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How do you guys/gals stay warm?

You will pay for it but i wear cabelas extreme stand hunter bibs and a woolimate pullover with wind shear.Best set of clothing i ever invested in.When it is 20 or below i will pack in the extreme stand hunter parka.A good fleece balaclava and wool socks with good pac boots or military style mickey boots.I start wearing the bibs as soon as the temps start to drop.I use to get cold also but since wearing this stuff i never do any more.Pricey but in the long run should last forever as long as you take care of it and worth every penny.You really dont have to wear much underneath it either.Alot of my friends are now wearing it also and love it.Been out in 0 degree weather and the stuff really works.
 
The best advice I can give after years of figuring it out, is to be overdressed on the stand during any type of cold weather. Good quality bibs are a must for me, good socks and boots (I have different boots for different applications, pac boots with removable booties, rubber boots and also normal boots, all insulated). Boots used to be on stand for an extended time should be at least one size larger than you normally wear to allow for air circulation. All of my hunting stuff ONLY gets worn during hunting season. I also use a baclava, sometimes just as a neck warmer, other times over my head, depending on the weather, I couple this with either a baseball style cap or a goretex style hat with a small brim. Will Primos wears the same style hat. I wear thin gloves almost all of the time and utilize a muff with handwarmers inside as need be. The muff also works well to store your cell phone and bleat can. Stay away from anything cotton! Polypropelene base layers and then fleece. Did I mention fleece? Not hoodie type fleece, but quality fleece. I also wear fleece pants under my bibs when it is really cold, I have a thin pair and a heavier pair.

On top of all of this, you have to use a comfortable stand. I like the Summit Viper and use a Millenium as a hang on.

Remember, once you are cold, you are done. I have found that it is better to be overdressed than underdressed, your body will acclimate to being TOO warm easier than TOO cold. If you are too hot, you can either shed a layer or unzip a layer. I also carry an extra pair of socks in my pack in case my socks get damp.

I sat for over 11 hours on opening day last gun season and was comfortable.
 
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The hunts leading up to the night I killed my buck last year were brutal. It was cold, damp AND windy. I started with a light sock (Copperhead or UA) in my Rocky Mud Sox and then added a foot warmer when I arrived. I also packed in a heavier wool sock in case I wanted to change on an all day sit.

I layered with UA Cold Gear, then Copperhead layers over those. My legs would get a Rocky fleece lined pant, then my Cabelas waterfowl bibs. Up top I added my Cabelas wind proof zip up, UA Ayton fleece zip up, UA hoodie. I also packed in my Cabelas down vest. I carry a long strip of grey fleece about 12"x3' and use it as a scarf. Sounds gay, but add a hand warmer at the top of your spine in between the UA and Cooperhead, your in good shape. I buy the big hand warmers. Since I stand most of the day, I keep my release in my hoodie, then keep my arms tucked in my bibs, hands in pocket. I wear my TOO hat with a fleece beanie that barely covers the tops of my ears so I can still hear.

I endured some tough all day sits like that and it showed my main weakness was wind. Really need some better wind proof stuff. The shirt I do have is restrictive, so I'm not a fan of drawing with it on. My old man taught me to dress in layers, so that's how I roll...
 
Forgot gloves. I'm like TJ, while I'm on stand I only wear a glove on my left hand. I like the feel of that cold aluminum release when I engage! This year I have some Sitka gloves. Weren't cheap, but they are some NICE gloves. I was only getting one season from my UA gloves.
 
Has anyone given the old Zippo hand warmer a try? I was thinking about getting one, but wasn't for sure how well it would work. My hunting buddy picked up a Clam Thermal Ground Blind, since mostly do ground hunting. I am looking forward to seeing how warm that will keep ya on a 20 degree morning.
 
Jackalope said:
Another tip for the wallet. You guys don't have to buy expensive hunting brand fleece and wool. Lots of my layers are common clothes. You can buy fleece pants and shirts from old navy. I buy wool sweaters from goodwill when I find them. Under layers don't have to be camo, why pay for expensive camo brands when you can find the same fabrics at other places for a quarter of the price. That's my tip.
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Excellent point!

Don't laff - I wear red-checkered fleece pajama bottoms underneath insulated carhartts bibs. Good sox inside Muck Boots. Layered shirts under a $20 Walmart camo jacket. The 2 keys to the whole thing are the insulated bibs - there is no chance of the lower back getting cold - and Mucks for warm feet.
 
