so all that i really do is bowhunt. i dont take a gun out when firearm starts, instead i take my bow and wear blaze orange. the problem i have is that i can never stay warm on my upper body. i have a decent pair of bibs from cabelas and i love them. im looking for something that will keep me warm here in michigan during some harsh winters, but i will also have to be able to pull back a bow so it cant be too bulky. i also wear an UA 3.0 base layer. and an UA cold gear sweatshirt.
Take a look in here, this may help. http://forums.bowhunting.com/showthread.php?22896-Camo-thickness-and-cold-weather
As mentioned in the thread reference above, I have my Arctic Shield jacket that I love. They have similar numbered layers like UA, and forgive me I can't remember which one I have. Its got bulk to keep me warm, but not enough to get in the way.
This is what I wear. It is very warm and light weight. I hunt in Iowa till the end of January and I wear this with a sweatshirt underneath and UA cold gear base layer and I am good to go. My wife bought me a pair of Arctic Shield bibs for Christmas and if I have to walk anywhere I put them in my bag and change at the stand because I get so hot. http://www.basspro.com/ArcticShield...t/10204271/-1601735?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL
I wear a carhartt work jacket. I through a sweater underneath, and maybe my rain gear on top if I'm in a spot with bad cover. The upper part of my body has never been cold in that. I've only been wearing regular hunting pants with a wool underlayer on the bottom. I need to get me some bibs this year or a good pair of pants with suspenders.
Depending what you want to spend this is what I have used over the past year and love the system. Plus it is good for early, late and if rains if you own all three pieces. Scent Lok ThunderTek
Like other stated, UA base layers are tough to beat. Dress in layers. Don't buy a heavy jacket that limits you to use during only parts of the season. Buy other layers that you can combine as it gets colder. In my opinion, no other piece of hunting gear you own is worth as much though and money as hunting clothing. If you can't stay comfortable and warm, you can't stay in the treestand. It's that simple. I have spent more money on quality clothing than probably anything else I have. It was well worth the investment. I would highly recommend looking at Gray Wolf Woolens clothing. He offers stuff that is tailor made to you. Its a bit pricey, but worth every nickle. Plus, the bonus here is that it comes in the best camo pattern on the market, Predator Camo. Of course the line of clothing that Predator itself offers is of great quality too and more affordable if money is a concern. One other tip. I've mentioned this on another clothing thread. Pack your layers into the woods and put them on later as you cool down. I like to walk in feeling a bit chilly, usually only wearing my base layer top. This keeps you dry and of course, more comfortable once you cool down.
I use my scent lok full season tops and bottoms pretty much till the start of December. Like muzzyman stated above, I just dress in layers and carry them in with me. Once you start to sweat your hunt is already compromised. Once it drops into the low 20's and upper teen's I wear my Cabelas fleece series. They have some serious warmth to them and are not bulky at all. Usually I wear a nice thermal base layer with a t-shirt and then just the top is all you need. For the bottoms all I wear is the base layer and pants. I like this fleece series alot and it is priced fair. It also has a nice camo pattern that breaks you up when there are no leaves on the trees. Another plus is that it is very quiet. Only gripe on it is, DON'T walk through briars with it. It is a magnet for them and lots of things like to stick to it. For treestand hunting it is great!!!
When it gets really cold, I use these three key items (paired with a few handwarmer packets), and I could sit all day long without ever feeling chilly. It's widely known that the human body loses most of its heat through its extremities (toes, fingers, head). That said, we continually misplace our focus on heavy parkas and insulated pants/bibs. I can promise you, if you can cover these 3 key areas with the best of the best, you'll never get cold. Just layer your core as best you can, being careful to carry as much of your clothing in as possible (so as to not sweat). Even if it's sub-zero, if you can make the hike in just a UA Cold Gear shirt and a mid-layer, then do it. Carry your heavy stuff, and put on your boot blankets as soon as you get in the stand. Save your money on a mega-expensive hunting coat, because it won't be worth a damn if your fingers/toes get cold. Boot Blankets will keep your feet at room temperature for hours and hours on end in subzero temps. Just keep your shoelaces loose to allow optimum bloodflow, and pop a handwarmer out near the toe inside of the boot blanket. No gloves required for this bad boy. Just pack a couple handwarmers in the muff, and let your fingers roast all day. A good fleece neck gaiter is a MUST! Pair that with a good fleece beanie, and your dome will never get cold. I found a nice balaclava in a clearance bin (no idea what brand) - and it's got a heavy neck gaiter and built-in hood. It's badass. Using just these three items, along with a solid base-mid-shell layering system, I bowhunted dark-to-dark last January on a day when the high temp was 4 degrees, with steady winds. In fact, I had to stuff my hoagie inside my coat for 2 hours prior to eating, just to thaw it out. LOL bh.com sells an awesome muff that has some nicely-positioned storage pockets to keep your grunt call handy. http://www.bowhunting.com/shopping/Products/Muff-Pak__8855.aspx Not too shabby for $20. Highly Recommended.
U.A. base layer and Ridge Reaper set keeps me warm all season, and its not bulky. Add a good beanie and you cant go wrong.
