Monday, January 18, 2010

What is a good hunting base layer to keep me warm in the winter?

I am all set for hunting season besides base layers. I am located in southeast Ohio and the lowest it gets early morning is around 10 degrees farenheit and sometimes lower. I need a base layer that will work throughout the whole season and especially during the dead of winter.What is a good hunting base layer to keep me warm in the winter?
3 layers!!! polypropolyne as the wicking layer(aka Under Armor)... cotton or and whool for insulation... and waterproof outer shell (water proof jacket/ Gortex... 3 layers is whats best.... I lived in Alaska for 3 yrs... was trained in artic conditions... been to the field in extreme cold weather... take gloves and have mittens... deal with the cold and change your socks as soon as ur feet sweat.... baklava on your face and head with hood of a jacket over it... get some good boots (cold weather boots) and you should be set.... DONT SWEAT... if you do... unzip and unlayer before you sweat and ruin your dry clothes because when you stop... the sweat will make you colder...note Whool retains 70 percent of heat even when wet... the lil hand warmer packs are awesome...stick em in your gloves or mittens and your bootsWhat is a good hunting base layer to keep me warm in the winter?
Polypropylene is some of the best insulating material to have next to your skin. The advantage of polypropylene is that it allows moister from your sweating to pass through the material...and, it will keep you warm even if you get wet.





The one disadvantage of polypropylene is that it is flammable. It's not dangerously flammable, but if it does catch fire, it it like most nylon materials that will melt onto your body. Again, this is of little concern...but I only mention it because the British military issued the stuff in the 1980s to their soldiers. During the Falklands conflict, a missile fired by an Argentinian jet hit a British transport ship and exploded. Many of the soldiers were sleeping in their polypropylene underwear to stay warm in the cold climate...and the resulting fire fused the material to their bodies. After that, the British military stopped using the material for their combat troops.
I used to live in Kentucky and my dad was from Ohio, so I got a good idea on how cold it gets up there.





I'd wear long-johns- the shirt and pants, then if its cold enough, I would consider wearing a 2nd set of long-johns. Then a cotton flannel shirt over a shirt or long sleeve shirt (again, depending on just how cold it is) then your normal hunting clothes
Yes there are good answers here the way to win is use layers and stuff that you can remove as it warms up. If you hike a lot carry water and be fit. I always used wool in the bush as a logger. It wicks water away and is still warm when damp. But the new tech clothing will have some great advantages. I would check the stuff the Alaskan is suggesting cause it is a life or death thing to know up there.
Ever since I learned about how good polypropylene longjohns were for winter hunting, I've been looking for some to be available, on sale, and right in front of me, when I happened to have extra money. Obviously I have limited the parameters too much, as I never got any.
Layers are the way to go.First try thermal clothes and a good woolly pair of socks.A thick jacket over that should do well.Also a beanie as they say most heat is lost through the head.





Hope this helps out.Hoddo
Under Armour is the best.
Polypro.
that cold weather under armor works great if your willing to spend the money and good thick wool socks.
i either use cold gear under armor or long johns

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