Hunting/Survival clothing

**hunter63** · 10-22-2009, 12:57 PM

The "Walk in The Snow" thread got me to thinking about out door clothing.

As young man, long johns, jeans, couple of sweat shirts, water proof jacket wool stocking cap, pack boots, fixed blade knife, Barlow knife, rifle(or shot gun), couple of books of matches, were pretty much it, as far as a days hunt gear, went.

If it was really cold. -0 or below, add another pair of jeans.

So now that I'm older, or may be because of it, I seem to get colder, quicker.

As a gear guy, (seems most of you are also), I keep looking for the perfect out door "outfit" (DW's words).

Lately, deer hunting "outfit" consists of:
Keep in mind that in WI orange must be worn during gun season, and temps can range from 60's to -20.

1) Duofold long johns top and bottom.
2) Knee high nylon sock's under heavy wool.
3) Malone wool pants
4) Wool shirt.
5) thin down vest, (more for the pockets)
6) Carhart orange hooded sweat shirt.
7) Carhart Camo insulated bibs
8) Woolrich orange hunting coat (not wool)
9) Lacrosse Ice man pac boots
10) Kromer wool hat/stocking cap (in case)
11) wool lined leather chopper finger mitts, also light pair of gloves.

I know y'all are from all over, but I would be intrested in your gear.

**lucznik** · 10-22-2009, 04:32 PM

I have pretty much settled on wool as my primary cold-weather fabric. Depending on actual temperatures I have three "levels" of wool pants that I will wear.

For cool but not cold temperatures I have a pair of wool (Whipcord?) slacks from LL Bean.

For cold but not frigid temperatures, I have a pair of Swedish military surplus wool pants. These are getting a bit thread bare in the knees and so; I'll be looking for a replacement soon.

For truly frigid temperatures, I have a pair of Columbia wool (Gallatin Range) pants that are just awesome. Sure I would like some of those high-end wool pants that cost $400+ per pair, but that's not going to happen anytime soon and these $80 pants have kept me warm in some truly nasty weather.

I have a collection of wool or down shirts and vests for my upper body, including the matching Gallatin Range Columbia jacket for truly frigid temps. As I said; I have been in some seriously cold temperatures and stayed comfortably warm with those clothes.

I do have a few things made of fleece, polypropylene, and a couple other more modern fabrics that I do still use, but that's just 'cause I already have them and there's no point throwing them away. But I don't buy that kind of stuff anymore.

**NCO** · 10-22-2009, 04:38 PM

Ok, my hunting outfit for cold winter days (temp. around -30C ie. -22F) is following.

1. FDF long johns. Extra polo-shirt in pack.
2. Grandmother made wool shirt and pants.
3. Swiss bdu, old model.
4. Bundeswehr over-whites.
5. Some crappy cotton socks
6. Grandmother made woolen socks
7. Nokia Naali rubber boots with removable felt lining.
8. wool mittens
9. leather mittens to go over the woolen ones.
10. Leather gloves in pack/pockets.
11. wool muffler
12. wool/fleece cap

**your_comforting_company** · 10-22-2009, 08:11 PM

Down here in the South, it doesn't get REALLY cold. on the coldest days my layers consist of:
long johns top and bottom
jogging sweats, top and bottom
regular canvas pants
camo overshirt or camo jacket for pockets (one or the other)
insulated coveralls
wool camo hunting hat with ear flaps (will be trading this out with coonskin hat this year)
Orange boggin' (thats what we call them head sock things)
orange vest.
2 pairs of regular cotton socks
Brahma insulated boots (fancy kind from wally world under 40 bucks)
on warmer days SNAKE LEGGINGS (yes during hunting season!)
oh, and my pocketknife and fixed blade skinner for field dressing.

temps here rarely get below 20. last year I think there were only 2 days below that and most days the temps get back up in the high 60s, so you gotta be able to strip some of those layers. It's not uncommon to undress in the stand. You can put on enough clothes to stay warm, you just can't take off enough to stay cool, lol. I think it's snowed here twice in my lifetime. so we dont get any of the hardcore cold you guys are talking about.

