Winter will soon be upon us, and for some, that means holing up in the house, sitting next to a nice warm fireplace, sipping a cup of coffee, and watching a favorite TV show.
While I might occasionally engage in that activity, like many other folks, I will also spend time hunting and fishing through the winter season.
During the early fall days, staying comfortable while hunting or fishing is generally not too much of a problem, but as we move deeper into the winter months, the outdoors can become less inviting.
We are fortunate these days, however, that a lot of companies have produced outdoor clothing that makes our outdoor adventures a lot more comfortable. Not only is our outdoor garb warmer, but it’s also lighter in weight, more waterproof, and much more durable.
One of my favorite wintertime activities is ice fishing. Now, I’m sure a lot of people will drive by a lake in the dead of winter and think, “Look at all those crazy idiots out there freezing,” but the truth is, if you dress properly and wear the right gear, you can remain fairly comfortable even when temperatures fall into the single digits.
It’s best to dress in layers; moisture-wicking materials like polyester long underwear next to the skin, then a layer of maybe wool followed by outer garments of down or Thinsulate. Wearing a good warm hat is also important since a lot of heat is lost through an exposed head — gloves and a good pair of boots round out the winter wear.
Speaking of boots, they can be one of the most critical factors. You can have all the other proper gear, but if your boots don’t meet the proper winter standards and you have cold feet, your winter venture could be ruined.
If we have a good cold winter, you can bet that my ice-fishing buddies and I will spend a lot of time standing on an ice-covered lake; we’re often standing on that ice from morning until dark.
Over the past ten or twelve years, I don’t ever remember ever having cold, uncomfortable feet, and for good reason — I’m wearing an Irish Setter boot with 1,600 grams of Thinsulate insulation and a pair of wool socks. The boot is weatherproof, water resistant, breathable, lightweight and extremely durable. I treat the leather with a waterproofing gel a couple of times a year.
Ice-fishing tends to be a more sedentary activity, so it’s important to keep extremities like hands and feet warm and comfortable.
When it comes to hunting, we often have a much wider range of weather patterns and temperatures to deal with.
When it comes to ice fishing, you can bet that it was cold enough to make and keep ice, or you wouldn’t be out there, but with hunting, temperatures, and conditions can vary a great deal more.
With hunting, there is a lot more movement involved, sometimes hiking up and down steep hillsides in all kinds of terrain, and here again, a good boot is important. I recently acquired another pair of Irish Setter boots I intend to use for hunting. This boot offers 200 grams of insulation, but many companies will tell you that even 200 grams will keep your feet warm down to 0-10 degrees. I really like the durability of these boots, and this pair may even see some time on the ice.
No doubt about it, keeping those extremities warm and comfortable certainly will add to the enjoyment of a day on the ice or a day stomping through heavy snow in search of that big buck.
