Cold weather Gear, what works and what don't

T

Tbone-AZ

New member
With it getting cold and having two kids that are wanting to go out with me. I think that i have a solution and have some cold weather clothing and just cover that with big sized camo.

But I was interested in what you guys use for keeping warm, for you, and if you have kids.. For them too.

I was in the store the other day looking at thermals and wow. There are almost as many different types of thermals as there are camo.
 
merino wool and rivers west camo coat and pants. Freedom with non binding attire. Soft and quiet. Wool has a broad comfort range with heat retention when wet, plus no odor.
 
Cold in AZ ?..ok perhaps up toward Flagstaff..
Opening day deer season tomorrow; cab of truck is warm, hot hands hand warmers help...
Shooting from the road in a truck is not legal however parked out in a field with heater going...
For kids, hand warmers work well.
 
My daughter layers clothes under coveralls then we pack a blanket in the backpack... We are hunting stationary from deer stands....

Myself= heater body suit... With that I can stay comfortable in a stand all day...
 
I've killed more deer and coyotes in brown Carhartts than anything else. Ever notice how deer sneak up on you in their brown outfits? Camo works but way more emphasis on that than wind. Camo is good for camo manufacturers. Just like scent control clothes.

Carhartt bibs or coveralls for you and the kids. They out grow them in two years. But holy smokes cold in Phoenix? Whats that 40? Your killing us. 16 here tomorrow morning.
 
I hunt, and sleep in the back of my truck at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In williams this morning was 27
There have been a more than a few trips in past winters where it's -10 out there.

That is one thing that makes it tough out here. You have to be prepared for everything from 70 to -10 and that can happen in the same trip.
 
When I go out in the zero or below range I wear a tight undershirt and long underwear then another set of loose fitting undershirt and long underwear. Then a sweater and a warm hoodie under a Carhart jacket. If I get too warm I ether stop walking or I start taking off layers under the Carhart.

So far my favorite pants for cold and snow have been the two layers of long underwear with a large pair of fleese PJ pants with camo Goretex pants on the outside. I've sat in snowbanks for hours and my legs stay mostly warm and mostly dry, if I wasn't sitting directly on the snow I could last for days.

If you are trying to stay warm while you're sleeping buy an army surplus bivy bags for $75. They are rated for -40 with all the components, I survived a couple night sleeping in -20, it would have been great if I wasn't sleeping directly on the snow. If you get cold in the sleeping bags open a couple hand warmers inside the bag.

Oops, don't forget to buy some Mad Bomber hats.
 
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I stay toasty warm all winter wearing: Medium weight capilene long underwear top and bottoms. A long sleeve tshirt. A light wool sweater. A down sweater. A water/snowproof shell jacket. Jeans. Black insulated water/snowproof ski pants. Wool socks. 600g Kenetreks and gaiters or cross country skis. A good wool hat. A balaclava. Black Diamond insulated leather gloves. Good to -30.

Im a firm believer in down. And hand warmers.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZI hunt, and sleep in the back of my truck at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In williams this morning was 27
There have been a more than a few trips in past winters where it's -10 out there.

That is one thing that makes it tough out here. You have to be prepared for everything from 70 to -10 and that can happen in the same trip.


Yeah. guess I kind of forgot how temperatures could vary like that up there.
Like others mentioned thermal underwear, then layer..still like them hand/foot warmers to keep my fingers and toes from hurting.
FWIW- I think that my earlier post jinxed me; had to walk into the field this AM, then had to drag my deer better than 1000 yards back to the truck. Landowner/friend was making a delivery to the elevator and had not unlocked the gate...lol
 
This will definitely get some laughs ..... PANTYHOSE. Yep, you read that correctly. I discovered this several years ago when I duck hunted a lot. My wife suggested that I wear them instead of insulated underwear, and she was correct. They are lightweight and are extremely warm for a under layer. You can decide if you want to wear them or not. I also have discovered that lightweight silk socks worn underneath wool socks keep your feet from sweating as much and are warmer than heavy socks alone. I don't like wool because it irritates me, and I prefer fleece. You can purchase it with windproof layers and it is a great material in cold weather.

OK ... let's hear the pantyhose remarks.
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: HidalgoThis will definitely get some laughs ..... PANTYHOSE. Yep, you read that correctly. I discovered this several years ago when I duck hunted a lot. My wife suggested that I wear them instead of insulated underwear, and she was correct. They are lightweight and are extremely warm for a under layer. You can decide if you want to wear them or not. I also have discovered that lightweight silk socks worn underneath wool socks keep your feet from sweating as much and are warmer than heavy socks alone. I don't like wool because it irritates me, and I prefer fleece. You can purchase it with windproof layers and it is a great material in cold weather.

OK ... let's hear the pantyhose remarks.
lol.gif


I thought nobody would fess up to that.

I do wear a pair of Mens silk long johns under my merino wool. Cabelas brand. Very very nice.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZI hunt, and sleep in the back of my truck at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. In williams this morning was 27
There have been a more than a few trips in past winters where it's -10 out there.

That is one thing that makes it tough out here. You have to be prepared for everything from 70 to -10 and that can happen in the same trip.


That is a is a big temperature spread. I'd guess you have to prepared for all.
 
I use to freeze when hunting, no matter how many layers of clothes I would wear. I finally broke down and bought a Cabala's MTO-50 Parka and matching pants. This is their best stuff, waterproof, windproof, expensive. Couldn't be happier, and laugh at cold days and nights. Great for trips, as you can wear the liner as a jacket, wear just the outer if it is rainy or windy. Fourteen pockets in the parka, you'll lose stuff in it. Well thought out design. I bought the pants large enough to go over my jeans. You spend a bunch of money on a rifle and scope, why not $300 on a GOOD hunting coat!

Cabelas 7 in 1 MT050 parka

Polypropylene tops and bottoms, a warm shirt, and blue jeans, is all I have needed under it so far. I have been out when it was 3 degrees for several hours calling and stayed warm. Sat in the rain for several hours and stayed dry.

Keeping kids warm is tough without spending lots of money that they will outgrow in a year. If you can get mom to buy dark brown and green school coats you'll be ahead of the game. You can cover the school coats with a leafy wear jacket, and that works good, looks like a gillie suit. I found my kids some quilted nylon and poly long johns that they loved.
 
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For kids you would have to be careful and not let it get to hot,but I have found that if you put a hand warmer,hot hands is what I use,in your hat it will help keep you warmer all over. Most heat is lost from your head.A good hat with a hand warmer added to regular warm clothes makes a big difference. A pocket for a hand warmer sewn on the next to inside shirt just between the shoulders keeps the muscles needed to pull a bow warm. Hand warmers don't work good if they can,t get some air. Shake them up good a few minutes before you put them in place.If you take them out before they wear out they will heat up again the next day if you store them in an air tight plastic bag. I used to sleep in a military goose down mummy bag with long underwear down into the low 20,s and be toasty. Just be sure to put something water proof under the bag. When working outside in bad cold weather the hand warmer in my hardhat liner was a life saver.
 
Thanks for the post. I'm digging what I read ninehorses, about the 7 in 1 parka. Has excellent reviews. I've never had anything that was 100% waterproof to hunt in. Too pricey for kids that outgrow stuff every year.
 
A PULL OVER type heavy hooded sweat shirt. Use it as your top under layer before your coveralls/parka etc. Protects heat escaping from the neck area and you can also always use the hood. Also inexpensive.
 
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