For those who use a Heater body suit type outerwear...

[South MS Bowhunter]

I'm looking at the Slumber Jack Arctic cloak or thermal cloak for a tree stand/natural blind cold sit garment.

Who use them and what your thoughts on practicality for bow hunting and how you carry them in to your stand.

Camo fire has some pretty good closeouts on them.  And some of the modern synthetics are too noisy for my liking.  How quiet are these to move about in once a deer is spoted?

And once in the stand that where my biggest problem is in keeping warm, so looking for better option once seated and in place.

[Jasper2]

I have and use the HBS so I can only comment on it.  It is soft, quiet and you will not get cold in it if you dress appropriately inside of it.  That said, if you do most of your hunting in MS, it may be overkill as it is fairly large and bulky.  

What I like about the HBS over the competition is that your legs are covered and separate so that you can move around if necessary. Additionally, you are completely out of the bag when making a shot so there is no baggy chest material to get in your way.  I carry mine across my back rolled up like a sleeping bag inside of nylon laundry bag that has a single carry strap.

There is a learning curve to getting out of it with deer around but it is really not too bad.  I always figured that even if I get busted a few times, I still have a better chance than I would have from the couch, bc that's where I would be without my HBS when temps dip into the teens and below  

I just bought something from Rivers West-- it looks like those hooded cloaks football players wear on the sidelines when it is really cold, only camo outside and fleece inside. Waterproof, really warm, and a lot cheaper than the HBS.

[tecum-tha]

Now MS seems to me much too warm for a HBS.
It is too warm in Southern Indiana for the HBS most of the times.
I would opt for a Loden Type of garment.
Especially if the cool is a little more moist.
HBS is not waterproof by design and the one negative comment/review you see is from people using it in wet/snowy conditions with temperatures ranges just around freezing (sleet/very wet snow). It is not really good for that by design, as extreme cold will also be always dry.
I think for mild Winters like in MS, something like this is plenty:
100% wool and very wind resistant. This is not your blanket wool and it is very versatile:
 https://www.loden-friedl.de/Ansitzdecke-Ansitzkissen/Ansitzdecke-mit-Muff.html?XTCsid=506tpvlok42073n2h7f2816s62

Together with a Loden Shirt/Jacket:
 https://www.loden-friedl.de/Lodensweatshirt/Lodensweatshirt.html?XTCsid=506tpvlok42073n2h7f2816s62

Depending on the temperatures, an icebreaker long arm shirt underwear and a fleece jacket if its colder for insulation under the wool.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Ok if not a HBS what about a bush shirt like the Swanndri or how doe the Asbell New Andorack compare to it?

Wanting something warm but QUIET!

I got a new synthetic jacket from a popular wool company and it is just to noisy! Love their base layers but this jacket would never do at close range.

[MCS]

I don't know much about them but there is a product called the IWOM. Take a look.

[Ky longbow]

If you're looking to stay warm in a fairly wide range of temps, I would look at the first lite sanctuary or other cold weather products. Most of their cloths are made out of merino wool and dead quiet. While pricey, they're well worth every penny. I've sat still in 15-20 degrees for hours and did not feel cold at all. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. They usually run sales on their Realtree products.

[KSdan]

A few of my friends and I have invested in Cabelas Standhunter Extreme Parka (and bibs for some) for the extreme cold stand hunting. They recently and regularly go on sale for about 30-40% off.  You can literally sit all day in sub zero temps in this gear with minimal base layers(one friend often takes a nap in it [at sub zero], another just used it in ND at sub zero with 30 mph winds.  Actually works!) It is amazing stuff.  Well designed for the bowhunter.  Zonz camo actually works quite well for later fall/winter season. I can carry the stuff strapped to my stand/pack- but it is not lightwt. and I would not want to walk very far actually wearing it.  BUT- for typical whitetail hunting I am not sure there is anything quite this good.  (BTW- I watched Ryan [stickflingers] whitetail hunt in Manitoba posted here on TG. I think he was wearing this stuff as well)    

BTW too- while not trying to re-post an entire previous post where much of this discussion occurred; we tried the FL Sanctuary and Woodbury as some of the Sitka (not Fanatic) here in KS.  It was all too noisy for our situations when it goes dead quiet.  Wool and polar fleece were truly the only workable options.  This Cabela stuff is their own interesting blend of fleece with wool.      

