Heater Body Suit still the best for cold stands?

[WanderingFarmer]

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.

 

[fwafwow]

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.

 

[Wildone]

The HBS has a higher R value due to 50g more insulation and is about $200 cheaper than the IWOM if you pick their top of the line.. The biggest plus to the IWOM in my opinion is the arms. IF HBS did the arms it would be a no brainer.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I think I would rather use the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite 30 Sleeping Bag. Has arm holes and synthetic insulation which would be great for stand hunting.

 

[WanderingFarmer]

The HBS has a higher R value due to 50g more insulation and is about $200 cheaper than the IWOM if you pick their top of the line.. The biggest plus to the IWOM in my opinion is the arms. IF HBS did the arms it would be a no brainer.

Agreed, arm mobility is the difference.

I think I would rather use the Sitka Kelvin Aerolite 30 Sleeping Bag. Has arm holes and synthetic insulation which would be great for stand hunting.

Not sure what the foot box is like on the Sitka bag, but the IWOM is big enough that it covers most of my hang on stand platform and doesn’t need to move or bind up - my feet can move around inside while I’m turning around. It’s also rugged enough to not get torn up by the metal bars. It would be WAY lighter though, which would be a huge positive.

 

[GoatPackr]

I've spent a lot of days in the HBS. I highly recommend it.
I get my climber all set then get in it and put the bottom part of the suit on at ground level. With the suit hanging off my shoulders I climb up and get everything set. Then put the top the rest of the way on and hang out until it's time to shoot or go home. I usually spent all day in my stand. Daylight until dark.

Putting the suit on in the stand up in the tree is asking for trouble.

Keep an eye out for used ones and if you are between sizes go bigger.

They are a little heavy but worth it.

 

[Bugger]

Look into motorcycle heated gear too, just carry a small battery with ya and be warm all day. I ran a heated jacket and gloves off a small lithium ATV battery in my backpack and had no trouble running it all day, lithium is just a little trickier to trickle back to full charge than lead-acid but if you’re up in a stand the weight shouldn’t matter too much.

 

[GoatPackr]

Look into the larger milwaukee batteries for powering things like heated gear. Amazon has some cool thing to adapt to them for USB.
I run all kinds of things off them and can charge them with my truck

 

[bigsky_hunter]

Another vote for HBS. No experience with IWOM. HBS is a bit tricky for treestand use. Put it on while on the ground first. When it’s that cold I generally set up ground blind anyways.

Arms inside was my preference. No issues getting out for a shot. Bow and rifle.

Get the over boots and use hot hands/feet. I don’t trust batteries.

Primary use has been Sask Whitetail hunting the last 6 years. Good all day in -30 weather. Layer dependent, but I’ll use from -5 and down. Buddies use the same system and we sit all day.

I have a Large Tall and it fits layers well. I’m 6’, 185 lbs

 

[Jtd0314]

IWOM is waterproof HBS is not.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

IWOM is waterproof HBS is not.

Below freezing it’s kinda a non issue. Unless your in an area with heavy wet snow all day. Which in that case its not cold enough out to be wearing that kind of gear.

 

[Jtd0314]

30s and rain can be quite cold in a stand.

 

[GoatPackr]

30s and rain can be quite cold in a stand.

The most miserable cold I endured in a stand is when it was windy and switching back and forth snow and rain all day.
The heater suit was great and I used a large rain poncho over it to stay dry.
I do believe they make a layer that snaps on over it for rain.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

30s and rain can be quite cold in a stand.

I agree, wet and hovering around 0 is cold. I have other gear for those temps though. If I was sitting on stand in a cold Kentucky rain and somebody handed me an IWOM, I wouldn't turn it down. The IWOM looks good, just didn't check off my boxes as much.

Based on our different units of measurement for temps, I would say we're hunting in different lat/long. Gear will vary by climate. I may only use my HBS 1/2 dozen times a season, but it's the best thing I have found to stay warm. Other than a 20lb propane tank and tank top heater.

 

[Good Stuff]

I have the IWOM and it allows me to sit in the stand longer without getting cold. I love it.

 

[West.mass.hunter]

I'm in Massachusetts and use the heater body suit often. Anything under 25° I'm in my HBS. 35° or less while it's super windy, I'm in my HBS. I have the first lite solitude set and first lite sanctuary 2.0 set that get me comfortably through a day when I'm not using the HBS but I'm never really comfortable with that extra bulk in a jacket. I don't wear these outfits with the HBS as that would be way too restrictive. I use a merino base and a light weight fleece outfit while in the HBS and I've hunted in -3° without wind chill, while I wasn't toasty warm it was bearable and I did still need toe warmers.
I've only used the HBS in treestands and I haven't had any issues with having arms inside, hasn't cost me any deer or any random shots at coyotes.

I was in stand a couple seasons ago when it snowed about 4" the night before. Temp quickly warmed up and snow was melting fast by 0900. The suit isnt waterproof and I got wet quick and cold quicker. I hated carrying that suit out that day, that sucker was HEAVY. I did treat it with water proofing and it works great now.

Packing in and out is super easy with my badlands pack as it has two cinch buckles on the bottom of the pack that are long enough to tie in the suit when it's rolled up.

While I do recommend the HBS I do have 4 issues I have with it.
1) mine does not have a harness slot so my harness goes out through the top. It's not an issue unless the wind is blowing from my back and the cold wind does get in from there. I do believe the newer suits have harness slots though
2) the collar could definitely be higher in the back of the neck. Seeing as mine doesn't have a harness slot I do wear a merino neck gaiter to keep my neck warm but a higher collar would be better imo
3) this one is a petty gripe. I would prefer a clear panel somewhere in the midsection to view my phone through without having to unzip the suit
4) not an issue anymore but, it's not waterproof at all from the company. Again, I did treat it and it's now a resolved issue