Just had a thought which maybe someone can chime in on. Seems like on coldest days when I change my socks at the stand there is still moisture in the boots which makes the feet cold even with the fresh socks. Has anyone ever tried wearing a large ziplock or plastic grocery store bag on the walk in over top their socks. Then get to stand and change out. I am thinking of a way to keep the inside of my boots dry. I am afraid it would be noisy as all get out, but just trying to think outside the box to keep our feet warm. Thoughts? Too noisy? Create additional sweat maybe? I dunno. Just thinking out loud.
 
hickslawns said:
Just had a thought which maybe someone can chime in on. Seems like on coldest days when I change my socks at the stand there is still moisture in the boots which makes the feet cold even with the fresh socks. Has anyone ever tried wearing a large ziplock or plastic grocery store bag on the walk in over top their socks. Then get to stand and change out. I am thinking of a way to keep the inside of my boots dry. I am afraid it would be noisy as all get out, but just trying to think outside the box to keep our feet warm. Thoughts? Too noisy? Create additional sweat maybe? I dunno. Just thinking out loud.
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The air activated toe warmers do a fine job of drying out the boots unless you are a heavy sweater.
 
Jackalope said:
Another tip for the wallet. You guys don't have to buy expensive hunting brand fleece and wool. Lots of my layers are common clothes. You can buy fleece pants and shirts from old navy. I buy wool sweaters from goodwill when I find them. Under layers don't have to be camo, why pay for expensive camo brands when you can find the same fabrics at other places for a quarter of the price. That's my tip.
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Yea, I have several old wool sweaters I bought at the Goodwill a few years back. Same with the fleece stuff. I already spend enough coin on my outer layers and equipment. Best advice on here is from Huck. Placing handwarmers on main arteries is way more effectice than on toes, feet, etc.
 
I dont own any expensive stuff. i kinda go the route that Joe brought up. Inexpensive fleece layers with a camo jacket on top. When it is really cold, I have some wells camo insulated coveralls. think I paid $50 for them. x2 on the hand and toe warmers. I buy them post season when they are on sale. usually find a 6 pack of toe warmers for a buck.

I guess I am kinda lucky in the aspect that I actually prefer colder weather to hot weather. As long as my feet are dry, I'm all good.
 
During Bow I do every other upper layer as a vest. Medalist silver long sleve shirt, tight fitting fleece, fleece vest, Larger fleece long sleeve shirt, down vest, windstopper shell, camo. This allows move arm movement than long sleeve after long sleeve.
 
I bought the UA storm series this year, mainly because I wanted a good set of bowhunting clothes. I am usually done deer hunting by December so I can concentrate on waterfowl. I have hunted with it since the temps turned, and am so far really happy with it. I have cold gear base layers, a wool sweatshirt, and a pair of sweatpants. For really cold weather, I have the arctic shield boot covers. They work great for me. A pair of wool gloves keep my fingers warm and flexible.
 
A few of you have already said it but you do get what you pay for. I've gone through enough cheap clothes to finally learn that if I just bought high quality stuff to begin with I would have saved myself a lot of money. For outer layers I like UA. I just bought their Rut Series pants and jacket. They are insulated and really do a nice job blocking the wind. I wore them tonight and it was in the high 30's and I never got cold. I also wear a UA winter hat and if needed a baclava. For my hands it's a thin pair of UA gloves and when it gets cold enough I use a muff with a handwarmer in it. To me the key to staying warm is your base layers and your socks. In my opinion this is where UA falls short. I don't think their base layers and socks are designed to hold in heat. They do a nice job of wicking moisture but they don't hold heat well. Two years ago I switched to base layers and socks made by SmartWool. Now I'm not going to kid you, this stuff is not cheap. But to me it's worth it. They are a company based in Colorado and their stuff is designed for skiers and hikers who face the tough conditions of the Rockies. Their stuff is made with Merino Wool. Not only does it wick and hold heat, it also has the added benefit of scent control. The wool they use naturally controls your scent so it never has to be refreshed like other brands. I have their heaviest base layer top and bottom and I wear them whenever it is below 45. I've worn them when it's been as cold as 0 and they haven't let me down. As for socks I think they are by far the best. I wear a pair of their hiker liners and then a pair of their hiking socks over that. I have some socks for temps over 40 and some for temps below 40. This system along with my Muck Excursion boots has yet to let me down. Another thing a like about their stuff is it's relatively thin so you don't feel like the Michelin Man walking around the woods. Most days all I have on top is a Smart Wool base layer, long sleeve camo shirt and my UA coat. On my lower half it's just the SmartWool base layer and UA pants. When it gets real cold I add mid-layers like a Smart Wool sweater on top and fleece pants on the bottom. Sometimes I'll use a vest instead of the sweater but that depends on how windy it is that day. High winds I prefer the sweater. Sorry to ramble on but I've been hunting for 25 years and for 23 of them I tried every cheap way I could think of to stay warm. When I finally smartened up and bought quality stuff I stopped being cold. And it's hard to hunt when your shivering.
 
I am hearing Merino wool come up in conversation more and more.

Just a thought: Read the instructions for care. I wash cold and line dry. It is expensive, so shrinking it is a bad idea. Hope it helps someone from kicking themselves later.
 
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