LAST UPDATED: May 8th, 2015
I have the perfect solution for those bitter cold late season sits on stand. The Heater Body Suit will keep you warm no matter what the weather brings. I used mine quite a few times last season and I never got cold while I had it on down to -6*.
I purchased my suit after the season ended last year, so it took me a while to give it a thorough testing. I used it this season when the weather got really cold and windy. I wore a base layer of Under Armor with an insulated Scent-Loc Liner over that and a Cabelas Fleece Outfit while walking to my stand. After I was safety strapped to the tree I put on the “booties” that come with the suit, these help keep the inside of the suit clean and also help your boots slide into the legs. Then I put the Heater Body Suit on. The suit resembles a sleeping bag with legs sewn into it, with suspenders to hold it up when you remove it to shoot. Getting cold while wearing the suit was never an issue, I was out in temps as cold as -6* with a steady wind. The windproof liner kept the cold winds out and my body heat kept the temps up inside.
I was a little worried about hunting out of my Lone Wolf Sit and Climb while wearing the suit, but I fit down inside the arm rails just fine and didn’t feel cramped. It was fairly easy to get into the suit on the small platform too. But then again I am 6’ 3” and 180#, so I can maneuver around in tight spaces.
Using it in late season with the woods wide open, I always saw the deer coming in plenty of time to get stood up and slide the suit off of my shoulders. Once the suit is off your shoulders it is no problem at all drawing your bow. In fact it’s easier than drawing with the bulky layers you would need to be wearing if it weren’t for the suit. The material is very quiet, making no noise while drawing your bow.
While traveling to and from the stand the suit rolls up to about the size of a sleeping bag and has straps so you carry it like a backpack or over one shoulder.
At first the zipper was a little loud, but I rubbed some wax on it and if you keep outward pressure on it as you move it it’s really pretty quiet.
If you live where the temps really get down there or if you just don’t like the cold. The Heater Body Suit will definitely keep you on stand longer. It will also make it easier to draw your bow once you slip it off of your shoulders and only have the lighter clothes on underneath. Check out their website at http://heaterbodysuit.com/ . They have a special field test opportunity going on right now on their website with a big discount if you buy one and do the field test.
