Teach me to dress myself

[wallhanger]

Hey fellas, I'm looking for suggestions on a layering system that works for you. Typically where I hunt, it's in the high teens/low 20s in the morning, and gets up to the 60s and 70s during the day.

The trouble is, I put on clothes to keep warm in the morning, and then by 10:00, I'm burning up. Unfortunately, I'm a couple miles from the truck, and I end up carrying a bunch of clothes around all day. I'm looking for suggestions of what to wear in these situations.

I typically wear polyester thermal underwear tops and bottoms, then a fleece sweatshirt or K.O.M. Wool Shirt Jac, and if its windy, a Walls Gore-Tex knock off rain jacket. On the bottoms, I wear jeans or camo 50/50 pants over the thermals.

What works best for you guys? Is there a magic thin, light, warm garment out there I need to know about, or am I just going to have to continue stuffing my pack with clothes as the day goes on?

thanks,

WH

 

[Bura Nut]

Alot of late hunts for me are around the same temps in the morning and afternoon like you mentioned. I use a polypropelene set of long underwear. I use the bottoms and pack the top in my pack and put it on after the cold hike in. Then I am not sweaty/stinky. I carry one additional wool/poly blend shirt stuffed in the pack and then over the polypropelene is a regular warm shirt(wool) and then my jacket over all this. I also carry ragwool gloves that keep my hands warm while glassing and it seems to keep me warmer throughout my body if my hands and feet stay warm. If it is real bad, I will pack my fleece raingear and use it as a coat regardless of whether its raining. Hope this helps...... Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[BUCKSPY]

There is no magic. Its a pain but I froze my butt off once by not having enough clothes with me and what was almost as bad was having your buddy laughing his butt off at you while you shivered like an unprepared idiot. I carry a big-ass pack because I want what I need with me.

There is al kinds of great gear out there and what you have isn't too far off what most guys have for later season hunting. Thats why its called "layers" instead of "layer".

 

[theplatoon]

I wear the usual long sleeve camo shirt and just a regular pair of camo pants and over this i have a good set of coveralls. once i get warm i fold the coveralls and i'm set to go for the day...if it's real warm i'll wear a regular tee shirt under my long sleeve shirt and take of the long sleeve...so all i really carry the rest of the day is my coveralls (which can be folded pretty tight and small) and a long sleeve shirt if it's real hot and i always go prepared with a small sweater...all this i can put in my badlands pack, usually just tie my coveralls on top.

 

[ICMDEER]

This is all good advice. I'm like BUCKSPY; I carry a pretty big pack with lots of stuff. I carry a heavy rifle, too, but that's another story.

The thing I would add here is that silk is a really good product to use if it's not going to be really cold and if you are moving frequently. I use silk a lot if it's going to be in the 50's or 60's and it still serves me real well. Consider using it. Silk is also very light and does not tkae up much room in your pack, plus it's breatheable and pretty good in the wind.

 

[lucdavis]

I would like to add a question that falls in line with the post... and it concerns Under Armor. Has anyone here used it? Is it worth the $50 for a top/bottom set. I thought this looked like an ideal way to stay comfortable all day in the conditions described above, but would like to hear from someone with experience.

-Lucas ~

http://www.monstermuleys.com/cgi-bin/stories/site.pl?page=lucasdavis10103

 

[archeryelkaholic]

Go buy Caplene expedition weight with the zipper. I use this as my base layer. Expensive as hell but worth every dime. I start with this or even go with some lighter than this if I am starting with a real hard long climb. I will strip that layer then and go to the capelene heavier weight. Rare that I have to do this. I then us a synthetic pullover over this (Patagonia usually) but take it off and carry in my pack when climbing or I get hot. I carry a couple of other layers up to and including Gore if needed. I put them on and take them off as needed. This has worked for me in about every state there is and hunting all types of game.

 

[archeryelkaholic]

I promise I have tried just about every piece of clothing on the planet and nothing works better than what I put above. The secret is NEVER getting wet to start with. Sometimes you can't avoid this. That is another reason for Capelene. It is light so you can pack another one. Plus, if you get it wet it will be dry in minutes and you REALLY REALLY have to wear it several days and sweat like hell to make it stink.

Bottom line. I can't think of a better investment.

Patagonia Capelene.

Archer

 

[longrifle]

LucDavis, ref: the Under Armor

I first bought heat gear and cold gear for mountain bike riding and first used the cold gear during last seasons deer hunt. It works great, keeps you warm and dry and wicks moisture better than my old polypro stuff. Obviously, don't wear any cotton product next to your skin as it will hold moisture and you will freeze. Go commando with a pair of "peter pan" tights, I bought the cold gear pants and long sleeve shirt with the turtle neck, works great! The black color vs. the tan or green doesn't matter, unless you strip to a tan shirt during the day when it's hot. Otherwise you look like your wearing a halloween costume with black and blaze.

