papajoe222 Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 I know that many of you know how to dress to keep warm while fishing during the cold water period. I also know that what works for one person may not work for another, so I thought I'd start a thread about what does and why it does, for me. A discussion about what and why your system works can be beneficial to some. I am one of those that can't stand wearing a base layer such as UnderArmor. I always feel a chill even if I'm sweating while wearing it. My base layer consists of a cotton garment with the UnderArmor second. The next layer is totally dependent on the type of fishing I'll be doing. If I'm fishing from shore I want something absorbent as I'll likely be moving around and active. If I'll be mostly stationary, I want something that will block the wind and that offers some thermal benefit. A wind breaker with a light lining fits the bill perfectly. the last item is a single garment chosen based on the temps I'll be facing. That's it for keeping my core warm. Very little bulk, but more than enough to keep me comfortable. More is not only restrictive, but results in overheating which in turn ends up making me cold. Pants, boots, a hat and gloves round ot the remainder although I will don a pair if insulated bibs if I'll be facing extremely cold wind chills. What's your system? Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 24, 2015 Super User Posted January 24, 2015 A hoodie lol 1 Quote
Super User gulfcaptain Posted January 24, 2015 Super User Posted January 24, 2015 sweetshirt, bennie, fleece neck gaiter, jacket. Â If I'm gonna get cold wearing all that, I'm gonna find something else to do.....lol 1 Quote
Smokinal Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 I hate the cold but I love to fish so I have narrowed down, through trial and error, my system. Wool socks and thermo boots; I like a base layer so I wear a base legging under a pair of insulated skiing wind breaker pants, then my Cabelas wind pants over those. Upper body gets a base layer, wool shirt, insulated jacket, then Cabelas wind jacket; hat and gloves if needed. I can be out in 30 degrees in wind with this setup and fish comfortably. And I always wear my PFD over my final jacket. I'd like to recommend people to see a ski shop for insulated wind pants. They were one of my best clothing purchases ever. I feel that if you can keep the wind out of your clothing, you've won the battle! Stay safe and warm my friends. Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted January 24, 2015 Super User Posted January 24, 2015 Just normal layers. Shirt x2, sweatshirt, hoodie, coat. Fingerless gloves. Nothing special. Quote
fishinphilly Posted January 24, 2015 Posted January 24, 2015 well to start, i couldn't use cotton because it holds water and for some reason (bad genes) i sweat uncontrollably lol but i usually just start with a base layer of kenyon polarskins heavyweight for pants and mid weight for a shirt and just go from there  if your ever looking for any try sierra trading post they have everything 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 24, 2015 Super User Posted January 24, 2015 Under Armor Cold gear has been my standard base layer for years.  However Columbia Omni-Heat has replaced it. The Columbia product is lighter, less compressing making it more comfortable and feels warmer to me. Second layer is wool or fleece as the mood strikes me.  I am also NOT a person who would ever wear anything cotton in the cold, especially as a base layer.  A-Jay 4 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 No under armor. In fact commando for me. If it's below 40* I wear my Carhart bibs on the boat. A Save Phace when running from spot to spot and a fleece head/scarf combo thingy while I'm fishing. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 Just normal layers. Shirt x2, sweatshirt, hoodie, coat. Fingerless gloves. Nothing special. I know fingerless gloves are good in terms of not impeding casting/fish handling... But in terms of keeping you warm they are pointless IMO (no offense, I'm sure you like them..mot each his own).. But you are still losing all that heat through your extremities Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 Synthetic everything for me...sweat is the enemy as is any moisture so quality wicking garments are important.  I usually wear patagonia capilene of varying weights for the base layer depending on the temp then something a little heavier, usually fleece or a synthetic fill vest and a shell that is waterproof and windproof.  I seem to be blessed with being pretty good with no gloves in the cold but i will carry a hot hands or two to put in my pockets or in the rare cases i wear gloves i put them on the back of my hands as this warms the blood as it goes into my fingers,  I will also wear a knit that too...The key is to not let your feet or hands get cold because it is very difficult to get them warm again, even more so with the feet.  Another tip that i learned when rock climbing is that when your hands get really cold swing your arms around in big circles...it forces the blood back to your fingers which when they are really cold can be painful but it works....we used to call it the screaming barfies for some reason lol 2 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 Icebreaker Oasis 200 shirt with a pullover from Marmot and if it's cold and raining I have a Marmot soft shell jacket that keeps me warm and dry.    For pants, I use a pair of flannel jeans.  If its wet outside and cold, I use a pair of Gore Tex Pants with some long underwear.  Smartwool socks are a must.  I also love my Asolo Power Matic boots.  This combo has never failed. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 I can't stand the cold so I pack it up for the winter as far as fishing goes. Plus ice fishing would be my only option really. I got a pair of those Deluth trading co. fire hose pants that are flannel lined. Those suckers will keep you warm though. Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 30 to 45 degrees:  Legs -Gander mountain winter base layers pants -Silk pajama pants under or over the base layer (thin but very warm when used as an inner layer) -Then sweat pants or jeans -And finally, rain-gear pants (shell)  Feet -Thick wool socks paired with water proof boots (cheap rubbers is all it takes, socks keep them warm, rubber keeps wind off and feet dry)  Upper Body -2 Gander mountain winter base layers -Thin long sleeve short -Fleece hoodie -Columbia fleecejacket -Rain-gear shell  Head -beanie  Hands -fingerless or high grip gloves if not raining -no gloves if raining for significant period of time -I picked up a hand warmer that straps around my waist from NFL shop (browns logo/colors) that I can tuck my hands in when I want, I used  it this winter and it is awesome  All in all many layers but easily removed if too warm. Quote
