Preparing for winter

[Long Mike]

I know I'm being premature, but last winter I froze my cojones off while fishing.  I want to be much better prepared come this winter.  I live in Oklahoma, so our lakes remain pretty much ice free.  It's the wind, combined with rain, sleet, ice and/or snow that chill me to my bones.  I am, by no means, a wealthy man, but I don't mind spending several hundred dollars to equip myself with the proper gear.  BPS is located nearby, but I don't mind buying off E-Bay.  Can any of you experienced cold-weather anglers recommend a retailer/brand that will keep me warm and dry?  This includes footwear.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Paul Roberts]

Layer:

One of the best things I've found has been Shetland wool turtlenecks, used as an undergarment. This is soft "reprocessed" wool so it's not scratchy. Unbelievably warm, and inexpensive if you look in the right place: I look for them at thrift stores, and often find them.

Polypropylene thermal underpants. Cabela's

A down vest.

Fleece jacket -Worth getting a good quality (dense) material -like Polar-Tech. It should be dense -Avoid the cheap thin stuff. I don't bother with the wind-proof types because of expense.

A good shell with hood to keep wind and wet out. I just use a rain jacket. Mine is made by Walls, but there are lots of good makers.

Winter hat in wool or fleece.

[MattStrykul]

Last year I wore Under Armour coldgear and it was THE BEST. I can't even tell you how bad it would have been without it. My Brother and I would be out fishing when it's 27 degrees and cloudy not having one worry about it being "cold"  ;D.

[IDbasser]

27 degrees is warm in the winter time.  Try below zero temps with wind.  Layer your clothing, the best way.  Wool and down are the way to go.

[Catt]

Mike you are pretty much in the same situation as I am along the Gulf coast where it aint so much about freezing temperatures as it is wind chill.

Here are three words to remember Polartec® Polar Fleece

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=pod&id=0022141

[Sam]

I took LBH's advice and purchased a Mustang Survival Jacket and it is fantastic.

It doubles as a PFD and it will keep you toasty warm.

Look them up on the internet and you can see them.  

[Fishing Rhino]

While commonly associated with "yuppiedom", L.L. Bean has great products, and they stand behind them without a hassle.  They are a good company to buy from, and their shipping is prompt.

On their winter clothing, their catalog will tell you the temp ranges for each garment.  Granted, that will vary from one person to another, but at least you get a reliable indication as to their servicability for your needs.

[Jig Man]

Across the line here in "warm toasty MO" I fish the same conditions as you do. Several years ago I bought a Browning Hydro Fleece coat and bibs from BPS. It cost a bunch but I have been wearing it for 9 years and it still is in great shape.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/common/search/search-results1.jsp;jsessionid=W4W3KEJLH0W11LAQBBJSCO3MCAEFIIWE?&QueryText=Browning+Hydro-Fleece&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=Browning+Hydro-Fleece&noImage=0&rid=0180101070502&cmCat=perf&cm_ven=performics&cm_cat=Google_NonBrand&cm_pla=menshuntingclothing_lightweightcamo_general&cm_ite=browning%20hydro-fleece&_requestid=3362

Last winter I added Under Armour to the mix and it is well worth the money.

The really good thing I have added is a fleece hood like the ones worn by football players. It keeps cold air off my neck. Additionally when motoring in cold weather, I slip a pair of shooting muffs on over my hood and cap. That keeps all the air out.

[roadwarrior]

Solution:

Cabela's Guidewear:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0031135922559a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&QueryText=guidewear&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=5&Nty=1&hasJS=true&%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Ftemplates%2Fgiftcertificate%2Fgiftcertificate.jsp%3Fid%3D0005586990011a%26podId%3D0005586%26catalogCode%3DIB%26navAction%3Djump%26indexId%3D&_D%3A%2Fcabelas%2Fcommerce%2FCabelasCatalogNumberFinder.giftCertificateURL=+&N=0&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=23

The parka is currently on sale, the bibs and the whole outfit are often on sale. I have the uninsulated version which when combined with long underwear, are good-to-go 30-65 degrees. For colder mornings, a jacket on top. This outerwear is 100% waterproof and will last indefinitely. Any colder and I don't want to fish! (Like Guntersville, Monday and Tuesday morning).

For boots, Sorel:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0027198830577a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=sorel+boots&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=6&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Go.x=17&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

This brand offers a number of temperature options, pick your poison.

8-)

[njbasser]

Both my family and my cousins family have had good luck with Cabela's brand bibs, jackets, boots, coveralls, gloves, hats, pretty much everything. They have tons of choices.

-The Polartec items are also excellent. You can't go wrong.

-Danner and Rocky boots are also good choices, warm and comfortable

-Cabela's Camoskinz gloves are nice, lightweight, warm and have a leather palm so you can still feel everything. My dad has a pair and says that his hands are nice and warm even sitting in a stand for 8 hours a day in 20 degree weather.

-Under Armour balaclavas are great too, we use them all the time when its cold out. That paired with a Mad Bomber hat is very warm, sometimes i get so hot i take the balaclava off so i stop sweating.

