Hunting clothes layering question

[Kurt]

I find I don't pee through all my layers......... the first couple layers usually soaks everything up, the first time.

 

[elk yinzer]

I've always felt like a damp 35-40 is as cold as it gets. When it gets below freezing the air is drier and much easier to take. Windy, damp right around freezing is the worst until it gets really really cold.

Your outer layer should absolutely be windproof (hat too).

Layer walking in, once you get your baselayers sweaty you're screwed. Change baselayers at the tree if you have to.

Get a neck gaiter, they are the most underrated cold weather accessory there is.

Keep the bulky insulation in the core (vests are great for that). Your arms and legs don't need near as much insulation.

 

[Hailey_Phillips]

I find I don't pee through all my layers......... the first couple layers usually soaks everything up, the first time.

Made me spit out a full bite of my subway sandwich hahaha



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[DanielB89]

I've always been a pretty frugal person, especially when it comes to clothes. I am slowly learning that expensive clothing is expensive for a reason. Recently there was a scentblok sale on some clothing. I got on there and order a 3/1 jacket and some quality bibs. In the past I had some bone dry bibs that I thought were really good bibs. With the new bibs from scentlok I not only have some lighter bibs not, but they're also warmer. Same can be said about the base layer top and the 3 in 1 jacket. The 3 in 1 jacket is without a doubt the warmest jacket i've ever put on. Like too warm to wear without the proper weather warm. I also purchased some calebas wooltimate this past year when it was on sale. It is great quality, but is way bulkier than the scent lok. Needless to say, i'll be searching for another scent discount for a few items I missed this time. They were sold out before I could get my size.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I find I don't pee through all my layers......... the first couple layers usually soaks everything up, the first time.

 

[MJH]

I thought about boiling some water at my truck and putting it in a Nalgene bottle and keep it tucked in my coat once on stand. I do this when I’m hammock camping and the temps get down low, works really well. I’m not a fan of eating/drinking in the stand, I’ll usually have a bottle of water with me, but don’t usually drink much. I already have to pee a bunch, and peeing through a bunch of layers ain’t fun haha.


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If you don't like drinking in the stand, that is fine. Filling A nalgene will shed its heat too fast, the thermos will hold the heat better. My hunting buddy keeps his small thermos in his jacket. In truth I find that bulky - but it does work. One of the body grabber body warmers is probably a better choice for this given its size.

 

[swampsnyper]

Hopefully in the next couple years I can start a collection, but it’s not in my near future ha. Where did you start piecing together? Pants? Jackets? Base? Or go for the bigger items first like a shell, and layer with what you have underneath?


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I was hesitant so started off with the 145 merino wool base layers. It’s about as thick as a tee shirt but was amazed at how warm it kept me. I use to use that cabelas waffle textured polartec base layer and I sweated in them, then got cold. It didn’t breath. I like zip tee base layers so I can zip up my neck to seal in body heat, or zip it down mid chest to dump heat. That 1st Kuiu base layer boosted me full of confidence in their technology. Been happy ever since. I won’t waste money on trying anything else. Instead of buying 4-5 pairs of BDU pants, I rather buy 1 Kuiu pant. You can find deals on eBay. I’ve sold some there because I bought the wrong size and tried to make it work for a season. It was still like new.

 

[dalton916]

Put hot hand insoles in your boots under your feet and the adhesive toe warmer on top of your toes. They stick to your socks.

Put the adhesive hot hands over your kidneys, and 1 midway upper back the stick to your bottom most layer. I sometimes put my shirt inside out stick them to it. Turn it back right side out and put it on. They also have them in the healthcare section at Walmart in a kidney belt looking thing for sore muscles

Put hot hands in gloves or hand muff

Put one inside your hat and keep your head warm.

Take plenty of extra hot hands if you get cold all heat where needed.

I wear very thin clothes and artificial heats. I stay the most comfortable this way. It may sound silly but it works. I wear a mid weight base layer suit, scent blocker trinity pants, scent blocker trinity hoodie, uninsulated rubber boots down in the 30s and am quite comfortable this way. If you don’t hunt super cold often and don’t hunt out side your state I don’t see a reason to spend a ton of money in cold weather gear.

You might look in to a Milwaukee heated hoddie or vest.


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Good stuff.

Hand warmers on the inside of your wrists and on the sides of your neck are miracle workers. Warm the blood, warm the bod.

