There was a recent post about lying in wait and pass shooting a couple roosters, so....
Semi repost: what is everyone's layering system
- Thread starter Dohyde34
- Start date
AtTheMurph
Well-known member
I wear midweight polypropylene long underwear, canvas duck pants, thick wool socks, uninsulated boots. On top mid-weight polypropylene, long sleeve cotton jersey shirt, wool button up shits and waxed cotton hunting jacket if it's really cold but especially in the wind.
Hat options vary from baseball, to fleece, to wool Stormy Kromer.
Hat options vary from baseball, to fleece, to wool Stormy Kromer.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
That's on cold days on the Canadian.
Me too. I wear light layers in a blizzard. Which yes I hunt in snow storms, actually it's my favorite time to hunt.
birddude
Well-known member
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but what is it about hunting while it's snowing? I've loved it since I was a kid. I got a nice one in this year.
Golden Hour
Well-known member
T-shirt and hoodie sweatshirt for 30-45 temps
T-shirt, long sleeved t-shirt and hoodie 15-30
T-shirt, base layer and hoodie for under 15 degrees. I'll also put on a pair of long johns at this stage.
T-shirt, long sleeved t-shirt and hoodie 15-30
T-shirt, base layer and hoodie for under 15 degrees. I'll also put on a pair of long johns at this stage.
I seem to run warmer than most, so probably not a model for others.
Feet:
All temps: Liner socks, over the calf socks, sock suspenders, uninsulated muck boots. None of this is for warmth. It is to wick away moisture and prevent blisters.
Bottom:
Above 30: Underwear, shorts, brush pants.
Below 30: Underwear, jeans (tucked into boots), brush pants (outside boots).
Top:
Above 20: T-shirt, hunting vest. If it is wetter out or windy, I might put on my hoody for a while until I build up heat, and then take it off and put it in my vest.
5-20: T-shirt, hoody, hunting vest. Might take hoody off if I get warm.
0-5 (with some wind): T-shirt, heated vest (USB battery pack powered), hoody, hunting vest. Might turn off heat if get warm. Just tried this at the end of last season for the first time.
Below 0: I try to stay 0 or above for the dog, since she doesn't have thick fur. Might go below this now that I have a heated vest for her.
Head:
All temps: Orange baseball cap.
Windchill 0-10: Light neck gaiter, hood up on hoody.
Windchill below 0: Something to keep my ears warmer. I use in ear hearing protection, but when really cold, I have gone back to my over the ear hearing protection muffs sometimes. I have also used regular muffs. During the mini hurricane/blizzard last week, I used a fleece gaiter with ear bumps that has a pocket on each side for shake hand warmers.
Hands:
Above 20: Nothing.
Below 20: Mitten gloves. Depending on warmth, more or fewer fingers come out of the mittens. I also put a hand warmer in the pocket on the back of each one.
The temps are approximate. If I am going through deep snow or thick cattails and building a lot of heat, then mittens generally come off. Walking light cover doesn't build as much heat. Sometimes they come off and on several times during a hunt.
My main thing is to never get sweaty in cold weather. I adjust my layers to prevent this.
Dog (Honey):
Above 30: Orange, so I and others can see her, and some chest protection.
20-30: Depending on the wind, wet, I might put on her orange fleece vest, with a strap on cover over the top (to help keep the fleece next to here and keep her from getting her front legs through the arm holes).
5-20: Orange fleece vest, with the cover on top.
0-5: Heated vest, next size up orange fleece vest, with cover on top. I got the heated vest at the end of last season and haven't tried it yet. It will be mostly covered, but concerned about the exposed parts around the neck getting shredded from brush, etc.
She's the first hunting dog where I felt I should do something about the cold. I also think it reduces how many calories she burns, so she doesn't get too skinny (she's already low fat).
This is with the fleece and cover in 15 degrees last week. In the afternoon, it got up to 41 for a high, so the fleece came off, so she wouldn't overheat.
Feet:
All temps: Liner socks, over the calf socks, sock suspenders, uninsulated muck boots. None of this is for warmth. It is to wick away moisture and prevent blisters.
Bottom:
Above 30: Underwear, shorts, brush pants.
Below 30: Underwear, jeans (tucked into boots), brush pants (outside boots).
Top:
Above 20: T-shirt, hunting vest. If it is wetter out or windy, I might put on my hoody for a while until I build up heat, and then take it off and put it in my vest.
5-20: T-shirt, hoody, hunting vest. Might take hoody off if I get warm.
0-5 (with some wind): T-shirt, heated vest (USB battery pack powered), hoody, hunting vest. Might turn off heat if get warm. Just tried this at the end of last season for the first time.
Below 0: I try to stay 0 or above for the dog, since she doesn't have thick fur. Might go below this now that I have a heated vest for her.
Head:
All temps: Orange baseball cap.
Windchill 0-10: Light neck gaiter, hood up on hoody.
Windchill below 0: Something to keep my ears warmer. I use in ear hearing protection, but when really cold, I have gone back to my over the ear hearing protection muffs sometimes. I have also used regular muffs. During the mini hurricane/blizzard last week, I used a fleece gaiter with ear bumps that has a pocket on each side for shake hand warmers.
Hands:
Above 20: Nothing.
