thermals/layers

[toothfangclaw]

Are cotton thermals a bad idea? I am trying to figure out my base layers, as I am a newb and saying I don't have a lot of money is putting it lightly. Ive been cruising the goodwill's looking of anything other then cotton. The only wool pants I can find are dress pants. I did manage to find a moisture wicking shirt at Ed's surplus for $10 that fit me*apparently no one is the army is a fat arse . I did manage to find a wool/blend pullover at the goodwill today for $4 that should be good to wear under the coat. I have a camo cotton shirt under that then the surplus shirt. I really am kinda lost on what to do with layers for pants. I have a pair of waterproof camo pants but I need something else under there to keep me warm. Any ideas for a new hunter on a very tight budget? I also am amassing an wide arrangements of socks.

[ICEMAN]

Ditch the cotton and purchase any 100%n poly type thermal and you will be much happier. The cotton will soak and the chill you all day.

For elcheapo pants under camo, you could get something like a wader liner fleece pant.

Unfortunately it is going to cost you some cash to get equipped but will last for years, worth every penny...

[elk311]

Don't write off those "dress" wool pants !!! They are cheap and they may SAVE YOUR LIFE !!! Who gives a s*%t if someone thinks you're "out of fashion" while hunting in the woods. Those people don't belong in the woods anyway!!! Find some comfortable wool pants and wear them. You can get many different thicknesses of wool pants and one of my favorite styles are the "Goodwill dress" pants. Every once in a while they will have the nice thick stuff too so keep checking and buy the wool!!!

while serving in Washington Explorer Search and Rescue it was a time honored rule:

"NO COTTON AFTER SEPTEMBER 1st !!!"

Deadly HYPOTHERMIA can set in and kill you if you get wet and stay wet with outside temperatures below 50 degrees. Cotton will not "wick" body persperation so it holds it next to your skin keeping you cold robbing you of precious body heat. If you're hunting and outside temps will get near 50 degrees or less lose the cotton... You never know when you may have to spend the night in the woods.

I know people probably do it all the time and get away with it but you are playing roulette!

propylene, silk and/or wool for thermals is your best bet after September 1st...


http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/searchandrescue/hypthm.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/about_4672024_thermal-underwear.html

[MtnMuley]

I've used cotton for many years.  There is much better out there now, but cotton is natural, while most others are synthetic.  Synthetics get to stinking while sweating, while cotton tends to not stink as bad.  Wicking away moisture to me on any baselayer is BS.  If you sweat, you sweat.....and that means wet.  Some trap in the moisture and it creates a heat, while others breathe it out more. When I used cotton, I'd pack another in my pack if the one I was wearing got too wet.  Light wool is a great choice also, and can be found fairly affordable.  Although I use Underarmour, Smartwool, and Sitka base layers now, I am a firm believer you don't have to spend the money on these brand name items to get the job done.  Look at the materials used on the tags.

[twinners]

I picked up 3 lite wool base layer shirts from Botach tactical.com for $25 bucks each.  Way cheaper than any Under Armour or Smartwool you can find.  They fit a little weird but are still 100% Merino wool.

[MtnMuley]

Another brand that actually fits me better than Smartwool is Minus 33.  They seem built stronger and are half the price of Smartwool, yet made of the same thing.

[halflife65]

Don't write off those "dress" wool pants !!! They are cheap and they may SAVE YOUR LIFE !!! Who gives a s*%t if someone thinks you're "out of fashion" while hunting in the woods. Those people don't belong in the woods anyway!!! Find some comfortable wool pants and wear them. You can get many different thicknesses of wool pants and one of my favorite styles are the "Goodwill dress" pants. Every once in a while they will have the nice thick stuff too so keep checking and buy the wool!!!

while serving in Washington Explorer Search and Rescue it was a time honored rule:

"NO COTTON AFTER SEPTEMBER 1st !!!"

Deadly HYPOTHERMIA can set in and kill you if you get wet and stay wet with outside temperatures below 50 degrees. Cotton will not "wick" body persperation so it holds it next to your skin keeping you cold robbing you of precious body heat. If you're hunting and outside temps will get near 50 degrees or less lose the cotton... You never know when you may have to spend the night in the woods.

I know people probably do it all the time and get away with it but you are playing roulette!

propylene, silk and/or wool for thermals is your best bet after September 1st...


http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/searchandrescue/hypthm.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/about_4672024_thermal-underwear.html

Perfect, elk.  I was actually thinking that thin wool dress pants might be kind of nice to hunt in.  Sure, you might look goofy but I'd think that they'd be really comfortable.  Maybe if you wore wingtips and a blue blazer with brass buttons you'd be ok.  (All kidding aside, I think that the wool dress pants would work really well.)

I got rid of almost ALL cotton unless it's early season and I don't plan on walking much - like dove hunting or something along those lines.  Even in the summer, the cotton gets soaked with sweat.  It might not kill you but it's not comfortable.  If you want to be able to stay out all day without giving yourself an excuse to go back to the truck then you need to be comfortable.

[actionshooter]

Wool is the way to go, you will stay warm soaking wet, no stink, well not as much anyway. 

 Nothing wrong with those wool dress pants from goodwill, they wear out fast but at $7 each who cares. 

[toothfangclaw]

Cool guys! Looks like ill get a set of thermals. stupid question, but do you wear regular underwear with thermals? So for pants I will get thermals, look into wool pants, then have a pair of workout pants that I always take camping cause they are warm but not cotton then rain camo. Then for the top I will have thermals, then surplus shirt then camo shirt I got, then wool sweater then coat. I also typically run warm too. But when I get cold it can take me a bit to warm up.

[ICEMAN]

toothfang, I prefer poly boxers, lots of guys going for stuff like this, big name now is Under armor.

Check out Campmor, they usually have alot of different brands, poly boxers and briefs.... Not cheap like cotton but they make the hunt more manageable. $15 bucks a pair isn't too bad...

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/SubCategory___40000000226_200368505?ip_navtype=AdvancedSearch&catFilter=&ip_sortBy=&catType=&searchCategory=browsefilter&manNameFilter=&priceFilter=&filters=Style%7EBriefs+and+Boxers%7EBriefs+and+Boxers+%2811%29&searchKeywords=200368505