 

[GBlevins92]

rechargeable Hand warmer from amazon has been pretty sweet for keeping my hands warm better than buying disposable ones all the time.


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[Hailey_Phillips]

rechargeable Hand warmer from amazon has been pretty sweet for keeping my hands warm better than buying disposable ones all the time.


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I’m definitely gonna check that out, is there a certain brand to look for?


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[GBlevins92]

I’m definitely gonna check that out, is there a certain brand to look for?


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Just search it on amazon there are a few that pop up all close to the same price and all look very similar i can’t remember the brand on this one it was about $20.


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[Mengle]

Neck gaiter is a game changer. Vests help keep your core warm and don’t reduce too much movement.

 

[Newhunter1]

I live in Illinois...It will be 8 degrees this weekend. Two weekends ago, it was in the mid-30's and I had switched to all of First Lite gear. I have a light, mid-weight and heavy merino wool bottoms, 1 light weight, heavy weight, and puffy jacket for the top. Last weekend I wore that to my stand and had sweated through it...my top base layer was wet. I stayed because I wasn't to far from my truck (1/2 mile) and I wanted to see if FL had the capabilities that they say they have. Having all wool really helped...even though my tops were wet, I stayed warm in 35 degree and a 10 mph wind. This weekend when it is 8 degrees, and blizzard like conditions I will use my FL sanctuary tops and bibs, all my other listed layers...and my balaclava head gear. All first lite and 90% merino wool. I have the HBS that I no longer use due to my saddle hunting.

 

[Mengle]

@Hailey_Phillips I am in MS as well. I got first lite sanctuary this year and have only been wearing boxers under my bibs and a t shirt under the jacket.
I can’t walk in with the jacket on and I have to open the vents on the bibs or I will sweat my tail off.

 

[Hailey_Phillips]

Guys, I wanna thank y’all for the tips and advice. It paid off tonight! I was still unsure as to what layers would be enough, so I ended up carrying more than I needed, but here’s how it went.

Temp when I got to the trail head was about 42.
Walked in with my 2 base layers and a pair of fleece pants. Carried a pack full of junk and wore my RC harness and DIY saddle for the walk.

Got to the base of the tree, about an 800yd walk. I was sure to walk slow and not sweat or even get hot, and I didn’t. At the base of the tree, I took my saddle off and put on my rain suit bottoms, since I knew I wouldn’t be able to put them on once in the saddle.

Used my 4 primal Stepps, and 3 diy Stepps with swaider. Got a touch warm, but not sweaty. Got setup in my saddle and made sure I was cooled off some before I started with the layers.

After about 30 min, I could tell I was cooled off and noticed the wind starting to get to me. So I added my Browning down vest, and my Sherpa lined pullover. Warmth was good but bulk was starting to add up. Once I could feel the wind again I added my rain suit top to stop the wind.

So by this point, my legs have 2 base, fleece, and rain pants. Top has 2 base, down vest, Sherpa shirt, and rain top. Warmth was fine, wind was non existent, but I was back to the marshmallow man. Then I remembered back through yalls suggestions.

I remembered I had the stick on body warmers. So I shed the rain top and Sherpa pullover, and vest. Basically back to my original level of layers when I got up the tree. Stuck one warmer on each side of my ribs, about 6” down from my armpit, and one on the middle of my back. Put my down vest back on to hold the heat and put my rain top back one for wind.

Very little bulk, good range of motion in my shoulders, and everything was great! I had a fleece beanie and neck gaiter on already, but about an hour before sunset I could tell the temp was dropping,but luckily the wind was dying down. I pulled the gaiter to go to a fleece balaclava. And by the time dark came, I had actually started to get almost too warm. Temp at that time was about 34.

I believe it was thanks to yalls suggestions of basically 10 layers doesn’t mean warm. I eliminated numbers of layers, and basically added a baggy camo rain suit to stop the wind and with the warmers, I was great! I believe I could have ditched one of the base layers and still been fine. I had no idea how much the wind ruined everything!

