Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
07-25-2005, 09:56 PM
#11
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Greenville, IL
Posts: 287
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
Well I wear ColdGear for track and I wasn't overly impressed with it's warming abilities and this was even, of course, with me running and stretching. Maybe it's because it was the only layer I had on besides the jersey. Perhaps it performs better underneath multiple layers of clothing.
07-25-2005, 10:06 PM
#12
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Greenville, IL
Posts: 287
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
Umm, this may seem like an awkward question, but I feel like I can come here to find an answer. If I end up getting another UA top (since my current oneis royal blue), I will get a bottom or "leggings" as well. Now, can a guy make boxers work with the UA leggings? I'm not a fan of tighty-wighties
07-25-2005, 10:15 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Vermont
Posts: 77
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
Rule # one in cold weather Cotton Kills !.......... Rule #two see rule#1............
You don't have to spend alot of money to stay warm, just make sure you layer your clothes. I am a big fan of wool, with a light gortex water proof jacket in my day pack.Stay dry and use hot packs, PS don't wait untill your numb to open up the hot pack's. on real cold day's open the hand warmers in the truck, so at 8-9am when you can't take the cold they're ready. On a cold calm morning those plastic rapper's, make a lot of noise too.
Redallison....is giving you good advice.
You don't have to spend alot of money to stay warm, just make sure you layer your clothes. I am a big fan of wool, with a light gortex water proof jacket in my day pack.Stay dry and use hot packs, PS don't wait untill your numb to open up the hot pack's. on real cold day's open the hand warmers in the truck, so at 8-9am when you can't take the cold they're ready. On a cold calm morning those plastic rapper's, make a lot of noise too.
Redallison....is giving you good advice.
07-25-2005, 10:32 PM
#14
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Greenville, IL
Posts: 287
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
ORIGINAL: SHoNUFF
hothands in the boats do the trick. you can also get the electrosocks from the hunting store withthe 9volt battery in them. I got laughed at one year but MAN my feet stayed toasty.
hothands in the boats do the trick. you can also get the electrosocks from the hunting store withthe 9volt battery in them. I got laughed at one year but MAN my feet stayed toasty.
07-26-2005, 09:58 PM
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location:
Posts: 258
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
The trick is to not get cold in the first place. Don't build up a sweat by walking to your hunt location with all your cold weather gear on. All that sweat is just going to sap the warmth right out of your body. I usually carry a small rucksack with my cold weather gear stuffed in it and not put it on until I'm acutally where I plan on hunting. The walk out there might be cold but you can at least walk faster to keep warm. You can't keep warm by doing that on stand.
Another idea I picked up is to buy an old cheap (but warm) sleeping bag. Cut out holes for your arms to slip in and out of and use suspenders to keep it up and wear it while out on stand. You probably won't get it to seal out all cold but it will keep your torso warm and toasty. Think of it as a big mitten for your whole body. The tough part is finding a tall enough sleeping bag that also has a camo pattern. I just wrapped mine in camo burlap with a few stiches to hold it on and found that it really works very well at hiding my outline.
Another idea I picked up is to buy an old cheap (but warm) sleeping bag. Cut out holes for your arms to slip in and out of and use suspenders to keep it up and wear it while out on stand. You probably won't get it to seal out all cold but it will keep your torso warm and toasty. Think of it as a big mitten for your whole body. The tough part is finding a tall enough sleeping bag that also has a camo pattern. I just wrapped mine in camo burlap with a few stiches to hold it on and found that it really works very well at hiding my outline.
07-27-2005, 11:54 AM
#17
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,052
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
IS you asked about underwear, UA also makes underwear in both briefs and boxer sized. They work AMAZINGLY well because they wick moisture from what typically is the most moisture producing area of the body!
With regards too electric socks, I aint tryin to start a war with anyone but from my experience they are JUNK! We carried several types over the years and they ALL had abnormally high rates of return so we would quit carrying them and look for another brand only to have the same thing happen. Finally we quit carrying them period! Folks still asked for them, but they weren't worth the hastle and POd customers later on down the road.
Look for socks from Remington, Columbia, Mossy Oak, Wigwam and Smartwool...
RA
With regards too electric socks, I aint tryin to start a war with anyone but from my experience they are JUNK! We carried several types over the years and they ALL had abnormally high rates of return so we would quit carrying them and look for another brand only to have the same thing happen. Finally we quit carrying them period! Folks still asked for them, but they weren't worth the hastle and POd customers later on down the road.
Look for socks from Remington, Columbia, Mossy Oak, Wigwam and Smartwool...
RA
07-27-2005, 12:03 PM
#18
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
I agree with Red on this. I apply Secret Uncented deoderant on my feet to
keep them from sweating, that's what makes your feet cold.
Use a good wool sock so your feet can breathe in the shoe.
keep them from sweating, that's what makes your feet cold.
Use a good wool sock so your feet can breathe in the shoe.
07-27-2005, 03:23 PM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
As already stated layers are the key to warmth. When we take to the field it can be cold to start but as the sun burns on get warm and as we all know go the exact opposite direction in a blink of an eye. When you dress in layers it will allow you to adapt to the conditions, this includes the hike into your stand which when your bundled up means your setting yourself up to freeze later.
