Hey you frozen north guys...

[Where's Bruce?]

....I'm shopping for a quality -40 degree survival suit and/or appropriate white camo with necessary accessories for a late February hunt in Unit 18, AK. Need to get this one right and the only thing I know is that I don't know shit. School me okay? Right down to the best gloves. This is for a February muskox hunt with recurve (or hopefully spear)...carrying both. Since it's cold enough conditions to quickly die in...price is not a concern. Also need a recommendation for a low profile, bulletproof tent that can hold me and all my gear in big wind with little to no protection. If anyone has deboned a muskox, will it fit inside a single 150qt ice chest? Seems like it should. Thanks!

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

No help but sounds like a good time. Good luck!

 

[nodakian]

Only advice I'll offer is do what the natives do: mittens. Gloves suck in actual cold. You'd be surprised how relatively thin mittens need to be to do the job compared to gloves.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Gotta wear gloves under your mittens for drawing a bow as open exposure of skin can cause instant damage...or so I'm told.

 

[Huntin Fool]

I’ll second the mittens, a good pair of mittens with a real light weight pair of gloves underneath for when you have to take them off, is the only thing I’d trust in those temps. Other than that it’s all about layering

 

[Mojave]

There used to be a company called Northern Outfitters that made the best cold weather gear. I don't think they are still open.

There is another company in Canada that does something similar. I do not remember their name.

You need big mittons and a liner glove.

Boots is really hard. I never like Steger Mukluks but they are made for it.

This Baffen cold weather stuff did not exist when I lived in the Arctic. But they are probably worth a try.

GUIDE-PRO – Baffin

Extreme outdoor performance footwear and apparel that allows you to challenge yourself no matter the occasion. Whether on your coldest adventure, trekking through wet environments, or at home managing the yard during the warmer months.

www.baffin.com

GUIDE PRO II

GUIDE PRO II is rated to perform during the coldest moments on earth. Polar Proven®, GUIDE PRO II was developed using nanotechnology, continuously performing on long journeys across snowy and icy terrain. GUIDE PRO II features an extended toe piece with three pinholes, specifically designed to...

www.baffin.com

POLAR MITT | Unisex – Baffin

Protecting your head, neck and hands from the elements is imperative for any winter adventure. Polar Proven®, POLAR MITT is appropriate for extended use during moderate to high levels of activity. Built with breathable fabrics for improved temperature regulation, POLAR MITT has not only...

www.baffin.com

POLAR PARKA | Unisex – Baffin

Extreme outdoor performance footwear and apparel that allows you to challenge yourself no matter the occasion. Whether on your coldest adventure, trekking through wet environments, or at home managing the yard during the warmer months.

www.baffin.com

POLAR PANTS | Unisex – Baffin

Extreme outdoor performance footwear and apparel that allows you to challenge yourself no matter the occasion. Whether on your coldest adventure, trekking through wet environments, or at home managing the yard during the warmer months.

www.baffin.com

I used to live in Barrow, Alaska. Gets -100 there with the windchill.

I had a Northern outfitters coat, pants, boots, hat and mittens. Baffin looks like the option for todays dude.

 

[Shadow Illude]

The Arctic Mittens with liner issued by CIF in Fairbanks is your best and most affordable option for your hands. Also key in those temps are bunny boots. It is getting harder to find a good pair of those.

Surprisingly, the issued Army Extreme Cold Weather system works well too.

 

[william schmaltz]

Will a guide/transporter be with you on the hunt? Those guys literally know the island like the back of their hand. They stay home when they're supposed to and know when to turn around and/or get out. It's extremely unlikely you get in the situation you describe. They all carry GPS trackers/emergency communications and you're better off investing in something like that. The biggest danger is getting separated/lost in a whiteout.

Buy what's best and forget about color or snow camo. It's white on white out there. I traveled 20 miles and didn't see a single living thing. Not a bird, tree, piece of tundra, musk ox, etc. You can be decked out in white and they will still be able to see the movement of your face/weapon/gloves. You basically drive up to 150 yard of them - they will already be huddled up and staring at you cuz they heard you a mile away - and then you walk up to them and wait for them to calm down and spread out. Shoot, butcher, and go home.

Beaver skin gauntlets for your hands. Beaver/otter/seal hat or an enclosed helmet on your head. I prefer Baffin arctic boots over bunny boots but both (and several others) work just fine. Good luck, the most challenging part is getting to/from the island!

 

[207-12A]

Are you backpack hunting? Snow machine? Changes how bulky your outer layers can be, and if you're snow machining you likely won't take them off. The Cabela's Trans Alaska jacket is the best I've seen, I've worn mine down to -30 with only a mid and base layer beneath (ice fishing all day). They aren't made anymore but can be found used. Same with mittens, I like my Give'r mittens if I don't need contact gloves beneath, but you may want to go with a liner glove under heavy down mitts.

 

[Marbles]

OR Alti mitts

Leather ice climbing gloves as a liner

40 Below over boots

Down parka that will fit over all your other layers

Standard layers (base, fleece, puffy, shell)

Boots that are not too tight, preferably a double boot design (if no double boot, use a VBL over a thin liner sock and under your wool socks)

Puffy pants

 

[journeyman713]

Had my share of below-zero degree all-day hunts, preparation is key.

