Clothing for painfully cold hunts

[PathFinder]

I just got back from a deer hunt in northern WY and it was stupidly cold the entire time. -15 or colder in the mornings and only got up to 10 during the day. Usually this hunt ranges from 15-35 degrees and we were pretty unprepared. Sitting for hours at a time was entirely out of the question. Walking was ok but I was still plenty cold even when I stayed moving in the morning and evening. We do this hunt every year and I want to add to my clothing arsenal to be able to deal with these kinds of conditions. It's a truck hunt but we spend the AM/PM sitting on fields and the afternoons doing drives. I'll use it for coyote hunting as well, so hiking from stand to stand and sitting for ~15 mins at a time will be the norm for that. What kind of layers should I be looking at to stay truly warm in these conditions? Right now I'm looking at adding the Kryptek Aquillo jacket, Koldo jacket, and Cadog pants to my collection. My plan is to wear the fleece pants I have now under the Cadog, and merino under that. On top, a merino base layer, hoodie, the Aquillo, then the Koldo to keep the wind out and stay dry. Are the puffy layers like the Aquillo warm enough for these conditions, or do I need to be looking at a heavy parka? I'd go ahead and buy the parka but the aquillo can pull double duty and be used on backpack hunts as well.
Also, any recommendations for gloves? My buddy had some giant Sitka mittens that kept my hands completely warm, even sitting still. Any other companies making something similar, that folds up out of the way to shoot etc?
For sitting still, I'm thinking the best way to go may be a woobie express or SJK thermal cloak. Anyone have experience using them for this purpose?

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I wear Sitka Kelvin layers...not a problem in temps to zero so far. Haven't tried in em subzero but suspect they'd be okay.

 

[Elkfitness]

I would look at disposable hand warmers, hand muffs, and ice breaker boot blankets. Make sure you have a face mask as well. I haven't found any gloves that keep my hands warm so I use a hand muff with hand warmers when it's cold like you'd described. I've read good things about black diamond gloves. There is a thread on here about gloves. Also cut up a thermarest foam sleeping pad to sit on or just use the accordion one and fold it up.

 

[OR Archer]

If its that cold and you are sitting for long periods Id consider a product like this from Slumberjack

http://www.slumberjack.com/p-636-thermal-cloak.aspx

 

[Rucker61]

During a snow/sleet storm in Colorado 3rd rifle, I just used my Woobie pulled around me and over my head to stay warm. It was good and wet but I wasn't. I sat on a Thermarest folding seat-pad for insulation from the ground.

 

[justinspicher]

You can make your own "artic" woobie. Take a USGI poncho liner and sew a fleece panel on one side and boom, you're good to go. I've done this to a couple of mine and won't go anywhere without them. It is a bit of a weight penalty but worth it in my opinion.

 

[5MilesBack]

It seems like every third rifle season was like that when I hunted it. Hated it. Woke every morning with a sheet of ice covering my sleeping bag.......with a wood/coal burner in the wall tent. Then brutally cold every day. I'd wear a good base layer, fleece pants, then heavy wool pants. On top I'd wear good base layer, heavy fleece, down jacket, and then a wind proof outer. Full head coverage like a balaclava, and even wore my ski goggles at times. I have some Gates Goretex gloves that I've used for years that work really well. As long as I'm moving, my hands are usually warm. When it comes to that kind of cold, everything goes out the window except keeping warm. I'd even carry a couple road flares to start a fire mid morning and afternoon to warm up a bit. Gosh I love the archery season.

 

[huntabsarokee]

I like lots of down. I carry it in my pack bc it is too warm to walk in. Garments are light. Prefer pants with leg zippers both down and outer layer so don't have to remove boots when I get to my stand. Just merino bottoms while walking in. If making drives leave off down.

 

[Brodie]

For sitting in these temps I have found the heater body suit to be the best. I just roll it up and attach to my pack. Its quick to get on and off and I've done (and not thoroughly enjoyed but was totally comfortable) all day sits in -20 to -5 temps with no problems.

 

[hunt_or_bust]

I'm not sure the aquillo jacket would be good for anything in those temps unless you were active. Sitting in Temps like that will require you to have more down fill weight than what the aquillo has at 3.5 oz. Backpacking light has a forum with a lot of good information regarding CLO values, thermal neutrality and different types of baffles and jacket constructions. For sitting in Temps around zero degrees farenheit for long periods of time you will probably need a jacket with around 10 oz of 800+ power down. This will of course, depend on other layers you are wearing under or over this jacket.

 

[realunlucky]

You could look into a happy Jack suit from the military. They are bulky but will fit your needs for short trips. You can them reasonable if your patient on eBay. I'm looking into getting a wobbie when I take my kids out packs small but gives you the comfort only a blanket can

 

[rayporter]

boot blankets help the feet a lot. an old sleeping bag to wrap in will keep you sitting comfortable for a while. , even a poncho will break the wind. i am too stingy to get the slumberjack cloak but i am sure it will do the job.

standing on frozen ground sucks the heat out of your feet so sometimes i carry a small piece of foam to stand on. did i mention the boot blankets, yet??

 

[Turnem n Burnem]

Natural Gear Winterceptor Fleece- if its not less than 30 degrees you will sweat in it.

 

[bigeasygator]

Another option would be the gear from Northern Outfitters. I don't own any but I've seen them recommended by a few folks. This is gear that is typically used for Arctic expeditions and hunts, like Polar bear and Musk Ox. May work for some hunting situations outside of the Arctic too.

http://www.northernoutfitters.com/

 

[Roy68]

5MilesBack ditto on 3rd season.

Anyways, I fight the cold hands and feet thing. I run the hand warmers a lot. This year I was going to purchase a set of OR ALTI MITTS, they are expensive but look like they could be worth it if they work. Then Kuiu put out their Down mitten. I will be putting the down mitten to use in a few weeks for about 10 days. My impression of the mitten is that it will work well, and it packs down to nothing. This upcoming hunt I will not have weight concerns so I will take a hand muff and hand warmers and a few other gloves to test.

I've toyed with the boot blankets but haven't tried them. I have no experience with the Woobie or similar but would like to try one. A pad to sit on helps greatly.

My top and bottom set up. Bottom - First Lite Red Desert Boxer with Alleghany bottoms (sometimes 2 layers), Pant, down puffy pant over that (kuiu super down), then a rain shell to stop the wind. Top - First Lite llano and/or chama (sometimes a fleece if a long sit), GoLite Bitteroot, First Lite Uncomphagre over that. I always have my rain gear with me to cut the wind if need be, and it is sized to cover all the above.

Remember everyone's cold tolerance is different. Regardless, I think the two things to focus on are insulate yourself from the wind, and the ground. The wind will suck the life & heat out of a guy.

 

[PathFinder]

I checked out the Slumberjack Thermal Cloak at Sportsman's today, and I really liked the design of it. It weighs in under 3 lbs and feels like it would be plenty warm and easy enough to move around in when I'm just sitting and watching.

 

[duchntr]

Pick up a set of the old green usgi issue wool trigger mitten liners.. I double them when its really cold. They work great and they are super cheap! http://store.colemans.com/cart/trigger-finger-mittens-us-gi-2-pair-p-2076.html

 

[wpwarren]

I am looking to add a Hill People Gear mountain Serape to my pack to cover those days when it is too cold to sit and glass. It also doubles as a sleeping system in the summer when it is not too cold.

 

[Jcberg]

Milwaukee tools makes a great heated jacket that runs off a small battery. Put another layer over the top of it and you will be toasty. Works in ND.

 

[marc]

I bust out the Feathered Friends Helios jacket and pants once on stand with a good rain shell over.