Cold Weather Gear Thread Again

[BD]

Ok, it's that time of the year again....today we will top out highs 50+. Old man winter can't keep me from fishing, but I would really like to stay a little warmer this year.

Let's recommend COLD windy clothing wear for those who fish in the winter.

Is the Red Head E.C.W.C.S. shirt and long jons good?

I personally don't get that cold body wise, but my extremities always get so cold that I can't feel a thing. So warm gloves that have the ends cut out, might be helpful to mention too. Last year I used the packet hand warmers in a fleece pull-over, then a jacket over that. My face was covered by the balaklavas (or however they are pronounced/spelled lol.) I then put a hat on over this. My feet were covered by red heads extreme cold socks, and they work well, but somehow my feet after an hour or so, would get cold....I guess my red wings let air in????

So let's recommend from feet to head. I also am skinny, so keep other people's sizes in mind. I know others who never get cold outdoors, they are also alot bigger than I am.

[roadwarrior]

Cabela's Guidewear over long underwear is what I recommend. I like a stocking cap on my head and Sorel insulated boots on my feet. I wear cotton gloves when the boat is running, but I don't fish with gloves.

[fishbear]

I am one of those guys who just doesnt get cold very often.  However, I do know that I have to protect agains hypothermia, especially if it is raining.   I wear lightweight silk long johns if it gets down to freezing, in addition a set of thinsulate camo coveralls(sprayed with scotchguard for water resistance) I wear once the temps get down to 40 degrees or so...

For my feet, I wear wool socks and my running shoes.  I do not want heavy boots on, just in case.  I also carry a dry pair of socks and a dry shirt in my truck to change into after I am done for the day, in case I get soaking wet.

Head gear, if it is raining, a wide brimmed cowboy hat.  If it is just  cold, maybe a wool stocking cap, but usually a wide brimmed cowboy hat.. lol

I also have a waist length rain jacket if it pours down rain.  I have always hated rain pants, so I dont wear them.

I try and stay as lightweight as I can, you never know when an accident is going to happen, and you go overboard.  I want items I can get out of quickly.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

BD, the reason your foot gets cold after an hour or so is because the sweat that has accumulated on your sock is now cooling.  A gore-tex shoe will wick that moisture away from the quality sock.  The sock is only 1/2 of the problem.  You are using a wicking sock but locking that moisture in when it's 1/2 way out already.  A "breathable" shoe completes the process.

As for weather gear, I use North Face, head to toe, exclusively.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

LBH is right on about your feet.

As for your hands, if anybody can come up with an effective way to keep your hands warm and be able to fish at the same time will be a rich man.

Those cut off gloves are fine for keeping you hands warm, but that's not really a problem.  It's the fingers.

[BD]

Yes keep the posts coming. LBH, this makes sense actually. So RW, LBH if I were to buy sorel boots ( I need some good boots anyways) and wear my red head socks, will I still have the sweat/cold feet problem???

LBH, in your last video I saw what looked like under armor you were wearing....was this north face too? Speaking of, does U.A. keep you warm because it's 'hugging' your skin??? Those things look thin to me........remember guys I am SKINNY lol

Keep the knowledge coming please!

[Siebert Outdoors]

Here are some good tips on keeping your feet warm in the frigid months

Good boots with gore tex or similiar fabric

Good socks that wick away moisture

Good blood flow through your feet. If your laces are to tight or the boots are to small or fit incorrectly this can effect blood flow and give you cold feet.

What I wear is Browning hydro fleece gore tex 4n1 coat and browning goretex bibs.  The boots I have are danner trophy series.

Good long undies that wick away sweat will help also.

I'm saving to invest in some of that under armor wear.  Suposibly it is great stuff in the cold.

[nboucher]

Try running stores for some good ideas. My own view is that Under Armour is wildly overpriced. As a New England runner, I'm always looking for deals on wicking clothing, and I've found some great stuff at some of the shoe outlets. For example, there's a Saucony outlet near me, and they carry some good wicking garments at reasonable prices.

Anyway, here's a pretty decent review of some of the topline wicking fabrics, including Under Armour.

http://www.slate.com/id/2124889/

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

sorels do the job more with Bulk, they are designed to tread through anything.

What we are talking about can be as basic as a sneaker as long as it has gore-tex in it. My sneakers are North Face gore-tex as well as my winter boots.

The under armor type shirt is also North Face but it is designed to keep you COOL instead of warm. It is No Faces answer to a long sleeved summer shirt for protection yet coolness. Called Coolmax I believe, they have thread made of actual silver to keep you cool and ceramic fiber as sweat retardant.

Love those shirts, when air moves over the silver it creates a cold feeling like the difference in how much you feel the wind when your skin is wet. Very cool fabric,lol,no pun.

The U.A. that you wear as long johns, I don't like.  I like an air pocket between my skin and 1st layer.

