Heater Body Suit still the best for cold stands?

[Pyro451]

Hello,

Considering buying the Heater Body Suit on a friend's recommendation for a way to beat the December cold in Massachusetts while on stand. I will be in a ladder stand (Hawk Sasquatch 1.5, 21'). After a fair amount of 'google research' it seems the HBS is still the warmest option for staying on stand all day.

Am I missing anything, or should I just pull the proverbial trigger?

Thank you in advance for your opinions.

 

[Skerhunter]

It is unless you want to buy a bunch of extra gear to stay warm (bibs/coat)!

 

[Bump79]

Skip all that. Get the Pnuma heated core baselayers. It makes way more sense to put the heat straight to the body. Get an extra battery per layer.

Then just use your current outer layers. I can run super light for 4 hour sit in light weight outer layers down to 20. With the right outer layers I could easily take it down to subzero.

 

[Pyro451]

Thanks @Bump79. Not sure 4hrs will cut it. I was on stand for 7 hours one day (19°F) and wanted to stay longer but could not. I had 2 layers plus a coverall. How long do the heated batteries last? Thinking I would need socks and gloves heated too.

 

[ScottinPA]

I bought the Sitka Fanatic bibs before our PA rifle season and am impressed. Wore 400 weight merino base then Sitka heavyweight bottoms then bibs. Temps in the teens most days I hunted and my legs and core stayed warm. Feet not so much. Plan to get the jacket for 2nd archery after Christmas. I've heard a lot about it being bulky and heavy but I don't think they are. One stand is a good 3/4 mile walk. I stripped down to just base on top and unzipped the bibs. Didn't overheat from the walk.

 

[Pyro451]

@ScottinPA Thank you. I was concerned about overheating, especially on the walk back. It is not that far but it is up a pretty steep grade.

 

[Bump79]

Thanks @Bump79. Not sure 4hrs will cut it. I was on stand for 7 hours one day (19°F) and wanted to stay longer but could not. I had 2 layers plus a coverall. How long do the heated batteries last? Thinking I would need socks and gloves heated too.

They each last about 4 hours on medium heat. Low heat like 8. High like 1 hr but that's cooking hot. That's why I mentioned an extra battery - they have connections for two in each piece. If I'm warm enough I'll turn it off for an hour or so. Then it warms me right back up. So using that method I could definitely make it through a 10 hr sit on two batteries.

It really depends on what you're trying to do. My hikes often are a mile plus back to a hunt location in the hills. If I overheat on the way in I'm toast and I don't want this huge pile of heavy bulky clothes to pack in. I'm a western hunter at heart as I grew up in eastern Montana where it's regularly sub zero in hunting season, so most of the whitetail suggestions I tend to disagree with wholeheartedly. Most systems are mismanaging their moisture/sweat so then they overcompensate for added layers. Which then reduces breathability further and it's a self fulfilling prophecy.

Look at John Barklow's Sitka videos he does for whitetail hunting in Montana. Pretty close to what I do. I'm sure Sitka is working on some heated gear. That's the way of the future.

 

[hiker270]

Tried a friends Heater Body suit and on a late season archery hunt in Ohio had a chance to use an IWOM. For me the IWOM was more versatile and easier to use, so I bought an IWOM. I believe they will both keep you warm.

 

[go4thegusto]

Whatever you do you don't want your arms inside. The original heater suits, you had to unzip to get your arms out to shoot. I have a Half-In-the-Bag that works good with a parka like the SKRE or Kuiu Haven.
You can sometimes find those on ebay and such. I put a cinch belt on it instead of suspenders for ease of use.

 

[Wildone]

See if you can find a used set of Northern Outfitters Expedition weight bibs and parka. They are hard to come by but I have sat dark to dark in Alberta and Sask down to -30 in them.

 

[Pyro451]

See if you can find a used set of Northern Outfitters Expedition weight bibs and parka. They are hard to come by but I have sat dark to dark in Alberta and Sask down to -30 in them.

WOW! That would be awesome. Assuming they are out of production? Or just very limited?

 

[BCD]

I have the HBS and rarely wear it. It is warm but kind of a pain to put on in the tree and you have to keep your arms inside it while wearing it. I'm thinking about buying the IWOM.

