Cold Weather Jacket Help!!!

[Gator1]

I'm in need of a warm cold weather bowhunting jacket.

I have one from Cableas, but it is too bulky. Any suggestions of something I could wear Long Undie shirt, and fleece long sleeve shirt that would keep me warm down to 10-20 degrees for sitting in treestands?

Thanks for the input..

[bentpole]

Mitchell, warm layers without bulk.I start with smart wool undergarments.50% poly/50% cotton turtleneck, wool sweater, wool shirt or fleece. Then get yourself a warm vest. High priced wool or a Carhardt. Vests keep you warm with no restrictions. I've found out over the years layers instead of a single ,heavy, bulky jacket when bow hunting.

[Jerry Jeffer]

this might help
 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=067422

[Holm-Made]

Day one fleece with the wind stop.  I've had one for about 7 years and wear it alot.  Still in great shape.  It came in ASAT and Predator camo at the time.  Chad

[La. bowhunter]

Anything made of wool. Less bulk and more warmth.

[Lost Arra]

I figure sitting in a treestand is a lot like sleeping since once you get to the stand you are basically sitting still. The warmest sleeping bags on earth are down so I wear down as an insulating layer over my smartwool undies. Down doesn't have to be bulky and a vest usually does it with a windproof outer layer (I've been using a Browning windproof fleece on the outer layer if it isn't threatening rain.)

There don't seem to be many down users on this board but I've found that for weight, packability, and warmth nothing beats it. Just need to keep it dry which isn't difficult sitting in a treestand.

I am going to try a synthetic insulating layer since I've heard some good things about Montbell UL Thermawrap (no hood) and Cabelas Insulator (hood).

Walking to the stand I freeze my arse with all my warm clothes in a pack to avoid sweating.

[Deadbolt]

What I wear and it works great!!

Base layer top and bottom under armour cold gear, merino wool top and bottom long johns, fleece sweats wool sweater, then final outter wear is columbia wool bibs and the cabelas fleece pullover.

 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0033526932532a&navCount=3&podId=0033526932532&parentId=cat601737&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCat cat470076-cat601737&catalogCode=UJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601737&hasJS=true

That will get me through most anything...for those real nasty days I go with boot covers (i forget the name) with heat packs in them, a carhart vest, and a hand muff as well as proper head gear...polar arctice beanie and baclava.

Now thats if i plan on sitting all day and dont plan on moving much.  If Im in a hot area where I plan on having to vbe super alert all day and don want alot of bulk ill wear less clothes and add more science.

Using hand warmers, boot insole warmers, and my favorit for january temps the therapy heat back pads that last a few hours.  I can get by with just my 2 base layers and my 2 final outer layers if i drop heat packs all over...by using a few heat packs in key places you dont need so many layers...but it gets pricey if you hunt several days a week.

[jacobsladder]

I thought you minnesota boys were tough..    

Seriously...i like a good base layer, and then multiple non bulky layers also.... good boots are a must, I also like something around my neck to help too....the mittens with the fingers are a plus too.... If you get too cold to sit ..get up and do some stalking..that always seems to help.

[Billy]

Rivers West
wind and water proof. extremely warm. quiet and comfortable.
it will do the trick with one or more - less underlayers.
the collar,hood and shirt tail seal the deal, imo.
not cheap but dang it, it works!
one other thing that seems to work in a stand, something warm under you. wool blanket or one of those 'hot seat' thingamajiggys...

[Recurve50 LBS]

Mitch Try getting the hunting shirts from Ron LeClair. I have both the heavy and the lighter shirts. They work great for layering over long johns and vests and what not. I'd also try getting a wool jacket too. Anything wool should keep ya warm.

[joekeith]

Try a Heater Body Suit........put it on after on stand and your long johns and fleece shirt will probably be all ya need.....they really do work.    

[GaryS]

Here's what I do:
Thermal underware - any good heavy brand
Wool Sweater w/ wind shear - Cabelas
Insulated Camo Carhart bibs - no "pants" needed
Hunting Parka - Cabelas
Safty vest - The safty vest is key regardless of hunting in a stand or on the ground as it will slightly compress the bulk of the jacket.  I rarely get cold with this system.

Another trick I found that works well for really cold days is to throw a hand warmer inside of my cap, which keeps my head nice and toasty.

Gary

[David Mitchell]

For what it's worth, I recall an article by G. Fred a long while back in which he stated that he often carried an old army wool blanket to the stand with him and simply wrapped it around him--slid off easliy and quietly when he needed to get ready for a shot.  I never tried it but it makes sense and would cost a whole lot less than a body heater suit.

[Bullfrog 1]

I have A LOT of stuff but recently have been waering the pull over Berber fleece from Cableas with the wind proof lining. It is soft and thick enough that it quiets the wind stop. I waer this over a Woolpower 400 top and that is it.   BILL

[woodchucker]

Buy a couple of $3.00 100% wool sweaters from the GoodWill store and wear those UNDER whatever bowhunting jacket you have.    

[Rick P]

T shirt, flannel and carhartt jacket are all I need at those temps.

Layering is great advice and the new synthetics have a wonderful bulk to r factor ratio. Wools good to but I find that unless the temp is say -10 it's too much and really itchy. For truly cold temps nothing beats fur.

Question what hat are ya wearing? I know sounds dumb but 90% of your body heat is lost through your head. Most common cold weather mistake I see is folks bundled up like the Michelin man wearing a baseball cap or no hat at all. No way they will ever get warm that way. Dress from the top of your head down. You can get by if your legs get cold but once your noggin is chilled your done!

PS don't forget to adjust your food intake to. Eating for the weather can make the difference between a comfy day and being completely miserable.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I sat in a treestand in 15 degree temps Saturday. The wind was blowing, it was snowing, cold as heck. Here was my wardrobe, and I was more than comfortable:

wool watch cap, under a fleece balaclava.

Cabelas EWCS long johns.

1 pair wool socks

Columbia wool pants
Woolrich wool shirt
Filson wool single cruiser
Schees unisulated bean style boots
KOM wool boot blankets
NorthFace fleece gloves

[Gator1]

Thanks to all for some great advice...  

I'll get a chance to give it a go on Sunday, and highs are to be in the single digits...

I'm getting the feeling, I need to migrate back to wool for cold weather hunting.  Fleece is great, but has its limits in frigid temps..

[Arrow Slinga]

Another thing that I have doing the last couple of years is take a couple of the grabber brand body warmers and stick them on my shirt over my kidneys and one on my chest. I usualy wait until I start getting cold to put them on. If you are  only hunting for a couple of hours just peel them off and place them in a zip loc baggie and zip it shut that way you can get a couple of hunts out of them.

[Jim Rocole]

I usually hunt a couple of hours every afternoon. The temps range from a hig hof 30 Degrees to 5 degrees and this is what I wear.

Under armor long johns
Two under armor tops.
Thin Polar Fleece Top
Cabelas Wool sweater with windshear
Hidden Wolf Wool Bibs...Lined
Irish Setter Elk Hunter boots 1000 gr. thinsulate
Rag wool Gloves
Beanie Cap
Wool socks with thin liners.

Anything below Zero I add a Gray Wolf Vest to the mix.

I have no problem lasting three-four hours this way.