[flyhatch]

hand warmers....... lots of them

they have the ones that have adheasive on them now so i stick them on my clothes near my kidneys as well as in my shirt pockets and seal them on with a big hoodie and cover that with a bib

and for hands i like glove liners with cut off gloves over the liner so i can still use my fingers and a hand warmer stuffed in between and of course toe warmers for the boots.

that set up had gotten me thru hours of cold  exposure

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

If you are really cold, put the heat packs in a neck gaitor or scarf and heat the blood as it passes in the neck.  Same theory as a cool towel on neck in summer but in reverse.

[nboucher]

The warmer your head and core are, the warmer your extremeties will be. If your core is not good and warm, your body will keep your blood there and send less of it out to your hands and feet.

[JayDub]

I know it's not so much cold weather gear as it is rain gear, but I was wondering if anyone uses Frogg Toggs?  How do they do?  Does it also keep the wind out like it does rain?

[bassnleo]

I use Under Armour cold gear, fleece over that, Gore-Tex top layer. Warm and tosty most of the time. I must be fortunate, I don't have a problem keeping my hands warm, fleece gloves w/ fingers cut off work if I need gloves.

 

 

[Panamoka_Bassin]

For myself, I can't let this thread go without saying something for Hot Chillis.  I wear them when I ski, which is sometimes well below freezing, with only my ski pants and jacket over them.  They're lightweight and wick away moisture, but I'll tell you they will keep you warm!  For gloves and socks, there's a couple different brands of liners that really do the trick, but unfortunately the brand names elude me at 6:30am.  Basically they're thin and have some sort of reflective material in them and will barely make a difference for bulk under regular gloves or boots.  Otherwise, I like things made of "turtle fur", but with the activity of skiing, they tend to be too warm.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

HOT CHILI'S !!!   One of my old sponsors!!

Can't thank the company enough for putting stirrrups on underwear for skiers!!!  Makes a big difference in your boot.

They also work well but for long johns, I prefer all silk.  

[Tom Bass]

HOT CHILI'S !!! One of my old sponsors!!

Can't thank the company enough for putting stirrrups on underwear for skiers!!! Makes a big difference in your boot.

They also work well but for long johns, I prefer all silk.

;D LBH, If I didn't know this was a fishing forum I would seriously wonder what's up...Hehehe.

For cold rainy days I like my BPS Gore Tex rain gear. The jacket liner keeps me warm and the pants over jeans work well too. The only complaint I have is the fleece liner and the shell rubbing together create static if I wear them on a non-rainy day.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

well, as a skier, I'll say that the lip of the leg on long johns in your ski boot can be very painful. When you are talking about a performance fit where hours are spent getting that thing as tight to your foot and calf as possible. The Hot chilis stirrup made a world of difference to us skiers. Eliminated that painful lip.

silk,...well,...I just like silk,lol. Seriously though. Very warm, very thin, helps all clothing layered above it slide well also. No binding w/ silk.

34 degrees this morning.  We just got the air that brought snow to some parts of the country earlier this week.  Heading to the lake in 1/2 hr.  Where's my silk,lol.  Gonna need it today.

[Bassassasin12]

there was a frost last night. My mom goes to leave the house and calls me out ot scrape off her car??? I was like funny mom, its October. I go out there the thing is covered in frost. Come onnnn. I am going fishing today. I dont have any of this fancy stuff i just layer up. T shirt underneath two longsleeve shirts, underneath and sweatshirt and then if its snowing or is below 40, I will wip out a jacket to top all of this stuff off. For pants just long underwear underneath and then pants. My legs don,t normally get cold. But I have fished before where I cant even feel my hands. KU it might be a good idea to start up a company that makes gloves that keep you warm and are still able to fish in them.

[tbird]

I have a pair of Shimano neoprene fishing gloves that keep my hands warm in the winter. They are very light and thin and do an excellent job of keeping your hands warm ,I actually forget I have them on after a while. They have the tips of the fingers with slots in them so you can expose your fingers to cast and then cover them back up. Best $15 I ever spent.

[bassrogue]

I have done a good bit of hiking in cold weather. One thing I learned was to keep my boot laces snug but not tight. The same goes with the cuffs on my jacket or shirt. When you have your gear on too tight around your ankles or wrists you decrease your circulation. Its not much but your hands and feet get cold a whole lot faster.

Just my 2 cents

(No need to have $190 boots and cold feet )

[jomatty]

lbh sounds like hes broke the bank on his outdoorwear.  hes gonna need to pick up some extra shifts or something to cover his silk/north face expenditures.  i love the north face gear and would like to own more of it but man is it expensive.  if i still skied much id probally bite the bullet.

do you use some of the same stuff for skiing and fishing lbh?  when skiing i usually just where a thin shell on the outside so i suppose it would work for fishing as well.

matt

[BD]

I am still trying to figure out what I want. It's insane all the different brands/types/etc

I think I want the BPS gore-tex bibs, some boots/shoes that wick away moisture to keep my feet warm and dry, and a BPS gore-tex jacket. I can then wear my fleece pull-over under my jacket, and normal pants under my bibs.

As for my hands, well I guess the old warmer packs will have to do. I have my head and face covered.

Any thoughts on this idea? Will my pants hinder the gore-tex wicking capabilities?