Staying Warm While Glassing

[knob221]

How do you do it?

I'm new. Last year was my first year backpack hunting. I couldn't stay warm while glassing in cold and wind. I mean so cold that I had to quit glassing and start hiking, not just discomfort. The cold started at hands and feet and got to my core. I had a baselayer, mid layer, and nice down jacket but just a baselayer and hiking pants for bottoms.

What do you wear or do to stay warm on cold and long glassing sessions?

I'm going to wear my rain gear this year to act as a wind breaker. I'm definitely buying down glassing mittens. I'm considering down pants and booties as well, but the thought occured to me of glassing from my sleeping bag instead. I can think of pros and cons to both options. Does anybody glass from their sleeping bag? What about down pants and booties?

Lets hear your tips, tricks, and gear.

Thanks!

[andersonjk4]

Puffy jacket, puffy pants, puffy mitts with hand warmers, fleece or merino wool neck gaiter.  Make sure everything has a windstopping layer.  Also a jetboil or similar for a hot drink helps a ton.

[ipkus]

Rain gear breaks the wind for sure.

Puffy pants are light, also a must for me if cold/wind is possible.

The biggest thing with layering is doing it at the right time.  If you got sweaty climbing to your glassing spot, wait until you’ve dried out and cooled off before you layer up.  Then, don’t get lazy and not strip it off before you take off again.

It’s a mental process to start, but once you get used to it you don’t really think about it you just know to do it.  It keeps your gear and you functioning as best as possible.

[vandeman17]

Puffy jacket, puffy pants, puffy mitts with hand warmers, fleece or merino wool neck gaiter.  Make sure everything has a windstopping layer.  Also a jetboil or similar for a hot drink helps a ton.

I get cold really easily and this is my remedy too. Its also really important to not have too many layers on when hiking to your glassing spot. If you sit down after much, if any, sweating, you will get cold much easier

[mburrows]

If your feet get sweaty hiking swap out socks when you stop. Puffy layers are great. I often bring my kifaru woobie or slick bag to glass out of. Glassing pad helps keep your butt off the cold ground too. Good old fashioned fire is always nice for extended glassing too

[johnbmyersii]

I have a milwaukee heated jacket which helps a ton. Its off while I hike and when I get cold I turn it back on. I also carry in my back a heady duty emergency blanket that I wrap my legs in. After that its what others have mentioned like good gloves, hand warmers, neck gaiter, warm socks. On cold days I never shy away from packing extra clothes.

[bornhunter]

Those little packaged hand and feet warmers. When I am on a stand and ice cold weather I put one in each pocket, one ir two in the small of my back between coat and shirt and one under my hat on the back of my neck. You can put them other places depending on your likes but they keep me toasty warm while in a stand.

[Stein]

The older I get the colder I get.  Last year was pretty cold, I had on my Grinder Hoody as a base layer with and REI puffy and Jetstream over that.  When I stopped to sit, I put the big puffy over the top of everything.  I was the Michelin Man, but it was nice and toasty.

I can't remember what it was called, Sitka discontinued it but they used to make a huge puffy with Windstopper that was sized to fit over other jackets.  It's awesome, I was surprised more people didn't like it for late season glassing.

I love being able to just add stuff on top instead of taking coats off to add stuff underneath.

[go4steelhd]

Layers. I use to run wool outer layers but it is heavy to pack in depending on how far you hike, compared to the puffy style coats, vests, and pants.

I run all the puffy style mid layers now, then my rain gear over the outside now. If you keep with it you will learn what's right for you.

[shootem]

Be careful doing anything with your sleeping bag that could get wet.

[hunter399]

I hate to say it.
But I do the same as the post #1.

I get cold I hike to the next basin or glassing spot.
As I get older and more baby skin ,I understand that is not gonna work for me much longer.
And I have to use the glass instead of my legs.
So who knows what I'll do now.
Probably layer up,and freeze my bum off.

[Cougartail]

If you are over 55 have your iorn levels checked.  Cold hands and feet are a symtom.

Also, get in shape and eat high calorie foods while on the hunt.

[hunter399]

I got a pair of these bad boys this year.
Hopefully it helps with cold.
If your dry,then your warm is the plan. I can't believe there still available I bought mine a couple months ago.
Try these out this year hopefully.
Probably not as quiet as the fancy hunting style.
I'm looking for dry and warm.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1008486138

[hunter399]

If you are over 55 have your iorn levels checked.  Cold hands and feet are a symtom.

Also, get in shape and eat high calorie foods while on the hunt.

I'm in the 45 range,not too healthy,but not dead yet.
Yet being the keyword,I definitely need to make some lifestyle changes.

[pickardjw]

Yep, as other mentioned puffy pants and dry socks are huge. I also have puffy mittens and keep my rain jacket with me to break the wind.

[hunter399]

My old ripped up flannel,with one pocket missing .
Still dirty from shift work is not gonna cut the mustard.
The pocket missing means I needed to poop.

I'm just poking fun.
Those puffy jackets,I might have to look into that.

[Wolfdog2314]

My old ripped up flannel,with one pocket missing .
Still dirty from shift work is not gonna cut the mustard.
The pocket missing means I needed to poop.

I'm just poking fun.
Those puffy jackets,I might have to look into that.

Puffy jackets were a game changer for me. I keep one with me on every hunt I go on from September-November. I added puffy pants too. It’s all very lightweight and packable. Worth every penny!

[pickardjw]

The Black Ovis anchorpoint jacket and pants have been on camofire for cheaper than you can buy a single puffy from the big brand names. Would recommend.

[kentrek]

A fire

[huntnnw]

worst thing you can do is get sweaty and then sit down and glass if its cold and theres almost nothing that you can do to prevent being cold at that point. I will change out my base layer to something dry if I know I am going to sit awhile. un lace your boots so they are loose it will help keep your feet stay warmer. I also put my rain gear on over my layers to trap heat and block wind. I bought KUIU super down mittens last year and those are warm!

[Ironhead]

Its always good to have a couple hand warmers going. I keep them in my front pants pockets until I need them some where else. I will slide them into my gloves if my hands get cold.

[ctwiggs1]

Everybody has a different body and everybody is going to have different solutions.  I found that I don't really mind my legs being cold but I don't like my core to be cold.  If I sit down to glass after a hike, I usually allow myself to cool off from the hike before doing anything.  After that I'll pop on a puffy, some gloves and a hat.   I actually just wear a baseball hat unless it's raining or reeeeally cold.  The beanies tend to overcook my head unless its winter conditions.

I suspect as I get older, I'll be more interested in puffy pants.  I'm just not there yet.

[Karl Blanchard]

Puffy pants
Puffy coat
Beanie
Good gloves/mittens
Unlace boots
Put on overboots with hot hands
Layer appropriately

[ctwiggs1]

Puffy pants
Puffy coat
Beanie
Good gloves/mittens
Unlace boots
Put on overboots with hot hands
Layer appropriately

Puffy pants already Karl?  Wuss 

[NiteHawk]

Layering system
Puffy Jacket
Rain gear

I always pack a lightweight 8x10 tarp in the event that it rains or snows all day. Staying dry helps keep the cold away. I'm also not scared to start a fire if doing some long range glassing.

[Karl Blanchard]

Puffy pants
Puffy coat
Beanie
Good gloves/mittens
Unlace boots
Put on overboots with hot hands
Layer appropriately

Puffy pants already Karl?  Wuss 

puffy's are like bro!

[hunter399]

Well just throwing it out there.
There is no lack of heat for early bear season.
Bring your sun tan oil and glass away.
Lots of sun,smoke,and UV for all.