Tips to stay warm

[HandGunner]

Any tips to stay warm? Colder temps now no cash to buy artic gear and stuff like that. All i been wearing is long johns sweats and jeans with sweater jacke and another jacket with a broken zipper plus hat and face mask with boots and whool socks. My little pack shack is black so should obsorb heat but it dosnt flip down all the way the front is lifted off the ground a bit just enough to let wind get in if your facing it. Any other ways to stay warm? I dont have really good gloves and feet and hands usualy gett cold first then pants. Just looking for non exspensive do it yourself ways to stay warm in the cold upcoming days and at night when its dark. Any electric heater out there that dont use fuel just battteries?

[simple1]

Hand warmers may work. I used them before and they seemed to be fine. But other than that, things are going to cost money.

[simple1]

Do you have a Carhart type coat?

[HandGunner]

I have typical walmart jacket not fuzzy or furry i dont get cold in my upper body as much just legs feet hands when it gets dark plus now we have cold temps now sooo

[timbo147]

What size Jacket do you wear? I have a Strikemaster parka and a sportcat propane heater that you could have if you can wait untill Monday.

[Elybound]

Try thrift stores, you might be surprised what you might find for under $20. Some cheap wind proof rain pants covering those jeans makes a big difference. If your boots are not too snug, put some extra felt on the inside bottom.

[KrabbyPatties]

You don't need to spend a fortune to stay warm, you just have to dress properly, which mostly means layering (as opposed to trying to get by with one coat over your normal clothes) and staying dry. I know there are probably people who would disagree with a few of my points, but this has worked for me and hasn't cost a lot.

On my torso and legs, I wear long underwear that has at least some synthetic content (basically, not mostly cotton) because synthetics and wool will wick moisture and keep you warm even if damp. When cotton gets damp, it's almost worse than wearing nothing at all.

The next layer is an insulating layer for trapping air. Wool or fleece works really well for this. As long as you have a good non-cotton base layer, you can get away with a cotton sweatshirt here if you don't anticipate getting wet. Sometimes if I think I'm going to sweat, I might divide this into 2 layers like a flannel and a sweatshirt, so I can remove one if necessary.

If it's very cold or windy, I wear a windbreaking layer over the other 2 layers. This is just a jacket (and possibly snow pants) with a relatively windproof synthetic shell. Sometimes that just means a rain jacket for me, or it could be a cheapo snowmobile-type jacket.

If you start working hard enough to sweat, take the 20 seconds to peel off a layer before you get too sweaty because staying dry means staying warm.

Feet are usually pretty easy. I like any pack boot with a removable liner--of course, something water resistant is better. The most important thing with any pack boot is to TAKE THE LINERS OUT whenever you get home and set up the boots and the liners to dry. A lot of people don't do this because they think the liners are dry, then they lose some of their wicking ability and your feet feel cold and clammy. I like to wear thick wool/synthetic blend socks that have a tight enough calf band to not slide down--watch for sales. I never wear cotton socks outdoors in winter and I never wear 2 pairs of socks because the loss of circulation is not worth it.

Hands are usually the toughest, and I still have problems keep them warm while being able to handle fish and fishing gear. Handwarmer packets or a zippo can help, but personally, if I only have a little money to spend, I'll spend it on a good pair of mittens. Some of them actually have a slot for inserting a disposable hand warmer, though I haven't used one.

My head is usually fine with just a cheapie stocking or fleece hat, but those fur bomber hats are awesome when it gets really nasty.

As far as tips go other than dressing right, check the wind before setting up so you have your back to it. Buy a soup thermos and bring some hot chicken broth, tomato soup, hot chocolate, or other warm drink to sip on when you start cooling down. Avoid too much caffeine or alcohol out there. Grow a beard! Get up and drill a hole or two if you're really cold. Find areas to fish where the topography or trees block the wind. Watch for deals on warm clothes and buddy heaters at the end of winter when that stuff goes on sale. Find a friend who has a heater and fish with him or see if you can borrow the heater when he's not fishing.

Hopefully one or more of these options makes a difference for you....

[FrontenacPike]

If you can find something to get your feet off the ice, a small hunk of foam does wonders.

[Gordie]

I second the No cotton socks on the feet I wear wool or wool blend only and only one pair. helps out alot

[Deitz Dittrich]

keep your chest warm and it will keep the rest of your body warmer.. layer.. layer... layer.. invest in a good hat, a happy head is also a happy body.