Dan in KS

[South MS Bowhunter]

Well since the cats out of the bag it was First Lite North branch Jacket.

I love their base layers but this outerwear is NOISY!

Bad thing is I gave my kids my wishlist and they got it.  Can't return due to clearance of Realtree camp.

Would trade or sale if I could for wool

[johnnyk71]

Originally posted by Ky longbow:
If you're looking to stay warm in a fairly wide range of temps, I would look at the first lite sanctuary or other cold weather products. Most of their cloths are made out of merino wool and dead quiet. While pricey, they're well worth every penny. I've sat still in 15-20 degrees for hours and did not feel cold at all. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. They usually run sales on their Realtree products.

John, i'll second this thought.  i have the Sanctuary bib and jacket. while they are really expensive, they are all you'll ever need for warmth, and are DEAD quiet.

[tecum-tha]

John,
can you explain what you consider cold and what kind of conditions you plan to wear that?
I have some of the Asbell wool as well, but this is essentially blanket wool.
That is 100% different from a Loden wool fabric.
Especially now, they are producing all kind of specialized Loden garments.
Loden is a walked wool fabric. You would call it felted, but in a consistent manner.
Also, the conditions in what you hunt in should also determine your fabric choice:
Are there a lot of burrs or thorny stuff in your neck of the woods where you hunt?
As an example, where I hunt, there is a lot of sticker burrs and a lot of thorny stuff, so outerwear made from fleece or higher nap wool is an absolute no-wear (unless you like to pick sticker burrs for hours, lol).
What I like for pretty cold is:
Merino Icebreaker long underwear
Depending on the temperatures, a thin, medium or thicker fleece shirt/jacket  a windbreaker vest if it is slightly windy or a Cabelas MT50 Gore-Tex jacket and overpants when it is "very windy and humid".
If there is no wind, only a thinner wool shirt over the underwear, German army pants and a poly-cotton overjacket. The overjacket will not pick up sticker burrs and protects the higher quality clothing underneath from thorn damage. It has pockets for all the gear I want closeby and is stick and limbs camo made in the USA.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Roland,

Appreciate the questions.

Deep South Mississippi wet humid climate.

October through November not uncommon for temps still in 80's but mornings in 30's.

December through February more common to have low 30's with occasional 20's but warming up to 40 or higher.

The humid conditions makes it feel colder down here and I just don't handle cold well if sitting

[Jackpine Boyz]

I have a slumberjack artic cloak.  After running it through the wash I would consider using it for archery if I was shooting over 20 yards, which I don't.  It is now dedicated to ice fishing.  In my stands at 12 yards it was too noise to use with archery.  Blaze orange one would be great for rifle if camofire still offers them.  The product is very warm, just too loud for archery.

[johnnyk71]

Originally posted by johnnyk71:
 

Originally posted by Ky longbow:
If you're looking to stay warm in a fairly wide range of temps, I would look at the first lite sanctuary or other cold weather products. Most of their cloths are made out of merino wool and dead quiet. While pricey, they're well worth every penny. I've sat still in 15-20 degrees for hours and did not feel cold at all. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. They usually run sales on their Realtree products.

John, i'll second this thought.  i have the Sanctuary bib and jacket. while they are really expensive, they are all you'll ever need for warmth, and are DEAD quiet. [/b]

dang, i wish i had known you were considering that. the Sanctuary stuff is the most quiet thing i own (and super warm), and the merino base layers are silent too. i haven't purchased any other First Lite outerwear, even though i own a ton of their stuff, because of the noise concerns.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Johnny,

I was looking at the Sanctuary, and it sounds like a better garment than the North Branch, but my daughter got what she could afford and that was too much.

I hate to do anything with it but I don't thing I would use it hunting, may make a good layering piece    

[pdk25]

Got the Arctic cloak cheap.  Don't know what to do with it now, lol.  Too noisy for bowhunting.  Maybe store it in the car for breakdown survival gear.

[johnnyk71]

Originally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
Johnny,

I was looking at the Sanctuary, and it sounds like a better garment than the North Branch, but my daughter got what she could afford and that was too much.

I hate to do anything with it but I don't thing I would use it hunting, may make a good layering piece      

Hey, John. I don't know if you do Facebook or not, but I just joined a group on there called "First Lite Gear Buy Sell Trade". It's a public group of people trading and selling FL gear. Might be an option for you to swap your jacket without losing money. Just a thought.