Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Coveralls vs seperate bibs/parka?

bibs/parka


Box blind = heater

Bibs and parka. If you get warm in coveralls there is no way to vent much heat out. Opening the chest zipper is nothing like unzipping a coat.

Wind-proof bibs and parka is the correct choice.

I only read the first page of this thread an no one mentioned this.

I refuse to wear coveralls for 1 particular reason. When it's time to 'do your business', aka drop drawers, you lose all body heat when you take off coveralls.

When wearing Tops/Bottoms you only have to drop the bottoms!!!

That's important to me.

Something to ponder.

Now THAT is an EXCELLENT point...

pooping is important.

dave

Good post Jwall. I was wondering when someone would get to the real reason you want to go bibs and a parka.

Coveralls are great for feeding cattle in the cold, when you raise your arms to shoot, they get tight in the crotch, if you like that they are great.

Wise move. I don't know what you mean by "way upstate NY" but I hunted the northern Adirondacks for 40 years and have some acquaintance with wind and cool weather. No longer go out if it's 10 below or colder.

Learned that cotton is rotten when it comes to cold. Comfortable flannel captures and holds moisture and the only thing it wicks away is body heat.

May I suggest: replace the flannel shirt with a woolie, anybody's woolie. Wool works wonders.
Bibs and Parka. Wind stopping outer layer. Make sure everything fits loose. Warmth holds a higher priority than fashion.

Stay warm
Jim

Bibs can be useful with lighter or heavier coats. Coveralls are kinda only useful for one condition.

P.S. If box blind hunting, just use a heater............. or a blanket!

Dragged a blanket out with me the last morning we hunted. But the 105*F fever I was running that morning had me all sorts of confused as to whether or not I was really cold, or just had rigors. Miserable morning, all in all.

Yes, that's a fantastic point. I did recently pick up a windshear lined fleece pull over at cabelas (loud as all get out with the liner!). On the hunt for good long undies. Leaning towards smart wool.

By "way up state," I was in DeKalb Junction. Certainly not Messina north, but way further than where I work in Harris, NY (which is still considered upstate....????)

When it's that cold out, I don't ever find the need to drop the drawers. Things pucker up pretty tight when it's below zero.

for real cold stand hunting, i use quilted bibs with duofold expedition weight long johns underneath. mine have the zippers up both legs so you can open them if you are dragging a deer and get overheated. i don't personally like coveralls.

For your described needs go with bibs and parka. More wear options. In fact I'd go with a down or fleece jacket with oversize wind/ rain breathable parka in whatever weights you deem adequate for top wear. Do get the side zipper bibs. Down or synthetic lofting fill is lighter to pack and compresses well in a daypack for hiking in or out

If nature calls are in the cards you might want to consider waist length ski or snow pants rather than bibs so uppers don't have to be doffed.

Be careful with hooded coveralls!! A musher friend one dropped his hooded coveralls for a dump, reassembled, hood down, continued down trail. Kept smelling poop, thought it was dog fart at first, but the. Reconsidered, stopped checked his hood. Yep! Turd in hood.

Also carry some chemical hand warmers. These, activated and put into your front pants pockets are near the femoral artery and will take considerable chill off with little weight and bulk. Hot sugared tea, etc. from a thermos will do the same, a piece of insulating butt material is good also

Well, on the bright side, he didn't immediately flip his hood on when he reassembled....

Exactly what I told him.

I'm from upstate NY..

Get Cabelas Whitetail Extreme Parka, and Bib's - and another pair of camo pants like MT50 and you'll be set.

If it's under 25 or so degree's you need Bib (at least I do). other wise good long johns and the top are enough.

I wear the EWCS long johns, they are better than most - but cost as much.

Good luck.
Spot

+1

I just got back to my lap top.
I know DeKalb Junction near Gouerneur. That's "upstate." I was born and raised about 20 miles from DeKalb Junction and have distant relatives living there. It gets cold there and you can encounter plenty of wind. I have relatives in Gouverneur, Dekalb, Canton, Oswegatchie and .....

Glad to hear you are hunting that area.
Keep warm.
Best to you.

Jim