I have 2 items which help me be able to take the cold days:  1. down filled bibs from Duluth Trading Co and heated vest from Sheels.  They make a big difference on what I can stand on cold days.

 

What about you guys who actually live where you have winter?

OK ~ 
For air temps and or wind chills on the water that dip into or below the 30's,

I wear a moisture wicking (thin) base layer top & bottom.

Brands are Columbia, Simms, & Under Amour.

Second layer is mid to heavy weight Thermal Midlayer top & bottom (Simms)

Next is a thermal wind blocking fleece heavy weight Hoodie. (Simms)

Finally I cover it all up with a Simms Insulated Challenger Jacket & Bibs.

The feets get Cabela's Midcalf Polypropylene Liner, Simms Men's Merino Thermal OTC Socks,

and slightly oversized Columbia Titanium Insulated Boots. 

A-Jay 

I use a moisture wicking base layer, med/heavy wool shirt, wool lined jeans or sweatpants, heated Milwaukee M12 sweatshirt, and BPS 200 mph bib & jacket.  
 

I ALWAYS wear my PFD on my boat and kayak in winter months.
 

I wear wool hunting socks and waterproof boots.

 

I always keep a change of clothes in my truck in case I go in the drink.

 

I also keep electric hand warmers in my pockets.

I ascribe to the three layer model and have for all cold weather pursuits.

 

- base wicking layer

- mid insulation layer

- outer protective layer

 

The layers change based on the conditions and temps, but the base layer is what keeps sweat off your skin.  Sweat on the skin cools as it evaporates and makes you cold.  Wick it away first.  The mid layer is your ‘air’ layer and the bulk of your insulation. The goal is to trap air.  That can be fleece, wool, down, or something else.  Your outer layer is protection against wind and rain.  No sense going to all the effort to wick moisture and hold heat if you’re going to let the wind blow it away.

 

You can vary the layers depending on the conditions and with 2-3 variations of each layer you can be out in conditions down to zero with fair wind while still comfortable.  On the base layer you can get really thin, skin tight wicking layers up to a heavy weight merino base layer.  For the mid layer, a lighter technical hoodie is a good start but a heavier fleece (like AJay mentioned) or wool pullover is a good heavy weight option.  Then on the outer layer a technical windbreaker shell is a good lightweight option; a rainproof shell with a zip in/out liner is a versatile mid and heavier weight.

 

Put that all together and on the light side you have a wicking skin, a light hoodie, and a windbreaker.  That’s good for 50 degrees and a light breeze.  A mid weight merino base, a decent fleece, and a rain shell will be good down to 30 or so and also cover you for rain.  If it warms up mid day just lose the shell.  In the coldest, a zip in down liner for the rain jacket over a heavy base and a heavy fleece will keep you warm at zero degrees while sitting still in a tree.  You don’t want to walk far or up a big hill unless you pack in the outer layer.  You can mix and match depending on all the things and your own preferences/tolerance.

 

A heated vest between the wicking layer and mid layer will let you go a layer lighter in places for a given activity (or go a temp range colder for a given layering).  Interchangeable zip in/zip out liners are great if you have a system that works with them.  Electric hand warmers in a hoodie pocket that is inside an outer shell makes a nice little warm spot.  

Layering as noted above. No matter, what I need an insulated hood covering my neck and head. Wind whipping across 40 degree water just sucks the warmth out of me without that protection.

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

OK ~ 
For air temps and or wind chills on the water that dip into or below the 30's,

I wear a moisture wicking (thin) base layer top & bottom.

Brands are Columbia, Simms, & Under Amour.

Second layer is mid to heavy weight Thermal Midlayer top & bottom (Simms)

Next is a thermal wind blocking fleece heavy weight Hoodie. (Simms)

Finally I cover it all up with a Simms Insulated Challenger Jacket & Bibs.

The feets get Cabela's Midcalf Polypropylene Liner, Simms Men's Merino Thermal OTC Socks,

and slightly oversized Columbia Titanium Insulated Boots. 

A-Jay 

 

 

Uncanny. I'm nearly identical to what A-Jay wears, except I wear the AFTCO Reaper hoodie instead of the Simms.  And I'll add the Simm's ProGuide gloves when I'm running down the lake. Otherwise, it's the same.

