RE: Let's cut the crap......I'm cold!
 

we hunt in iowa in single digits alot of time for the whole day. i have found that i stay the warmest when my head and my feet are warm. i have muck boots and a good facemask. and i layer clothes on as well. carhartts are real good for cold weather

iF YOUR REAL COLD USED A SLEEPING BAG TO WRAP YOURSELF IN.

Artic sheild makes a "lighter" version of its heavy cold gear. but the breathability of the fabric is non existant. if a short walk and leg zippers open and jacket open not too bad or dress at stand. very warm,very wind proof. the lighter version has no insulation in the arms only the core and the pants have a elastic wait band and you will heat up in those as well on long walks but no leg zippers to help vent..
I am trying to find camo that has the windproof and warmth of AS combined with the breathability of under armor key word is trying or rather wishing..

Get your self a sleeping bag, works great in the cold on stand.

Layers. Lots of layers, lots and lots of thin layers - preferably wool.
Facemask/stocking cap thing, and good gloves.
Ought to be able to go the whole day that way.

I'd also suggest that you carry most of your stuff to your stand in a backpack, then put it on at the base of the tree before you climb up into the stand. That way you won't drown in sweat or otherwise overheat on the way in and freeze in your sweat thereafter.

but yeah loose layers...toastie toes and hot hands help immensely...as does a warm facemask/cap.


:poke: don't forget your binky:s4:

Merino Wool all the way around. Forget poly and synthetics. Use the First Lite layering system (www.firstlite.com). Light, medium, heavy, outer. I am eventually going to pick up their new outer shells, but, as mentioned, windoroof is key. Midway USA has free shipping on First Lite stuff and you can usually find 10% coupon codes for Midway if you search around. One of the best things about First Lite is that all your layers are camo, so you can wear the same stuff early archery thru late season. Your late season base layer is your early season outer layer, and so forth.

Also, FWIW, the ASAT pattern is the best around IMO. I've been sitting against a tree with no cover and had deer pass literally 5 yards in front of me. Awesome!!

Stuff that has alredy been mentioned: Kidney belt is also a good idea. I use a Cabelas waist muff and put a large Handwarmer in it and my hands are toasty warm with only thin gloves on (sometimes too warm). ROOM in your boots is key. I wear SHEER polypropylene sock liners and merino wool socks and that's it. Tie your boots loosely except at the very top, where it should be barely snug. Battery heated insoles might be a good idea. Never tried them but have thought about it. I use the Toastie Toes but I don't think they work that well.

Oh, and avoid cotton AT ALL COSTS. Since you are human you WILL prespire and the cotton WILL hold the moisture and WILL get you cold.

Some guys just don't understand those of us who are cold natured, so don't worry about those giving you guff. If you are SHIVERING you can't shoot a deer, and deciding to "man up" isn't going to make your body stop shivering!

One thing I am going to have to change for next season is my climber. I have a summit viper and my arms make significant contact with the side rails. Making contact with anything metal sucks the heat right out of you, so try to avoid it if possible.

Also, consider still hunting when the conditions are right. Wet leaves, rain, snow, significant wind when leaves are dry. When I am ON MY FEET, though only moving like 50 yards per hour, I find that I need very little to keep warm in comparison to stand hunting. And, IMO, sneaking up on a deer is much more exciting and rewarding than sitting in a stand for hours, though I love BOTH types of hunting.

One more thought, hunting from the ground (even sans a store-bought blind) is MUCH warmer than being up on a stand. Even though these are designed for treestands, I use one on the ground when leaning against a tree. Instead of attaching to tree, I just buckle it around my waist. Makes a HUGE difference in how long I can sit against a tree.

http://m.sportsmansguide.com/Product...a=993801&tab=1

Heater Body Suit. I gaurentee you will stay warm all day. Its not an article of clothing you can walk in. Its something you put on after your in the stand. I zip mine up about 2/3 of the way and drop a hand warmer or two in it and honestly Im good for all day if I want to stay that long. Retails for about $300 when I got mine. I used to have terrible problems with my feet getting cold but I bought a pair of Irish Setter Snow Claw XT boots and they truly are the S**t. 2000grams of insulation and my feet are never cold. Good luck with whatever you decide to buy.

Scentlok Commando suit.. lacrosse 1600 boots.. i'm from florida so I know what your talking about. I wore under armor cold gear thermals and a light fleece top and bottom and was good all day in 28-33 degrees with the Scentlock Commando jacket. I don't like to be bulky bowhuntin and I was very impressed with the jacket, I'll be getting the pants to match soon.

Some of our members from more northerly locations might chime in here (after they stop snickering about those of us from further south being cold) and suggest some ice fishing apparel. I think there's like a whole industry out there supplying ice fishermen, and I'll bet that stuff will make you TOO warm...

