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View Poll Results: Your outer layer choice for best dealing with the cold, snow, and sweat and staying quiet and mobile
Goretex or similar high tech Rain Proof Synthetic 31 31.00%
Quiet Fuzzy Water Resistant type Synthetic 24 24.00%
Wool 34 34.00%
Other 11 11.00%
Voters: 100. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 09-11-2017, 09:20 PM
Nyksta Nyksta is online now
 
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Default Poll: What outer layer do you use for the sub-zero and snow?

When you are layering up for a full day of hunting out in the snow, what is your choice of outer layer to deal with wet, cold, wind, and keeping yourself from getting too sweaty inside it all, and still remaining quiet enough if you need to move for a shot.

Last edited by Nyksta; 09-11-2017 at 09:28 PM.
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2017, 07:56 AM
Guide5689 Guide5689 is offline
 
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Merino wool is no doubt the best base layer for both warmth and moisture control


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  #3  
Old 09-12-2017, 09:12 AM
HIGHLANDER HUNTING HIGHLANDER HUNTING is offline
 
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I've got some Rocky insulated bib overalls that do the trick.

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  #4  
Old 09-12-2017, 01:02 PM
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The Spruce The Spruce is offline
 
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Man, I am amazed how many people have gone away from natural wool. Nothing beats it (except maybe down, but down is very bulky and $). I spend probably too much time in the bush, I wear a wind proof layer and wool. Bets part about wool, if it gets wet your not dead.

Spruce
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Old 09-12-2017, 02:40 PM
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Hagalaz Hagalaz is offline
 
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Wool.

I use wool across the board when it comes to cold weather.
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  #6  
Old 09-12-2017, 02:55 PM
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nast70 nast70 is online now
 
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For hunting this year I found Cabelas Rain Suede on sale. Bought it larger so I can layer under with my good sled gear.
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  #7  
Old 09-12-2017, 02:59 PM
Nyksta Nyksta is online now
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Spruce View Post
Man, I am amazed how many people have gone away from natural wool. Nothing beats it (except maybe down, but down is very bulky and $). I spend probably too much time in the bush, I wear a wind proof layer and wool. Bets part about wool, if it gets wet your not dead.

Spruce
I agree wool is fantastic for baselayers. I am curious what peoples absolutely outer layer is. As you said you wear a windproof layer. What type of material is it? Rain proof hard shell or a softshell type thing?
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Old 09-12-2017, 03:18 PM
Luckybrand Luckybrand is offline
 
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I now run army surplus acu digital stuff the light gray seems to work really well amongst poplars and willows with no leaves, underneath I wear marmot precip jacket if it's snowing/raining and pants unless it's really really wet I just use wool long johns and the acu pants, if it's -20 and I'm sitting in the stand I wear my blue winter coveralls and just have an old grey moving blanket I wear over myself seems to work pretty well, simple and effective. I do have a set of goretex mt050 pants from cabelas that are very warm but if I'm doing any walking they are too hot


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  #9  
Old 09-12-2017, 08:10 PM
Luckwell Luckwell is offline
 
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OncaShell jacket and pants. I like wool but once it's wet it's wet. I'm a polyester fan myself. It will dry on your body heat without taking it off.

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  #10  
Old 09-13-2017, 10:23 AM
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SPIKEHORN SPIKEHORN is offline
 
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Best thing I ever did was get a Gerbings heated vest, I use one light over layer with a wool under garment, it keeps me toasty warm down to -20-30
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  #11  
Old 09-13-2017, 12:29 PM
Nyksta Nyksta is online now
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SPIKEHORN View Post
Best thing I ever did was get a Gerbings heated vest, I use one light over layer with a wool under garment, it keeps me toasty warm down to -20-30
What is your one light over layer? Smooth tightthread goretex type rainproof synthetic or a water resistant soft shell fuzzy type synthetic, wool, or something else.
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  #12  
Old 09-13-2017, 04:43 PM
Bushleague Bushleague is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyksta View Post
I agree wool is fantastic for baselayers. I am curious what peoples absolutely outer layer is. As you said you wear a windproof layer. What type of material is it? Rain proof hard shell or a softshell type thing?
For real cold weather I generally just wear straight wool as an outer layer, if the wind is cutting through I just wear more wool or sometimes a denim shirt under my outer layer. I stay on the move when hunting, and in cold weather any synthetic just doesn't breathe enough, even with the denim shirt in the mix I'm prone to getting clammy.

Most of the season I wear a fleece or merino wool base layer, then either a micro fleece or wool pant depending on how cold it is. Up top its either a vest or wool coat, and wool sweaters underneath if needed.

In the past I've had good luck while winter trekking down to -30 just using heavy cotton coveralls as an outer layer, and wool underneath as needed. Unlined coveralls cut the wind and pretty good, because you can open up the front of the coveralls they breath pretty good while snowshoeing. I keep a big sweater in my pack that I can put on over top when I stop for lunch. Never tried this for hunting but I think it would work.

If a guy is sitting in a blind all day then breathability wouldn't be as much of a concern.
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Last edited by Bushleague; 09-13-2017 at 04:59 PM.
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  #13  
Old 09-13-2017, 05:04 PM
Jayhad Jayhad is offline
 
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I use First lite base, mid and out layers. The base and mid are merino and the rain gear is the Vapor Stormlight gear made of 37.5 Corona it is about 2lb for both the pant and coat. It's crazy expensive.... at least to me.
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  #14  
Old 09-14-2017, 06:13 AM
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Prairiewolf Prairiewolf is offline
 
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For the conditions you've specified:

*Wool base layer (t-shirt and long underwear)
*Wool pants (First Lite) and thin down jacket (Eddie Bauer)
*Kuiu guide pants and jacket
*Rain gear in the pack if needed
*Thin Icebreaker gloves with Canada Goose mitts in the pack if sitting/glassing
*Wool socks in the boots and a spare pair in the pack

Sometimes I skip either the First Lite or Kuiu pants depending on how cold it is.
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  #15  
Old 09-14-2017, 08:47 AM
Nyksta Nyksta is online now
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prairiewolf View Post
For the conditions you've specified:

*Wool base layer (t-shirt and long underwear)
*Wool pants (First Lite) and thin down jacket (Eddie Bauer)
*Kuiu guide pants and jacket
*Rain gear in the pack if needed
*Thin Icebreaker gloves with Canada Goose mitts in the pack if sitting/glassing
*Wool socks in the boots and a spare pair in the pack

Sometimes I skip either the First Lite or Kuiu pants depending on how cold it is.
That is a very nice description of your insulation. So what type of materiel is your final outer layer?
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  #16  
Old 09-14-2017, 09:12 AM
Kechika Kechika is offline
 
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Default Sleeping Indian/King of the Mountain Wool

Anytime in the mountains I wear merino wool base wear and when cold I go to 260 weight merino. When it gets really cold or sitting in a blind or stand I always go to my Sleeping Indian and King of the Mountain wool outer wear. The few times it gets cold enough that I need more I pull on a Sitka outer shell and head to camp.
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