S2H winter class 2026 observations and lessons learned

[Formidilosus]

On the puffy, this is Gen 1. Gen 2 is improved in a couple areas, but the bino zippers are the same. You ca see how the bino harness is exposed.

 

[Ajsomp]

I have the blend, I like it- but it pales in comparison to the current version.

Gonna cost me more money.

 

[Formidilosus]

Gonna cost me more money.

Yep. The blend doesn’t breath as well, snags way more, and got holes in it the first day I wore it just at the range. In contrast, the current 100% merino one I have used for almost 6 years constantly, has no holes, and snags way less.


I still like the blend one however.

 

[Ajsomp]

Yep. The blend doesn’t breath as well, snags way more, and got holes in it the first day I wore it just at the range. In contrast, the current 100% merino one I have used for almost 6 years constantly, has no holes, and snags way less.


I still like the blend one however.

I have issues with having more than one thing if my one thing does well. Probably gonna let the blend go to offset the new one.

Side note - do you have puffy pants in the works too? I trashed my last pair and before I went and got another pair of SG I wanted to see what else is out there

 

[Formidilosus]

I have issues with having more than one thing if my one thing does well. Probably gonna let the blend go to offset the new one.

Let me know what size… grin

Side note - do you have puffy pants in the works too? I trashed my last pair and before I went and got another pair of SG I wanted to see what else is out there

Yes, there will be pants to go with this parka.

 

[Ajsomp]

Let me know what size… grin




Yes, there will be pants to go with this parka.

XL all day.

 

[SloppyJ]

Looks like a ton of fun and glad to see some familiar faces from the spring class we had in June. I think the fact that so many people come back is a testament to the course.

After the spring class, a lot of my gear changed. Mostly rifle related items. I can only imagine that it would be much worse coming back from the winter class with the lessons learned from the rewarming drill.

I would still love a lefty MRC for the record.

 

[Jake Larsen]

On the puffy, this is Gen 1. Gen 2 is improved in a couple areas, but the bino zippers are the same. You ca see how the bino harness is exposed.
View attachment 1027170

Man. A 3 season LT version of this would also be incredible.

I know I know, cart is way ahead of the horse. But that design is super smart, and I’d love to have one for summer backpacking/scouting and early season hunts.


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[mtnbound]

I am curious about the static rewarming drill. I have used synthetic bags for this, and the fill absorbed the moisture being cooked off by my body, which is the purpose. I have had the bag retain some of that moisture, but it eventually dried out. Even after crawling into the bag several nights in a row, wet, the bag still worked but retained more and more moisture. Because treated down resists moisture absorption, was the experience that the moisture being cooked off completely passed through the down instead of being absorbed as synthetic would?

 

[WDO]

Also, blackmax 380 the bolt knob. It comes loose quite easily and often.

 

[Formidilosus]

was the experience that the moisture being cooked off completely passed through the down instead of being absorbed as synthetic would?

Yes, that’s what seems to be happening.

 

[6.5x284]

Good read. Looks like a fantastic course. I cannot wait to for that puffy to hit the market!!

Did any .308 BF 700 clones go down out of curiosity?

I’ve had to beat my frozen 700 clone bolts open but haven’t had these problems with what I would consider hard hunting use. Snow depth is a significant factor and deep snow allows snow in the action easily when in a gun bearer but I haven’t seen cycling issues.

As I think about this critically and honestly to understand why I have never experienced this, when hunting I chamber a round once I start hunting (not looking for feedback on this) and rarely need to shoot more than once. I do shoot lots of rocks when hunting is slow but have never experienced these failures even in snowshoe required depths.

I do recognize I have never plopped down and fired hundreds of rounds with movement and position building in deep snow beyond shooting some rocks and icicles off of cliffs in deep snow when hunting is slow.

Old me would say my setup is proven and hasn’t seen issues. New me will go setup some courses of fire this winter and test if I have issues or not making sure to move my gun through snow and brush in the process and inducing magazine changes (something I rarely do hunting unless I find a good icicle patch!). I’m genuinely curious. I’ve shot matches in snow, mud, sleet, and rain without issue.

Again, this is awesome feedback and I appreciate everyone sharing their results.


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[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Also, blackmax 380 the bolt knob. It comes loose quite easily and often.

I've used gorilla glue and firmly tightened mine down and haven't had any issues. Figured I'd try that before ordering some blackmax since I had it on hand.

 

[Jake Larsen]

I am curious about the static rewarming drill. I have used synthetic bags for this, and the fill absorbed the moisture being cooked off by my body, which is the purpose. I have had the bag retain some of that moisture, but it eventually dried out. Even after crawling into the bag several nights in a row, wet, the bag still worked but retained more and more moisture. Because treated down resists moisture absorption, was the experience that the moisture being cooked off completely passed through the down instead of being absorbed as synthetic would?

Seems to be happening with both treated and untreated down based on Cliff G’s video…SG is treated, Argali is untreated…


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[Livinfree77]

The class was absolutely phenomenal.
Things that sucked -
1) My shooting - IYKYK
2) Synthetic bags - Just don't - Down for the win
3) Montana Streams at 10:00 PM - Sounded like a great idea.....

Things that didn't suck -
1) The instructors.
2) The classmates.
3) The food.

In all seriousness, this class is unlike anything I have ever taken and has far exceeded my expectations. It is a class truly designed to shoot hunting rifles, in the mountains, in less-than-ideal positions, under less-than-ideal time constraints. It is not at all tactical. This is a hunter's course, through and through.
The instructors have a very unique but highly effective style. If you're willing to suspend all previous training and just embrace the system, you will succeed. Well, maybe not succeed but suck slightly less than when you started.