[Al Wolbach]

Under Armour is a great place to start but it does restrict your movement somewhat. At least is does me, but I'm in my sixtys and that might make a difference.

I crappie fish all winter(12 degrees last year and numerous days in the twentys) and had the same problem, especially with my feet. I bought a pair of Irish Setter boots with 800 grms of insulation and they did the trick. I had been wearing a pair of Timberland Guide boots with 800 grams and what a difference. The Timberland boots were 15 or 20 years old. Not sure why such a difference unless it was age.

I recommend addressing feet and hands then layer everything else...................Al

[fishbear]

Having hunted and fished almost my entire life in the Pacific Northwest, you learn how to stay warm in the wind and rain...

I start off with Silk long underwear, then...

GORE TEX!!!! GORE TEX!!!!! GORE TEX!!!!!!

It is thin, lightweight, and easy to move around in...  I have been tempted to try the Under Armour but can not get away from my Gore Tex jacket and bibs.  Absolutely love them for winter conditions.

[jivey]

It's easy, I just use one of these...

and one of these...

;D ;D 8-)

[.ghoti.]

Gore Tex is great. Cabela's Guide Wear is great. Silk underwear is great.

Do it in layers, with space between. You don't want to be wrapped up tight. trapped air is good.

Don't try the BPS 100MPH stuff. It will keep you warm and dry, but the noise it makes at the slightest movement will drive you crazy. You couldn't smeak up on a glass of water wearing this stuff.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

a couple tips taken from mountain tops across the globe.  

-Gore-Tex  Gore-Tex  Gore-Tex  Can't say it enough, spend the money, you will never regret it.

- #1 enemy to cold feet is multiple pairs of cotton socks and #2 is a single pair of cotton socks.  A worsted wool/silk blend is where it's at.  NO COTTON!  It's basically a rag that soaks up the moisture (sweat)  Even a Gore-tex enhanced shoe cannot pull moisture from cotton.  The perspiration gets cold and the party is over, cold feet, no return.

- Wicking fabrics are necessary for the most eficient layering

-Keep some heat packs in your box.

-HATS help retain a huge amount of heat.  In turn, no hat, huge amounts lost.

-A mitten, as opposed to a glove, is the warmer option.  Something to keep in mind if you only use them while running w/ the big motor.

-The neck is a vulnerable place to lose heat as all blood runs close to the surface entering and exiting the head through the Juglar and Carotid.  Neck gators or turtle necks are a big help here and keep wind from getting in.

- Speaking of wind getting in,...BIBS instead of shell pants during the colder seasons.  Bibs keep your lower back toasty and prevent drafts.

-

[CRFisher]

Layers, layers and more layers but make sure they're loose, or you'll lose the effect, that goes for your feet as well.   Get a non-cotton base as cotton tends to soak up sweat and chill you off.   Besides that I wouldn't go too crazy spending.    I found that two pairs of wool socks in my  sneakers loosely tied are warmer than two pairs of wools socks in my insulated boots because my boots fit me better/tighter.  A baggy pair of pants (to fit layers underneath) and a baggy sweatshirt go a long way.  I try to do five or six layers and that has done me well in 10+ hour days in freezing temperatures watching the Patriots play.  Any waterproof shell on top will keep the rain out.   You just have to buy a bit big so the layers fully insulate and you're able to move.

[shorefisher]

One word: Gore-Tex. Nuff said.

[shootermcbob]

Several good tips.

Layer...merino wool is absolutely the best, warmest, and  most comfortable long underwear I have ever worn.

Middle layer or layers need to insulate and retain body heat...wool, down, fleece are all good options. try some of each to find what works best to keep you warm and allow movement to fish.

Outer Layer... MUST be at least windproof, preferably wind and waterproof (gore-tex, cabelas dry plus, etc) If your outer layer is not wind/waterproof the wind will cut thru your clothing and steal valuable body heat.

boots, buy a size or two bigger than you normally wear, and wear at least one pair of wicking socks and one thick pair of merino wool socks. your toes MUST

[Jimzee]

Mike you are pretty much in the same situation as I am along the Gulf coast where it aint so much about freezing temperatures as it is wind chill.

Here are three words to remember Polartec® Polar Fleece

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=pod&id=0022141

I agree 100% on the Polartec®.  I wear this under my waterproof gear and my body never gets cold even down in the single digit range.

[Long Mike]

Guys, many thanks for your very valuable input. Come this Winter, I will probably have at least one of each of your suggestions, except for Jivey's. Jivey, I don't believe your tent will fit on my Tracker.

[burleytog]

BPS ProQualifier rain suit + UnderArmor ColdGear + any sort of fleece + quality wool socks (something like the BPS Lifetime Hunting Sock) = snug as a bug in a rug.

The UA stuff is compression fit, so be prepared to look like a sausage when you put it on.

[djmax22]

Last year I wore Under Armour coldgear and it was THE BEST. I can't even tell you how bad it would have been without it. My Brother and I would be out fishing when it's 27 degrees and cloudy not having one worry about it being "cold" ;D.

X2

Combine that with a BPS 100MPH jacket and you got yourself a winner. The old style jackets are on clearance at BPS.