Special Report - November 5th, 2022
As I sit here and type this, it’s 37, steady rain, 10-15mph winds and 100% humidity. Not typically the conditions one wants to be outside in. But, poor weather conditions for the fisherman can often be some of the best for fishing and more importantly, catching!
The trick is knowing how to dress and understanding how to use the appropriate clothing. After 20+years as an Army Ranger, I have spent my fair share of time getting comfortable being uncomfortable. However, during that time, I also learned how to dress for some of the absolute worst weather conditions that can be thrown at someone.
With all that said, below are my keys to staying warm in winter and links to some of the products I use.
The key to staying warm in cold weather is the acronym COLD.
C- clean. Ensure your garnets are clean. Dirt clogs pours that allow fabrics to breath. Additionally, it fills small voids in the fabrics that are designed to trap air and thus heat. It also is abrasive and will wear down the waterproofing coating that is found on the outside of all “waterproof” clothing.
O - don’t overdress. Yes, one of the fastest ways to freeze in the winter is to have too much clothing on. You will sweat, then be cold. It’s that simple.
L - use layers and keep layers relatively loose. It is better to dress in layers than one single heavy item. This allows you to make adjustments based off conditions. Tight clothing restricts blood flow and thus makes you cold. Think about wearing gloves that are too tight. Your fingers will not be happy. Too tight of clothing will also cut down on the amount of air that layer can trap, thus reducing the ability for that piece to keep you warm. There are some exceptions to this, namely in base layers and some sock liners.
D- dry. I can’t over state this one enough. To stay warm in the winter, you have to stay dry. Regardless of where the moisture comes from (sweat, rain, snow, the lake) staying warm when wet or damp is very difficult. This is also why it is sometimes easier to dress for 0 than 38. There is no humidity at zero like you can get at 38.
Lastly, cotton kills. Avoid it if at all possible. Especially if there is any chance of rain.
On to the layering.
I generally have 3 layers on. A base, an insulation, and a shell.
My base layer consists of a light weight to heavy weight poly pro.
Mid layer is some sort of insulation layer in extreme cold and “normal” clothing in mold temps.
Then I have my shell. Which is usually windproof and waterproof. Both characteristics are equally as important. And some products do one but not the other. Additionally, breathability of the outer layer is important to allow vapor to escape and keep you dry from the outside.
For the poly pro layer, I use the ole army issued “silk layer and waffle top”. They are not fancy, but they honestly work and they will not break the bank. You can also find quality stuff at most outdoor retailers.
Permaloft or similar products make great mid layers. They trap a lot of heat and are synthetic which helps out if you get wet. Fleece is another great idea, but it needs an outer shell if windy.
For the outer shell, I’m looking for waterproof and breathable. Gor-Tex is the most common fabric lining for this but there are no shortage of other products that do the same thing. Personally, for fishing, I use Gill jackets and bibs and they have not let me down in 15yrs of doing so.
This layering system works very well. I spent a week at the Northern Warfare Training Center up in Alaska one March. I wore three layers when outside in temps that never got above 0. Heavy polypropylene top and bottom, a fleece jacket and Gortex paints and jacket. The system works when used correctly. Note I did not have a “normal” layer of clothes on.
I understand this is a lot of information. And I could have written a book on it. This is meant to be a start for everyone. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will answer them. If I get enough questions, I’ll take all of them and roll them into a subsequent post.
Best of luck to those who are on the water and in the woods this weekend.
Base layer
GEN III Level II Underwear - Polartec
Mid layer
Outer layer
