Duck Hunting Forum banner

warmth without bulk

8K views 31 replies 25 participants last post by  TheBlackduck 
#1 ·
With the season winding down where I live I am starting to go through my gear and figure out what I need to change. One of my largest complaints this year has been with my jacket. I have a Cabelas dry plus 4 in 1. It has been plenty warm for me but is so bulky I have had issues with shouldering my gun at times. I was wondering what people have found to be warm but not too bulky. I know layering is key and use a lightweight breathable shirt and polar tech jacket underneath the coat on cold days.

Right now I am debating the switch to wool. I am trying to avoid cotton at all costs so synthetics are preffered. As for temperatures that I hunt in, the coldest has been in single digits. On average I would say it has been around freezing when I have hunted.

Thank you for any advise.
 
#6 ·
Tim Terrell said:
Primaloft.
Winner!

I wear a thin long sleeve base layer shirt, THIS insulating layer, and THIS hardshell. I stay warm down into the single digits.(it doesn't get any colder than that here.)

If it says cotton in the ingredients I don't wear it.

A few years ago I decided to try gear designed for use in the mountains, climbing, hiking, etc. I know a lot of work goes into the design and functionality of the higher end products. Finding earth toned colors can be tough, but the only one that really matters is the outer shell. Most of my hunting when in blinds or layouts I just wear that jacket, but when I'm more exposed I throw on one of those ultra thin mosquito mesh camo jackets.. If you shop around you can find closeout deals on any of the stuff. That ArcTeryx Theta shell I wear retails for nearly $600 but I bought "last years colors" for under $250.. I just googled them and found this one LINK for $239. The Mountain Hardwear jacket I bought off Steepandcheap.com for less than $60. So I'm all in with PREMIUM mountainering gear for the cost of Columbia 4 in 1 setup.

PLUS, I work in the corporate world, and can and do wear both to the office without as much as a second look from anyone.

This guy does some pretty honest reviews on outer shells. The first jacket is the one I own.
It also looks like the sitka gear stuff does pretty well if you're set on a camo option
http://hardcoreoutdoor.com/2011/10/07/b ... acket.aspx
 
#7 ·
this year has been probably the coldest that ive hunted in that i can remember. Im tellin ya right now, i wouldn't have even gotten outta bed if i didnt have my Mack's flecce mock turtleneck, and fleece hoody. There were multiple days when setting up and packing up decoys that i was sweating in single digit temps. Most times i would head out, i would put on a T-shirt, long sleve T, fleece mock t-neck, then the fleece hoody and not be the least bit cold, no matter what the wind was or temp was. Im now a firm believer in fleece and will be buying more.
 
#10 ·
trswstudent said:
I have a Cabelas dry plus 4 in 1. It has been plenty warm for me but is so bulky I have had issues with shouldering my gun at times.Thank you for any advise.
I have several 4-in-1 jackets/coats. I experienced the same thing you did; when worn with the inner jacket, the bulk was counterproductive. Now, I only wear the outer coat, with several layers of mediumweight Polarfleece under it. Still warm, much less bulk, more adaptable.
For me, the inner jacket in a 4-in-1 is pretty much a waste of money.
 
#11 ·
I have a down vest I wear as my second layer over and under armour cold gear. I wear the under armour sky sweeper jacket on the outside. It's light but warm. I never get cold and frequently hunt in single digit temps. The down vest is the key. Has to be real down though, the synthetic stuff isn't the same.
 
#13 ·
Wool and good fleece is all I'll wear now. I was going to buy a ll bean wool waterfowl sweater but he filson ones went on sale for a little less so I went with one of those. I'm wanting to get some of the merino wool base layers too. Stay away from cotton. My outershell is usually a drake quarter zip fleece pull over or a full zip duck commander fleece jacket with a waterproof nylon outside shell. Depending on how cold it is determines what layers I wear under the jackets.
 
#14 ·
When it is really cold, down in the teens I wear an Under Armour Coldgear mock turtleneck base layer under my old trusty Filson Waterfowler sweater then my Dirty Bird insulated wader jacket. I've actually worn just the base and sweater (no jacket) when it iwas in the upper 20's and been warm. If it is not so cold but in the 30's I'll wear the same base with a fleece top under the jacket and am good to go. The key is a good base layer that provides warmth and moisture wicking.
 
#15 ·
handyandy said:
Wool and good fleece is all I'll wear now. I was going to buy a ll bean wool waterfowl sweater but he filson ones went on sale for a little less so I went with one of those. I'm wanting to get some of the merino wool base layers too. Stay away from cotton. My outershell is usually a drake quarter zip fleece pull over or a full zip duck commander fleece jacket with a waterproof nylon outside shell. Depending on how cold it is determines what layers I wear under the jackets.
Who makes a good merino wool base? I have been kicking around the idea of getting a set for jig/ice fishing.

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
 
#17 ·
Ukcatshunter said:
Minus 33 brand for merino wool base layers. Middle and polar weight available. About $60 each for top and bottom but it's pure 100% merino.
Will it be to warm if I'm wearing a llbean waterfowl sweater?

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
 
#18 ·
Not sure. Honestly just make sure the first layer can wick moisture. I'd rather be a tad cold then over heating. I wear more wool deer hunting where I'm stuck in a metal stand not moving for hours.

At least duck hunting your out setting decoys, chasing cripples, calling etc. At least your moving etc.
 
#20 ·
Nelliboy2 said:
Ukcatshunter said:
Minus 33 brand for merino wool base layers. Middle and polar weight available. About $60 each for top and bottom but it's pure 100% merino.
Will it be to warm if I'm wearing a llbean waterfowl sweater?

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
No. The Minus 33 base is thin enough. Actually, overpriced horrible product, but still merino. Icebreakers base top/bottom are about $90 for the set on STP.

To the OP, I got rid of the same jacket years ago and only layer. To me the secret is wind blocker. From in to out I wear UA Cold Gear or 4.0, a Eddie Bauer 9 ounce fleece pullover, and then Lands End Waterfowl Sweater. I am comfy and shouldering problems have vanished. Sometimes I will add a thin merino wool sweater under the Waterfowl Sweater and combine it with the 4.0s, but then I am sweating a storm early in the morning or during cleanup. But, overall, wind blocker is the secret. Gore-tex is windproof also, but Windstopper isn't waterproof.
 
#22 ·
IN the Sportsman's Guide Catalog you can find polyester fleece undershirts based on the old military polypros but are NOT polypropylene BUT polyester as I mentioned. If you wear 2 of them with the 1st sized LARGE for example, turned INSIDE OUT and then the 2nd one size X LARGE turned RIGHT SIDE OUT you get 2 fleece sides together which gives great insulating benefits. You can then layer over this as desired. These shirts are very inexpensive too, $19.95 or so.
 
#24 ·
On the X said:
IN the Sportsman's Guide Catalog you can find polyester fleece undershirts based on the old military polypros..........These shirts are very inexpensive too, $19.95 or so.
I bought one of these years ago and it has served me well. It's not heavyweight, but putting two together as X said would make it just that much better. I layer mine under a heavyweight Polarfleece pullover when it gets close to zero degrees and like how it works.
 
#26 ·
Gore Tex outer shell with Pima Loft jacket underneath wins hands down! Doesn't matter what bands. You will be absolutely warm and dry with minimal bulk.

At the beginning of last season I found a $350 Beretta Gore tex parka on closeout for $150 and wore a columbia prima loft jacket under it. It was as warm as down with half the bulk and kept me dry as a duck's back.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top