Keeping Dry and Warm in the Snow?

Get a good shell with no insulation, preferably with a ruff material on the outiside. Then you can buy hundred dollar fancy long johns for underneath or go to walmart and pick up some fleece cheapo top and bottoms for about ten bucks. Everyone makes fleece sweatpants and shirts these days and you can be warm for cheap. The quality outer shell gives you versatility, if it's a warm but rainy spring day you can be naked underneath and not hot, and if it's cold put on what you need. I know wool was the standard forever, but you won't find anyone on a snowmobile, ski hill, or in the arctic using it as an outer layer. I've gone skiing on 40 degree days with nothing on but a pair of those plaid pajama pants and a t-shirt underneath my paper thin(no insulation) jacket and bibs and was fine because of the element proof shelter around me.

I like my swat-like matterhorn gortex boots also.
 
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illun...look's like you have it figured out...cheap fleece will certainly compete with wool...right ?? i assmumed on a hunting website were not talking about snowmobiling...i do get your point.."however"..some people may wan't to buy $100.00 longjohn's..aye..you are comparing apple's to orange's...
 
Look, I'm not sayin people who have wool should burn it as it's useless, or comparing cheap fleece to wool.

I'm saying wool can't compare to a good shell for an outer layer(I think someone said to use wool as an outer layer on this thread). A good shell doesn't have to be goretex, as it's just a patented technology, many good shells exist that don't have the gore tex brand in them. And when I go skiing in blizzards with 40 mph winds nobody is sporting a wool coat, so why wouldn't that work for less extreme conditions often found in hunting? Get what you prefer, I'm just offering a good consideration to someone who asked for help. By the way, the major long underwear manufacturers don't use wool in their products, they use fleece. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif And whether you buy cheap fleece at walmart(which I have) or the 120 dollar polar long johns from cabela's(which I have) the key is to stop the wind and water with a quality shell.
 
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By the way, the major long underwear manufacturers don't use wool in their products, they use fleece.



Actually, I might dispute that. Probably the top half dozen makers of high quality under garments use Merino Wool for both their underwear and socks. Check Smartwool, Filson, Ulfrotte, Ice Breaker, ect., all Merino Wool and those are the best you can get anywhere at any price. I have wool under garments and think they are excellent. I also have some new "hi-tech" polypro type under garments and like them pretty well. The poly type stuff does transfer moisture well, however, IMHO it isn't as warm as wool.

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the key is to stop the wind and water with a quality shell.



There are also a couple of other keys. The clothing must transfer moisture and wick it away from the body, and, breathe to allow that moisture to evaporate and escape. You can stop wind and water with a plastic trash bag, however, you'd be just as wet on the inside because of sweat and condensation.

I'm not disputing a good Gore Tex outer shell isn't a handy thing. The you can layer underneath with various garments to provide insulation and to wick moisture out. I do that during the firearms deer season here. We must wear hunter orange and there aren't a lot of quality wool wear that come spun and dyed in that color. So, I have an orange Browning Gore Tex shell parka length for an outer layer. That gives me the orange color I need to satisfy the law, breaks wind and water, and breathes pretty well. Then I layer underneath that with various wool or fleece garments to adjust for the temperatures. The shell doesn't provide insulation, so on warm days a light shirt might be all that I need under the shell and am still comfortable. Cold days will get layers of fleece and/or wool. Not a bad system.

However, when it's cold, and going to stay cold all day, then a wool parka or jacket and pants are topnotch outer wear too. Wool breathes well, blocks wind, insulates, can even soak up to 3X it's own weight in water and still provide insulation, is quiet, and wears like iron.
 
GC - well said. Wicking technology out there makes a huge difference on those cold days. Wicking sox, wool/poly blends for over-sox and goretex or thinsulate. "tights" or polypro skin wear, underarmor, and wicking material from head to toe for me, then good layers over all that with no 100% cotton anywhere. cotton holds too much moisture, even on an outer layer, and that's where the cold starts IN from. I hunted last winter on a couple days that started out -6 deg. and by mid day to +14. A fair temp. swing in a few hours, but I wasn't cold, nor did I get wet walking 3-6 miles. I also use a bum pad (like turkey hunt seats) that definitely keeps the bum warm and dry if sitting in snow. Layering and NO cotton definitely will start you out right on those cold days.
 
Having run trap lines through the winter in Northern MN and WI and hunted deer, ducks and coyotes across the northern tier of states plus being a carpenter in NW MN and Eastern ND I've spent alot of money keeping warm.

My observation is if the snow is cold enough not to melt on your clothes wool works great, when it's realy cold (zero and down) I wear a sleeveless synthetic union suit over a light synthetic longsleeve underwear top, a wool sweater and wool bib overalls. I carry a light weight down jacket in my pack and thin overboots. When I get to a stand or find a place I'sd like to stop and watch, out comes the down jacket and overboots.

Zero to freezing the same undercloths and woolsweater but drop the wool bibs and go with a hard woven wool or synthetic gaberdine slacks and a good wind breaker and overboots in the pack.

Above freezing polarfleece pants or brush pants over light synthetic long underwear, synthetic longsleeve shirt and light hunting jacket and a polar fleece vest if needed. Add wet and breatable rain suit is added.

I do alot of stump standing while I'm duck hunting, here on the coast that means laying out a set of decoys and standing in the water from ankle to waist deep through the tide change. I like breathable waders I can get my gear all set with out working up a sweat. Early in the season I wear polarfleece wader pants a synthetic shirt and insulated breathable wader jacket, getting into late Dec. and Jan. I add the sleveless synthetic union suit under the wader pants and shirt.

It works for me.

