CO Elk hunting - Warm But Light Camp Clothes??

[Fleetwood]

Hey all,

I don't know about you, but at night after hunting in CO backcountry all day, I get super cold. I usually end up wearing a UA compression t-shirt, nike combat heatgear (fleece and spandex), and some sort of compressable puffy. Wondering if you guys have any suggestions for super warm long johns tops and bottoms or a recommendation for how to keep warm in the evenings. The guy I hunt with has a strict no fire policy. Trying to keep the set up light and minimal.

Cheers

 

[Clarence]

I would lobby you're partner to rethink his policy, and check out a floorless shelter with a woodstove.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[rj2]

I think merino base layer (6oz), peloton 97 (5oz), peloton 200 (10oz), and a 800+ down puffy with around 4oz of down (12oz) would keep ya warm into the 30's and is pretty light and versatile combo.

 

[Brendan]

I'd get rid of the UA compression stuff and spandex and carry zip off merino bottoms (Kuiu or First Lite, I've run the former), and an extra merino / synthetic top and a warm hat. Throw that on, layer up with your puffy. I wear the compression gear skiing, but never hunting. Don't think it does a very good job insulating at all.

If you're hunting archery season, it's not like you spend much time in camp. Get out of your bag in the morning and wolf down breakfast and get out of camp. At night you're getting back after dark trying to eat and get gear ready before crashing... Rifle seasons, I'd have a floorless shelter with stove because you've got more time in camp.

 

[Fleetwood]

@Clarence - Good call. I need to save up for a Kiaru sawtooth.

 

[Fleetwood]

@rj2 I do have some merino base layers so I'll look into the weights and see if I can pull together something similar.

 

[Fleetwood]

@Brendan All good points. I really don't spend too much time in camp, but we try and eat dinner together around 8:30-9 and while waiting for each other to get back to camp or sitting down to eat, I freeze my ass off -- lol. I suppose I could wait inside my sleeping bag.

Interesting comment about the nike and UA compression stuff. I always try and bring one of my warmest shirts/baselayers but I think it makes that those are built for hunting. Hmmm

 

[Fleetwood]

All - do you guys bring a change of clothes so you can let your hunting gear air out overnight or do you just rock your camo all day and night?

 

[Brendan]

Interesting comment about the nike and UA compression stuff. I always try and bring one of my warmest shirts/baselayers but I think it makes that those are built for hunting. Hmmm

I think they're fine for Moisture management, not my choice for backpack hunting. I find the merino base layers, or stuff like the Sitka Fleece much warmer.

Just bring an extra Sitka Heavyweight Hoody, and/or a warmer puffy jacket, and you could even add a pair of puffy pants and you'll be set...

Also, I'll sleep in most of my gear. Puffy comes off and becomes my pillow unless I'm real cold.

Only change of clothes are socks (at least one spare, maybe 2), and sometimes a spare set of boxers.

 

[bowtech3dhunter]

I’ve got a light weight puffy jacket for when I get back to camp. It’s made by montbell and weighs 8 oz. it’s worth it’s weight in gold around camp. As far as hunting clothes, I just rock out in the same set the whole time. I even sleep in them. Sometimes during the middle of the day I’ll go wash my hunting clothes in the creek and then let them air dry in the sun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CJF]

As of right now, pretty much all of Colorado agrees with your partners strict no fire policy and you'll end up with a fine if you think otherwise. I don't see it changing between now and opening week.

 

[5MilesBack]

All - do you guys bring a change of clothes so you can let your hunting gear air out overnight or do you just rock your camo all day and night?

When I get back to camp every night I'm still sweating. So I grab a quick bite to eat and then hit the sack. I take my camo off but keep my merino base layers on all night and all day.

 

[Fleetwood]

@CJF - Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree. It's so sad to see so much of CO burning.

In the past, his "no fire" policy has been strictly about scent control. That said, I think playing the wind is the most important part of backcountry elk hunting...no matter what you smell like.

 

[fngTony]

@CJF - Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree. It's so sad to see so much of CO burning.

In the past, his "no fire" policy has been strictly about scent control. That said, I think playing the wind is the most important part of backcountry elk hunting...no matter what you smell like.

Fire smell is pretty natural to animals out here. Maybe he just doesn’t want to babysit a fire, I can understand that. I wouldn’t expect the fire band to lift until October at the very earliest.

 

[Brendan]

In the past, his "no fire" policy has been strictly about scent control. That said, I think playing the wind is the most important part of backcountry elk hunting...no matter what you smell like.

If it's about scent control then he's got things backwards. Plenty of reasons to not have a fire, that certainly isn't one of them.

 

[Conrad101st]

Down, down, down!

A fat down jacket weighs like 1.5 lbs and compresses down to a water bottle size package.

 

[bpctcb]

...any suggestions for super warm long johns tops and bottoms...

Try the ECWCS Gen III level 2 top & bottoms (waffleskins). Super warm, light and also inexpensive.

Military Cold Weather Clothing

BP


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fleetwood]

@bpctcb Great suggestion.

@Conrad101st - I've got a kuiu puffy and a sitka kelvin active jacket. Need to figure out which one is warmer.