[OnAFly]

I'll second the 'no cotton'. Just the perspiration from walking out to your spots will cool you down if you wear cotton.

Get a good hat, you lose a ton of heat through your head. Keep your neck warm too by using your hood.

Layer so when you are active you can shed a layer or two and when you sit around you can add a layer or two.

If you wear more than one pair of wool socks, make sure they fit comfortably and are not restrictive. Two pairs of socks that are too tight is worse than one pair of good fitting wool socks. Also, keep your boots loose.

[Pooh]

maybe this is worth a try pretty inexpensive. just dont burn shack down...

[crappie55409]

I'll second the thrift store idea!!!!! Im a big fan of thrift store shopping. Just today i picked up a very nice fleece lined waterproof jacket for 7 dollars. I was looking at purchasing basically the same thing at cabelas for 120 bucks! Another thrift store buy that i wear every time im out ice fishing is a pair of snow pants. Also cost me 7 dollars. They are the kind that you would have worn when sledding as a kid. They block the wind nicely and keep you warm plus they are more water resistant than carhart bibs and for 7 dollars how can you complain? Check out thrift stores and you can get outfitted nicely on the cheap

What i wear ice fishing:

head:

-bomber hat or a high stitch count winter hat

upper body:

-t-shirt

-warm thick fleece hoodie

-carhart jacket

lower body:

-sometimes long underwear

-jeans

-snow pants

feet:

-pair regular socks

-pair wool socks

-sorel boots

Im a freeze baby and wearing this keeps me warm in the worst conditions and none of these items (aside from the sorel boots) are high cost items

good luck and good fishing!

[HandGunner]

thanks for the tips and help guys definatley going to hit the thrift stores now that I know what I need plus thanks to timbo147 for lending me a hand!

[cichlid_baby]

To the OP....

I was out the last couple of days braving the wind and freezing temps... without a shelter since mine went back to manufacturer for warranty... still no house yet... It was unbelievably cold !!!! So I feel your pain.

If you can find someone to donate you a propane tank.. I have an extra but older Mr. Heater sunflower head that you can have..

I am in Oakdale... pick up at Fleet Farm on HWY 36 is possible.

Let me know..

PM me with details..

[mainbutter]

Layers, layers, layers. Start with long underwear and move up to bulkier and bulkier stuff.

Wool. Elmer Fudd-style wool pants are a great thing to have, even if they're not the most current.

Bib-overall style winter pants/snow pants/whatever are also great.

Oversized but thick-insulated mittens will keep your hands warm if you wear some kind of thin glove underneath. I've got a pair of thin cotton gloves just for this.

[Hory]

+1 on keeping your boots loose. Everyone is different, but I have more success keeping my feet warm with one pair of socks in boots that are atleast 1.5 size larger than what I would wear in normal shoes.

[Stick in Mud]

Don't forget about how much drinking warm liquids can help. If you've got a Thermos, fill it with boiling hot water and bring it with you. It makes a big difference.

Another good idea is to cut out some reflectrix that's the size of your insoles in your boots. They don't last long, but they make a big difference keeping your feet warm.

[HandGunner]

I baught some snow pants at G-will and man things change. I was out yesterday on crooked lake bored so decided to fish it to see what it produces, was out since 7pm til 1am never got cold once except my hands and feet what a diference. the jacket timbo147 is giving me should help since my jackets i wear already have a hard time staying zipped up plus id have a better insulating jacket. fished outside all night didnt even put up the pack shack. I dont know how cold it was last night but I was warm, caught a bunch of sunnies and blue gills no keepers and caught about 5 or 6 catfish, not sure if they were bullheads or channel cats they were all around 12 inches and less and put up a better fight than a sunny LOL

[TroutYammer]

Toe warmers, hand warmers (in front inside pants pockets), a wind breaker, fleece neck gator and if it gets really cold a balclava under my stocking cap.

[HandGunner]

Thanks alot to timbo for the heater and jackets i apreciate it alot

[timbo147]

No problem at all just glad to help out. Good luck fishing!!

[Dave]

Kudo's to Timbo!

[JFan02]

I totally agree on the kudos to Timbo!! Good to see people helping each other out.

[BertBuddy]

We bring some rubber mats from the garage floor to help keep our feet warm and off of the direct contact of the ice