Good outergear for deer hunting

[erikwells]

Looking for some of you experts that have field tested some gear. I enjoy sitting in the deer stand however I have got to stay warm and sitting still is not real helpful for staying warm. I have not deer hunted in many years and I am looking for some tips for the right gear to stay warm sitting in a tree. I want a good pair or bibs and a good jacket. I have already bought a hat and a vest because I don't want bright blaze orange on all of the time. Any hints on what to look for, where to look, what to avoid and swag cost would be great. Thanks, Erik

[DooWap]

I have the Cabela's Whitetail Extreme parka and bibs. This is pretty much their top of the line outerwear that has the MT050 outer material (really soft and quiet but durable), Gore-Tex, and Thinsulate. I've had it for about 3 years now and it has performed exceptionally well. I had decided to invest in some really good outerwear so that I could spend more hours in the stand regardless of weather conditions. So far I've used it in bitter cold, wind, freezing rain and snow and have stayed warm and dry. I definitely hunted in conditions now that I would've hung it up early before. I bought these in the offseason (I think a lot of this goes on sale in January and February) and go the parka for $200 and the bibs for $130. They retail MUCH higher than that right now so if you can hold out you'll get a much better price.

Bottom line, when you have a short season and only so many days off of work to hunt, you want to make sure you can spend that time in the stand and be comfortable doing it. I think there is a lot of value you in that and it's worth some good outerwear AND footwear.

[erikwells]

Thanks DooWop. yup with aall the time and money I spend getting ready for a short season the last thing I want to have happen is save a few dollars on gear only to be freezing in my stand with a regret for being a cheapskate. good luck and thanks again.

[Phunnyfarm]

Hey erik...I saved a few bucks by going to Fleet Farm and getting the Deer Camp Waterproof Insulated Orange Branch Parka. It's less than $100, and I've worn it for hours sitting in a stand during muzzy season when it's below zero. I imagine the bibs would be solid too, I just haven't gotten around to buying them because I have a different pair.

Good luck out there!

[anamod]

I bought the Sitka Fanatic jacket(~$390) and matchinig Sitka Fanatic Bibs (~$370) so close to $800 for both. Very warm , very quiet also have a couple of there base layers and two hats and there bacalava all very good quality. I plan on slipping a orange vest and hat over for gun and muzzy season. Not cheap stuff but i'm like you i don't want to get cold.

[SCCO9803]

I own Columbia's wool jacket and pants. I'm a bit of an old schooler when it comes to hunting and equipment. It's quiet, extremely warm and will keep you warm even when wet, should you get into a real survival situation. Depending on where you are hunting this may or may not be a factor. They're not cheap, but won't set you back too much either. I think you can get the jacket for around $150 and the pants for $100. As was stated earlier buying the stuff off season will save some $.

They do collect burdocks though

[Dag_1979]

Under Armour Cold gear underneath Arctic Shield H6 jacket/bibs and all nestled inside a Heater Body Suit. All day sits are now easy to get through without ever getting cold. Muck Arctic boots are worn as well.

[WIMN]

I like wool long johns more than Under Armour or other polyester, wool just plain doesn't hold in a stink like synthetics do. You will pay a premium for wool long johns, but for me it's worth it. Six hours in anything synthetic and my armpits are blasting off an unheavenly smell. I used to have just a wool top and wore polypro pants, but I treated myself to some wool pants.

Over that I have a flannel shirt or sweater depending on how cold it is, and Cabela's "Wooltimate" windshear top and bottom. They're a wool/poly blend with a layer (nylon or poly?) that blocks wind. I think I spent $80 for the jacket and $80 for the pants, but they look nice, keep you warm, and block the wind. I was worried about sound (I used to wear one of my grandpa's old jackets that was wind-proof, except when I made the slightest movement it would "whoosh"), but there isn't much with the Cabela's stuff.

Then I have Carhartt winter bibs to go over that if it's really cold, a down blaze orange vest, hat/gloves/etc. This year I am trying out one of the handwarmer pouches like quarterbacks use. We'll see how it works, I do like to read when I'm in the deer stand so it may not be the best option. My feet and hands are usually what get cold. I have some ragg wool gloves that I put into leather choppper mittens usually.

