Cold weather head wear

[Rickmt]

Looking to upgrade my head covering for real cold weather. I am in my my mid sixties and my neck gaiter and stormy Kromer ranch cap are not cutting here in Montana for cold windy hunts .
Looking to you guys from Canada and Alaska for advice. Thanx everybody!

 

[roverandbrew]

Yesterday evening on a ridge glassing for elk I also decided I needed new headgear. The issue was wind for me. 25 degrees coupled with 20 mph winds and some snow made me look for a new hat. I found this Sitka beanie at Sportsman’s this morning. I am headed back out tomorrow afternoon so I can let you know how it goes.

 

[mdwest]

Not from AK or Canada...

But when I hunt in extreme cold (or am just out in the cold period).. I wear a lined beenie.. and then pull my hood from my jacket up over that..

Both Northface and Carhart make lined beenies specifically for extreme cold weather that are available in earth tone colors appropriate for hunting..

I've also got a really nice unlined beenie that is made from some sort of wicking material and a close knit fabric made by Banded Waterfowl that is designed to be used in very cold, wet conditions. Its AWESOME for sitting in a duck blind in the winter.. but actually too hot for me most of the time if Im going to be walking around much..

 

[1dirthawker]

Rickmt,
I use a stocking/watchmans cap for general chilly weather. It is lightweight and compact. But, when I want to stay warm for long periods of glassing or relatively seditary work, I put on my beaver or my sea otter fur hat!

I live in anchorage, guide brown bear hunters in spring and fall. I call my fur trappers hat, my electric blanket. On a cold, windy day, my client was shivering when we were perched atop fosters knob glassing for brown bears. I asked him if he wanted to take a nap, he looked at me like I had 3 heads and they were ALL stupid. He said, I can’t sleep, I’m freezing.

I took my sea otter hat off, at took his hat off and placed the fur hat on his head. He just smiled and was napping in about 4 minutes.

The fur trappers hat is bulkier, but is is that next level of warm that is luxurious In cold weather. My client had me buy on for him within 2 weeks from the end of the hunt

I usually wear mine tied at the top, then pull the flaps down on the back so it comes down on my lower head/upper neck.

Hope this helps

 

[yhc]

Sitka or Kuiu insulated beanie and neck gaiter work well for me in cold weather.

Sitka insulated neck gaiter

When it gets extremely cold, in single digits or below, I reach for my beaver hat that a friend of mine made for me.

With the beaver hat, it can get too hot if I hike, etc. But it works perfectly for glassing, shooting a round of skeet (yes, some of us still shoot clay sports with temps in teens here in Alaska!! )

Regards,

 

[Rickmt]

Thanx you guys! Appreciate your advice. I wear glasses and got my elk this year in 10 degree weather with 20 mile wind . I had a tough time exposed on that open ridge. My hunt buddy wears a sealskin trapper when we ride in the ranger in nasty stuff and when he stand hunts in cold. Anybody know of a super warm hat with a good bill to protect my glasses?

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I wear a coonskin cap minus the tail over a leopard print balaclava. It may not be the warmest set up but it makes me feel special.

 

[mdwest]

I wear a coonskin cap minus the tail over a leopard print balaclava. It may not be the warmest set up but it makes me feel special.

We're going to start calling you the "woods pimp"...

 

[Dwight Beagle]

We're going to start calling you the "woods pimp"...

That’s acceptable but I prefer to be called Fedor The Forest Boy.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Thanx you guys! Appreciate your advice. I wear glasses and got my elk this year in 10 degree weather with 20 mile wind . I had a tough time exposed on that open ridge. My hunt buddy wears a sealskin trapper when we ride in the ranger in nasty stuff and when he stand hunts in cold. Anybody know of a super warm hat with a good bill to protect my glasses?

@Rickmt , I don't where glasses, but a billed hat is nice on snowy or rainy days. I hunted Montana the last week of October and we had subzero temps and a couple days of steady snow. I just put on a ball cap and then pull a Carhartt knit cap over it. The Carhartt caps are made a little larger than other watchcaps and provide a larger overlap. I also have a hood on my jacket that can go over everything.

