Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Staying Warm

Insulated bibs, or actual coveralls, are the first start for staying warm on stand when it's actually cold.

A hood is next.

Then something to cover your face, especially your lips. Don't ask me why, but if you cover your lips with some light fabric, your body thinks that it is much warmer.

Use vests for torso insulation, so that your arms don't get cramped/bound-up at the elbows, which cuts circulation to your hands. And do not ever leave your wrists sticking out at the top of your gloves, or your hands will lose all the warm circulation.

A cold day in the stand is much easier to mitigate than a cold day hiking and then glassing. For the stand:

1) Wear the absolute minimum walking in to your stand. Be chilly. Pack the rest.

2) When you get to the stand, put your outer clothes on, followed by insulated coveralls, followed by Ice Breaker boot blankets, followed by a piece of closed-cell foam under your feet and azz. OR:

3) Carry a sleeping bag and sit in that. Yes, I mean in your treestand.

If you must hike and glass extensively, the high dollar stuff shines. But it's never possible to hike in all your outerwear, then be warm for a long time when you stop.

Wool baselayers. I like Woolpower, especially their 200 and 400 gram union suits, 400 gram bottoms and 600 gram sweater.

Midlayer - Down and primoloft in jackets and vests. I have most of the pricey stuff and like Sitka the best.

Outer layer - Parka and bibs. Must be wind proof and at least water resistant. Lots of choices but I like Sitka Fanatic and Incinerator gear. Wet wool is just too heavy for me now at my age.

Head - Balaclavas - Woolpower, Black Rock Gear
Hat - Raven Wear Noggin Boggin, Sitka Fanatic Beanie
Neck Gaiter - Raven Wear, Sitka

Hands - Sitka Incinerator hand muff, fanatic gloves, Black Rock Gear down fold back mittens, chemical heat packs

Wild Cards - Get a cheap thin vest and have large pockets sewn on the inside to hold chemical heat packs.
- Slumberjack Thermal and Artic Cloaks. They are each like a sleeping bag with a hood and magnetized arm slits. Clip the bag to your backpack for transport and throw it on at the bottom of your stand in less than a minute. They are very warm and user friendly. They will definitely reduce the amount of cold weather clothes you need. I was very surprised at how much I liked the cloaks.

I have glass windows and a heater..