Cold weather weakness.

[Horizontal Hunter]

....I wear a back support thing that has pockets in it. In those pockets I put the XL hand warmers that go 18 hours. Having 2-4 of them on my kidney areas is a freaking game changer.

It’s a huge game changer.

Your kidneys filter your entire blood supply nearly twice and hour and having heaters no pads there warms the blood a little as it is filtered.

I opt for the Thermacare wraps. They are convenient, run for 8-10 hours, and they get pretty hot hot.

Bob

[muddy]

....I wear a back support thing that has pockets in it. In those pockets I put the XL hand warmers that go 18 hours. Having 2-4 of them on my kidney areas is a freaking game changer.

It’s a huge game changer.

Your kidneys filter your entire blood supply nearly twice and hour and having heaters no pads there warms the blood a little as it is filtered.

I opt for the Thermacare wraps. They are convenient, run for 8-10 hours, and they get pretty hot hot.

Bob

Those are the wraps, just couldn't place the name. The generic ones have replaceable warmers, or at least the ones i use do. If it's really cold I use 2, one forward and one backward. Warm as a tick dug into a dogs ear.

[justdirtyfun]

....I wear a back support thing that has pockets in it. In those pockets I put the XL hand warmers that go 18 hours. Having 2-4 of them on my kidney areas is a freaking game changer.

It’s a huge game changer.

Your kidneys filter your entire blood supply nearly twice and hour and having heaters no pads there warms the blood a little as it is filtered.

I opt for the Thermacare wraps. They are convenient, run for 8-10 hours, and they get pretty hot hot.

Bob

To go along with this, keep your neck protected and warm. Your blood supply going up to your brain is vulnerable.
My factory job has been a challenge during summer months over the years. Once I started laying a handtowel over my neck/shoulder filled with ice, I could take ANY temps. Also as a motorcycle rider the weather felt 10 degrees warmer when wearing a neck gaiter.

I would like to try some other socks like bison or alpaca. Cheapskate side of me is struggling with the prices.

[muddy]

....I wear a back support thing that has pockets in it. In those pockets I put the XL hand warmers that go 18 hours. Having 2-4 of them on my kidney areas is a freaking game changer.

It’s a huge game changer.

Your kidneys filter your entire blood supply nearly twice and hour and having heaters no pads there warms the blood a little as it is filtered.

I opt for the Thermacare wraps. They are convenient, run for 8-10 hours, and they get pretty hot hot.

Bob

To go along with this, keep your neck protected and warm. Your blood supply going up to your brain is vulnerable.
My factory job has been a challenge during summer months over the years. Once I started laying a handtowel over my neck/shoulder filled with ice, I could take ANY temps. Also as a motorcycle rider the weather felt 10 degrees warmer when wearing a neck gaiter.

I would like to try some other socks like bison or alpaca. Cheapskate side of me is struggling with the prices.

Yes indeed. I wear a balaclava usually and have luckily never had any issues, but I've always been a hot head, just ask my parents!

[ODH]

I went to these ThermaCELL heated insoles last year. Keep on a low setting and they kept my toes from freezing. My circulation isn't what it used to be and these made a big difference. Shop around for a good price.

https://www.amazon.com/ThermaCELL-Profl ... B01M0AVMVG

[Horizontal Hunter]

To go along with this, keep your neck protected and warm. Your blood supply going up to your brain is vulnerable.
My factory job has been a challenge during summer months over the years. Once I started laying a handtowel over my neck/shoulder filled with ice, I could take ANY temps. Also as a motorcycle rider the weather felt 10 degrees warmer when wearing a neck gaiter.

I would like to try some other socks like bison or alpaca. Cheapskate side of me is struggling with the prices.

Agreed. I always wear a scarf that my mom made me years ago.

The bison socks are worth it. They are spendy but worth it for me.

