Clothing layers (hunting-related)

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bmilla35

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Aug 29, 2007
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I was torn between putting this here and hunting & fishing but when searching first (yes I did look through the forums briefly first) anything remotely relevant was posted here. So here we go...

This is a two part question:

1) When you guys are out in the cold, what layers are you wearing?

Hunting season is starting up before we know it, and i'm not quite ready to say the least. My usual hunting apparel has worn out over the last 5 years. I replaced my hunting jacket last year with a nice Cabelas parka (scenk-lok, gore-tex, the whole shibang) that is more than enough to keep my upper body warm and dry. However, my bibs that I usually wear, have just been replaced with a pair of Cabelas MT050 Gore-Tex Scent-lok pants because the price was too good to pass up. Unforunately, they aren't insulated. I have under armour cold gear thermals that do a decent job, but my lower body will definitely need a good middle layer, which leads us to...

2) What's a good middle layer for hunting? Being that I have a good base layer and a good weatherproof outer layer, I need a good middle layer that will insulate the best I guess? I was thinking wool, but have no idea.

I would really like to keep this around $50, because if it were much more (aka $100) I would have just been better off getting the insulated version of the pants :p

Thanks for the help guys...hopefully there is something out there for me.
 
1) I'm all about layers :thumbup: I usually have a base of either underarmor or lululemon cold gear, both top and bottom, then that's pretty much it for technical clothing. I like polypropylene top and bottom layers if it's stupid cold, fleece and wool and hoodies; tad and carhart pants; then over that I like to have some coveralls and a jacket or varying quality and expense :)

2) google "polypropylene pants"... you should be able to find some decent pairs for $15-30, some come with tops, others need to be bought seperately. They're ugly as hell, but super comfortable and very warm for how thin they are.

Good luck :)
 
What kind of hunting?

I use quality sweatpants quite often for a mid layer. I don't really stand hunt much though.
 
What kind of temperatures are we talking about here? Take a look at swedish Woolpower. They're products are topnotch and do a great job of keeping you warm.
 
For cold weather, wool is the only way to go. I've tried all the synthetic stuff, and it just comes up short.
 
Sounds like you have most of the bases covered but I'll suggest two(2) items often overlooked...head and feet. You head really is the thermostat of your body..cover and uncover as necessary to regulate core temps. May just be me but if my feet stay warm and dry I'm good to go...when lived and hunted North I wore Gore-Tex and Thinsulate insulated boots...usually a Cordura nylon/leather combo..now living and hunting in the South have ditched the insulation.

Inexpensive poly long underwear tops and bottoms will keep the moisture off your skin..worked for me as a base layer when deer/waterfowl hunting.
 
I did stumble across Wool power during my research, but it's wayyyy outta my price range. I

Unk, I do indeed suffer from cold feet every year. I wear a pair of gore-tex leather/nylon like yourself with 800g insulate. I use a pair of nice wool socks, too. Still have cold feet. I think they sweat, so this year i'm going to try spraying anti-perspirant on them.

Anyways, I ended up getting a good deal on a pair of Filson wool pants that I couldn't pass up on.
 
bmilla35 said:
Unk, I do indeed suffer from cold feet every year. I wear a pair of gore-tex leather/nylon like yourself with 800g insulate. I use a pair of nice wool socks, too. Still have cold feet. I think they sweat, so this year i'm going to try spraying anti-perspirant on them.
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Dont forget to wear a thin pair of liner-socks. They'll wick the moisture away from your feet, while the wool socks will keep them warm. Dry feet are warm feet :thumbup:

Here are Woolpowers 12 tips to keeping your feet warm: http://www.woolpower.se/en/asp/kladigratt_4.asp

Here are 12 tips for cold feet!

1. KEEP THE BODY WARM, AND PUT A HAT ON
In order to keep the feet from getting cold, it is important that the rest of the body is properly dressed When the body gets cold it puts a priority on keeping the heart, brain and other vital organs warm, and so reduces heat flow to the hands and feet. This is why your feet and hands usually feel cold first, even if the rest of the body feels warm. And a head without a hat works like a chimney where a big part of the body heat escapes.

2. EAT AND DRINK
The body needs energy in order to maintain its temperature balance, so do not forget to eat and drink. And it is not necessarily warm liquids that you need in order to keep warm, but rather energy rich food and drinks.

