, I suspect I will get cold very easy this late season, especially since I always got cold easy anyway.
Back to looking at HBS and IWOM, and see a newer one as well (Blizzard Buddy). Anyone used or have any experience with the Blizzard Buddy?
I like some of the features of both the HBS and IWOM, going to assume from a "keep you warm" perspective both are well equipped to handle that,
any little difference probably not of significance. I like that you can wear the IWOM as a parka and walk in with it. One thing I have found researching
these is that when opening the HBS most of the captured body heat escapes and if left open long enough it is hard to regenerate that level of warmth,
which I guess could be an issue on long sits in cold weather. Looking at them I think both are great products. Know this topic has been debated before,
but any suggestions appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have the HBS used it for years and when I opened the suite for a shot I never had any problems getting warm again when I close the suite back up. My suite is in Predator camo witch should tell you how long I have had it since that haven't made that camo in a longtime. I highly recommend the HBS.
 
got an IWOM. can't say enough good about them. There's a new version that doesn't have a closed bottom, feet exposed. Im looking that over real hard.
You can get returns with great discounts if you look. These are literally new, but didn't fit the original buyer, or they just didn't like the concept in action. They seem to have plenty of them too. But I love mine. Its a well used December option here in Northern Michigan
 
I bought an Iwom xt this spring and haven’t used it yet but looking forward too!
 
If you want to go the cheapest route just go to wally world and get a cheap square sleeping bag and then you can modify it for saddle hunting to see if you like it, then if you do like it you could invest in one of these more expensive items and if you don't you haven't lost much! Do not get the mummy type bag it doesn't give you enough room!
 
I tried an IWOM. Can’t really move your feet around inside and the sleeves were extra baggy. I was not a fan. It was pretty warm though. It was literally a sleeping bag with arms.
 
This past January I went o a seamstress and had her cut the feet off of the HBS and put in an elastic cord to close it up...then I had her sew 10" zippers with the zippers going down the HBS so that I could unzip and not have the zippers slide up the HBS and getting in the way of my bridge or lineman loops. In the serious cold, I will have on my 1800 thinsulate boots and heat soles in the boots. The bridge zippers will let in a little cold air I suppose, but I'll be protected from the wind and most of the cold.
 
You cut off the feet so you can walk in wearing the HBS? And the 10 inch zipper was at waist level for the bridge (assume wearing the saddle inside the HBS)?
 
tmattson said:
You cut off the feet so you can walk in wearing the HBS? And the 10 inch zipper was at waist level for the bridge (assume wearing the saddle inside the HBS)?
Click to expand...
Definitely wear it inside, there’s no way I’d want to walk in that thing.....
 
Newhunter1 said:
This past January I went o a seamstress and had her cut the feet off of the HBS and put in an elastic cord to close it up...then I had her sew 10" zippers with the zippers going down the HBS so that I could unzip and not have the zippers slide up the HBS and getting in the way of my bridge or lineman loops. In the serious cold, I will have on my 1800 thinsulate boots and heat soles in the boots. The bridge zippers will let in a little cold air I suppose, but I'll be protected from the wind and most of the cold.
Click to expand...
What kind of zipper did you use on it. I been thinking about doing that so I will have to find a seamstress to do it. I'm leaving the feet and going to put some type of booty over the foot so I don't wear it out on my Predator platform.
 
enkriss said:
I tried an IWOM. Can’t really move your feet around inside and the sleeves were extra baggy. I was not a fan. It was pretty warm though. It was literally a sleeping bag with arms.
Click to expand...
Do you remember if there was pockets or openings on each side somewhere to run a bridge through?
 
Topdog said:
Do you remember if there was pockets or openings on each side somewhere to run a bridge through?
Click to expand...
I seem to recall I read somewhere that the IWOM had slits in the hand warmer pockets so you could access in the inside, cant confirm though. Will send a note to IWOM. Maybe then you could use a bridge with biner's on each end.
 
tmattson said:
Does the HBS have a two way zipper? Looks like no.
Click to expand...
I have an Iwom in my closet, I was just being lazy and wondering if enkriss remembered, I have never used mine yet, I will go dig it out and check for ya, no need to call.
 
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