Staying warm

[Jig Man]

Cold weather is just around the corner.  One of my fishing buddies likes to go any time it is above 32°.  I am on a couple of blood thinners and have trouble staying warm.  I have been researching heated vests and am overwhelmed with too much info.  I was in a Sheels in CO last week and was looking at them but they only had women’s sizes.

 

Do any of you guys have experience with heated vests?

[Susky River Rat]

I have never used a heated vest. I do use a striker ice suit. Slightly bulky but, they will assist you in staying afloat if you’d fall in the water that time of year.

[LrgmouthShad]

Turn self…. Into…. Puffball

 

Good luck with the heated vests though. I have a love hate relationship with cold weather fishing

[Jig Man]

Thanks but I’m interested in heated vest info only.  

[FryDog62]

Living in Minnesota, I did the heated vest thing about 5 years ago.  It wasn't that great and a bit of a hassle with the battery life, charging, etc.  Best thing I did was to buy a thin down jacket (with sleeves) and wear under a Gore-Tex Shell. Much better warmth. And second, was to buy some water proof Thinsulate gloves. I didn't need to take them off except to tie knots. Keeps hands good and warm down to 30's. Below freezing I had to go to Mitts. 

 

https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/outerwear/spyfire-jacket/?color=BLACKOUT

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fish_Monkey_Stealth_Dry-Tec_Light_Weight_Glove/descpage-FMSD.html?_gl=1*1exdcf0*_up*MQ..&gclid=CJDT3-2SjNECFZCMaQodOJECzA

[Kirtley Howe]

Look into Venture Heat Mesn's Heated Vests. They are actually intended for motorcycle riders but work great for fishing. They are very durable, water resistant, and comfortable (at least for me) to wear. They will keep you warm and seen to have good battery life.  Priced around $180, but worth it. 

[BigAngus752]

I have used heated (and cooled) vests in relation to something I did for work years ago.  I did not care for them one bit.  I don't have a problem with my core getting cold.  It's my extremities that get cold.  Having a heated vest on made my extremities feel even colder because my core was artificially warmer. 

 

Cooling vests are worse.  Watched a buddy go hypothermic and collapse while working outdoors in July in Huntsville, Alabama.  Core body temp dropped waaayyy too far.  Cooling vests are just torture devices. 

 

Being on blood thinners I would think that layering with quality outdoor clothing, protecting your hands and feet, and moving around anytime you get the chance would be the best bet IMHO.  But you won't know if you like a vest until you try it. 

[Jig Man]

Thanks for the info.

[slonezp]

No first hand info but look on snow skiing forums for answers. 

[Hammer 4]

I get cold pretty easy. I found that layering up with Heat Tech garments seems to work the best. You can get long sleeve shirts, and bottoms to under your normal clothing, and the cost is very reasonable.

[DaubsNU1]

I've done a lot of waterfowl and big game hunting in very cold weather. I can handle down to zero most days and be comfortable.

 

Start with good hat, gloves, socks, and boots. And a neck gaiter. From there I layer starting with good merino wool base layer, then poly layers (never cotton). Can add a down or fleece mid layer.

 

On top I always have a Gore-Tex shell. Sometimes Gore-Tex | Thinsulate parka if needed. Blocks wind and will keep you dry if needed. The wind protection is the most important for me. Some days I look like the Micheline man...but I am warm!

 

I use the heck out of these! Put them in my pockets, and in gloves. They last an entire day.

 

 

Another key for me is to avoid working up a sweat. Hard when waterfowl hunting...lugging all my gear to the blind, setting out decoys, chasing ducks...work up a good sweat some mornings.

 

Good luck

 

 

[TnRiver46]

I can’t wait for some cold!!! I just layer up cotton. All my buddies tell me I can’t do that or I’ll freeze up and die. Then I’m still fishing when they are inside by the fire with their “performance” gear 

[Will Ketchum]

Less wind and more sun make a big difference. Go later in the day when it warms up. Shorten your trips. My wisdom of the day is, you are only as warm as the coldest part of the body, so even a warm vest may not overcome cold feet.

[DogBone_384]

I too am on a mild blood thinner. I use Milwaukee tools and bought their heated sweatshirt. It works great between a base layer and outer jacket.

[flyfisher]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I can’t wait for some cold!!! I just layer up cotton. All my buddies tell me I can’t do that or I’ll freeze up and die. Then I’m still fishing when they are inside by the fire with their “performance” gear 

layering cotton is ok as long as you don't get it wet lol

 

I guess my years of climbing in the winter showed me just how sucky wet cotton is in cold weather but fishing rarely works up a sweat.  I will say that the bulk alone irritates me when it comes to cotton.  

[TnRiver46]

31 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

layering cotton is ok as long as you don't get it wet lol

 

I guess my years of climbing in the winter showed me just how sucky wet cotton is in cold weather but fishing rarely works up a sweat.  I will say that the bulk alone irritates me when it comes to cotton.  

I know a guy that is an ice climbing instructor out west, his fav shirt is a cotton T . 

[flyfisher]

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I know a guy that is an ice climbing instructor out west, his fav shirt is a cotton T . 

exception to the rule lol  I do know that whenever I was hiking to a climbing area in winter I did all I could to not sweat and there were more than one time I'd have a hat and gloves on and no shirt in like 10-20 degree weather.