3. DOUBLE UP THE SOCK
The layering principle is for socks as well. Wear a thinner, fitted sock closest to your foot and a thicker sock on top of it. This system helps absorb moisture from the foot and also traps maximum amounts of air. This also helps you avoiding blisters as friction is dissapated between your socks and
not against your skin.

4. DO NOT CONDUCT THE HEAT
A cold surface can conduct a large amount of heat away from your feet, so it is important to insulate your feet as much as possible. Use an insulating insole, preferably one made from wool, inside your shoes, and stand on a foam pad or some pine branches to prevent your feet’s warmth from being conducted to the cold ground.

5. KEEP YOUR FEET DRY, USE THE RIGHT SOCKS
Keeping your feet dry is vital when you don’t want to have cold feet. Wet feet quickly turn into cold feet. During low activity, one of your feet perspires roughly 3 ml of moisture per hour while heavy activity puts it up to about 15 ml. During very heavy work, the perspiration can exceed 30 ml per hour.Use socks made from moisture transporting material, such as wool. Wool fibers absorb moisture remarkably well, and can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture without feeling moist. And wool gives off some heat when wet, as well.

6. CHANGE INTO CLEAN AND DRY SOCKS OFTEN
Switch socks just before going outside in the cold so that they are not too warm and moist from being worn inside. By alternating between two pairs of socks, you can change multiple times during a day.

7. DRY YOUR MOIST SOCKS
To dry out your moist socks, use your body heat. Tuck your damp socks inside the waistband of your pants and let them dry from the heat that your body gives out.

8. MOVE THE MOISTURE WITH WOOL
Many problems with cold feet are caused by a lack of ventilation. Very dense materials in socks, shoes and boots only allow for a small amount of moisture to evaporate. When your feet perspire heavily, wool will actively absorb the excess moisture and move it away from your skin. Too much cotton in your socks will retain the moisture, and keep it from evaporating away.

9. TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF
Take your shoes off when you take a break so that the moisture in them gets the chance to escape.

10. PLENTY OF ROOM
If the blood flow to your feet is impaired for any reason, your feet will quickly become cold. Think of your circulation. Use shoes that allow for some extra room, and do not overtighten them. This can reduce blood flow and your feet will quickly get cold. You have to be able to move your toes.

11. MOVE BOTH YOUR TOES AND FEET
By moving both your toes and feet, you stimulate blood flow. This increases your feet’s temperature and reduces the risk of localized frostbite.

12. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET
It is important to take care of your feet. Clean and dry feet afford better blood circulation, which allows you to handle the cold better, and helps minimize the chance of blisters. Do not use waterbased creams for your feet since the water in the cream can freeze and cause frostbite at low temperatures.
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This[/URL] is the closest thing i've come across so far[/QUOTE]

BMilla's wool layer looks like the ticket. With that as a middle layer, you will be all set. +1 on the advice for head and feet. I found that a good nylon/silk sock liner covered by a good merino wool sock was just the thing - I always used to get cold feet, then I doscovered my problem was that my socks were too thick. Once I kept the layers on my feet down to 2, and allowed for some airspace in my boots around my toes, my feet stayed warmer than with a too thick wool sock that fit tight in my boots (Sorrells or Schnees, depending on the depth of snow and terrain). Same with my noggin. A thin poly liner baclava (sp?) with a wool stocking hat for when it is really cold-the key for me is keeping my ears covered.
 
It's not just their wool, either. We have an oiled tin cloth hunting vest in the family, that thing will stand in the corner by itself. Waterproof, and incredibly tough. Chainsaws have a hard time going through tin cloth. Good luck again, brother. What are you going for this year?
 
thatotherguy said:
It's not just their wool, either. We have an oiled tin cloth hunting vest in the family, that thing will stand in the corner by itself. Waterproof, and incredibly tough. Chainsaws have a hard time going through tin cloth. Good luck again, brother. What are you going for this year?
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Whitetail, coyote, and black bear!
 
Woot! I can go for whitetail and coyote in my area, but there's no bear. :grumpy:
I would love to have a chance at bear... So would my dad :D
Best of luck!
 
I'll certainly need it..thanks! PA has a really good bear population, and some real giants, too. A downsize is we can't bait :(

I wish I could be in Montana where they have everything!
 
I'm a state or two west of you, and we used to have bear around here, but we hunted em back to the Smoky Mountains.
Montana is on my bucket list, as is Alaska. Mmmmm, caribou. :D
 
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