For clothing in cold weather, it all gets down to one thing - How much are you moving around?
Hiking requires much less clothes than sitting still. If you overdress, you will sweat, then freeze!

If it's a combination of the two, backpack your coat when moving and wait to put it on.

For near zero degrees, I typically will hike in with only a Merino base layer, maybe a light mid-layer with it, no hat, and still get a bead of sweat down my back. It's important to wait and cool down, before and in between adding layers, for a long sit.

I like a good, Merino base layer, Wool mid-layer, Fleece third layer, Bibs and a Coat and a backpack to carry it all. I like the Kuiu products, but for still hunting in cold, you'll need a heavy outer layer with it.
The coat must have good deep pockets, because gloves alone won't cut it.
Thin insulated gloves with hand warmers and good pockets is all you need.
Another must have, a neck dickie, warm and easy to remove, I like this one - Schampa

SCHAMPA Fleece Tall Neck Dickie

Product Description SCHAMPA’s Tall Dickie extends up over the face. An extended NeckGaiter allows you to use the Gaiter part either up over your face or under your chin. This is perfect for Half Helmets, Beanie helmets, or no helmet at all. Extend upper chest and back panels add insulation from...

schampa.com

 

[dirtytough]

I work/hunt in the cold sometimes. I have a pair of Baffin steel toe work boots I’ve only worn a few times. I think they are rated to -80 or -120. They are like a pillow around your foot. I can’t imagine getting cold feet in them. Almost every hand wears Baffins when it gets cold.

I also have some Northern outfitters stuff which is great if you can find it now.

I second the mitten/liner glove combo. That’s what I wear and my hands have been fine down to -30 ambient. And these are just Sitka liner gloves and Kinco leather mittens. I’m sure a real set of mittens would be even better.

Good luck and let us know what gear you go with and how it works out for you.

 

[Shraggs]

Bruce, I’ll try to find it but there is a company that makes clothing custom for you out of foam. Either half or 3/4 inch I believe. Then parka and bibs over of appropriate gortex or similar. They advertised very warm in those temps with only synthetic base with excellent wicking.

Id trust the Alaskan guys more than I. Think I’d also consider the white surplus moon boots and air force or the other large surplus over glumets

 

[thinhorn_AK]

If I draw that tag I’ll just get the kuiu burner parka or that gale force stuff.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

....I'm shopping for a quality -40 degree survival suit and/or appropriate white camo with necessary accessories for a late February hunt in Unit 18, AK. Need to get this one right and the only thing I know is that I don't know shit. School me okay? Right down to the best gloves. This is for a February muskox hunt with recurve (or hopefully spear)...carrying both. Since it's cold enough conditions to quickly die in...price is not a concern. Also need a recommendation for a low profile, bulletproof tent that can hold me and all my gear in big wind with little to no protection. If anyone has deboned a muskox, will it fit inside a single 150qt ice chest? Seems like it should. Thanks!

View attachment 487536

Having lived in western Alaska and experiencing -60 and higher, not much happens below -30. So, what do you wear? Snow machine gear. Seriously. Color doesn’t matter. You can get a snow poncho or even a white sheet for winter camo. You want something warm and windproof. Mittens. Gloves. Make sure your mittens are connected with a cord that you wear similar to bino harness. Bunny boots work great.

Here are some pics from -20 degree hunts. This isn’t factoring windchill. Just thermometer reading.

You will need to have the white poncho to get in bow range. I used a pull behind sled as a prone shooting platform for winter hunting. I was able to push myself with poles to close the gap with animals but it is tiresome.

The pink bag over shoulder was a ice fishing trip in -30 temps on the Yukon river in unit 21e. Those Cabela’s pants I’m wearing are thick wool pants. Hot as hell and I only wear them if it’s -10 or colder.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

There is a big difference between -20 and -40 though. I have no problem doing an all day hunt in -20 (10:30-4:30ish because of daylight) but that -40 is nothing to mess with. Set up a glassing station with a hood heater. Lol. Only leave when animals are spotted.

 

[Nick Muche]

Done it several times out there. Never used anything fancy either. And you won’t see -40 temps either. Are you actually going on this hunt, or just dreaming about it?

 

[Wrench]

When I worked on the slope I found goretex filled with down pants was the bomb. A similar jacket works great. I think you'll struggle with your hands and gear more than anything.

ANY exposed skin will freeze damn near instantly at 40. I agree completely on the 20 being a go and 40 being a hard stop....but you need to be 100% protected from wind finding your skin.

I wore 400 gram hikers in neos over boots and stood on a boom truck comfortably at -20-25.

 

[Wrench]

I would be more worried about how to haul the hide than the meat. Those things are 99% hair.

 

[Racer00]

My nephew and I are doing this hunt in early February of '23. We intend to use our ice fishing and snowmobile gear with appropriate layers underneath. White bunny boots and large mittens and appropriate headgear is our plan. And face covering ski goggles.
We have successfully hunted and fished down to -25 or -30 with this style of gear in the past in Montana and Michigan. We have added extra layers to our gear to use as needed.
One thing we haven't yet found is a good white outer layer. Any input on this or advice on our gear or tip overall is much appreciated.