**red lake** · 10-22-2009, 08:19 PM

Merino Wool Long Underwear
Merino Wool Undershirt
Codet 6 Pocket Felted Wool pants
Empire Canvas Works Wool shirt
Homemade Canvas Anorak
Wool Socks...I wear wool socks all summer too
Rabbit Fur bomber hat.
Moosehide Mukluks with felted wool liners

But in reality what I wear depends on the activity, the amount of activity and how cold.

Cross country skiing I am dressed very lightly. I sweat thinking about work so I need to make sure the clothing I wear can breath. Wool fit that bill.

I have orange hats and coats and vests to meet hunting requirements if that is the activity I am doing.

**rwc1969** · 10-22-2009, 11:32 PM

In Michigan the temps vary greatly day to day, but it's rarely below zero F for long. I dress in layers. I know it's considered a bad thing, but all I wear is cotton next to my body. I never have a problem with moisture, chafing, athletes' foot, etc.

I usually wear a sleeveless t-shirt, sweater, flannel or hoodie and perhaps an outer coat of various sorts. Long underwear and jeans or possibly a pair of bib overalls if it's real cold. A hat and neck protection.

If I'm motionless I'll wear a pair of wool socks, but otherwise it's just cotton socks w' 400 gram thinsulate boots. I wear a pair of heavy winter boots with more thinsulate for still hunting cuz my feet sometimes do get cold if I sit too long.

I think the biggest mistakes folks make is bundling themselves too tight, especially their feet, sweating/ not unlayering, and not wearing a hat and neck protection.

I used to wear two and three pairs of socks cuz my feet got cold. Then I realized the less socks I wear the warmer my feet are. A good pair of boots is key.

**Nativedude** · 10-24-2009, 11:10 PM

1.) Silk long underwear in lightweight & heavyweight for base layer, (lt. or hvy. depending on weather and wind).

2.) Merino wool legging/pants

3.) Merino wool shirt over silks

4.) Woolrich top shirt

5.) Wool poncho/blanket (doubles as both).

6.) Wool beret w/bandana under it.

7.) Bison fur lined mittens

8.) Handmade wool glomitts

9.) Caribou foot & leg wraps
That's my cold weather clothing, and it is WARM!

I can generally work in just #3 (no other shirt or poncho needed) unless it is well below 0 (like 30 - 40 below) and the wind is blowing fiercely. Then I add the extra layers.

**Rick** · 10-25-2009, 09:03 AM

It gets cold in Indiana but rarely below 0° F. We usually get one or two weeks of single digits. We're as apt to have a cold rain as anything.

Base layer: Wool underwear from Duluth Trading Company. They are light and warm. Smart Wool socks.

Second layer (depends on weather): Wool pants and shirt or nylon pants and polyester shirt. Fleece jacket. Full faced beenie hat. Waterproof Glomitts. Vasque Sundowners with Gortex.

Third Layer: Lowe/Alpine raingear or heavy hooded coat with waterproof shell.

**Nativedude** · 10-26-2009, 04:39 AM

. . .is key. How well you're acclimated to the weather will determine how much and what type of clothing you will need.

**Beo** · 10-26-2009, 08:19 AM

Depends on what type of hunting I'm doing. I hunt traditional with my flintlock, I go with 1750s dress as I go with a group of historic trekkers, if I'm going with my long bow or compound or shotgun with my partner I wear my army fatigues with gortex underneath and a good pair of boots and a neoprene face mask in the winter and I'm usually good. I always go lite so I can move better, I hunt from the ground tracking and scouting my game so I keep moving and that keeps me really warm.
Now if I'm just doing a scout, not actually hunting or if I'm just hiking then I wear the same but take a little more kit for anything that may happen, and in that kit is a change of clothes to include socks because wet cold feet in the cold of winter will really slow you down and can cause some real problems. I my opinion you want to keep the heat in but not all of it, if you keep moving then you keep warm, if all the heat stays in then you sweat and to much sweat will make you cold, thus you are really losing body heat and then your in real trouble.
Beo,