AWS
 
Smart wool long underwear/smartwool socks and layers.Use those heat thermawraps on my lower back too.Sat 11 hours opening deer day.It was 28-32 f and never got cold or out of climber.Where I work we're getting Under Armour account which means I can order their new retail $700 bib/jacket at personal use.Woohoo!Layers layers layers.
 
Layers are great so long as you have enough air space .... layers too tight are a detriment.

Too much air movement between layers also defeats the purpose of having them.

I like the adjustablity of layers too.

Like said: "Wet Cotton" will kill you. I ranch with a lot of cotton and you better be changing when you get it wet.

Three 44s
 
FILSON WOOL!!!! Any Quuestions? Then snow camo over them. I hunt in my Filson vest, sweater, socks, and whatever wool i can get on Never cold! Spend the money, I use mine for every hunting season.
 
I live where it is sort of cold. I think its about minus 20 celsius right now and winter is just getting started. Anyways when its cold like in "winter magic dvd" you do not get wet from the snow its dry as a popcorn fart. Its the wind that kills you. You need to stop it, with a shell of some sort.

I am allergic to wool cheap or expensive so i use fleece, covered by another layer of fleece and then maybe another you get the picture.

And when it is like 40 below celsius or farenheit you can not beat a good fur hat as in beaver mink or even a cheap rabbit bomber style.
 
Just to add personally I would rather be out hunting when its 30 below outside with little wind then. Hunting ducks when its a few degrees above freezing in the rain or sleet thats when your super expensive gore tex outfits shine.
 
I hunt in Sask and like TimberWolfe said, the wind will kill you. I usually wear a sweater over top of a t-shirt, sweat pants and some military surplus wind proof pants. I have a long down filled parka and Sorels that are rated to -60C. I wear a white balaclava and mil surp winter whites over top. Works for me.
 
I work outside everyday no matter what the weather so I have tried alot of different stuff.

I like a silk blend base layer then a good fleece layer and a good shell. For me keepin my feet warm is first and foremost Insulated Gore tex boots and a blend sock that wicks moisture well. Like timberwolfe said when it gets so cold the snow is dry So I can get away with insulated carhartt bibs as long as I take my seat with me and a good jacket fleece lined waterproof windproof also has vents under the arms to cool down. And I like a wool cap. This set up works for me but I've only tried it down to -30F /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Any colder than that I will probably stay in the house unless I have to work /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gifthats when I get the company arctic gear out

The big thing is to not wear such heavy layers that you build a sweat. If I start sweating than I am chilled all day. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
For good calling weather I like snow on the ground and about -15 to -25 farenheit with no wind. The coyotes have to keep moving and feeding. If there is a storm front moving in or out that makes it all the better. With that said, I will sound really old fashioned. A couple of years ago I was digging through some things I had in storage and found a pair of "insulated" longjohns that I had had since high school. They had an elastic waist so they still fit. By insulated I mean quilted. I am aging myself here, but how many of you remember the "Holofil 808" or the polyester fiberfill. That's what this is and I wish I could find some more. It is loose-fitting and I can wear it under my regular camo BDUs. I can sit out in -15 to -25 for 1/2 to 3/4 hour at a time. If I am in the snow I will wear my carhart coat under my white shell. If no snow I will wear it under my Natgear shell coat. I sit on a stadium seat and stay plenty warm and when I need to lay down I just unhook the buckles on the stadium seat and flatten it out. A good pair of Sorels are on my feet. I wear a white pullover face mask in snow and a camo stocking hat with facemask when there is no snow. I don't walk long distances so one of the best ways to keep warm is a pair of Carhart coveralls with a white shell over it in the snow. Now all the camo makers are making them. But I sure do like my old-fashioned "Holofil 808". If anybody knows where I can find some please let me know.
 
I'll cast my ballot in with the Wool users. I don't have to worry to much here in Western NC with cold weather, but cold rain can be a problem. I spent 6yrs. in Iceland working on the docks along the coast. I like to have froze to death, until I looked around and saw what the natives were wearing. As they say, "when in Rome.......". They wear wool on top of wool, on top of wool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. When it gets super windy in the winter time, they break out the very tightly woven wool as an outer layer. Generally, good wool will keep you dry even in the rain, plus it will continue to insulate.
I usually wear polar fleece, but when it does get cold (30 above /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) I break out the wool.

K22
 
The rule I live by is simple, ABC.... Anything But Cotton.

I wear wool blend thermal long johns and then wool pants and a wool sweater. If you get wet while wearing wool you'll still maintain body heat as the wool will dry out while being worn. If you get wet wearing cotton, you will loose that body heat within a few minutes and be in serious trouble. Cotton does not dry well while being worn in damp cold enviroments, it retains moisture. It does not wick away moisture from your skin instead it absorbs the moisture and holds onto it.

If you wear cotton you may feel warm at first but there is no way to stop persperation. As your body sweats you become more and more dehydrated. As you dehydrate, you'll become tired and feel sleepy, your body is using up energy at an extreme rate.

For waterfowl and coyote hunting I have been using the Rivers West products from Sportsmans Warehouse and so far it keeps me very dry and plenty warm. I've worn it in rain, snow, freezing blowing rain, laid down in snow on 15 degree days with the wind chill in the single digits and never felt the need for anything else. So far it's working well for me.
 
Hey that Rivers West is my favorite outer layer too. They have it in some good patterns and it performs as advertised plus they stand behind it. They offer several different models and some with neoprene closures like around the wrists and boots.
So for me the best that can be found to date are Cabelas heavyweight silk then Smartwool midweight or Filson wool long johns, then a good quality fleece covered by Rivers West H2P.
 
Ok so we got everyone opinion and suggestions about body heat but what about the digits? How do you guys keep your fingers warm? I have bought a good pair of gloves and stick some heat pads in there.
 
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