 

Those Columbia Titanium boots are the real deal, btw.

I am very similar to the above...base layer, mid-insulation layer, shell. 

 

Worth checking out: Kuiu makes zip-off base layer bottoms in wool and poly. Lets you remove your base layer without taking shoes / boots off. 

 

@A-Jay, always appreciate the videos! Daughter got me a new GoPro for Christmas...going from a Hero 3+ to Hero 12 Black...cannot wait to get on the water and record my fishing. 

 

 

I am able to keep everything warm but my hands.  Not a fan of spinning rods or vertical fishing methods, the spray from casting reels combined with the known fact that older people get colder, often keeps me off the water;  gloves with three exposed fingertips don't work, the fingers still get stiff.  I haven't found a workable solution, maybe getting younger would help.

UnderArmor base layer, Carhartt flannel mid-layer, and Cabela’s Guidewear as the outer layer. Carhartt beanie on my head and hand warmers tucked into the back of my gloves. And a Yeti thermos of hot coffee goes a long way. 

7 hours ago, Kev-mo said:

Wind whipping across 40 degree water just sucks the warmth out of me

 

Ditto ... I'm on blood thinners.  

I usually just stay in the house, these old bones just can't take the cold anymore.

Waterproof boots and hunting socks.  One or two pair or sweatpants depending on the temp.  Over that I wear rain pants or bibs.

On top I wear a base layer. Then comes a sweatshirt or hoodie under an insulated jacket, if I'm fishing from shore.  If I'm in a boat then I'll swap out the jacket for another sweatshirt and wear my life jacket over it.

Over the past few years I have started to get sinus infections so I will have a thick knit cap and my hood up depending on the temps and wind.

3 to 4 layers, knit cap under hood(s), hand warmers in pockets and electric socks.  Last year was first time I had electric socks and love them.

Anyone have a hat like this that you recommend?  I hate having to choose between knit cap and ball cap on sunny days.

I put the knit cap over the ball cap (shameless striper pic included)

 

On 1/5/2026 at 12:57 PM, Choporoz said:

Anyone have a hat like this that you recommend?  I hate having to choose between knit cap and ball cap on sunny days.

 

Filson Insulated Tin Cloth hat. I had one years ago. It ain't cheap but the quality is outstanding.  I left it in a restaurant and it was never found.

 

I got mine at a steap discount, maybe $20. They are $100 now. 

Simms has a line called Rogue - a bit of stretch, windproof, waterproof enough for sprinkles. It's an outer shell with a little insulation. Jacket and Pants. And for the legs they also make a heavy base layer Rogue pants that are kinda like sweatpants. That and whatever thickness mid-layer is enough down to probably mid-40's, depending on the wind.

 

Windy or colder gets me in a bib (aftco heavy goretex) and a hard shell (gill offshore with wrist seals if wet, huk ice fishing top if not wet out). I got the ice fishing top on some ridiculous post-season sale... it's really warm and has additional flotation. 

 

Boots have been whatever muck boots or Alaska boots, but I'm going to try the huk deck boot this year. Wool socks. Sometimes toss a hand warmer in each boot.

 

Handwarmers, windproof beanie, 1/16 neoprene gloves from NRS. 

Scarf or winter neck gaiter is nice. 

 

We haven't had any actually cold days yet. 

 

Some outlier learnings -

1) with the Daiwa magnetics, you can just turn it up a couple of clicks and a gloved thumb will work just fine. 

2) regular gore tex and heavy goretex shell are not at all the same thing 

 

On 1/3/2026 at 3:48 PM, DogBone_384 said:

 

I ALWAYS wear my PFD on my boat and kayak in winter months.
 

If it's really cold (that's below 40 here in the south) I don't fish unless I'm in a tournament. I'll wear wool socks, a thermal pants layer, and then some waterproof fishing pants. I'll also wear a t-shirt and sweatshirt under a Striker winter jacket.

On 1/4/2026 at 8:12 AM, ike8120 said:

I usually just stay in the house, these old bones just can't take the cold anymore.

I am right there with you brother!!! I just can't take it anymore.