30s and windy here in the SE today...... My tip (and it works!!). Take one of those body warmers and put it under your hat. And if you don't use the warmers up in one day, throw them into a ziploc bag, push all the air out and seal. No O2, no generation of heat.
The things you covered and your solutions are spot-on. Sweat is your enemy in the cold and you do have to manage it. IMHO, the latest generation of heated clothing is a game changer. With the heated vests and etc, you can get by with alot less layering for alot less money than you ever could before. If you're an old guy like me, and you remember heated clothing as just those heated socks that used D cell batteries, forget about it! Heated clothing has come a long way and is much much improved.
I broke down and bought Sitka fanatic stuff this year and it's tremendous. That being said, you can definitely build a system that stays just as comfortable for much less. One reason I switched from multi layers to base and fanatic is because I'm 99.98% mobile hunting, so adding layers is annoying and I have to carry all of it in. Now I walk in wearing hiking pants and fanatic hoodie (unzipped, hood off). Get to spot, put on bibs, setup stand, pull up bow and jacket, hunt. The real difference in the sitka stuff is how silent it is while still being really windproof. I had not found a truly windproof item that was dead silent. This is. I hunt with a recurve and longbow, so I need to be able to draw close to animals without sound. For years I used to overdress, sweat and freeze too. Sitka is not foolproof though, carry it in and stay dry. If you sweat, you'll freeze no matter what you're wearing.
Those super warmers are the shit, saved my ass many times. No pun intended. Don't let em expire you'll be gold. There's a seat cushion, mossy oak branded that has a heating element in the seat. A charger for your phone runs it, there's even a brand specific one. But it heats up quick and is nice
Great video Nathan! I've been doing my level-headed best now for nearly four decades plus to keep warm and stay on stand longer. Of course, I discovered Dupont Thermax and other moisture-wicking base layers. Just went to a heated vest this year and keeping my core warm was key! And for my feet, a very old pair of LL Bean felt-lined boots two sizes bigger have been my go-to when it gets below 20 degrees! Congratulations on your new 15 K subs-record!
Wool, Real animal hair wool, head to toe. It wicks moisture away from your body and it keeps you warm when you are sitting still. I made my own wool coat that resembles the WWII army trench coat. Works very well.
Those boot covers are a game changer. I hunt from the ground. I clip them to the outside of my pack. Get sat down. Some mornings put them on right away. Other wait until feel a little cold. Sat all day during KS rifle season. With high in teens.
Great advice, I like the cheap sleeping bag idea. Have friends in Clearfield we go up there regularly from Maryland. We really like central PA, just didn't go near State College or the other two Pennsylvanias !
I use the adhesive toe warmers on my chest and lower back to help keep my core warm..two up front and two on my back.. been doing that for about 10 years..
Arctic Shield Boot Covers were really the best thing for me i use Lacrosse Boots but biggest issue is wind in November and in Minnesota its brutal some sits. I would highly recommend this product and get largest size possible for ease to slip on once at the stand.
I also use the John Eberhart method of wearing plastic bags over my socks going in (when temps are extremely cold), then once arriving at my tree I remove the plastic bags and socks, dry my feet and put on a fresh pair of base and wool socks. My Baffin Titan boots will make my feet sweat walking in no matter the distance, and this fixed my problem. I have 2 of the usb hand warmers like yours and they are totally awesome !!!!
Great video. I'd like to express my experience from my over 50 years of hunting in Michigan. You are correct about sweat being your enemy when it come to staying warm. What I use for a base layer, on my upper half since keeping my lower half requires much less effort, is fishnet under ware. Don't laugh! As you said, sweat is your biggest enemy to keeping warm. The fishnet allows the sweat to evaporate as a vapor. Any "normal" under ware allows the vapor to condense to a liquid and allows it to build up on your base layers making them wet. Synthetic base layers dry quicker than cotton and wool offers a bit of insulation while the lanolin in the wool reduces its ability the absorb the moisture allowing it to pass through to outer garments. The fishnets suspend the fabric of my second base layer (usually synthetic due to price), up off of my skin keeping the vapor that condenses onto the second layer away from my skin. Much more can be learned from Jerry Wigutow, owner of Wiggy's, located in Grand Junction, CO. I doubt there's anyone that knows more about staying warm than Jerry. All he does is make cold weather clothing and sleeping bags. His website is wiggys.com. I would recommend spending time on his website to read what he has written or watch his videos. He's a crotchety old man and some people don't like him but you can't argue that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Also, his jacket and vest liners are probably the best bargain for any hunter wanting to add a warm mid-layer to his existing hunting clothing. I'd suggest you put a jacket liner on your Christmas list this year. You can thank me later! :^)
@TheBudgetSportsman no I don't remember brand name. Just bought a pair from local bass pro and tried them out this year. Amazing. They're wool, AND heated. Can't beat it. Highly recommend 👌
I wear Sitka. I switched from KUIU since I am a whitetail hunter and the Sitka Elevated is purposedly designed for whitetail and bow hunting which is what I do. I say all that to say you can 100% sweat out in Sitka too. You can freeze to death in Sitka too. All your comments apply to good gear. Good gear does NOT replace accurate knowledge. It is comfortable and if used correctly it is very warm and comfortable.
Thanks for the feedback. I don’t own Sitka so can’t speak well to that but I can say that even picking up a couple of nicer pieces this year from truetimber, I have been warmer this year than previous seasons.
You should buy some Arctic shield clothing you won’t get cold anymore I hunted in 11° weather and I stayed warm and toasty arctic shield is number one in my opinion
Great tips! Definitely have done the to many pairs of socks in the past… and it didn’t work either. 🤦♂️ I stock up on the disposable warmers when I find them on clearance.
Great video. Getting cold here in jersey. Love body Warmers like with adhesive around yhe kidney area. Also I have sitka gear, it is warm . Buy once cry once. Take care.
One thing that sucks where I live is we have been in the low 30s high 20s at sunrise and sunset but in the 60s mid day so you have a pack stuffed full of layers most of the day
If you wear lace up boots, don't tie them to tight when you put them on. As you mentioned with multiple sock layers it restricts the blood flow to your toes. Loosening the laces some will help a lot.
Sweat has been a killer for most people, that why I use a fanny pack to carry my coat on walking in. Like most my feet are the first to go but heck if you love to hunt you go. I do like the looks of those boots though. Be Blessed and good luck.
U should check out the very affordable habit gear that Dunham's and Meijer sell. I've got some really great stuff at amazing prices. Especially after the season is over it pretty much all goes on super clearance. Lol it's nice because my tribal season still goes on for a month past the regular season.
Could you do a vid about saddle hunting with layers and jacket? Just purchased my saddle but thats a concern i had, i see some people saying jacket doesnt fit good if you place it over the saddle due to bridge. if i was to wear saddle over jacket i would get sweat going in. Thanks for any info
I don’t wear my jacket to climb usually. When I’m set up, I put on my jacket. I stand. And take the pressure off my saddle and tuck the tail of my jacket into the saddle and then sit back down.
I thought about getting rechargeable hand warmers, how are they holding up a year later? I won't buy something like that unless I can get a few years out of it and the sleeping bag idea isn't that ridiculous deer have horrible eye sight so you could be up in a stand with a sleeping bag and it won't see you unless you're really moving.
Rechargeable hand warmers are holding up great. I would recommend getting at least two. Some even come as a set of two that magnet together. I love mine.
Just sitting there as you are.......no clothing .......Id be frozen.........fingers numb ! Its called cover up ! And that dont work for me ! Sweat... I dont sweat. So ?