First loose cotton anything against the body, go with polyproplene or other synthetics as mentioned that will wick or draw moisture away from your body. I use helly hansen poly's and they have always worked extremely well. I have the underwear which I wear no boxers or briefs underneath(go command), being synthetic they are tight and don't stretch like cotton undergarments..hasn't caused me any troubles. I also use the glove liners, sock liners, when really cold the neck and head cover also come with. My next layer is a light fleece set, followed by my heavier fleece or wool pull over, next will be my gortex or windstopper/waterproof garments and followed by my outer wear which is fleece as well. Feet are poly sock liners with a merino wool sock over top & my gortex boots. Hands have the poly liners and then wool or fleece flip over glove/mitts. I always carry hot hands to slide into the mitt portion to provide extra warmth. I also make sure I have a second pair of gloves and flip over mitts in my pack, just in case. For my head fleece or wool coupled with the poly liner keeps my head warm and more importantly dry.
2nd item to consider is nutrition to feed the body. I start off with a solid breaky of oatmeal, bananna, glass of milk and 1 cup of instant decaf coffee...hate it but need some java in the early am. In the field I eat foods that provide a sustain energy boost vs a bang up and flop down. Such as : PBJ sandie's, cereal bars, trail mix, etc. One must also consume fluids and I only drink water when I hunt. I drink small but constant mouthfuls vs large gulps. This help maintain proper fluid levels but when cold outside it also helps keep you warm by minimizing the void or wiz breaks you must take. We all know when its fresh outside how we feel after a long relief..chilly so minimizing this must can actually help keep you warm in the long run. With this in mind this is why I don't take drinks with caffine in them when I hit the field such as: coffee, tea, pop, etc. Caffine makes you void, so it would be counter productive. If you like your hot cup of something, your better to take chicken soup broth or even hot waterthan one of our more normal warm drinks.
I don't stand hunt anymore but do sit on the groundto rattle or ambush points. So when sitting on the ground I make sure i am off the frozen and usually snow covered floor. A fallen tree or a camp stool does the trick for me. When I did stand hunt I still layered but also used boot blankets, sleeping bags, etcfor additional comfort (as already mentioned). Also small movements to keep the blood flowing, like wiggle the toes, move the fingers/hands and small arm and leg circles. When sitting I always stand up and stretched regularily. I know this kind of goes against what we all know about movements in terms of hunting, but you can do these things slowly and carefully to reduce any ill effect. In the end if it allows you to stay comfortable, alert, safeand ultimatelylonger in the stand the benefits far out way the later.
First loose cotton anything against the body, go with polyproplene or other synthetics as mentioned that will wick or draw moisture away from your body. I use helly hansen poly's and they have always worked extremely well. I have the underwear which I wear no boxers or briefs underneath(go command), being synthetic they are tight and don't stretch like cotton undergarments..hasn't caused me any troubles. I also use the glove liners, sock liners, when really cold the neck and head cover also come with. My next layer is a light fleece set, followed by my heavier fleece or wool pull over, next will be my gortex or windstopper/waterproof garments and followed by my outer wear which is fleece as well. Feet are poly sock liners with a merino wool sock over top & my gortex boots. Hands have the poly liners and then wool or fleece flip over glove/mitts. I always carry hot hands to slide into the mitt portion to provide extra warmth. I also make sure I have a second pair of gloves and flip over mitts in my pack, just in case. For my head fleece or wool coupled with the poly liner keeps my head warm and more importantly dry.
2nd item to consider is nutrition to feed the body. I start off with a solid breaky of oatmeal, bananna, glass of milk and 1 cup of instant decaf coffee...hate it but need some java in the early am. In the field I eat foods that provide a sustain energy boost vs a bang up and flop down. Such as : PBJ sandie's, cereal bars, trail mix, etc. One must also consume fluids and I only drink water when I hunt. I drink small but constant mouthfuls vs large gulps. This help maintain proper fluid levels but when cold outside it also helps keep you warm by minimizing the void or wiz breaks you must take. We all know when its fresh outside how we feel after a long relief..chilly so minimizing this must can actually help keep you warm in the long run. With this in mind this is why I don't take drinks with caffine in them when I hit the field such as: coffee, tea, pop, etc. Caffine makes you void, so it would be counter productive. If you like your hot cup of something, your better to take chicken soup broth or even hot waterthan one of our more normal warm drinks.
I don't stand hunt anymore but do sit on the groundto rattle or ambush points. So when sitting on the ground I make sure i am off the frozen and usually snow covered floor. A fallen tree or a camp stool does the trick for me. When I did stand hunt I still layered but also used boot blankets, sleeping bags, etcfor additional comfort (as already mentioned). Also small movements to keep the blood flowing, like wiggle the toes, move the fingers/hands and small arm and leg circles. When sitting I always stand up and stretched regularily. I know this kind of goes against what we all know about movements in terms of hunting, but you can do these things slowly and carefully to reduce any ill effect. In the end if it allows you to stay comfortable, alert, safeand ultimatelylonger in the stand the benefits far out way the later.
07-27-2005, 11:10 PM
#20
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Greenville, IL
Posts: 287
RE: Staying Warm When The Hunting Gets Good
I was looking at a union suit from Polartec on LL Bean and I can purchase this garment alone for the same cost of just the mock turtleneck from UnderArmour. My question is this; can the union suit be worn as the first and innermost layer, or should it really go over the UnderArmour?
