Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Thermal long underwear?

What's the stuff to get?

I want a mid-weight variety top and bottoms for stop and go type hunting. Something that doesn't eventually take on a funky smell without any special instructions for washing would be the ticket.

Suggestions on where it can be had would be a great help.

Thanks gents!

Merino wool is probably your best bet for avoiding the funk. Smartwool and Icebreaker are two good brands.

Go to Backcountry.com, get on their e-mail list, browse the stuff you want, and wait for it to go on sale. Once they know what you've browsed, they will let you know when it's on sale.

First Lite's merino is tough to beat. Not cheap, but worth it in my opinion.

You might also try sierra trading post (STP) they run discounts all the time if you sign up for their emails. Just avoid the Terramar stuff as it is light. Go with either Icebreaker or Smartwool. I got an Icebreaker midweight 260 long sleeve for $48.96.

I have used them all (inc. 1 pc wool I really liked) in my past 60+ years in NE Wa on a cattle ranch and unless I'm not moving much and it's really cold 0- I use a poly pro top and bottom and wool pants light above 20 and heavy below. Muddy

Minus 33 merino for me.

I bought a pair of the UA 3.0 bottoms about a month ago and really like them. Plenty heavy enough to keep your legs(and feet) warm if you are moving off and on.

Bought my dad a pair of the heavier 4.0 version for Christmas.

I've been thinking about buying a nice merino top base layer.

Wore Patagonia Capilene(sp?) a few times hiking around this Fall and it's okay but there has to be something better.

If you don't like the price of wool, take a good look at polypro. I've been wearing it for years. It likely won't last nearly as long as wool but it does very well for the price. You just throw it in the wash when it gets too rank to wear. It's thin so it goes nicely under about anything but surprisingly warm for its weight.

Silk and don't look back

For anti-smell, merino is the only way to go.

If you're going to only be out a day at a time, then just run cheap polypro and change everyday. I can usually get 2 days out of it anyway.

I wear a silk weight base layer against my skin. With UA inferno layer next, and a polypro "expedition" weight fleece layer above those if it's going to be really cold out

Then wool or fleece windproof pants, and a wool shirt with heavy insulated bibs and parka in my pack

One of the pleasures of the man-made material stuff is the feeling of those last couple of drops (that would have been absorbed by the natural materials) running down your leg.

Just how fugging cold does it get there?

Evidentially colder than chit.


I'm thinking Antarctica.

I don't have that much chit in the whole closet......

I can relate I have worn heavyweight silk bottoms, Sitka transverse bottoms, heavy poly wader pants on the bottom. On the top midweight (260wt) wool top, 150wt fleece pull over, wool cardigan, Sitka Kelvin vest, and a Drake MST coat. All under 3mm 600gram waders for duck hunting before. I don't like getting cold and I get cold easily.

Duo-Fold, blend of merino wool and polyester.

Minus 33 Merino !

yep