Super User Sam Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 Layering is the best way to stay warm as long as you have a good head cover.  The majority of heat is loss via your head.  Keeping your phalanges warm is also a challenge and it is very interesting to read how each guy approaches that problem. Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 But you are still losing all that heat through your extremities Well obviously you lose heat through exposed skin but it is mostly about surface area, the less exposed, the less heat lost, although cold finger tips will make the near by tissue under even if covered colder. Which I agree many times your hands are cold but not quite as much as no gloves at all. Â So I will take slightly warmer palms/base of fingers/back of hand than no gloves at all especially because I refuse to wear thick gloves that severely impede my ability to keep sensitive contact with my rod/reel. 1 Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 The majority of heat is loss via your head. I hate to be this guy sam...  Although a head cover is important to keeping warm and feeling comfortable, that statement is one that has been said for a very long time but merits no scientific backing, an old wives tale if you must. Your head does not lose heat in larger amounts or faster than any other part of your body of equal surface area.  I think the origin was from a very poorly done "study" by (maybe the army? a long time ago, don't quote me on that) and they started spreading that information as fact.  Our faces are also very sensitive compared to most other places on our bodies which makes it feel as if we are losing more heat at times.  hat/pants hat/coat coat/pants  If you had the choice of only two of the three items in very cold weather (assuming they kept that body part sufficiently warm), your chances of survival would be best picking the coat/pants every time. 1 Quote
papajoe222 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Posted January 25, 2015 I hate the cold but I love to fish so I have narrowed down, through trial and error, my system. Wool socks and thermo boots; I like a base layer so I wear a base legging under a pair of insulated skiing wind breaker pants, then my Cabelas wind pants over those. Upper body gets a base layer, wool shirt, insulated jacket, then Cabelas wind jacket; hat and gloves if needed. I can be out in 30 degrees in wind with this setup and fish comfortably. And I always wear my PFD over my final jacket. I'd like to recommend people to see a ski shop for insulated wind pants. They were one of my best clothing purchases ever. I feel that if you can keep the wind out of your clothing, you've won the battle! Stay safe and warm my friends. Wow, That's a lot of clothes to wear for only 30 degrees. What do you do when it gets cold? Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 Started wearing some Dyna Max glove/liner for fishing in. Almost like a second skin and have really helped in the warm hand thing while fishing. Awesome...can feel the bite too. Quote
Super User Lund Explorer Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 The secret is to wear enough layers to stay warm and yet avoid sweating when you to exert yourself. Â Depending on how cold it is or what I plan on doing outside in it, winter wear always starts with my Duofold longjohns and could end up with Carhart Jacket and Bibs on top of two or three other layers. 1 Quote
blongfishing Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Here in South Carolina it dosent get too cold so mine may be too little for y'all but I usually put on a base layer which consists of long johns/thermal underwear whatever you wanna call them and an underarmour shirt. The second is my regular clothes which consists of my regular everyday Magellan fishing pants, t-shirt long sleeve or short sleeve, and wool socks. Then my last layer is a hoodie and sometimes my rain/warm suit. On my head I wear a hat and always a hoo rag. This helps me through a day on the water and always have some hot coffee! Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 25, 2015 Super User Posted January 25, 2015 The basics:  Under Armour Cabela's Guidewear Sorel boots    1 Quote
livetofish28 Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Under armour or layer like that, thermal layer sweatshirt if, really cold a fleece over that regular jeans unless temps are in the 20's then a thermal layer under that and to finish it off a cabellas almost gore-tex jacket the one just below the guide wear and then my BPS 100mph bibs Tight lines Andrew Quote
Thornback Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 First off, I always have on my PFD. For the cold here in Florida, I wear cotton bibs, heavy knee-high socks, long sleeve shirt, cotton sweat shirt with hoodie and then over that a wind breaker with lining, cap, gloves when driving the boat and sometimes at the start of fishing. Usually here when the sun starts rising it will eliminate the cold and I start peeling off the layers. If it gets 32 degrees or less I will swap the cotton bibs for a pair of insulated bibs. Florida weather can warm up quickly during full sun so anytime I wear the insulated bibs I always take along a pair of cotton bibs so I can change in the boat if I start to feel too warm. Quote
shootermcbob Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Our bodies naturally generate heat....the most importiant thing we can do is preserve that heat. We do this by keeping the wind off our bodies as much as possible. When it is cold, I ALWAYS have gore-tex on as my outer layer...both wind proof and water proof. Â Layering is effective and most people have their favorites. I prefer merino wool...as my base layer and insulating layer. IMO, nothing wicks as well, and nothing keeps ME as warm if I do sweat a bit. Â When it is really cold and windy, I add another insulating layer of primaloft filled vest/jacket...very warm yet not bulky. Â I agree with Sam ...not about the SEC, Â , but about covering ones head. In my personal experience...it is vital to keep your head covered. I prefer a windproof balaclava...over a light merino wool balaclava. Â Wool socks and a waterproof hiker..hunting boot and I am good to go. Â One thing, tight boots are not conducive to warm feet. Quote
ChrisWi Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Columbia base layers, long sleeve shirt, two sweatshirts, jeans, 2-3 sets of Wool socks, Carhartt Bibs, jacket, and a neoprene gloves. 1 Quote
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