Managing sweat on long hikes to the stand

[WookieBowcaster]

I hiked almost 2 miles to my stand on a frosty 28 degree morning. I took my time and tried not to break into a sweat.

I wore a FL Furnace base layer, FL Obsidian pants, and FL Klamath hoodie. I had FL Solitude bibs on, but they were almost completely unzipped. (Meanwhile, the Solitude jacket, heavy hat, and gloves stayed in the pack.) All this was still too much to keep from breaking a sweat. By 10:30, the cold still crept in.

What can I do to manage sweat more? Just go in wearing only my next-to-skin base layer?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I keep the heavy jacket and outer booties in my stand (private land). And I still go in light, layering during the morning as needed. I sweat REAL BAD and it gets cold when you're wet.

 

[PaPete90]

I have similar walk in. Kuiu attack pants, Sitka Lightweight hoodie and Sitka Ambient Hoodie is what I wear walking in. Everything else is put on once at the stand.


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[mxgsfmdpx]

I don't manage the sweat, I just know it's going to happen. Start cold and keep moving. Properly setup clothing will then bake the base layers dry once static. Don't overlook nerdy down booties like most hunters do. Sweaty socks in cold weather inside boots can end a hunt quickly and down booties are the bees knees for baking socks back warm and keeping feet warm.

 

[taskswap]

"Be bold, start cold." It does help to be colder than comfortable when you start out, especially because when you're standing around camp you're also usually not wearing your backpack, which adds one more layer of insulation (back and shoulder/chest straps).

Everyone is different but I've also personally found it helpful to wear thicker but "colder" (lower tech) clothes while hiking. I've got several high-tech layers for long sits and overnights, but I also have this ratty old full-zip North Face sherpa-lined hoodie that's my hiking go-to. They don't seem to sell it any more, but it looks a lot like this: https://www.macys.com/shop/product/the-north-face-mens-sherpa-patrol-full-zip-hoodie?ID=11743140

The "sherpa" lining is thick and very absorbent. It's moderately warm, not enough to be really comfortable, especially if I stop moving, but enough to keep off a breeze I'm good down to about 20F if I'm moving. That lining is so thick and absorbent that it can hold a half gallon of sweat before I really feel it myself. When I get to my first "spot", I switch it off to something else so I'm warm and it can dry out. Since it's a full zip, if I need to shed some heat while still hiking, I can work the zipper open even under my pack straps to add some ventilation.

 

[keystone112]

I carry my bibs and heavy coat on the hike in. If I wear them, it never works out for me.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Another option that works well is to use a very breathable waffle fleece type of piece for the pack in next to skin, with no base layer and no base layer under your pants.

I use the Patagonia R1 Air and the Ridge Merino Convict Canyon Hoody for this. These both dry very quickly and work well for "start cold" hike ins.

 

[WookieBowcaster]

I don't manage the sweat, I just know it's going to happen. Start cold and keep moving. Properly setup clothing will then bake the base layers dry once static. Don't overlook nerdy down booties like most hunters do. Sweaty socks in cold weather inside boots can end a hunt quickly and down booties are the bees knees for baking socks back warm and keeping feet warm.

Oooh yeah. I just use a thin poly liner sock inside a 200 gram Thinsulate hiking boot. It’s worked pretty well for the last few years. And the lowest it gets here might be 16 - 20 degrees. I also added a pair of Arctic Shield booties. Those are great and help keep the ground or metal stand from leeching heat through your boots.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Oooh yeah. I just use a thin poly liner sock inside a 200 gram Thinsulate hiking boot. It’s worked pretty well for the last few years. And the lowest it gets here might be 16 - 20 degrees. I also added a pair of Arctic Shield booties. Those are great and help keep the ground or metal stand from leeching heat through your boots.

If you can spare the room and the weight, a foam sitting pad is great for keeping feet warm, too. I combine with my booties

 

[Ross]

I’m always packing an extra shirt and socks and as noted starting cold with a very lite weight shirt on.

 

[jimh406]

Put the outer layer on once you get there. Sure, you'll be chilly for the start of your walk.

 

[STL]

I would be a sweaty mess trying to walk that far in that especially if there’s any elevation change. I usually wear a FL wick hoody and regular hunting pants for the walk in. Maybe something like a Klamath if it’s really cold. Even then sometimes I end up regretting anything more than the wick. Everything else gets packed and put on at the tree.

 

[Fritz D]

Though it is not always practical, one thing I do as a heavy sweater, is in addition to hiking ‘cold’ is to pack a spare base layer and socks along and change out the wet ones for the nice, dry ones in my pack once I get to my glassing spot, etc. it’s a PITA or just next to impossible to do at times, but it can really help, also.

 

[Macintosh]

What can I do to manage sweat more? Just go in wearing only my next-to-skin base layer?

Bingo. If that.

If thats still too much, pack a spare shirt. Get to your stand, before you layer up, take shirt off and drop trou and air out for a couple minutes to let some of the moisture evaporate. Then change to dry shirt, pull your dang pants up and pull on the layers.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I don't even break out the furnace base layers till it's in the teens and I live in SC. Think late duck season on the sound.
Thinner base layers and grid fleece, or get a pack put everything else in it and go in in just your base layers.

 

[GunsAreFun]

In those conditions, I’d be in a Sitka Core Lightweight and my SKRE Hardscrabble pants, and light gloves. That’s it. Other layers are in the pack. It’s cold for the first ten minutes.

If it was much colder or windier, I might swap the Core for a Sitka Midweight Zip T as my base layer.

But here is the real trick if you can’t handle the first minutes until you heat up…put a hoodie on backwards. Then you can take it off without taking off your pack.