Bob

[Scratchman]

A lot of great answers here however proper nutrition should be mentioned. Your body wont be able to make heat if you have no calories to burn. The trick is to wake up early enough for a big bowl of oatmeal, bacon, eggs, toast and some coffee. You have to have enough time to poop as well. In the stand I have coffee, jerky and candy. With regard to boots hat and gloves. I wear real boots not rubber, I like a removable liner puffy kamik boot. They will breath enough for a hand warmer, although I dont count on that for my feet. A boot cover work like a charm as well. A fur lined hat for super cold or a nice merino hat that goes over my balaclava will ussually do the trick. I rarely wear gloves although I always have two pairs. I use a hand muff with a heater pack. I buy heater packs by the case, for the family and me. This setup is for an all day sit and will get me to 10 below for 6 hours and 0-5 all day. I use a climber during this portion of the season, and may even bring a wool blanket.............oh yeah wool everything. thats good. I rarely sit when the snow hits though. I love tracking and still hunting too much.

[matt1336]

Over the years up here in Wisconsin...I’ve found that acclimation to the cold is absolutely huge. It’s helped tons. I rarely wear more than a hoody in winter, unless I’m ice fishing. But when acclimation isn’t enough, I’m in my heater body suit. Lol.

[Dpierce72]

I've historically been a Merino wool guy, but given everyone seems to struggle w/feet and hands, I found the following article of interest. Anyone have experience with the alternate fabrics? Yak, Musk-Ox, Bision? I'm sure alpaca is more common as is merino...

The following link does a fabric comparison, as well as has product recommendations. Not sure it's the greatest data, but it is current to 2019.

From Reactual Jan '19, The Warmest Socks, Gloves, Hats and Scarves Of 2019

- https://reactual.com/clothing/warmest-socks.html

[Brian1986]

My nose is the first thing I notice. Got frostbite on it several years ago. It aches a bit when i get real cold. I cut the top out of a knit toboggan and slide it over my neck and face. That and a thermos of boiling hot coffee does the trick for me. I love hunting cold weather.

[may21581]

Definately my hands and my feet. When temps drop down to the single digits or colder in late season I have to adjust my hunts accordingly. I hit the peak times and am hunting based on info gained by my observation sits. I do think this is where the one piece coveralls or similiar gear shine. The coldness and wind has a way to creep in through any openings in your outer layers.

[Horizontal Hunter]

I've historically been a Merino wool guy, but given everyone seems to struggle w/feet and hands, I found the following article of interest. Anyone have experience with the alternate fabrics? Yak, Musk-Ox, Bision? I'm sure alpaca is more common as is merino...

The following link does a fabric comparison, as well as has product recommendations. Not sure it's the greatest data, but it is current to 2019.

From Reactual Jan '19, The Warmest Socks, Gloves, Hats and Scarves Of 2019

- https://reactual.com/clothing/warmest-socks.html

I have a pair of bison socks and gloves. Spendy bit worth it.

FWIW:
These are the ones I have:

https://buffalogold.net/products/american-field-bison-boot-sock

https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Wool-Co-Extreme-Gloves/dp/B011WEZXGS

Bob

[Dpierce72]

I've historically been a Merino wool guy, but given everyone seems to struggle w/feet and hands, I found the following article of interest. Anyone have experience with the alternate fabrics? Yak, Musk-Ox, Bision? I'm sure alpaca is more common as is merino...

The following link does a fabric comparison, as well as has product recommendations. Not sure it's the greatest data, but it is current to 2019.

From Reactual Jan '19, The Warmest Socks, Gloves, Hats and Scarves Of 2019

- https://reactual.com/clothing/warmest-socks.html

I have a pair of bison socks and gloves. Spendy bit worth it.

FWIW:
These are the ones I have:

https://buffalogold.net/products/american-field-bison-boot-sock

https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Wool-Co-Extreme-Gloves/dp/B011WEZXGS

Bob

Awesome ...THANKS!

[Horizontal Hunter]

Awesome ...THANKS!

The gloves are really warm and soft. They won’t hold up briars or any tough stuff. I usually wear them inside of a pair of buckskin mittens I have when on stand.

Bob

[NYBackcountry]

I’d say hands, and it’s usually when I’m setting my stand or if I have to kayak in to a hunt.

Once on stand I have a solid system.

For guys looking for boot blankets but concerned about noise, check out the gray wolf woolens boot blankets. They are made out of their wolf skin material, little more costly than artics or the other brands but well worth it. If I have to get real close on a hunt I’ll sometimes throw them on just silence my boots.