Heater Body Suit still the best for cold stands?

Joined
Nov 21, 2022
Messages
34
Location
Near Water
How many other layers and types do you wear underneath, and at what temps? I’m a baby with the cold and am reconsidering options. I’d especially like this if it reduces what I wear (and pack) overall.
Short answer, I wear what I find to be comfortable for a slow and observant walk to my stand. It absolutely cuts down on the number of pieces of clothing I pack in. I also pre-load things I will want in my stand in the pockets then roll it up and carry the whole thing in. All told, I'm much happier with the IWOM than I ever was with coveralls or bibs and a parka.

If moving, I stay warm pretty easily but I have what I jokingly call a "low idle" - when I'm still or sleeping, I need about 10-15 degrees more insulation than most people I'm with. The details for me are as follows:

35-45 degrees
  • Legs: un-insulated rubber boots with wool socks, kuiu peloton 97 base layer, FL Corrugate Guide pant
  • Torso: 150 wt wool base layer, some generic grid fleece, FL corrugate guide jacket (un-insulated soft shell)
  • Gloves: minus 33 wool glove liners, and use the built in hand muff
  • Hat: 150 wt wool beanie
25-35 degrees
  • Legs, same as above, but add toe warmers
  • Torso: add a light puffy, comparable to a FL Brooks down
  • Gloves: same
  • Hat: 200 wt wool balaclava. I'm partial to the First Lite Wind River with the ear holes.
15-25 degrees Only done this range once, but wore the following
  • Legs: Same layers, but used a synthetic hiking boot and toe warmers. vastly warmer feet
  • Torso: added a Pnuma heated vest
  • Gloves: walking I used an insulated soft shell glove cause rifles are cold, same wool glove liners on stand
  • Hat: same balaclava, added a knit hat.
Edit: added some bold emphasis for how I got to those temp ranges, just in case someone stumbles on this later.
 
Last edited:

fwafwow

WKR
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Messages
5,627
Short answer, I wear what I find to be comfortable for a slow and observant walk to my stand. It absolutely cuts down on the number of pieces of clothing I pack in. I also pre-load things I will want in my stand in the pockets then roll it up and carry the whole thing in. All told, I'm much happier with the IWOM than I ever was with coveralls or bibs and a parka.

If moving, I stay warm pretty easily but I have what I jokingly call a "low idle" - when I'm still or sleeping, I need about 10-15 degrees more insulation than most people I'm with. The details for me are as follows:

35-45 degrees
  • Legs: un-insulated rubber boots with wool socks, kuiu peloton 97 base layer, FL Corrugate Guide pant
  • Torso: 150 wt wool base layer, some generic grid fleece, FL corrugate guide jacket (un-insulated soft shell)
  • Gloves: minus 33 wool glove liners, and use the built in hand muff
  • Hat: 150 wt wool beanie
25-35 degrees
  • Legs, same as above, but add toe warmers
  • Torso: add a light puffy, comparable to a FL Brooks down
  • Gloves: same
  • Hat: 200 wt wool balaclava. I'm partial to the First Lite Wind River with the ear holes.
15-25 degrees Only done this range once, but wore the following
  • Legs: Same layers, but used a synthetic hiking boot and toe warmers. vastly warmer feet
  • Torso: added a Pnuma heated vest
  • Gloves: walking I used an insulated soft shell glove cause rifles are cold, same wool glove liners on stand
  • Hat: same balaclava, added a knit hat.
This is extremely helpful - thank you. I've gone down to the ~25 range for an all day sit, and I only lasted (in part) due to the amount of rut activity that kept my blood going. I did that with Sitka Incinerator jacket and Fanatic bibs (hat, gaiter, hand warmer, etc.), plus an embarrassing number of layers beneath - including a Pnuma heated vest (and I now have the heated LJs). But it's a pain, and that "system" was for just that temp setting (in Nebraska). Way overkill for GA and SC. But my packing and layering even for those locations is a PITA.
 
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