Longrifle

 

[archeryelkaholic]

Try this.

Archer

 

[kingfish]

Where I hunt it's cold in the morning and usually warm during mid day and cold again when I come out after dark. I carry a fanny pack big enough to strap my light jacket and maybe a light shirt on during mid day. I'm usually hiking in the dark before daylight so I don't wear to much to begin with you tend to heat up pretty fast when hiking in the dark to get to your spot by daylight. I carry a dry undershirt in my fanny pack and change out of my wet one when I get to my spot before I sit down and wait for first light. I strap my wet t-shirt on my fanny pack to let it dry during the day. I like to be able to add or subtract cloths according to the weather. Works well for me.

 

[RACKMASTER]

Dura MAX unders(pants and shirt)! with an lite fleece shirt, Browning hydrofleece goretex isolated bid and matching wader jacket,best socks money can buy heavy duty insolated browning gortex boots,goretex hat and gloves. bib breaks down and I use shoulder belts as an belt,legs zip up to hips,and chest zips to crotch,jacket rolls up nice and packs down fine.
with this set up sub freezin(not sub zero!!!) never been problem(I even slept over night in it!just zipped up and night! night! and was fine!).I only carry extra pair socks and mountian money,food,water and every thing else like scope,binos,ammo- knifes,rope,sheet are always packed!
Have fun!
Rackmaster

 

[eelgrass]

Reading about all this cold weather clothing this time of year is making me sweat.....I had to go make some lemonade! LMAO!

Steve

 

[wallhanger]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I may also try two layers of microfleece over my baselayer instead of one thicker fleece layer. That way, when I do start shedding clothes, it's lighter and less bulky and will take up less room in the pack.

I also may invest in the most packable raingear I can get. Most the time, I use it as a windbreaker instead of rainwear, anyway. I see cabelas has some new space rain gear for a pretty reasonable price. I may even consider the Frogg Toggs stuff.

Lucdavis:

I have not worn the UnderArmour stuff hunting. I've worn it to play some flag football on cold nights (30s) and all the kids on my son's baseball team seem to love it? though that could be because the pros wear it. I stayed pretty dry, even running around, running routes, etc. Of course, I didn't sit still on a mountain for three hours afterwards, which would have bee a real test. I didn't realize until I read it recently that the fit of that stuff improves circulation. I would think that even blood flow would be a good thing for warmth.

thanks again, guys.

 

[muleybucks]

Fellas,

Patagonia capilene, expedition weight with the tall neck and top 1/4 zipper. Bottoms to match. I typically shed the bottoms mid day if it gets too warm, but unzip the top and pull up the sleeves on the top and can hike in 20 degrees up to 70 in comfort. If it gets too cold, zip back up and pull down the sleeves. If it gets really cold (or windy), add a fleece jacket, full front zipper or a lightweight gore tex rain top that is long and goes below the waist.

I've stopped looking for a better system. My 2 cents is to spend the money and buy patagonia gear. I have my original set that is 7-8 years old which I wore weekend after weekend that is thinning on the knees and thighs. When you average out to a "cost per trip", it's pennies. IT'S WORTH IT.. I wear it chukar hunting, skiing, then ice fishing as well. It stands up to the abuse. I bought a pair from REI that didn't hold up very well at all. It was cheaper so I tried it. Wasn't happy.

Good luck.

[email protected]

 

[archeryelkaholic]

Exactly what muleybucks said.

You get what you pay for. This stuff is worth every dime.

Archer

 

[ridgerunner]

Used Underarmour gear last year on a backpack hunt and was very impressed, wicked the sweat right away so I didn't get the "chills." Will be purchasing and using more this upcoming season. Good stuff.

 

[Deadred707]

This is why god made power Windows

 

[grizzlyplumber]

I used Underarmour last year and it really does wick the sweat away and keep you dry. The problem I had withit is it is designed to keep you cool while excercising, so while I sat and glassed all day on the mountain the UA was wicking away my body heat too, even through my layers of clothes and I was cold.

 

[MichaelJ]

There are different types of underarmor. YOu probably had the "heat gear" which is for hot weather and keeps you cool. They have "cool gear" which is for cold weather and keeps you warm. The also have "Turf gear" which is kind of all around. I believe there are maybe one or two other varieties as well. Just don't order a shirt that is too small. They tend to ride up on the lower torso.

Michael~All Gods creatures welcome... right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.

 

[graybeard]

I use DuoFold Expedition weight underwear which also works well as a top when the weather warms up. It's expensive but well worth the money. On top of that I wear Military wool sweaters. If it's super cold I wear a heavy coat on top of those. I've never had a problem staying warm with this system and the great thing with the DuoFold is if you get all sweaty from hiking, they dry out quick and are still very effective. Good luck, Steve