Heater Body Suit

[Kevin Hansen]

Hello, all.
I've read every thread I could find here on the Heater Body Suit and am sold on the fact it is a quality piece of gear that works. I was surprised at how very few posts there were that had anything negative to say about them. However, I still have in my mind the notion it would be too noisy with the paranoid deer of post rifle season, on a windless evening, with the temp somewhere around the zero mark or colder, and sound seeming to not only carry forever but to be amplified as well. Obviously those are the conditions and time of year the suit is made for, but I just can't visualize it being quiet enough. Can those of you with firsthand experience both positive and negative enlighten me?
Thanks.

[jax]

It is as quiet as any other clothes you can wear.

[stagetek]

It's very quiet. I rub some bar soap on the zipper. It un-zips better, and if there is any noise, that takes care of it.

[BUCKY]

Don't worry a bit, they don't hear that zipper. The suit itself is cotton/poly so its plenty quiet.

[Kevin Hansen]

Thanks for the responses.
In addition to wondering about the "quiet" factor I'm also wondering if the suit really does stay out of the way when shooting as completely as it seems to in the promo videos?

[Jasper2]

As others have said, it is quiet and if the straps are adjusted properly for you, it stays out of the way....as advertised. As with anything though, there are negatives but in this case the positives far out weigh them in my opinion. Getting in and out of it takes some practice and if you come out too early.....you will freeze your butt off....quickly!

[Kevin Hansen]

Thanks, Jason, for the insights. Any other negatives in your mind?

[md126]

You are a little more limited in how you can shoot but not too much. Besides the alternative is hunting for a lot shorter time or not hunting at all due to the cold.

ALWAYS make sure you're strapped in before you get into it up in the stand though. It can be a little tricky and falling out of a tree in the freezing cold will ruin a hunt real fast.

[Kevin Hansen]

Do you just run the safety harness strap out the top/collar of the suit?

[Whip]

Right, safety harness out the top,  so always strapped in.  As others have said,  they work as well as advertised and with a little practice not too difficult to get on and off.  Best cold weather piece of gear that I own.

[Whip]

Right, safety harness out the top,  so always strapped in.  As others have said,  they work as well as advertised and with a little practice not too difficult to get on and off.  Best cold weather piece of gear that I own.

[calgarychef]

Down sides of the HBS?  You have to drop it off your shoulder to shoot, not so bad in mild temps but in truly brutal conditions if you drop it and have to wait 1/2 an hour for the deer to close the final few yards.....   They're a good thing I'm sure, but not the perfect answer yet.

[wapiti792]

I know this is not the intended use...but on cool days (say anything from 20 on up) I keep it unzipped and down. I rotate with it on when I am cold and down when I am warm. Coarse on days when it's really cold, it stays up and I take my chances on coming out of it.

This year on a giant buck my visibility was limited as I was on the ground. By the time I saw him and I could ease out of the suit he had gotten through my first shooting lane and eventually walked all over me and I mmmmised...

[Skates]

Interesting, do any of you know if they may kids sizes?