Puffys-Necessary or Not?

[pacific-23]

Don't ditch the rain jacket....base layer, puffy layer, rain layer...all ya need.

I roll the same set up. No need for all the fancy layering pieces IMO. Shirt, puffy, rain jacket seems to cover all bases down to freezing and a little below for me.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Don't ditch the rain jacket....base layer, puffy layer, rain layer...all ya need.

Might wanna bring a little more when your balls are freezing to the seat of a tree stand hunting whitetail with little to no movement.

 

[luke moffat]

Might wanna bring a little more when your balls are freezing to the seat of a tree stand hunting whitetail with little to no movement.

A bigger puffy!

I hear ya...did tree stand hunting in Missouri and quickly realized how cold it can get to sit still. Came to the conclusion that I don't sit still very will in a tree stand. I would much rather sit on the ground glassing all day than up in a tree hoping a deer walks by. That is some serious cold. But then you are only hiking in 1/2 mile at the most generally and weight isn't a huge consideration at all....heck i'd haul a buddy heater out there if I did it all the time.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Lmao I hike a bit farther which is the problem I had all season. I could easily get by with a thin base layer on the way in but even at 20° I was sweating by the time I made it to my spot, then I'd put my puffy clothes on and still ended up being cold cause either I didn't bring enough or I was still wet cause I didn't have time to dry in stand before putting on the puffy gear.

 

[luke moffat]

Lmao I hike a bit farther which is the problem I had all season. I could easily get by with a thin base layer on the way in but even at 20° I was sweating by the time I made it to my spot, then I'd put my puffy clothes on and still ended up being cold cause either I didn't bring enough or I was still wet cause I didn't have time to dry in stand before putting on the puffy gear.

Bummer...so whats your solutions? Just use a bunch of layers to put on after you dry out? Still think the buddy heater would be worth it! Going in with a dayhunt pack weight an extra 20 pounds ain't nothing and totally worth it.

 

[JeremiahH]

One of these came inside one of my work jackets,
http://www.awawork.com/j776.html?ut..._content=pla&gclid=CIqJn_PH4bwCFYlafgodgTQAWw

Same Model I'm sure of it. Super cheap for a puffy. It's definitely one of the lighter puffys I've held in my hands and packs down super small, and it's really warm too. It's pretty awesome for the price and is going to be smaller than most except for those nano models by north face and MH etc..

If your not planning on using as a durable outer layer like the popular FL, Kuiu, Kryptek and others, personally I'd save the money.
Mine is always under my koldo jacket or I'm sleeping in it, glassing in it, mid layer in the stand, or it's my pillow. So I don't need an expensive performance puffy. This one does what any other puffy will do.

I was thinking about grabbing this one as well just to compare more frugal options
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Gear-Si...r=1-1-catcorr&keywords=guide+gear+down+jacket

I'd do searches with the brand and model number or names to compare around.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Bummer...so whats your solutions? Just use a bunch of layers to put on after you dry out? Still think the buddy heater would be worth it! Going in with a dayhunt pack weight an extra 20 pounds ain't nothing and totally worth it.

My solution was the last mile in I'd slow down to cool off a bit and put on an outer shell so as not to lose heat but still dry out fairly quickly. Once in my spot I would set up scent, hang my stand, put on my puffy jacket and bibs and climb the tree. Without the outershell, which I tried, I got to cold by the time I dried out. On real cold mornings I'd add an additional layer somewhere in the mix, usually a Cerdic II.

Don't those buddy heaters put off odor? I use hot hands quite a bit.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

FYI...this would apply strictly to spot and stalk/still hunting from the ground. I am not a tree squatter.

 

[gobbler1662]

I have a down puffy jacket and vest. But i dont usually take it unless the forcast is for a cold spell. I alway try to rely on the latest forcast and pack clothing to match the temps. I rarely take the jacket, but usually take mydown vest as an added layer if needed.

 

[tm7554]

My solution was the last mile in I'd slow down to cool off a bit and put on an outer shell so as not to lose heat but still dry out fairly quickly. Once in my spot I would set up scent, hang my stand, put on my puffy jacket and bibs and climb the tree. Without the outershell, which I tried, I got to cold by the time I dried out. On real cold mornings I'd add an additional layer somewhere in the mix, usually a Cerdic II.

Don't those buddy heaters put off odor? I use hot hands quite a bit.

I've hunt the CAs in MO a few times. Hiking the treestand away from the road hunters was necessary for sure. Here in Michigan I always use the heater body suit when its really cold. I just picked up the Nomad and can't help but think i'd be willing to try bring the heater body suit way back in that. Might just have a smaller puffy vest instead of the jacket. I've never been cold in a HBS.

 

[amp713]

So do you guys not normally go for one with a hood? I almost never buy a hoodless outer layer......

 

[Becca]

So do you guys not normally go for one with a hood? I almost never buy a hoodless outer layer......

I have two puffy coats (one downtek and one synthetic) and I really prefer to have a hood. My golite downtek jacket has a hood, and it always feels like snuggling up in a sleeping bag when I pull it up. The edition of my Barney's super cub jacket that I have did not offer an insulated hood, only a wind proof stowaway, and I find I miss it. It's still a great coat though.

 

[luke moffat]

Given the option, I'd go hood every time!!!

 

[amp713]

Thats kinda what im thinking too... Ill keep my eyes open for deals but the backcountry one really seems to be a good one for not too steep of a price, at least to start out with!

 

[amp713]

Has anyone run the back country brand one? Im thinking for the price and for my first one it might work good! Most of my hunting is early season archery, my issue is usually too hot not too cold....

 

[spike camp]

FYI...this would apply strictly to spot and stalk/still hunting from the ground. I am not a tree squatter.

Well,I do both.
All of September,I'm chasing Elk and Deer in CO. High country.
October and November I'm on the farm in IL.....tree squatting?
Actually killed my buck on the farm this year from the ground,but was in a tree earlier in the day

I use my puffys for both.
I have a Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer. 7-8 oz for a size large. I use this mainly early season Elk/Deer.
If I don't tag out early,and the weather invariably changes mid season,I start packing with my Western Mountaineering hooded flash. I believe it is 10.5 oz.
Very warm,and very light weight.

Same basic scenerio on the farm.
I start early season(Oct.) with the MH and as season progresses I change to the WM.

Montbell makes the lighest puffy as mentioned above.
The Plazma 1000
But of you compare that to MB's other UL puffys there is only about a 2 oz difference and much less in price.