Mainely Outdoors
By Bill Graves
Not only was there six inches of frost in the ground but also after the previous night’s snowstorm, three inches of wet, heavy, white stuff frosted the harvested potato fields. It took longer than normal to set out nearly 100 goose decoys, mostly because three dozen were motion-style shell decoys on stakes, and it was no simple chore driving holes into the frozen earth. Once our spread of fake honkers was in place it was time to crawl into our layout blinds on the hard, snow covered field and wait for birds to arrive.
It doesn’t take long for the cold to seep up from the frozen ground and even inside the ground blind, a 22-degree temperature and a mild wind soon makes hunters uncomfortably chilly. Layers of wool, fleece, Gore-Tex and even goose down help contain body heat for awhile, but laying stationary with no motion, core temperature soon begins to decline. And it’s not just waterfowl gunners, deer and coyote hunters and winter ice fishermen all must find clothing to keep them warm, but without so many layers they resemble the Michelin Man or Pillsbury Dough Boy.
Thanks to a fairly new product for sportsmen called Under Armour, total comfort through thin layers of clothing that provide body temperature control via proper and maximum moisture transport through the skin is possible. Under Armour has actually been around for several years, but their initial lines of clothing were geared more toward runners, skiers and skaters than anglers and hunters, but each season new camo pattern clothes are becoming available. Thanks to three layers of Under Armour, the total of which was less thick than one set of goose down underwear, I stayed warm as toast during my last frigid morning of goose gunning.
Under Armour also has a full line of warm weather gear as well, and this unique technology wicks moisture away from the body on hot days to not only keep a sportsman cool but to diminish perspiration and therefore human scent. I used this clothing during very warm weather bear and deer hunting and was amazed at the comfort it provided. Both cold and warm weather Under Armour come in three types of fit: Compression fit, a body hugging style that seems to work best for cold weather outfits, Fitted fit, for any weather condition, and Loose fit which I find very effective during hot weather.
I have tried just a single layer of Under Armour next to my body and used fleece or wool as outer layers or middle layers, and on wet or windy days a Gore-Tex rainsuit as a final layer. In all cases the inner most set of Under Armour made the exterior layer more effective than normal long johns and other styles of cold weather underwear I’d used for years. Although not inexpensive, about $45 for a camo long sleeve undershirt and $60 for the long under pants, called leggings by UA, these well made undergarments are worth every penny. Any outdoorsman who has been wet, cold and miserable during an outing or actually cut a day short due to weather will find this line of clothing a blessing.
Here’s what I recommend for severe cold weather regardless if you’re spending the day on a snowmobile or the night watching a bait site for a coyote or fox to show up. A base layer should consist of camo ColdGear leggings and a ColdGear mock turtleneck long sleeve undershirt, or a fleece jacket or vest. The mid-layer should consist of ColdGear Armour stealth camo pants and a UA ColdGear Spot and Stalk jacket. For most any foray into spring trolling or turkey hunting or a myriad of fall shooting sports, these two layers are generally sufficient.
For winter outings, the addition of a third layer is suggested and I prefer Armour Stealth Extreme camo bib overalls for a full single layer of cover. For those hunters who prefer just a jacket, the Stealth Extreme Cold Parka is the sure answer. Add a set of ColdGear lite boot socks, a UA camo ski beanie or cap, and a set of ColdGear camo shooting gloves to finalize the outfit. There are also glove liners for severe cold and stationary sports, without flexible, nimble fingers operating a gun safety, trigger, or a fishing reel handle can be frustrating
Under Armour material won’t run, pick or pull threads free easily, and is anti-pill, all features that ensure a long life of wear under tough hunting conditions. There are three camo patterns available for the full hunting line of clothes and a dozen other colors for use in other cold weather sports.
Go online at www.Underarmour.com to check out the full line of clothing and accessories with prices. Orders with free shipping can also be arranged at this Web site. From kids sizes all the way up through XXXL for men, and a full array of sizes and colors for women are available in most garments.
For outdoor activities during a Maine winter, sportsmen need every advantage available, how about a set of armor, Under Armour that is.