Feet-wise I wear wool socks and regular winter boots. I think my boots are my biggest weak point, but I can't decide what kind of boot to buy. I could get rubber boots to walk up to the stand and then just change them out for a cheaper but warmer boot that will let sweat evaporate... Or I could spend like $200 on a nice pair of Irish Setter hunting boots. BUT... I don't know if I will need the boots for hunting in the future (I'd like to do elk, antelope, etc where probably walking around instead of sitting in a stand), so in that regard I don't know what level of insulation I'd need. I guess I could get a cheap pair of like 800 or 1000gram boots from Cabela's so I'm comfortable in the meantime.

[picksbigwagon]

what ever you go with, make sure you have windproof, it makes a huge difference, especially stand hunting. If you are walking around and still hunting more, you won't wany wind proof.....

I have the columbia wool bibs and they are awesome, especially with my carhartt fleece lined jeans (which are great!!) I have a Cabelas berber fleece coat that has windstopper in it and it is awesome. Last year in Iowa it rained for basically two days straight, I wore my carhartt jeans under my camo rain pants, I wore my camo rain coat over my basic cold gear under garments (UA shirt, Cabelas worsterline shirt, and a UA sweatshirt) and I was warm all weekend. I followed it up by wearing the carhartt jeans all winter long under my rain pants and left my bibs at home for Ice fishing.

I am thouroghly convinced that the outer layer must be wind proof (breathable too), after that, there are many different routes you can go

[cavalierowner]

I am a huge believer in the outer layer being uninsulated, so I have an uninsulated set of orange work coveralls that are 3 or 4 sizes too big (sewed up the arms and legs). Then, depending in the weather, I can wear as little or as much of anything I want under those coveralls. When I'm on the stand, I have a parka and several layers under the coveralls; when I'm walking, I may only have an insulated shirt under the coveralls. I also carry all my warm clothes in a backpack out to my stand, then get dressed at the stand. I overheat very easily and the last thing I want is to start sweating and then have to stand still.

[Archerysniper]

I use the browning exchanger jacket and bibs or my stryker ice suit with a blaze vest and hat. My next investment is the heater boady suit though.

[Archerysniper]

Oh and Ice armour gloves they are tough to beat.

[psepuncher]

Oh and Ice armour gloves they are tough to beat.

Hi A.S.

Not sure which style of Ice Armor gloves your referring to.

I have a pair with the fingers and they will not be worth wearing in a stand.

Although they do really good when I'm working shoveling snow.

thanks.

[cavalierowner]

Gloves are something I have a hard time with. It seems to always be a compromise between warmth and something that's thin/flexible enough that I can feel and pull a trigger. About 20 years ago I finally settled on a leather shell with a wool insert. It's similar to what the army issued me back in the late sixties. It sure isn't the answer, but it's the best compromise I've found so far. I'm open to suggestions.

[DooWap]

Gloves are something I have a hard time with. It seems to always be a compromise between warmth and something that's thin/flexible enough that I can feel and pull a trigger.

I found the best solution for this is to wear thin, lightweight gloves that you can shoot with and then use a hand muff. You can put handwarmers in the muff it it get's really cold and you just pull your hands out when you're ready to shoot.

[jay83196]

Best gloves I have used are the flip open mitten style that give you open fingers when flipped open.

[skee0025]

My next investment is the heater boady suit though.

That my next purchase too. You get cold, you get your money back, hard to beat that kind of warranty.

[leechlake]

for hands you can not beat any light glove and get a hand warmer muff that wraps around your waist and then put in one large hand warmer in it. It gets so warm that the gloves are overkill but when you take your hands out to shoot or wait to shoot you need something to keep them warm. You will never have cold hands again.

For clothes I prefer a few fleece jackets and I generally carry them in in my pack so I don't sweat. A fleece/quiet blaze vest worn over the top. If you get an underarmor insulated shirt or other quality long underwear you are set and you won't overheat walking in. Layers...

[psepuncher]

Gloves are something I have a hard time with. It seems to always be a compromise between warmth and something that's thin/flexible enough that I can feel and pull a trigger. About 20 years ago I finally settled on a leather shell with a wool insert. It's similar to what the army issued me back in the late sixties. It sure isn't the answer, but it's the best compromise I've found so far. I'm open to suggestions.

use a glomitt?

I found these to be useful in extreme cold conditions.

The "hand blanket" {quaterback pouch} as another poster was talking about, is from Ice Breaker. It is double ply heavily insulated 300 gram loft. Most others {and I look every season} are single ply and only 200 gram. Ice Breaker is still in business.

