Staying warm (winter)
- This topic has 19 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated Nov 20, 2007 at 8:06 pm by
.
-
Posts
-
For really cold weather, my setup is as follows:
1. thin wool liner socks
2. thicker wool socks like smart wools
3. polypro long underwear
4. fleece pants
5. breathable waders (patagonia)
6. various layers of poly pro top
7. fleece jacket/vest
8. simms classic guide wading jacket
9. gloves (has to be really cold)
10. wool hatI have fished down to 5-10 degrees in this setup and been warm.
Smart wool socks
Smart wool long underwear
UnderArmor Cold gear top
Expedition weight capaline top
Fleece pants
Breathable waders
Simms Windstoper Jacket
Simms Tank hat
Fingerless gloves
If it is snowing or rain, Simms Freestone jacketGlad you like the Woolpower’s Zach, we just picked up the line, alongside the Simms stuff, after the Denver Show and they have been getting rave reviews from staff, but I haven’t had a chance to try them myself.
I layer pretty much liek everyone else, skinny polypro under layers, comfy fleece over the top, breathable waders and a breathable G3 guide jacket or the DL Windstopper jacket. Love the high collar on the G3 for really cold wet days
Im just about to buy a new pair of winter boots _ we fish all winter here too _ but I need a wider/larger pair of boots to accomodate the extra layers in the feet for winter.
Oh now one tip I had from a bass fisher for winter fishing was change into a fresh pair of socks before you get into your waders. The drive in the car, with the heater on will make your feet sweat, so the fresh socks keep you warmer.
I wear gloves a lot, Im an aussie so Im a wuss when it comes to cold. Again definitely windstopper
Simms mitts for the worst days and the Windriver windblocker 3/2 gloves for chilly.I added a neckgaiter last year out of normal fleece, really helps but this year Im upgrading to a Buff Cyclone windstopper neck gaiter. Will be great for upriver running in the boat during the shad kill.
Cheers
Steve.polypro liner socks
rei wool socks (heavy weight)
rei polypro pants (mid-weight)
rei fleece pants
rei polypro top (mid-weight)
Alpine Designs polypro top (heavy weight)
Helly Hansen Mid-weight fleece top
Mountain Hardwear Compressor Jacket
Patagonia breathable waders (If it’s below 20 I will use Gander Mtn. Neoprenes)
Oversized wading boots (1 0r 2 sizes bigger, mine are 1 size bigger and aren’t big enough)
Mountain Hardwear Gortex Jacket
Ball Cap
Mountain Hardwear fleece hat
Simms Gloves/mittensI have a friend who guides up in Michigan and he swears by simms boot foot breathables.
I have been wearing the Hodgman Bootfoot Breathable waders in Michigan for about 6 years. Cheap and they last. 1000 grams Thinsulate.
when I’m out duck hunting in december I wear wool socks long underwear, carharts then waders on the bottom then smartwool longunderwear top, a hooded sweatshirt, a flannel shirt, then my duck jacket… Keeps me warm sitting around all day… Oh and a nice hat is always good…
I just want to put in a plug for one of the most under-sung great products I own: Woolpower socks. Zach
Hey Zach and other wool sock fans. I found some Burlington wool socks at Sam’s Club two years ago–3 pair for $12. I see they still have them this fall. They are warm and hold up to hard use. I have used 6 pair of them for 2 years now and they are still lasting in the heels.
I still like wool.
My simms guide wader jacket is the best piece of equipment I have ever owned. Period. Final word. Period. Smartwool socks really help. I stay with fleece, layer, and avoid any non synthetic material except the smartwool sock.
Most of my cold weather activty is photography based as we dont really have winter seasons here in Ontario.
Merino socks
Under Armor Expedition bottoms
Halley Hansen top
Under Armor glove liners
Under Armor Expedition mock zip or a heavy fleece mock zipOuter Layer
Irish Settter 800 gram thinsulate w/ 1inch sole boots. The thick sole insulates against standing on ice
Thinsulate gloves
A hunting inner/outer parka with more thinsulate on the sleeves a body etc
Rip Zone Snow boarding pants: I love these, one of the best investments Ive madeIve been out when its -20+chasing owls and with the exception of my hands have remained comfortable. I’ve yet to find a system t prortect my hands thats “perfect”. You can layer and bulk up but that reduces functionality.
/sighSimms long underwear
Filson wool gloves
Filson wool hat
Knob Creek
Freshly lit cigarThat usually does the trick for me…
Winters here in Colorado actually seem warmer to me than the winters when I lived in Michigan.One of the best set of foot wear I’ve found was 1. Genius socks followed by 2. a pair of fleece socks and then 3. a pair of wool socks usually Patagonias. For the body I’l start with a pair of polypropelene the a pair of fleece (Patagonias)
Spencer and everyone else, the key to keeping feet warm in the winter is to keep them DRY!!! You can have all the wool and polypro and everything else that you want, but your feet are still going to sweat, and once they are wet, it won’t be long till they are cold. While researching a hunting trip to canada where we had temperaters in the morning of -20 F everyday, i found one tidbit of info that saved me:
USE SPRAY ANTI-PERSPERINT ON YOUR FEET!!!!
It will stop the sweating for at least a few hours if not the whole day, and theyby keep your feet much warmer. I’ve been doing this for hunting, snowmobiling, and about anything else out in the cold and i have been much happier ever since. Also, make sure you order boot sizes at least one of not 2 sizes to big. All this insulation is there to create a DEAD AIR SPACE, and when you cram it into a boot thats to small you defeat the puprose. Also, if your going to be out all day, pack a second pair of socks along to change into, a pair of dry socks will do you wonders after you’ve sweated out your first pair of socks.
A few other things for fishing in michigan – ditch the breathables, and get a good pair of 5 mil neoprene duck hunting waders with about 2000 g of thinsulate in the boots. You will look like a redneck, but at least you will be a warm redneck. I also use the expedition capilene layered with a lightweight capilene underneath, a layer of fleece, and something to cut the wind. Hands are tough, the only decent solution i’ve found is to have one pair for fishing, and one pair for catching – when you have to get wet, that way at least you will have one dry pair to stick your hands back into.
Eric
The one thing I never leave home when fishing in cool to cold weather…my Filson Merino Wool Fingerless Gloves. They keep your fingers warm when the gloves are dry or wet.
Great topic.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.