Cold Hunting Mornings

Hi

I would like to have some tips on how to keep your fingers , toes and other parts of your body warm

Thanx

Hey Dox,

Good gloves, thick socks.... Oh and you can bring enough of those nice little hand warming packets you guys find in the US to last a year... The PH's can always use them... hehehehe (We dont get them in Africa)

I like to go and sit on a hill in the morning sun and glass untill the worst cold is over. And 9 out of the 10 mornings you start the hunt right from the hill you are sitting on....

Jacques

Fleece stocking cap for your head. Light wieght gloves with handwarmers in your pockets for your hands. My feet are my biggest challenge. For stand hunting, i wear sock liners and thick socks combined with boots that are one size to large. I have found stuffing your boots completely full by wearing thick socks is the worst thing you can do. For walking and stalking, i like sock liners with a normal pair of socks. The liners wick moisture away from your skin.

It depends on how cold you are talking>

Plus is the wind blowing and how fast...makes the big difference.

a -10 degrees with no wind is jacket weather...now with a 40 MPH wind it is difficult to be in no mater what you are wearing...

If you can keep your core warm you will generate the blood flow to warm your legs and arms.

now for your hands and feet you will need additional coverage...note do not wear tight socks or gloves...i like to put on liners and then add regular socks and gloves...plus you can shoot in the glove liners.

You will lose about 60% of your body heat through your head...with that said you will need a good head covering that included your neck...

I have found that dressing in layers is better that trying to go with one heavy layer...you can always strip a layer off as the day warms up...

A good set of coveralls would be a great outer-cover.

The wind throws all bets off as you will need to have material designed to deflect the wind and retain body heat. Look to Filson in Seattle for some of the best..made with natural material.

now if you put rain or snow into the equation it opens up another line of clothing you will want to look at.

Wear layers of clothing. Hat and gloves. Make sure you jacket has a hood...that really helps. Wear good socks...so your feet can breath and keep you warm at the same time. A light pair of long underwear go a long way.

To keep your hands and feet warm you have to keep your core warm. If your body temperature starts to drop, the extremities will vasoconstrict and they will get cold. The warmest boots and gloves in the world won't help if your body shuts down the blood flow to protect the core temperature.

You might want to look into fur mittens. I could never keep my ears warm until I got a rabbit fur lined hat. I'm looking into fur mittens next. I have no idea why we ever went away from fur, it is much better than anything else I have tried.

it depends on where you live. cold in canada is different than cold in africa. they make so many great products now. polar fleece is very good and layering is the way to go.

If hunting in South Africa and depending on the time of year, two things come to mind; a stocking or knit cap and dressing in layers. I typically dress in leg zip-off cargo pants, a tee shirt and a long sleeve shirt which helps with the cold and the sun while carrying in the truck a medium weight jacket. What also seems to help is a neck gator or head buff that you can wear around your neck or pull it up to your eyes and cover your ears for the chilly mornings. Some medium weight gloves and you are all set. Leave the heavy stuff behind as it bulky to pack and you'll be shedding it after the first hour anyway. Also, practice shooting while wearing the jacket, you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes when trying to pull the butt-stock up to your shoulder.
Safe Adventuring!

I should have mentioned that the fur is for colder climes than Africa! It would be a bit bulky indeed. What I did in Namibia is drink some hot tea, wear a fleece and just tough it out. It wasn't cold enough to be dangerous and would be reasonably comfortable soon enough. I think Gregf has it exactly right.

All good advise but Bert hit the nail on the head - keep your core warm. What I have found works extremely well for those bone numbingly cold days on stand (-20 to -30c) is 1 or 2 of the theraputic heat wraps designed for lower back pain. Put them on backwards so the heat is directed at your belly and chest making sure to have 1 layer of clothing between them and your skin. They last all day and the difference is amazing.

well,
whenever my dad goes hunting he always wheres thick wool socks and a nice pair of wind resistent leather gloves
all the best,
ibie

The feet and toes is my real big problem!

Originally Posted by kuduman

it depends on where you live. cold in canada is different than cold in africa.

No kidding. I am not sure how to answer this one at all.
Cold, you probably mean chilly.

Jacques, you have put one on me there.
Never in a thousand years would I have thought to bring hand warmers and boot warmers to Africa. I know it can get below zero but man we just had frost again the other morning and it is spring here and the flowers are out. It is tee shirt and shorts weather.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

No kidding. I am not sure how to answer this one at all.
Cold, you probably mean chilly.

Jacques, you have put one on me there.
Never in a thousand years would I have thought to bring hand warmers and boot warmers to Africa. I know it can get below zero but man we just had frost again the other morning and it is spring here and the flowers are out. It is tee shirt and shorts weather.

You have to remember it is all perspective. When I was in Mexico the 18C evenings were T shirt weather, the locals all needed jackets and thought it was nippy. When I think cold I think mind numbing cold, it takes alot to get me out of my stand but it happens on occasion up here (as you know -30 with a wind is absolutely untolerable)

Dox, try the heat wraps, Im not kidding, despite the fact that they are far from your extremities hands and feet will stay suprisingly warm. As your core temp drops the body redirects blood flow to the core to keep you alive by sacrificing your limbs (life over limb). A warm core = warm extremities.

I have a slight variation on Diamondhitch's heat wrap suggestion. I do something similar, but I accomplish it by using just the cheap handwarmers and duct tape. I tape 2 handwarmers on to the outside of my base layer shirt on the lower back right over my kidneys. I started doing this is -20 deg F weather here in ND, but have since started doing it in even warmer weather from zero to plus 20 deg F (yes in ND +20 deg F weather in December is warm). I have noticed that it does help with the extremeties as well. Bottom line, it all starts with the core.

nd