One of my favorite subjects on here is wool, what to wear for cold, etc....
Saturday, I went ice fishing on my Mothers lake. The fishing was lousy, so I only stayed out about an hour&1/2. But in spite of 7 degrees with 20 mph winds (which had to drive the temp well below zero), I was pretty warm...at least functionaly comfortable. If I needed to stay out longer, I certainly could have. Knowing that my Mom was making stew inside while I was working hard for some miniscule bluegills drove me in more than the cold. I wore:
polypro long johns, fairly light weight
Filson wool bib's
Filson Double Mac Cruiser
Woolrich wool shirt
wool fingerless gloves with jersey gloves underneath
Stormy Kromer hat
fleece pullover hood
wool socks
GoreTex over bootie
RedWing boots w/ 600 grams Thinsulate
Today the temps without the wind are -7...I'm staying inside ;0)
Roger I am wool guy also. I like the KOM. When it's below 20 "functionaly comfortable" is the best way to descibe it.
We had our 4th annually trad southern Michigan bunny hunt this past weekend. Same weather... 8 degrees with 20 mile a hour winds.
I wore 200 and 400 weight Klar wool bottoms, pair of levis and then brush pants. 200 and 400 Klar wool shirts with a Woolrich wool sweater with a fleece pullover and a fleece hood. Klar wool socks, Danner boots with 200 gram thinsulate, and toe warmers. Stayed toast warm all day without alot of bulk. Can't beat that stuff for days like that!
Lots of bunnies and lots of shooting. Had a great day. dino
Dino, You're right.
Klar long johns ROCK!!!!! I also have Filson Alaskan that I don't like because they're thin and itchy.
That Klar is soft, thick (I have the 400) and WARM.
I've never tried to layer with a 200 layer, because I've never been out in weather cold enough to need it, but I can imagine how toasty you must have been.
I have some very thin merino wool sweaters that I now use for longjohns. They were nice, work sweaters once, but the moths got to them. Now they make great layeres for cold days in the stand.
Can't go wrong with C.C. Filson!!!! Frank
How do you guys shoot with that much bulk on your arms? If I get much over 3 layers on my arms I start banging strings off of my forearms or catching sleeves.
swp - if I'm going to be bow shooting, my outfit would be the same except for the Double Cruiser. I would substitute the heavy coatfor: the same longjohns, a thin Merino wool sweater, a thin fleece VEST, the same wool shirt, over another woolzip up VEST.
Vests rule when you need to shoot a bow.
A couple of years ago, I saw one of the most interesting sights while bow hunting at Shrewhaven Lodge in the western end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It was a super cold/still mornings with one of those heavy, heavy white frosts blanketing everything. Shortly after sunrise, two young spikehorns came walking past my stand. Something odd looking was on the back half of both deer as they approached. When they got to about 15 yards, it dawned on me that there was frost sitting on top of the deer. I guess this goes to show how well insulated the deer is.
I've had great luck with my Gray Wolf Woolen pullover parka with their comformax lining. Non binding sleeves, great draping to avoid string contact and able to withstand driving snow/wind during late season duck hunts. My coat looked just like the deer's back with snow built up on it.
Great wool clothing is a joy to hunt with and to brave the elements.
I agree that the filson long underwear is a little itchy, but it's real warm. I wear silk long underwear under them and stay warm in low temps.
Some of you know that I was badly burned in a fire north of the Arctic Circle some years ago. I was trapped in the burning cabin wearing my longjohns...my WOOL longjohns. The only places on me that burned were the areas not covered by the wool longjohns.
HAD I BEEN WEARING POLYPRO, I WOULD HAVE DIED IN SECONDS! FIREMEN CALL THIS STUFF, "SHRINK WRAP"!
You can go on line and you can buy MERINO wool long johns that are totally itch free. They are WARMER than polypro. You can order online from New Zealand companies and get a mix of Wool and Possum (the Australian variety...not like our Opossum). SILK is also great and is very fire retardent. I wear a set of Silk longjohns and put the wool over them when it's really cold.
What are the odds that fire might be an issue for you? I don't know, but four of us found out in moments and one of us,WHO WAS WEARING SYNTHETIC FABRIC CLOTHING, died!
Polypro can really gather sweat and can stink in a hurry, too!
Wearing my combo, with tight weave wool over the top, Woolie Booger Handwarmer mitts, Bunny Boots, and a good wool Balaclava, I can sit at -40 degrees and have done it many times.
However, I prefer hunting in 85 degree weather in shorts and a tank top!
Too Short
For the last 30 years I've never been without a USMC sweater. Very warm.
http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-6348.asp
Paul Brunners point is a good one.
Wool rules.
I don't have a problem with itching for wool at all.
MMMMMMMWOOOOOOL Yes I now wear smart wool longjohns
Buy the right stuff and you don't need to itch...Justin Charles and Autumnwood make some of the best wool undergarments I've used (ulfrotte is very good, but I feel these are better). Absolutely no itching...very comfy.
Of course, good things come at a cost...I don't mind spending for warmth and/or comfort (who am I kidding, I don't mind spending ;) ).
I buy medium weight silk longjohns from Winter Silks and then pair them with Merino wool longjohns from Smartwool. Add some additional wool trousers, wool shirt, and wool coat and I'm in business...even for the cold stuff!
Claudia
If anyones interested, you can get the Woolrich plaid wool shirts from their site for $28 new.