 

[Murphy]

I have had my heater body suit for over a decade now. I absolutely hate the cold and used to always wuss out on cold mornings after 3 or 4 hours. Heater body suit has resulted in me staying longer and actually being comfortable on stand. I highly recommend it. It's the best money I've spent on gear hands down. It does take some getting used to having your arms zipped inside but as long as u pay attention you shouldn't have any trouble grabbing your weapon to shoot. For me it has resulted in dozens of deer i have been able to shoot i probably wouldn't have gotten because I would have been at home warming up already. And no I'm not connected with the company, I just despise being cold.

 

[WanderingFarmer]

I’ve got the Northern Outfitters stuff from some dog mushing days of yore and an IWOM. Spent a lot of 2-4 day stints living outside in the Norhern Outfitters stuff training huskies on long runs, but the expedition weight stuff was too warm for actually moving around in unless it was closer to 0 than 32. Their system was open cell foam insulation with a tight nylon shell for the wind. Great at moving moisture which you need with dog mushing (highly variable energy output)

For hiking in, getting into the tree, and staying warm while static , it’s IWOM all the way. Layer appropriately for the walk in, cool down a bit, crawl into the IWOM , and wait. It’s even better with a heated base layer.

Can’t comment on the HBS, other than I wanted my arms free more than my legs while I’m sitting still.

 

[Wildone]

WF I would agree that you don't want to hike in super far with it on but seeing how the OP is from Mass. I would assume he's not going in to deep, I could be wrong though. I put this on at the stand over a light base layer if I have a long walk. My dad is 82 now and uses the IWOM once in his stand he had issues with the bottom wanting to fall down when in the up position walking in. It works for him.

 

[Pyro451]

WF I would agree that you don't want to hike in super far with it on but seeing how the OP is from Mass. I would assume he's not going in to deep, I could be wrong though. I put this on at the stand over a light base layer if I have a long walk. My dad is 82 now and uses the IWOM once in his stand he had issues with the bottom wanting to fall down when in the up position walking in. It works for him.

Spot on about a relatively short walk (but steep hill) to/from where I have my ladders stand.
I don't understand about the IWOM bottom falling down. Is it a two piece suit?
I was planning to carry any kind of full body suit and put it on at the stand.

 

[WanderingFarmer]

I should have clarified that I only put the IWOM on after I’m at my stand. Bungee to my tree stand or strapped to a pack. I won’t walk more than a hundred yards wearing it. I’ve found that if I’m layered appropriately for moving at a casual or slow pace then adding the IWOM is about the right jump in warmth to be static.

The IWOM is one piece, but the bottom unzips and you can pull it up and secure it around your waist. If I’m using it in a tree stand, I can put it on at ground level then climb. In the stand, I can then get situated and then unbuckle the waist belt and zip my feet and legs up.

 

[fwafwow]

I should have clarified that I only put the IWOM on after I’m at my stand. Bungee to my tree stand or strapped to a pack. I won’t walk more than a hundred yards wearing it. I’ve found that if I’m layered appropriately for moving at a casual or slow pace then adding the IWOM is about the right jump in warmth to be static.

The IWOM is one piece, but the bottom unzips and you can pull it up and secure it around your waist. If I’m using it in a tree stand, I can put it on at ground level then climb. In the stand, I can then get situated and then unbuckle the waist belt and zip my feet and legs up.

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.

 

[Grizzly550]

I have an IWOM that I only use for long sits in below 32 degree weather. The coldest I have used it is right around 0 with a pretty good wind. I wore medium weight long underwear and Attack pants on the bottom, medium weight long under wear with a Kuiu Peloton 200 and an off brand Primaloft vest on the top. For boots I had a heavy wool sock and rubber boots. Just a handwarmer in the pouch with no gloves. Sat about 5 hours in a treestand and only left due to boredom. For reference I tend to get cold rather easy when sitting still, especially my feet. No cold feet once inside the IWOM. My suit is about 5 years old and heard they made some slight improvements since I got mine.

 

[Jtd0314]

I have Sitka Fanatic jacket and bibs as well as an IWOM and much prefer the IWOM. Ican hike in with light base layers and boots, cool down in the treestand and then put the IWOM on. It is unbelievably warm and comfortable. My feet would always get cold, but not anymore. It is also waterproof.