Light weight clothing for cold weather

[reloaderlen]

I love cold weather but I absolutely cannot stand to bulk up.
With today's technology there has to be some light weight clothing that is warm to lets say +20deg .
Yes I have searched the net and too many choices for a person to blow their money and get a pile of junk.
So please what is your preference ?
I'm a spot and stalk hunter.
Thanks !

 

[dfanonymous]

There's a couple methods and equipment types to use. Here is a basic and typical set up.

-Wool base layer, like 150 merino wool shirt, or polyester sun hoodie for skin contact. Something that drys fast.

-Grid fleece, mid layer pull over hoodie (synthetic), etc for when it gets cold, usually when the sun is setting, but you're still moving.

-Puffy jacket for when static or when the sun goes down.

 

[MOelkman]

If you are moving at all, or have a windbreak, KUIU for me, to 0°F.
Merino base, synthetic mid-layer(light or heavy), down outer jacket, with hood.
For still-hunting or stand, heavy fleece base layer, then as above.
For me, the key is always head, hands, and feet, must be warm.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Not certain of your terrain. But others have given great advice. Lightweight, tight to skin merino base layer, with a mid-weight fleece (depending on how warm you run), and a puffy for those resting and spotting times. And possibly some sort of outer shell for wind and water.

 

[KsKevin]

Compression moisture wicking layer, mid/heavy weight wool mid-layer (I use FL Furnace when really cold), down puffy, outer shell (soft-shell or rain jacket depending on conditions). Can add / shed layers depending upon activity and as temps change.

 

[CDFrom]

During my time with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children we did cold weather survival in Pickle meadows and above. Supply guys had brand new gore-Tex, we had left over stuff from the Korean War. Our first layer was panty hose. Surprisingly warm and light weight. Looked a little odd with 20 hard charging jarheads slipping into their clothes in the morning, but effective. Kuiu has the merino layers and lightweight cold gear that is worth its cost, but dollar for degrees I'd still start with some panty hose, just not the fishnet ones.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

There's always sacrifices. As others have mentioned here, I'm a merino wool guy. I layer according to my needs. I move all day at a pretty good clip. If a layer gets wet, I change it out for another…which means I bring plenty of layers with me.
Down is the ultimate warmth to weight clothing out there. However, it doesn't breathe and is worthless when wet. I also carry a down jacket or vest (depends on the day) and I layer up with it when I'm stationary or butchering game.

 

[Hard H2O]

Why would you need to "bulk up" for +20°F? That is still pretty warm.

I use a wicking base layer top and bottom. At that temp I next use the Scheel's Churchill Merino top and bottom. Then I will have maybe a light mid layer depending on activity level. High activity no mid. Low activity mid. Outer layer is water/windproof shell of some sort maybe with insulation depending on activity level.

Layers may be shed during the day depending.

 

[Dean2]

+20 I wear a merino T shirt, Mr Big light Merino wool pants, Mr Big Wool jack shirt, and a hat, if moving at all. More than enough clothes till you hit 0F. Sitting all day, clothing weight is irrelevant.

Way less money than the expensive hunting brands, lasts forever.

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Workwear Headquarters | 214MER Merino Wool Pant

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[lancetkenyon]

I am from AZ, born and raised. To me, anything below 50* is cold. Anything below 30* is downright frigid.
I think Kuiu has a good layering system, but when temps drop below 20*, for me, that means multiple layers AND bulky outer layers. I can't do cold.

 

[Namuh]

I spot and stalk also and the weight of my clothing changes depending on the weather conditions. It's hard to pick out something for somebody else because everybody's enteral temp runs different but normally a light weight base layer top with a hood and I really like the zip off merino bottoms with a pair of wool socks, Then my shirt and paints and a thin down vest with a wind proof jacket over that. As stated above head, hands and feet, so I always wear gloves sometimes for protection and sometimes for warmth and I carry a thin light weight merino wool beanie, it's thin enough to wear a hood and or a hat over it if my head gets cold. I have a set of puffy paints and jacket but for my hunting they're too warm, so I don't use them much. Rain gear overall when appropriate. I use mostly Sitka and Kuiu but there are other good brands out there.

 

[skipglo]

I love cold weather but I absolutely cannot stand to bulk up.
With today's technology there has to be some light weight clothing that is warm to lets say +20deg .
Yes I have searched the net and too many choices for a person to blow their money and get a pile of junk.
So please what is your preference ?
I'm a spot and stalk hunter.
Thanks !

Down to +20.....hmmmm... lightweight....Shorts and t-shirt and if really needed...a hoodie? 3 days ago it was -39 here