I bought 4 last night, lots of colors.
yes $28
Eric
Nevermind, just went back and there $50 today.
OOOPPS
Eric
SportsmansGuide HQ catalogue:
Cotton knit longjohns, top & Bottom $5.00
Norwegian Wool Longjohn bottoms (like sweater for the legs)$3.00
German Wool V-neck pullover OD sweater $4.00
German heavy OD wool sweater. $6.00
German Fleck-tar Camo cotton Cargo pants $1.97
German Wool Baclava $3.00
Check Insulated camo vest. $14.00
SG 400 Gram Thinsulate Waterproof Hunting Boots $39.00
Kevlar leather thisulate duty cloves $17.00
All these layers are warm sitting stock still for 2 hours 'till sunup at 27 degrees F. Sweaters are quiet, whisper-quiet, when you move to draw a bow.
Shuck them layers after the sun comes up!
If it's really cold, you need a wool coat to break the wind.
The norwegian wool longjohns are like thick wool sweaters. Never had legs so warm.
Claudia makes a good point about the silk long underwear. I've been wearing some paper thin silk long underwear under my cross country ski garmets and it keeps me very dry. My outer windbreaker ends up literally soaked with sweat, but next to my skin feels dry. Wool doesn't bother me for itch purposes, but the wicking of that paper thin silk will have me using it as a base layer under wool in the future.
Merino wool undies are the berries.
I love wool union suits,you dont have the shirt rideing up on ya,coming un tucked...you know what I mean.
Silk undies from Winter Silk are nicer, Otto!! Their was an interesting article about silk and wool clothes used by Sir Edmund Hillary on his ascent of Mt. Everest in the "Best of" edition of Backpacker Magazine this month. After using wool longhandles this year I am sold on wool and will be adding more of it. I think I will try adding some silk under the wool also. The only problem I have had with silk is it doesn't last very long.
My work uniform is mostly wool. I wear silk under, add wool for real cold days. Last couple of weeks, the high was 28 to 31. Started work a couple of days, -8,-2 . Was soaking wet with sweat but still warm. (Heat wave today). Our work jacket is nylon , my jacket is full of burn holes from flares. I hear they want to change from wool, I hope not. KOM makes a wool jacket I was wanting to wear and get rid of the expensive junk we wear now. But it is the Brass in Phoenis that makes the rules. We are 7000'+ higher than them. Wool when it gets bad!
What's the approx. relative humidity there, Roger? Seems to make a big factor in deciding whether weather is indeed cold. I'd guess it's fairly high, eh?
What's more desireable in your opinion?
20 degrees F and 88% humidity, or
5 degrees and 20% humidity?
Or are my choices about the same?
I can't stand the stuff.
When I hunt I'm normaly out for three days at a time.
I wear the same clothes the whole time and usualy get rained on at lest once.
Once wool gets wet,it stays that way,and becomes heavy.
Three days in wet heavy wool an I've had a guts full.
It's 2007 guys.
I spent 10 days on the Moose John river in Alaska. I lived in a set of KOM wool. I got rained on and snowed on but I stayed comfortable the whole trip.
WOOL...It's what smart outdoorsmen wear. :thumbsup:
I'll hate myself in the morning for giving this secret out, but if you find Swedish Military Surplus Wool Pants at Cabelas or Sportsman's Guide in your size, buy them. For less than $20 a pair I've got 5 years hard use out of them. I outright abused them, throwing them into the washing machine on cold and hang drying them repeatedly. They just refuse to fail. With one or two layers these things keep you comfortable down below zero. They really are an amazing bargain.
To me, if it's below 60 degrees, some part of me is covered in wool. There's just nothing better.
Years ago I ruined the Johnsons wool jacket that my mother gave me before she died by washing it.(cold water/tumble dry NO heat)Well,IT SHRUNK!!!!!
After that I went to Poly/Polar fleece because it was easily washable.However.....I was never as warm as I was when I was wearing wool.
This year I started hitting the local GoodWill store and buying 100% wool pullover sweaters for layering under a wool jacket (or under a cotton camo jacket) I have picked up several sweaters for between $2 and $5. If they shrink or get ruined I can just throw them away and it won't hurt LOL.
Luckily it doesn't get that cold here but I still like my L.L. Bean wool shirts and socks. Even soaking wet they are warm. If it gets real cold during bow season, I have some wool Army pants to put on under my insulated camo coveralls.
John57,
Billions of sheep can not be wrong. :thumbsup:
Wool is the way to go. I have hunted many days on a few Alaskan rivers and as some know Alaska in the fall time can be wet and add in the river factor, well lets just say you can remain wet for a couple of weeks. But, with that said I have always remained warm and functionable on those wet days.
I remember when the Army issued wool clothing for the cold weather those were some warm garments and then they switched to polypro and gortex :banghead:
Head to toe wool
(http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f363/xrakkasan/DSCN0846.jpg)
Cool picture Bill!!!!! :archer: :archer:
I can take frigid cold but just can't stand a strong wind on a cold day. Hate wind on such days.
I'm a "frugal" bowhunter. I buy the polypro longjohns,add a $5.00 Army wool sweater and if it's windy I'll add a cheap fleece jacket and I stay warm. It was 21 degrees the other morning with a a breeze and I was comfortable.It does sound like the 4th of July when a pull off the fleece jacket with all the static.