First time layering - it went... ok

[Wolfshead]

I have to agree that this is a personal thing.
I believe that we all have to fine tune our “kit”

I’ve found in my situation that the softshell/synthetics don’t keep me warm.
I had a Kuiu softshell jacket in XL, and if I was using to hunt for any period of time I would get cold. Even around 30 degrees. It did well cutting wind, and all, but once it got cold, that cold just penetrated.
The jacket would get cold, and leech through my base layers.
So I bought an XXL, and added a strong fleece 280 hoodie, and it was the same situation, the cold just came through.
Ive never hunted out west or that style. I’m a still hunter who occasionally hunts from a stand, probably similar to you.
I hunt in the flatlands and some hilly areas so I’ve been in some minor elevation compared to out west.
So, I wear a lot of wool clothes, and if I’m stand hunting my parka and bibs, over my wool.
Still hunting I can cover anywhere from 2-6 miles in a day, and I’ve never found my wool to be too heavy for doing that.
I have a couple pair of the Kuiu attack pants and I find them noisy and not warm.

I know what I do will not necessarily equate to your western hunting situation, but I usually wear this;
Top
Kuiu ultra merino 125 T shirt
Kuiu ultra merino 145 1/4 zip
Kuiu Pro merino 200 1/4 zip
Then when down below 35-40 degrees I’ll add either my proximity vest, and/or my Johnson woolen mills 1842 Jac shirt.

Bottoms
Ultra merino 160 bottoms (long John’s)
If it gets really cold I’ll add another pair of bottoms to this
Big Bills merino wool pants.

Again if I’m sitting I have a parka and bibs to put on over what I’ve described.

 

[srr5008]

I’ve found in my situation that the softshell/synthetics don’t keep me warm.
I had a Kuiu softshell jacket in XL, and if I was using to hunt for any period of time I would get cold. Even around 30 degrees. It did well cutting wind, and all, but once it got cold, that cold just penetrated.
The jacket would get cold, and leech through my base layers.
So I bought an XXL, and added a strong fleece 280 hoodie, and it was the same situation, the cold just came through.

I think this right here describes my situation perfectly. Shell cut the wind, but I just felt like the cold penetrated.

 

[Rjk300]

Hunting OH and PA these last 2 weeks i had my 145 and 200 merino on, guide pant, up top same bases w 260 strong fleece mid layer, guide jacket, ultra down vest, orange guide vest. For me this was fine especially just walking and glassing but stationary only about 2 hours. If I wanted to stay warmer it would be strong fleece 290 mid layer replacing the guide pant and jacket or just going over them then if I still need more it’s pro down. I don’t feel the fleece lined guide pant and jacket do great for retaining heat but that’s why I like them, I very rarely over heat in them while active on these colder days we’ve been fortunate to have this season.

 

[summs]

I spend some money but I thinn soft shells like jet stream is a waste. I have had them and always sold. Old guy I hunt cow elk with lives in king of Mountian wool when the wind is bad and it’s bitter cold. He always looks warm and tells me to buy some but it’s steep. I like how quiet it is though and maybe some day I’ll afford some. I’d take blizzard top and bottom or just Kenia bottom if I had them.

As a wool wearer, I just looked up king of the mountain wool... that's crazy. No way can that be worth it any aspect.

If you are looking to get into wool, big bills wool pants ($125) is a great value or the LL Bean guide pant ($175) or new kids on the block STAGR Gear stride pant ($200). Very common in the NE for trackers. I also am a big supporter of the Cabela's wooltimate series. One of the best clothing lines they every made.
There is a big trend and NE tracking is growing very fast.

Wool is silent, well insulated, and keeps you warm even when wet... but it's heavy, bulky and doesn't compress well.

A lot of the old woolen mills have went only a few remaining, like Johnson woolen mills, Pendleton, filson, LL Bean

 

[Macintosh]

I think this is a great thread, but one of the takeaways should be that there are a lot of commonalities, but this IS individual, ie your solution wont be my solution. You have no choice but to experiment and learn what works for you with varying levels of exertion.

Which is the second point. There is a solid reason why whitetail stand hunters and ice fishermen wear big heavy parkas and bibs (an “on/off” heat solution), while people who move around a lot and stop and go use layers (a “thermostat” solution that can be gradually adjusted). Layering is not a “set it and forget it” thing. For anything other than pure sitting in one spot all day, you always have various levels of exertion. That means you have to adjust your layers +\- constantly as your exertion changes, and you have to anticipate the need to adjust. The “grail” is clothing layers that keep you warm enough for lower exertion, while breathing and venting enough for higher exertion, but that doesnt exist really, the best you can hope for is a slightly wider range of applicability. So “layering” is a thing you actively do in the field throughout a day, not a type of clothing.

You also need to adjust and be prepared a bit for different types of hunting. For me, when hunting on the move in the mountians and stopping several times, its easier to stay warm than it is to avoid overheating. So I need to have very thin layers I can wear when really hoofing it uphill and avoid sweating, then much warmer puffy layers I can put on for stopping. If Im still hunting, etc then I need heavier mid layers or a second midlayer, Etc.

For me, thin baselayers are way better than thick if Ill be moving. Regular pants and an active midlayer or a grid fleece is generally all I can wear when moving. If moving slow then for sure a second thicker layer with something to cover it and protect from wind and snow. And a HEAVY puffy jacket and pants to stop. So many people get a lightweight puffy and think it’ll be warm. It wont. But they are cheaper and nice for the sexy, pleasant conditions when more people are out, so they get pushed on you. Make sure your puffy jacket has enough insulation, 5-6oz of good quality down insulation (insulation weight, not jacket weight, good = 800 fill power or better) is what you want. The mid-weight puffy makes a good midlayer for cold temps, or something to pull on when stopped in much warmer wx, but its not sufficient for keeping you warm when standing still in legit cold temps. Also if youre used to bibs, then packable puffy pants are the parallel must-have.

And get a merino buff and a WARM beanie if you dont already have. You lose a ton of heat thru your head, so if you are cold put your hat on. In very cold temps when hiking a baseball hat or no hat with the buff pulled up over your ears will keep your face and ears from freezing while still allowing you to dump enough heat to avoid sweating.