I have a really nice, really old Eddie Bauer goose down insulated "Trooper" style hat, but it's about half a size too small and has a design flaw. When the furry ear flaps are folded down, the back part will ride up on a jacket collar and push the front of the hat down and over the eyes. I've thought about taking it to an alternation shop and cutting the back with a curve to it and re-sew it.

 

[Ravensview]

Check out the “mad bomber” hats, I think Cabelas sells them, I bought one for my dad many years ago and he loved it, I use my stormy Kromer, or a wool watch catch usually, if it gets really bitter cold I have mouton fur troopers hat that shakes the cold off, good luck in your search

 

[WAB]

@Rickmt , I don't where glasses, but a billed hat is nice on snowy or rainy days. I hunted Montana the last week of October and we had subzero temps and a couple days of steady snow. I just put on a ball cap and then pull a Carhartt knit cap over it. The Carhartt caps are made a little larger than other watchcaps and provide a larger overlap. I also have a hood on my jacket that can go over everything.

View attachment 375155

I have a really nice, really old Eddie Bauer goose down insulated "Trooper" style hat, but it's about half a size too small and has a design flaw. When the furry ear flaps are folded down, the back part will ride up on a jacket collar and push the front of the hat down and over the eyes. I've thought about taking it to an alternation shop and cutting the back with a curve to it and re-sew it.


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I do the same with a wool hat over a ball cap u less it’s really cold.

 

[FMJjunkie]

KUIU makes a warm winter hat with small bill

 

[Mekaniks]

I wore the Aviator in Antarctica....

https://www.canadagoose.com/ca/en/shop/men/accessories/hats/

 

[CoElkHunter]

Although it probably doesn’t compare with hunting in Alaska or Canada, I’ve hunted in some pretty nasty weather here in Colorado with -10 and heavy snow with the reversible heavy acrylic (with added waterproofing) watch cap on the left and an older L.L. Bean 100 percent wool face mask on the right. They’re in my backpack ALWAYS and am confident in any weather.

 

[Longwalker]

Yes. In very cold weather my standard headgear is a balaclava face covering with a toque on top. Yes, here in Canada it's it's called a toque or tuque, not "watch cap" or "stocking cap" or "beanie" . They are thick, two layers of knit material and turned up over the ears to total four layers. Best ones are made of wool. With a hood to break the wind from behind or the side, you're good to -40 and if it's colder than that, I stay indoors.

 

[Rickmt]

Long walker - that looks like a good set up ! Thanx to everybody for your suggestions !

 

[Longwalker]

This is the proper headgear for -35°. Parka hoods must be up for cooler! Me helping a lady friend get her first elk, a delicious calf.

 

[CoElkHunter]

This is the proper headgear for -35°. Parka hoods must be up for cooler! Me helping a lady friend get her first elk, a delicious calf.

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Nice! But I’m with you for the most part regarding hunting in extreme cold. It’s NO FUN! I’ve hunted pheasant twice in -25 temperatures. You spend more energy and focus on trying to stay warm than hunting! Add a foot of snow and three foot snow drifts your walking around/through and it sucks the enjoyment out of the hunting adventure.
CEH

 

[Ridge Runner]

Layered in order:
1st: Fleece balaclava,
2nd: hot hands hand or body warmer,
3rd: base ball cap,
4th: wool or fleece toboggan, or hoodie/ jacket/coat/parka hood.

Honestly, lessoned learned, IF, I have to put all this on my head again just to stay warm in the woods. I'm heading to or staying home.

I don't mind the cold or being cold, within reason.

I don't mind being wet within reason.

But I will be damned if (I ever intentionally) be nearly (bit exaggerating) frozen to death again (attempting to) hunt ducks or deer in extremely cold weather.

When hunting during cold weather I carry/pack cold weather survival gear and have additional extreme cold weather survival items in my vehicle and boat......for just in case emergency situations.