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Long Underwear
This may be a little off the wall, but what is the warmest long underwear for just sitting in a boat. I have tried a couple of brands, but have yet to find anything that keeps me warm without a lot of bulk. I have done some research on "Polatec" but thought I would get other winter fishermen's opinions before buying.
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i just toss on my insulated carhart bibs over a pair of jeans with a few shirts and i'm good. still haven't found a good way to keep my hands warm though. stupid hands.
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Duofold
These have proven to be the best for me....YMMV. I use them for hunting/fishing under jeans, topped with a set of insulated bib overalls. I use the duofold tops too. No comparison to anything else that I've used. For gloves, I use neoprene fishing gloves cuz I know they're gonna get wet.
I've always been cheap on boots, and have always suffered. Any suggestions for GOOD warm/waterproof boots that don't break the bank?
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Layering and removing perspiration from the skin is the secret to staying warm without physical activity. It traps air in between the layers, insulating you from the cold. Polypropylene long underwear works best for me. I wear black bib coveralls, to take advantage of any sunshine. Make sure to wear headgear with good insulating properties, as the majority of body heat lost comes from the head.
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yea they make a body suit now that's black and you put that on first. then your coughs, then another layer and finally if it's really cold I put on my FULL BODY SUIT that has a warning label to not wear unless it's atleast 32 or below outside
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Long johns under jeans and carhart bib's and coat works here
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Boots
SOREL boots with the removable felt liners will keep your feet warm. Most of the ice fishermen,snowmobilers & hunters that sit a lot wear these in Maine. They are pricy but will last many years. Take the liners out when you are not using them. Do not put them on until you are ready to go outdoors.
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Another secret to keeping your feet warm in the winter is to spray your feet and toes with antiperspirant (not deodorant). The moisture around your toes in the cold vacuum of your boots makes them feel even colder. Prevent the moisture and no cold. I learned this years and years ago when I did alot of snow skiing. It works!
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Slick Idea, Another One Of Those I Would Never Have Shought Of, But I'll Try The Antipersperant Thing Now.
Regardds
John Brower
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My base layer is a Walmart brand Ultra Therm which is a duofold type with polypropylene inner layer with polyester wool blend outer layer. Over this I wear another somewhat bulkier underwear layer a Duofold brand fleece type underwear. Then I put on a pair of blue jeans and flannel shirt and heavier hooded fishing jacket and tennis shoes with my first sock layer. This is what I wear to the lake. At the lake I replace the tennis shoes with a pair of rubber ‘mickey mouse’ type boots with the thick felt insert. If really cold I’ll have on a second wool sock layer. Over all the above I’ll put on black snowmobile suit. Over my ball cap I put on a fleece cap with ear flaps and a wool neck gaiter.
Keeping my hands and fingers warm is my main concern for being able to stay on the water. I have found that if I can keep my head, neck and feet warm it will be much easier to keep my hands warm. For me the neck gaiter is almost the most important article of clothing for helping me stay warm.
Several years ago while upland bird hunting someone suggested I use a neck gaiter while hunting to stay comfortable in the cold. I found the neck gaiter was great at helping regulate my comfort levels with the different levels of activity. At the slightest rise in body temp or perspiration the neck gaiter came off until which time I became chilled when it would be put back on. Wearing the neck gaiter I found that I could get by with lighter weight jackets while hunting.
For gloves I try to get by with the cheap brown jersey gloves and placing the chemical hand warmer packets inside the gloves on the back of my hands. I keep several pair on the boat to keep dry gloves handy.
Last winter I bought a pair of flip-mitt fleece neoprene palmed gloves from Glacier Glove http://www.glacierglove.com/pages/gloves1.htm.
They were really nice while running across the lake. After using them I sewed a pocket inside the flip-mitt part of the glove to hold a chemical hand warmer packet securely while opening and closing the flip part of the glove. I suggested this improvement to Glacierglove via e-mail and they had an appreciative response but doubt if they added the pocket.
I find a similarity with coldness and how the medical profession advises fighting/managing pain by trying to stay ahead of the curve. When I get behind the curve at staying warm I find the effort much greater at getting warmed back up than the effort required staying warm in the first place.
It is interesting to see the differences on the water how some fishermen dress and apparently their higher level tolerance for the cold. I’ll be out there bundled like an Eskimo and they will just have a ball cap on with uncovered ears. Dressed like that I would be chilled to the bone and off the water in a short time. One time while driving back to the dock I allowed the backs of my hands to get cold and after getting the keys out of my pocket I didn’t have enough strength to hold the key with my thumb and index finger while trying to unlock the truck. This just makes me quite aware that if I were to fall into the cold water I probably wouldn’t be able to get myself back into the boat and all this fun would cease.
I don’t know why I’m rambling on how I stay warm while winter crappie since if more people discovered just how enjoyable it can be out there winter fishing it might just cause more folks to be on the water. Guess I’m just trying to share the joy.:)
Anyhow good winter fishing.