Below 20: Mitten gloves. Depending on warmth, more or fewer fingers come out of the mittens. I also put a hand warmer in the pocket on the back of each one.
The temps are approximate. If I am going through deep snow or thick cattails and building a lot of heat, then mittens generally come off. Walking light cover doesn't build as much heat. Sometimes they come off and on several times during a hunt.
My main thing is to never get sweaty in cold weather. I adjust my layers to prevent this.
Dog (Honey):
Above 30: Orange, so I and others can see her, and some chest protection.
20-30: Depending on the wind, wet, I might put on her orange fleece vest, with a strap on cover over the top (to help keep the fleece next to here and keep her from getting her front legs through the arm holes).
5-20: Orange fleece vest, with the cover on top.
0-5: Heated vest, next size up orange fleece vest, with cover on top. I got the heated vest at the end of last season and haven't tried it yet. It will be mostly covered, but concerned about the exposed parts around the neck getting shredded from brush, etc.
She's the first hunting dog where I felt I should do something about the cold. I also think it reduces how many calories she burns, so she doesn't get too skinny (she's already low fat).
This is with the fleece and cover in 15 degrees last week. In the afternoon, it got up to 41 for a high, so the fleece came off, so she wouldn't overheat.
Me either.
This is the one I got. My dog is about 50 pounds, deep chested. I bought XL. I am guessing they are mainly for smaller dogs. Or maybe I got it a little big in case I want to put something under it instead of it being under the other stuff. They have a sizing chart online. It has two big velcro strips for adjustment around the neck and chest.
I found it funny that they show it on a furry golden. I suppose if the dog is sitting still outside in really cold temps, it might benefit. It isn't a hunting targeted item, so probably not considering a dog that is running.
I should also add that it isn't just me assuming my dog might get cold. She lets me know. If it is cold, especially if she is wet, if I stop to mess with my phone or camera, she'll vocally let me know she wants to keep moving to stay warm. She sounds like the tauntauns that they rode on the ice planet in The Empire Strikes Back. And sometimes she'll start to make a nest to curl up and conserve heat. She wants to keep moving.
I mention this, because dogs with thicker coats could overheat if you put stuff on them when they are running. I never put anything on my lab. My springer was fine, except I don't think he appreciated waiting in ice cold water for me on a North Dakota duck hunt (waiting in a pothole at sunrise) one time. But that's a different situation than running on land. And my 180 pound newfoundland was having a good old time in -20F actual temp one time when we went squirrel hunting (hunted pheasants with him too). He didn't like coming inside in colder weather, because he'd get hot in the house. But I had him sleep in the house in winter, regardless.
All this is to say, my dog doesn't have a thick coat and only the dark spots are a "double" coat. I'm in tune with what conditions she starts feeling the cold and have adjusted to accommodate. I'd hate to see someone roast their hard working lab by putting a heated or neoprene vest on them at 32 degrees.
I mention this, because dogs with thicker coats could overheat if you put stuff on them when they are running. I never put anything on my lab. My springer was fine, except I don't think he appreciated waiting in ice cold water for me on a North Dakota duck hunt (waiting in a pothole at sunrise) one time. But that's a different situation than running on land. And my 180 pound newfoundland was having a good old time in -20F actual temp one time when we went squirrel hunting (hunted pheasants with him too). He didn't like coming inside in colder weather, because he'd get hot in the house. But I had him sleep in the house in winter, regardless.
All this is to say, my dog doesn't have a thick coat and only the dark spots are a "double" coat. I'm in tune with what conditions she starts feeling the cold and have adjusted to accommodate. I'd hate to see someone roast their hard working lab by putting a heated or neoprene vest on them at 32 degrees.
Goosemaster
Well-known member
For waterfoul,I used to use a neoprene browning vest for my lab.
Good use case for one. Cold water, mostly sitting in the blind.
Springer22
Well-known member
Avery hoodie, banded quarter zip pullover, double stocking hat if needed. Flannel lined upland pants. I can hunt in that below zero, it’s just my hands that get cold
cheesy
Well-known member
Merino base of a tshirt, long sleeve tshirt, ot heavier quarter zip with hood.
Then a quarter zip synthetic long sleeve of some type.
If it’s dry maybe a Western Welder pearl snap.
Sometimes a synthetic hoody if it’s cold
Outer shell is an old Cabelas wind stopper upland soft shell.
If it gets down to single digits might throw on a Key Polar King or Carhartt canvas work coat.
My legs are merino base, weight dependent on temp. A synthetic pant, be it Pyke or Wrangker or Eddie Bauer. Chaps if it’s cool enough.
Socks are various weight merino.
I’ve basically ditched cotton except if it’s really dry and temps require my heaviest stuff.
Then a quarter zip synthetic long sleeve of some type.
If it’s dry maybe a Western Welder pearl snap.
Sometimes a synthetic hoody if it’s cold
Outer shell is an old Cabelas wind stopper upland soft shell.
If it gets down to single digits might throw on a Key Polar King or Carhartt canvas work coat.
My legs are merino base, weight dependent on temp. A synthetic pant, be it Pyke or Wrangker or Eddie Bauer. Chaps if it’s cool enough.
Socks are various weight merino.
I’ve basically ditched cotton except if it’s really dry and temps require my heaviest stuff.