Best midlayer for long sits?

[BilboBaggins]

I'm building a layering system for long sits white tail hunting. Want to be able to stay out in 0f if I need to. I'm struggling to understand which midlayer I need.

Current line up:
First lite kiln baselayer
?? Midlayer
Sitka jetstream
Feathered friends Helios puffy

Would the sitka ambient 100 line be good? Or go heavier on the base layer and get ambient 75? Seems like 3 hoods would be annoying so maybe I should get something hoodless. What would you guys pick in this layering system? I already decided I don't want to do a dedicated whitetail system like the fanatic.

 

[barrister]

For stationary hunting, have you considered a heated vest? I have mid layers like the Ambient for using on more mobile hunts, but I’m to the point where I value more heat for sitting in a tree stand or a ground blind in sub freezing weather. Before using a heated vest, I would put three of the large disposable heat packs inside the pockets of my jacket.

 

[JPeters218]

So I just bought the ambient 75 to serve as a mid layer. Over my core lightweight. Use as an outer layer until cold enough that I need my fanatic jacket. I wish I would’ve bought the 100. The 75 just doesn’t give me nearly as much warmth as I was hoping.

Edit, I had been using the Kuiu Peloton 200, and I’d been pretty happy with that. Just wanted something new. So that peloton line might be worth a look too

 

[RADunfee]

I like the Peleton 200 or the original Ambient which was 150. Depends on level of activity. Both hoodless. I hate stacking hoods.

 

[Bump79]

I like the Peleton 200 or the original Ambient which was 150. Depends on level of activity. Both hoodless. I hate stacking hoods.

This is nearly exactly what I do.

My system is Pnuma Heated Vest, Sitka 120 merino, Peloton 200 or 97, Ambient 150. If really cold, I lauer my synthetic puffy under the Ambient.

 

[KoolBreeze]

Long sits in 0 degrees would be miserable for me with a Jetstream regardless of the midlayer. Definitely Fanatic set weather for me, plus a good midlayer.

 

[Maverick1]

I'm building a layering system for long sits white tail hunting. Want to be able to stay out in 0f if I need to. I'm struggling to understand which midlayer I need.

Current line up:
First lite kiln baselayer
?? Midlayer
Sitka jetstream
Feathered friends Helios puffy

Would the sitka ambient 100 line be good? Or go heavier on the base layer and get ambient 75? Seems like 3 hoods would be annoying so maybe I should get something hoodless. What would you guys pick in this layering system? I already decided I don't want to do a dedicated whitetail system like the fanatic.

Have you used your current system yet? If so, how does your existing 6.54 oz of 900 FP down jacket not qualify as an insulation layer? And, what layer would you expect to have better performance from a CLO standpoint?

A couple of users above are suggesting a fleece midlayer. Which is a poor choice. (Stop it with the “But it is Kuiu”…..the brand is irrelevant!). The CLO value of fleece is incredibly low. In no world does a 200 fleece out perform 6.5 oz of 900FP down.

If anything, your system is fine. You need an oversized wind breaking layer so as to not compress the down. With that your system would look like:
Merino baselayers.
FF Helios
Windstopper.

Add in a heated layer and you will get to zero. (I have the same components as you and have tested numerous sets of bibs and jackets to the negative teens. The only issue I ran into with the FF Helios was the arm length is too long for my arms, and my wind breaking outer layer was the Stratus, which is constricted in the forearm area. Combine the compressed down from too long sleeves and the snug Stratus forearms and I developed some cool spots there.)

The Helios pants are pretty good. But have less total fill than the jacket.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Have you used your current system yet? If so, how does your existing 6.54 oz of 900 FP down jacket not qualify as an insulation layer? And, what layer would you expect to have better performance from a CLO standpoint?

A couple of users above are suggesting a fleece midlayer. Which is a poor choice. (Stop it with the “But it is Kuiu”…..the brand is irrelevant!). The CLO value of fleece is incredibly low. In no world does a 200 fleece out perform 6.5 oz of 900FP down.

If anything, your system is fine. You need an oversized wind breaking layer so as to not compress the down. With that your system would look like:
Merino baselayers.
FF Helios
Windstopper.

Add in a heated layer and you will get to zero. (I have the same components as you and have tested numerous sets of bibs and jackets to the negative teens. The only issue I ran into with the FF Helios was the arm length is too long for my arms, and my wind breaking outer layer was the Stratus, which is constricted in the forearm area. Combine the compressed down from too long sleeves and the snug Stratus forearms and I developed some cool spots there.)

The Helios pants are pretty good. But have less total fill than the jacket.

No I am admittedly pretty newby when it comes to serious hunting in the cold. Still haven't even ordered most of this system yet. I was under the impression that windstopper (the jetstream) under the puffy is the best approach to avoid compressing the down. Not sure how that effects the thermodynamics of the system but intuitively a windstopper outer shell seems like it would be more effective yeah.

So just skip the fleece? My thoughts were to maybe just get a cheap military fleece to throw in my pack in case I needed it for the sit or for the walk out to the stand. That would be without a heated vest, with a heated vest I could see it being unnecessary.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Long sits in 0 degrees would be miserable for me with a Jetstream regardless of the midlayer. Definitely Fanatic set weather for me, plus a good midlayer.

Well its not just a jetstream that's just for blocking wind. The Helios is a pretty substantial down jacket.