A base layer is essential for freezing weather hunting – but which should you wear and why?
We looked into the several types of base layer that you could use while cold weather hunting. A base layer is an essential bit of your kit. It is the starting point from which we layer up our clothing until we have enough heat to keep our core temperature stable. When we start to lose that homeostasis of temperature, that is what forces us off the hunt and back home with our tails between our legs.
Here are the best base layers for hunting in chilly weather for you to chew on.
The 4 Best Base Layers for the Cold Weather Hunt
If you are about to head to the mountains for your annual hunting trip, don’t forget that keeping warm keeps you alive. Invest in a great quality best base layer for hunting, regardless of which material you choose.
We cannot overstate the need for high quality gear. Poorly made fabrics get us wet, they make us colder, and they force us off the field. Good, hardy, well-made fabrics protect us from both the rain and the cold. Don’t scrimp on your hunting gear, particularly not when it’s cold out.
Base Layer 1 – Merino Wool
There is nothing on this earth better for wearing as a hunter. Merino wool is soft against the skin, it is water and odor resistant, and it lasts a lifetime. It is made of interwoven fibers that just don’t tear without serious effort. It’s the best of the best as far as bush wear is concerned. It’s particularly useful in the cold weather. If it can keep the sheep it came from warm and dry, it can keep you dry, too.
It’s a little pricier than other types of material, but that’s because it is going to last you a lifetime. There is more chance of you outgrowing this comfortable material than there is of it failing you.
Base Layer 2 – Polyester
The less costly alternative to Merino Wool is a finely brushed polyester. It’s not as nice against the skin and obviously it’s a man-made fabric. Polyester is like a barrier base layer, rather than a soft and snug one. This is what we might choose if we were hunting in particularly wet weather, as well as in the cold. It will keep you dry up until a point, but you can bolster your layers with waterproof spray if you have to. Polyester might not be as soft or as dry, but it does add padding. Padding is important for layering your clothing, it helps to keep the heat in.
Base Layer 3 – Thermals
Cotton isn’t that great of a material for hunting base layers. It is too light, and it gets damp. Instead, opt for a blended thermal version. Thermal leggings or vests, as well as long johns, can all help to give you that close-to-the-skin base layer that lets you stay comfortable. The downside to thermals is that they aren’t water resistant. On the other hand, they are thick enough to trap air next to the skin and warm it for you.
Base Layer 4 – Smartwool
Smartwool is a recent addition to the best base layers for freezing weather group of clothes. This is Merino at its foundation, but the manufacturers take the wool and layer it in such a way as to make it as tough as possible. They then work in some man-made fibers, which add strength and flexibility to the layer. This combination of synthetic fibers and Merino wool make it some of the best material yet.