The gloves are a glomitt? 150 grams of 100% thinsulate on the inside and 100% poly fleece on the outside. No matter if it gets a little wet, it repels the snow. And it has the open fingers when you're ready to pull a trigger. It's great for gun only unless you use both. Then you could keep your release hand in the blanket.

the gloves are awesome gun hunting, when it's prime time and you're holding a firearm it can get freezing cold . I found these to really overcome that 110%.

The gloves I bought are oversized too. I can throw a handwarmer in 'em if needed, but havn't needed any when using them.

I usually throw a pop in the quarter back pouch to keep it from freezing,

works everytime

[matchset]

Bibs are so much warmer than pants.....

layer up.

i wear thin socks in my cold weather boots. my feet don't sweat like they would with wool socks

[psepuncher]

I think bibs are great too.

Being an older guy with bad kidneys, bibs cover the kidneys alot better.

I like the ones with zippers coming up the sides of the legs.

Not only helps getting layerd up with heavy boots, but walking you can

zip the legs open to keep from overheating.

Last season I forgot all about mine though,

and just wore the CWP's, lol

[cavalierowner]

for hands you can not beat any light glove and get a hand warmer muff that wraps around your waist and then put in one large hand warmer in it. It gets so warm that the gloves are overkill but when you take your hands out to shoot or wait to shoot you need something to keep them warm. You will never have cold hands again.

For clothes I prefer a few fleece jackets and I generally carry them in in my pack so I don't sweat. A fleece/quiet blaze vest worn over the top. If you get an underarmor insulated shirt or other quality long underwear you are set and you won't overheat walking in. Layers...

I hadn't thought about the muff. When I'n in my stand, I spend at least 75% of the time standing up. More flexibility looking around that way. I usually only sit if my back starts to bother me. When using the muff standing up, how do you hold on to a rifle? Would the muff work if you put one hand in and alternate hands? I might give a muff a try if they predict cold weather for rifle or muzzleloader seasons. Thanks for the idea!

[Archerysniper]

Hi A.S.

Not sure which style of Ice Armor gloves your referring to.

I have a pair with the fingers and they will not be worth wearing in a stand.

Although they do really good when I'm working shoveling snow.

thanks.

That is what I use and have never had problems. Maybe I have better circulation but they can be wet and frozen stiff and my hands stay warm.

[Bear55]

for hands you can not beat any light glove and get a hand warmer muff that wraps around your waist and then put in one large hand warmer in it. It gets so warm that the gloves are overkill but when you take your hands out to shoot or wait to shoot you need something to keep them warm. You will never have cold hands again.

Also a big fan of the muff and then shooting gloves.

[NoWiser]

Here is my system that seems to work well for me.

Socks: A thinner pair of Smartwool

Base Layer: Cabelas Polar tech expedition weight or Minus33 Merino wool long underwear. Both tops and bottoms.

Insulating Layer: Fleece pants and a Cabelas Windstopper wool sweater (heavy but very warm).

Outer Layer: Cabelas Dry Plus Classic Parka & Bibs (I think mine has Scentlok). I have both the bibs and parka and am happy with them. They go onsale very often.

Hat: Gore Tex baseball cap with the ear flaps.

Gloves: Usually a cheap pair of Handy Andys. I use a hand muff 90% of the time on stand, and add a had warmer if it's really cold.

Neck: I wear what we call a dickie (not sure of correct term) but basically it's like a turtleneck that just goes down your back and chest a bit to keep the wind out. Very important piece of clothing! I pull it up and over my nose if it's really cold.

With this system I usually hike to my stand with my bibs, wool sweater, and maybe a light fleece blaze orange jacket strapped to my pack. I keep my parka unzipped so that I don't get sweated up. (If it's really warm I wear the fleece jacket and strap the parka to my pack) I usually kick back for 10 minutes when I get to my tree to cool down, and then throw on all of my layers, depending on temperature, and then head up the tree in my climber stand. My parka is plenty big to fit all of the layers underneath without feeling constricted. The fleece jacket usually doesn't come on unless it's exceptionally cold, or I decide to do some still hunting, in which case my parka and bibs stay back at the stand.

I would say 50% of the days I hunt, I never get down from the tree a single time. You just never know when that buck is going to come by, and almost all the deer I shoot are between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. I have yet to ever have to leave the stand due to being cold. I really like the Cabelas parka because it's not so thick that you get instantly sweated up (but it does provide warmth), and it is waterproof and windproof.

I think it's important to have an outer layer that provides some insulation, but more importantly blocks the wind and keeps you dry. Your layering should provide majority of the insulation so that you can adjust according to activity level and temperature.

My two cents....