I have grown up hunting in Texas and, to us, cold weather is 30*F.....

I've always just used basic cotton "long johns" that you can buy at Wal-Mart....with several other layers of clothes on top, or sometimes wearing coveralls.

I would like to try and find some more high-quality long underwear that are more effective at keeping you warm....so that I can decrease the total amount of clothes I wear. It will need to be sufficient in temperatures down to around 20*F.

What are you guys' suggestions? I haven't done much research yet, but Cabela's seems to make some interesting stuff.

Any help would be appreciated....thanks.

I'm becoming less and less of a Cabelas fan, and I live only an hour from one of their major stores. I suppose it mostly depends on what "personality" you get for help.

Anyway, the best stuff of any brand will be a wool/polyester blend of some kind. Think of really high grade & fine wool - it's not itchy at all.

also of very good quality is the fleece/polypropolene stuff. Sometimes you'll find silk too.

Just as important as what kind of fabric, is what "style". I get cold easy, and hunting in MN & WI, I've found that my neck, wrists, and lower back areas to be critical. Keep the drafts off these areas, and you'll be much warmer.

But absolutely the best stuff is the down long underwares.

Dress with these, along with a good outer layer that stops all but gale-force winds, and you'll be much warmer.

Ps. the above also applies to feet, but remember to wear layers.

P.p.s. Don't wear cotton of any kind.

friar

ES,

Never cotton. Cotton retains moister and does not wick.

you can't go wrong with silk, or wool.

Buy good quality gear, in fact the best you can't afford. You won't regret it.

As the previous poster said, layer.

If it is going to be cold, and If I am going to be doing a good bit of physical exertion getting to where I will be hunting I put my bib overalls, jacket and overcoat in my back pack. I walk in in l/u tops an bottoms with only a pair of trousers, a long sleeve wool shirt and maybe a fleece sweater. I'll be sweating when I get to the spot. I sit and cool down till I first get a little cold. I put on the bib overalls and the first jacket. When I get a little cooler I put on the windproof/waterproof outer jacket. I also usually carry a 5' x 5' fleece blanket to put over my legs. Works like a charm.

Another suggestion, buy good footwear. When I was in Montana I bought some Schnee's pac boots with removable liners. One of the best purchases I've made. I wear them here when it is cold, use a liner sock and wool/poly blend over sock. Two years ago in January in Menard it was 6 degrees F and the wind was blowing about 20 mph. My feet never got cold.
One last thing, wool mittens instead of gloves. Duluth Trading has some "glomits". Wool is warm even when wet. I get to where I hunt on an ATV, it is about 1.5 miles from my camper. If I wear gloves my hands are numb by the time I get to my stand. With the mittens, not so. I've used the same pair of wool mittens in Colorado, Montana and here. Wouldn't use anything else.

Best
GWB

I've had really good luck with Under Armour. Their base layer gear comes in 3 or 4 different weights. It is really warm, almost too warm at times. Great for tree stands, or riding in high racks.

The most unbelievable "longjohns" I have ever owned are Under Armour Cold Gear 2.0, Item #1004652 for the 1/4 zip shirt and #1004603 for the leggings. They are extremely expensive, standard $50 for the leggings and $55 for the shirts, but extremely thin and tight fitting, you cannot feel that you are wearing them other than the extreme warmth. If you can wait for 3-4 weeks, order them from Outdoorpros.com and save $15-$20/per piece. Good gear costs good money, try them, you won't be disapointed.

I like silk, it comes in three different weights. Light, middle and heavy. The first two should be all you need for Texas.

I then put smartwool over top, then appropriate outer wear depending on actual conditions, and activity level for hunting that day.

I found the Rocky brand works well 3 differant weights great for layering.

wal-mar around 18 dollars

I don't do wool or cotton any more.

When I went to Alaska, my feet got wet, in snowed, etc. yet I stayed warm. I have to thank in large part the silk underwear and the boot socks I got from Cabela's.

At least for me, for selection, quality and stuff that fits me, Cabela's is the place to buy hunting clothing for challenging conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I found the Rocky brand works well 3 differant weights great for layering.

wal-mar around 18 dollars

I don't do wool or cotton any more.

That's what I was gonna say. The Rockys seem like cheap knockoffs of UA, but I've had good success with them both here in the desert (which can get quite cool in the winter) and higher in the mountains of NM and WY. For the price, I've been very pleased.