The shooting is truly only a portion of the class. While we spend all day shooting and all night discussing the academics of shooting, scopes, bullets, and all other topics hunters cover, it is also a test of your gear.
We used, abused, and tried to break all our gear in a controlled environment. The instructors have used basically every system out there, from sleeping bags to tents to binos to clothing options. And while they are highly opinionated on their choices, they spend a lot of time explaining the whys. Their gear choices and why they run the gear they do are the product of years of testing, and they pass on all the good, the bad, and the ugly from all the systems they have used.

This was an amazing cohort - From day one it was like being in elk camp with all your buddies. From the friendly banter all day, to helping each other learn the concepts quickly, to chores and cleaning up at the end of the day/meal, it was like we had all been friends for years. I couldn't have asked for a better group of guys to spend a week with.

As @RancherJohn said, the food is exceptional. The Salami Rolls are worth writing home to mama about.

I'll leave the full evaluation to @Formidilosus, as he is much more eloquent than I, but as a student, I highly recommend this course and any others that S2H would put on.

 

[5MilesBack]

After reading this, I'm sure glad I'm almost exclusively just a bowhunter these days. Sounds like fun though.......30-40 years ago, when I loved getting snowed in at hunting camp. These days I HATE the cold, and have to have coffee with me pretty much all day regardless of the temps. These days I start to chill if the temps drop below 98.6. Shoot, I use an oversized extra long rectangular -30 bag even during September, on my padded 40x84 cot. I guess I've gotten soft these days. Oh well. But that puffy sure looks tempting. Might have to get the wife one too.......then we can lower the heat down to 50 all winter in the house and save money to pay for them.......LOL. I love reading all the reviews on gear.

 

[Wacko]

I have to say I appreciate this type of info. I agree with most of it.

The one issue I have is the rifle "torture" or "durability" testing. Why in the world would I spend thousands of dollars on a rifle / optic setup, spend a tedious amount of time setting it up, getting a load for it, getting that load "doped"....only to treat it like a piece of trash I was forced to carry as some sort of punishment??

I treat EVERY rifle I have spent the time and effort to work up like a new born baby in the field. I cover it when the weather turns south, I carry it in a protective manner, I put it down in a safe location in a protective place if needed. I don't care if it is a tikka, sako, winchester, remington, howa, ruger, sauer, wrc, whatever...I treat it like I want it to work when I want it to.

I regularly inspect it in the field and take care to make sure it function checks. I clear anything or check anything that seems awry. Yes I even check zero on occasion in the field.

Obviously I have been visited by Murphy more than most, but taking proper steps to insure things work seems like what is trying to be accomplished. Certain rifles, Loctite, certain rings / mounts, certain optics...only to toss dirt in it or let it get snowed on action open and up, etc??

Not this guy....I'll baby it in the field...if it still fails...oh well. I'll see if there was anything I could do about it. Fix it if I can. Steak is always at the store. I do all my testing before I take it to the field....none shown here would make the list of things I would do to it. JMHO..of course...

 

[Okie_Poke]

Feet:

Foot issues were way less this year- partly due to less extreme weather, but mostly due to most people having Mukluks, or Vivo Tundras. Even on the days with single digit or negative temps, those with Mukluks and Tundras were completely fine. A few tried their regular shoes/boots a couple days where we were moving more, but most had to swap back to the Mukluks/Tundras.

The Vivo Barefoot Tundra ESC’s are likely the best choice overall for warmth and traction. They are not quite as good as the Steger Arctic due to a very thin sole, but are about the same as the standard Mukluks they make. I will try a foam footbed that can be slipped in for when I am stationary for long periods. They weren’t cold ever, but the sole would get cool when standing on ice for long periods without moving.

I will be adding a ventile cotton top to my gear this off-season. It was immediately apparent the difference in durability vs a hardshell, along with easier repairs when the inevitable happens and it tears or abrades. I will also be picking up a set of Mukluks or the Vivo Tundras. My feet were not cold in my Crispis, but they were not warm either. I have had issues with cold feet on previous hunts during long glassing sessions, both of the other options appeared vastly superior in comparison.

These kinds of boots have never been on my radar. I figured if I needed something more than my Crispi's, that something was Pac Boots from Schnee (or something similar). I take it these are better, but why?. Are they "just" more insulated, or is there more going on? Do you just wear them while static or do you hike around in them too?

 

[Formidilosus]

I have to say I appreciate this type of info. I agree with most of it.

The one issue I have is the rifle "torture" or "durability" testing. Why in the world would I spend thousands of dollars on a rifle / optic setup, spend a tedious amount of time setting it up, getting a load for it, getting that load "doped"....only to treat it like a piece of trash I was forced to carry as some sort of punishment??

Obviously I have been visited by Murphy more than most, but taking proper steps to insure things work seems like what is trying to be accomplished. Certain rifles, Loctite, certain rings / mounts, certain optics..

How do you know if all that works before using it on animals, without using it and seeing where it fails in practice first?

 

[RancherJohn]

These kinds of boots have never been on my radar. I figured if I needed something more than my Crispi's, that something was Pac Boots from Schnee (or something similar). I take it these are better, but why?. Are they "just" more insulated, or is there more going on? Do you just wear them while static or do you hike around in them too?

The guys in Mukluks were typically changing boots for longer stretches of movement, guys in Tundras were wearing them exclusively for all tasks. For the 'why', I'd go check the big thread on Tundras in the Footwear forum.