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Battling the Elements

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by sycamoretwitch, Dec 9, 2013.

  1. sycamoretwitch

    sycamoretwitch Die Hard Bowhunter

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    So for 3 years now I've been hunting for a buck up until seasons end here in Indiana on January 15. It's difficult for me to sit much past 9 or 10 a.m. here in Indiana come December and January because of the temps. I don't mind cold weather - it's not a mental thing, my toes and hands just get too darn cold for me to last.

    I've invested in nice socks, I've bought insulated boots, I've tried layering my socks, I've tried different pairs of gloves, I try to not take my hands out of my insulated coat pocket unless absolutely necessary - nothing was working and it wasn't any fun!!

    So I decided to make a few changes and we had a high of 23 on Sunday morning and I was pleased with the results. I bought a couple pairs of Hot Hands Hand Warmers - those things are just awesome!! I can take my hands out of my coat to look at my cell phone or I can take my hands out to get film of deer moving and just put them back into my pockets and my hands warm up instantly. They last every bit of 10 hours also - if you use them on an afternoon/evening hunt and then keep them in a controlled temp environment over night they will work for a few hours the next morning.

    I also broke down and spent the money on the ThermaCell Heated insoles and I was fairly happy with the results. This is coming from someone who ALWAYS get's cold feet - it didn't make my feet warm and unnoticeable but it did make it tolerable for me to sit longer than I normally would have been able to.

    I am pleased with the results I have had with the two products above and thought I'd pass this along to anyone else struggling with the same issue and see if anyone else had any other suggestions for keeping warm on stand?
     
  2. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

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    I haven't heard many good things about the thermacell insoles so won't purchase them. Toast-T-Toes are what I prefer and use. They are just like the hand warmers except they produce their own oxygen for low oxygen use. I put on my wicking socks, stick the adhesive backed toe warmer to the bottom of the sock under my toes and then put on a good wool sock. I can normally sit all day on one pair during normal cold weather. In extreme cold weather I usually put a second one on top of my toes and am good to go. I tend to stay away from the full sole ones, they don't last as long and make your feet sweat early on and freeze once they wear out.

    Also for your hands a hand muff is great as well, throw a few hand warmers in and you have a small oven.


    Also they have therapy style patches, some that wrap around the waist and heat he lower back, others that are 4x6" or so with an adhesive back. Use the back wraps to keep your kidney area warm and I often use one of the 4x6" ones stuck into the underside of my hat/facemask. Mos heat is lost through the head
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2013
  3. indynotch50

    indynotch50 Grizzled Veteran

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    I just started using the hot hands a few weeks ago when it got really cold. I have no idea why I waited so long.

    With my feet, I use a normal pair of socks, put the hot hands across my toes, put a wool sock on to hold it's place, then my boot (800 gram insulation). I haven't had a single issue at all doing it this way.

    Also, I open a pack in the morning and use it for both my morning and afternoon hunts.
     
  4. Whitetail_Guy

    Whitetail_Guy Newb

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    what works good with hand warmers is a hand muff. put the hand warmers in there, and its gets toasty. i also see the reivews on thermacells aren't so good. what i have read that works for sitting are boot covers, its an insulated cover that goes over you boots.

    here is a good article below

    10 Tips for Staying Warm in Late Season Hunting - Petersen's Hunting
     
  5. WW1

    WW1 Weekend Warrior

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    The Thermocells are just fine. I tried them for the first time this year and they worked just as advertised. Personally I wished the batteries lasted longer than 5 hours but thats just as long as anything else you would use...almost. Turned them on and just forgot about my feet. A more expensive option would be Therm-ic Powerpack with Perfom Insoles. If you want to stay warm look other places than just hunting. These were originally designed for skiing. Go to Alpine Accessories.com
    Good luck.
     
  6. stro1965

    stro1965 Newb

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    I like the hand warmer things, but twice this year I dropped the darn things when I pulled my hands out of my pockets. Sure looked warm as it melted the snow under my tree stand!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  7. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

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    That's where the hand muff works great, throw 4 in it and if one falls out there's still 3 left. But they're generally in the center so it's a bit harder to drop one out. On days I don't use the muff I use regular jersey gloves, toss a warmer in the palm and making a normal fist keeps the fingers warm and blood flowing. Toss one in on the backside of the hand if still cold.

    Been there, done that on dropping them though. Usually happens when I do them inside the gloves.


    Hot soup also works to keep your core temp up as well, plus it's dang tasty. Premake a grilled cheese at home and warm it up in your preheated hand muff, and well.... I'm hungry now
     
  8. stro1965

    stro1965 Newb

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    I need to mod a small table and cup holder on my tree stand. Dealing with a thermos and a cup up there I needed another hand!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  9. Goosepond Monster

    Goosepond Monster Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Don't go out in the morning, wait until closer to the middle of the day. The deer usually wait until it warms up a bit before they get up to move around.
     
  10. rknierim

    rknierim Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Hot hands for keeping hands warm. Ice Breakers boot covers for the feet. I roll em up and put em in my pack. Once set up, I put em on, throw in a hand warmer and zip em up. Lost a lot of time in the stand due to cold feet. These things were a life (foot) saver. I had all day sits til the end of season in January last year once I started using these. Got em on sale for $50. One of my best all-time investments :)
     
  11. Blarney22

    Blarney22 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I got this tip from a fellow bowhunter on the forums earlier this year. Spray your feet with unscented deodorant and it prevents your feet from sweating which causes your feet to get cold because they are damp. I have always struggled with keeping my feet warm while hunting and this seems to have really helped.
     
  12. CoveyMaster

    CoveyMaster Grizzled Veteran

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    I just ordered Gerbing 12v heated jacket, pants, gloves and socks from The Warmer Store and a dual controller. I'm going to rig a small 12V battery in a backpack and wear coveralls over it with 800 gm thinsulate boots. It's motorcycle clothing but I don't see why it won't work. I may have to tweak the system with different sized batteries or multiples to get enough stand time out of a charge but I don't intend to ever be cold in the stand again.

    I'm going to try a small lawnmower battery first. If I can get three or four hours out of it I figure I'm good....maybe I'll get lucky and get more.

    I'll have over $800 in it but I can use it around the farm and equipment too besides all I have to do is plug it into the ATV power going to the stand, etc...
     
  13. CRABCLAW

    CRABCLAW Weekend Warrior

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    Another little trick I use besides the Toe warmers for the feet in cold weather is to bring a towel along and put it on the base of my stand. This serves two purposes, keeps your Boots of the cold steel / aluminum, and makes it possible to move your feet or stand a lot quieter.
     
  14. cocowheats

    cocowheats Weekend Warrior

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    I would do somesaults for 23 degree weather right now. -8 when I got out today. Gotta love MN
     

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