Milwaukee makes a heated jacket.

Takes a battery like a cordless drill.

I'll put in a vote for the warmbag. Similar to the heater body suit, but different.

I hunted last weekend here in NH, was 15 degrees and 30 MPH winds. I grabbed my wife's warmbag, but FORGOT my third sweat shirt and insulated overalls. Effectively I was dressed comfy for down to about 40 degrees. I then jumped into the warm bag and put on a fleece balacava for my head, neck and face. I sat for 3.5 hours and was not only not cold, I was actually toasty warm. I was doubting the weather forcast, until I got up to leave that is and took off the warm bag. By the time I packed up at the stand site and walked 15 minutes to the truck I was FROZEN solid.

Differences from WarmBag over HBS that I like:
- You can wear it and walk, you can unzip the bottom and stick your legs out and walk. This is what my wife does at the end of the hunt.
- You can unzip the sides and stick your arms out (HBS you have to drop it off your shoulders.
- It bundles up smaller for easier carrying.

I was VERY impressed with this thing. At 30 degrees you could go in with your normal hunting clothes, skip most of the layers and all the heavy duty cold gear and jump inside this. It traps your body heat and keeps you warm.

My wife has also used this watching our kids play soccer into November, COLD Saturday mornings, heck cold early spring mornings while all other soccer Mom's froze, she was fine!

Get it, you'll love it.

Heater Body Suite ! NUFF SAID

I've heard nothing but good things about the HBS. The WarmBag sounds nice as well. How do they match up cost wise?

bib overalls and a thick jacket go a long way. 2000g Thinsulate boots, handwarmers in a muff and a good hat or ski mask. If it's really cold and I'm sitting, I have a thin, wool sweater and down filled vest. That goes over under armor and underneath heavy jacket.

.....have you ever thought about fishing? lol

So, OP...whatcha thinkin? It's getting colder...have you made any purchases?

For anyone who wants to complain about the cold while you're hunting, try bowhunting the Rut in Alberta the last couple of weeks in Nov! When you're done with your hunt you'll know the TRUE meaning of the word COLD!!!! I promise. :s4:

Ok let's see if I can give you a couple tricks to help you keep warm (weenie..lol). First, I think the double layer of cold gear could be your problem. That stuff needs to breath. Try wearing just one with the duofold over that.
Now for my trick when it is actually cold (not 30*). Use an Ace type bandage or a back support and put a heat pack behind you on each kidney. Then get the "toasty toes" and put them in your boots between your polypropolene and wool socks. Get a couple moe hand warmers and put them in your coat pocket or inside your glove.
Good luck.

Lots of good advice so far. Have you considered some kind of pac boot that's designed for snow? Many of this type of boot are rated down to zero or below. You didn't mention your choice of socks but I assume you're not using cotton which tends to draw the cold to you.

I was out yesterday with my bow and it was zero wind chill with less then that on. I lasted 3 hours but saw quite a few deer. Next year I am buying a heater body suit. The are pricey but some guys I know own them and say they are awesome. You keep really warm using these. Scoot

Southerners and Cold
 

lordy, my first time in MS it snowed, though that was years ago. And yes it's cold, and I swear southerners don't wear enough clothes in cold months. Especially for four and more hours sitting on a tree stand in freezing weather. One of the last contraptions I want to be found in during cold weather is a tree stand. Tree stands are great in warm weather when the leaves are on the trees.

But that's your punishment wish.
the first three points; head, feet and hands. Anyone of them cold and you're cold.
Nothing like a parka in frigid weather for sitting for four hours. Some kind of knit hat. A hood from a parka would help the really cold. And I never went near woods in thirty or lower degrees, unless I had insulated rubber bottomed boots. :s9:And I went to hunter's mittens, where you can sneak out finger to take a shot. Yes mittens big guy. I'd think of getting some Hothands, hand warmers and insole foot warmers.
If your feet get real cold, a couple of pairs of wool socks would help. Insulated underwear covering top and legs.

And sitting on a tree stand in frigid weather is like sitting on a freeway overpass in the middle of a blizzard. Even a southerner can't be a hotshot there.

And yes air temperature is one thing. After an hour of sitting it can feel ten degrees colder.

Did anybody suggest isometrics?

Lifting up off the seat and holding your weight with your legs should generate quite a bit of heat.

Doing something with your arms might also keep you from being too stiff to draw your bow!

I just made my own heater body suit type of warm suit with modifications that the HBS company does not offer. I tested it in -15F with a -45F windchill. The inside of my suit stayed 50F after 1 hour and 10 minutes. I was toasty warm.