Stop the wind and everything is easier! Ha, I hate to sound stupid but I just don’t hunt in the cold much so even though I’ve hunted for 20+ years. Younger and I didn’t care about the cold, now I’m older and the cold sucks ha. I feel like I could conquer anything! Above 30 anyways! Haha thanks for all yalls tips, I have a totally new way of looking at the ‘cold’


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[WormyJames]

Glad to hear you're getting it worked out there--I am in Georgia and I know it gets colder up north but I'm with you-- anything in the 30's down here is "cold"! I do believe humidity plays a part in how cold it "feels" and wind chill stinks...
One thing I can tell you from experience is that a thyroid problem can impact your tolerance for colder temps--if you ever get any blood work done get the doc to check for thyroid function--yours might be ok but you never know till you check and it's an easy fix if it is low.
Rick

 

[Hailey_Phillips]

Glad to hear you're getting it worked out there--I am in Georgia and I know it gets colder up north but I'm with you-- anything in the 30's down here is "cold"! I do believe humidity plays a part in how cold it "feels" and wind chill stinks...
One thing I can tell you from experience is that a thyroid problem can impact your tolerance for colder temps--if you ever get any blood work done get the doc to check for thyroid function--yours might be ok but you never know till you check and it's an easy fix if it is low.
Rick

Thanks, and yeah, I know the humidity makes heat terrible down here, and I guess it can do the same to the cold. Seems like it’s colder in the 30’s and 40’s than it is when it’s in the 20’s.. I’ve also noticed that the days it does get all the way below freezing, seems like the wind is barely blowing.. maybe that’s a difference too. As far as thyroid, I’ve never had it checked before. I’d say the last 4-5 years is when I started to really notice the cold, and it’s gotten worse the last year or two.. I’m sure I’m probably growing out of my ‘young and dumb’ and slowly transferring into my ‘old and wise’ haha.


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[ImThere]

That’s good to hear. Clothes that don’t breathe (wind blocker/ rain suits) also hold heat in. I’m glad you was able to stay warm.
I am a huge fan of artificial heat. I like the disposable ones. I don’t have to remember to charge anything.



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[Hailey_Phillips]

I’m coming back to you guys since the last advice I got here was golden! Our temps tomorrow are gonna start around 29, with a 18 wind chill. Then by afternoon get up around 38 but wind chill will stay in the 20’s all day. Looking at 10-15mph winds most of the day. And we may have snow! Snow in MS! Ha it’s nothing for you northerners, but a rare occasion for us down south, so all the schools are closed tomorrow because we could get 2”!! Hahaha

Anyways, I know the basics, and I conquered the 38-45 with a decent wind a couple weekends ago with yalls advice and did great, so here’s my next conundrum. I’m planning on one-sticking up the tree, which easy, in thinner clothes, but I may end up wearing my ****ies bibs tomorrow. Do you guys put bibs on before leaving the ground? Before leaving the truck(and walking very slow!), because I can’t fathom trying to get them on once up the tree. My climber it’s obviously not a problem, but in a saddle-not so much. I can go slow while climbing so I don’t overheat, but man, I’m not all that flexible on a good day but I’m not sure about one-sticking in that many clothes...

any tips on bibs and saddles? I may just leave them in the truck and wear thinner layers with body warmers on my thighs and wind proof rain suit so I won’t be so fluffy and restricted.


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[Mengle]

I’m coming back to you guys since the last advice I got here was golden! Our temps tomorrow are gonna start around 29, with a 18 wind chill. Then by afternoon get up around 38 but wind chill will stay in the 20’s all day. Looking at 10-15mph winds most of the day. And we may have snow! Snow in MS! Ha it’s nothing for you northerners, but a rare occasion for us down south, so all the schools are closed tomorrow because we could get 2”!! Hahaha

Anyways, I know the basics, and I conquered the 38-45 with a decent wind a couple weekends ago with yalls advice and did great, so here’s my next conundrum. I’m planning on one-sticking up the tree, which easy, in thinner clothes, but I may end up wearing my ****ies bibs tomorrow. Do you guys put bibs on before leaving the ground? Before leaving the truck(and walking very slow!), because I can’t fathom trying to get them on once up the tree. My climber it’s obviously not a problem, but in a saddle-not so much. I can go slow while climbing so I don’t overheat, but man, I’m not all that flexible on a good day but I’m not sure about one-sticking in that many clothes...

any tips on bibs and saddles? I may just leave them in the truck and wear thinner layers with body warmers on my thighs and wind proof rain suit so I won’t be so fluffy and restricted.


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I usually walk in with my first lite bibs on and my saddle over them. I walk about a quarter mile then open up the side zippers a good way to keep cool