I have noticed that the Rockys that DesertRam and p dog shooter are talking about usually go on clearance for a week or two before Wal-mart pulls them at the end of the season.

Last year the clearance price was +-$10.00

I haven't tried them, but if I catch the sale I will have to try a set.

First, I will say that I like cold weather, so understand that up front. I do not even use long underwear until it gets below freezing, just a light jacket and regular pants since I move a lot while hunting. If I was you, I would buy a mid-weight base layer and then layer around it. I would use the Cabelas mid-weight. It is poly with some elastic in it. I would never wear cotton. It gets to -20 here in Kansas during the December and January seasons with the windchill. We have a saying WHEN THE WEATHER CHILLS, COTTON KILLS.

Like someone said, layer and while walking you can wear the minimum and go from there when you get to the stand. UA may be good, but there is nothing special about it that the other makers don't already have, like the Remington stuff. They just have better marketing. For the exterior layer, I am a firm believer in Arctic Shield, which will also makes an acceptable base layer as well.

Just my opinion.

The best choice is different depending on:

1. Are you going on a Sit-On-Your-Ass deer shoot?

or

2. Are you going on a Hike-With-Pack hunt?


Perspiration level and how much heat you will be generating, will point you in the right direction for not only long johns but the remainder of your clothing including boots.

Yep No cotton! Bass Pro and Cabela's have underwear that will work. Your head and feet are big losers of heat so get something good for them too.

I've been wearing cotton long johns for 70 years w/o a problem. The waffle weave stuff is good and comes in different weights. And, fwiw, cotton was what I was issued whilst I was in the service.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
I've been wearing cotton long johns for 70 years w/o a problem. The waffle weave stuff is good and comes in different weights. And, fwiw, cotton was what I was issued whilst I was in the service.

I once wore cotton also.

Try some of the new hi tech stuff it is so much better.

I can now ware half the layers I once did and stay warmer.

Cotton kills. My vote is with Under Armor. I wear the light grade when we get below zero. You hardly know it is on, it's light and warm.

one more for cotton kills. Under Armor and smart wool seem to be the fabrics of choice these days.

I've found that the best long underwear for stationary hunting is the synthetic polar weight underwear. I buy mine at Cabela's but I'm sure there's other places you can buy them. What's really great about them is when you're camping, it's time to go to bed and it's really cold. When you put on the polar weight underwear it feels like you put on an electric blanket. You sleep good because you don't wake up cold.

I would recommend checking out an Army surplus store to see if they have some of the newer micro-fleece layers that have been issued for the last five years or so. This is what I use and it has been very effective for me. There are three layers to the system: a thin, medium, and thick. This is what I used on my elk hunt last winter in temps of -10 F with 20mph winds and never had a problem (other than my beard freezing!). I prefer to spot and stalk, and the light weight and layered effect makes it easy to stay warm without overheating. Hope this helps.

Stefan

No cotton for me. I switched from cotton socks to smart wool and would not use cotton as long underwear either. A lady at a sporting goods store told me to not use cotton and her advice was right on.

Wade
If you are going to be doing the typical Texas stand thing, do what I do, take a blanket with you in your pack. The blanket may cause a warmth induced nap that is worth its weight in gold

quote:

Originally posted by T Agg:
Wade
If you are going to be doing the typical Texas stand thing, do what I do, take a blanket with you in your pack. The blanket may cause a warmth induced nap that is worth its weight in gold

Haha....I don't do the typical Texas stand thing very often. Usually, if I'm hunting out of a stand....it is an open stand (ladder stand, tripod, etc...)

I actually do a lot of spot & stalk hunting.

I am sure time and technology has passed me by but I'm glad to know that if I want to get the best info, go to the lady in the sporting goods store whose job is selling drawers.

I wear thin cotton johns all winter for everyday wear. When I'm going to be out all day in the cold though I leave them at home and wear polypropylene or wool poly blend. Much warmer.

you can't go wrong with a mix of polys
and silks of different weights.
a noiseless windproof layer is equally as important in my area.
And then you really have to "step up" your winter gear in the later seasons as it can be
30-40 below zero.
Depending on the wind chill.

Course the coldest i've ever been was in a plastic deer blind in So. Texas.
I froze my skinney mountain dwelling ass off !!

Looks like Walmart has a house brand called "Yukon" that is a UA knock-off.

Sportsmen Warehouse has a nice selection of off-brands as well.

Agree Sportsmanguide has some good prices