It was very pleasant yesterday afternoon. But the bottom dropped out of the temps in North Bama today.
It got me to pondering that all important question for us hunters: What’s the best way to achieve warmth without bulk in the field? Is it even possible?
I bought that Cabela’s Wooltimate and Berber fleece few years back. While it’s good, it’s still bulky. What’s the best warmth without bulk you’ve found?

Warmth in bulk was easy when I used to be a lard ass. Body fat kept me warm. I still only wear wranglers and a field coat to the stand. I can’t hunt when it’s cold anymore. My toes and fingers get cold and I’m done. I’ve worked on losing my body fat and I did. Now I paid the price. If I had my choice the old browning hydro fleece was bout good as it was. Today was as biting cold as I’ve seen in N AL in a while. I’m still cold as of bed time.

I wear insulated boots and cover my head when it's cold. Fingerless gloves and staying on the move also helps. Bulk is all that works for me when sitting still in a cold stand.

I go for thin layers so I can move and on the coldest days a couple hand warmers in my pants pocket does wonders. The hand warmers buried in pockets does great in the wind. Those hand warmers save me from having to put on the bulk.

Fingerless gloves with the fold over mitten with hot hands pocket. Insulated rubber boots wool socks sometimes thin white socks under layer. Minimum 2 bottom layers and 3 upper layers. Warm orange watch cap. That will mostly work on Bama cold days. Sometimes add a thicker jacket and oversized insulated pants.

Camofire has had Plythal clothing on sale several times the last few weeks. Get the PrmaHeat Bibs , the 2.0 Hoodie and the Goose down Parka all for less than $275 and paired with a decent base layer your good down to single digit temps. I've got First Lite, Sitka and Plythal and the Plythal is as good as any of them for way less money.

I have found a down jacket that will stuff into a quart sized bag that I carry with me. Very lightweight but the absolute best material for warmth.

Been pleased Soo far with the Nomad harvester jacket and bibs I recently purchased, btw... If they have any sizes left, Nomad has a sitewide 50% off sell still going on, discount code is MERRY

First lite. It’s pricy but worth double the cost for me and the way I hunt.

My son spent a ridiculous amount of money on First Lite, freezes his ass off. At least he looks good when he's shivering.

Down

AC I bought some military surplus m65 field jacket liner and m65 pants liners. They are very light and extremely warm. I wear a wool base layer and then the liners and with usually a shirt and fleece pants.They are quiet, cheap, light and warm. You can also take off the pants liners without having to remove your boots when you get warm.

Wool hat, gloves and socks

Base layers of merino wool. A nice synthetic pant.

Top, another merino wool layer (like 250 gram) over your baselayer and then an outer layer. I have a down hunting jacket but have never needed it in Alabama.

Socks, one light pair of synthetic or silk liners and one heavy pair of wool socks.

A little bit of bulk, but not bad. You'll be fine this morning but sweating by the time the sun comes up.

I rarely wear anything bulky unless it is below 20. I'll wear thermal long underwear with jeans and then some thinner pullover hunting pants (to cut the wind). On top I'll add a long sleeve tee shirt, thin sweater, and a medium fleece. I'll then have a heavier fleece but I end up sitting on it more often than not. I'm usually bow hunting so I wear a warm glove on my left hand and then no glove or a light one on my right. 1000 gram lacrosse rubber boots with 2 light wool socks.

Sitka.

Wool

Wool sox

Wool pants

Wool jacket

It's very quiet as well and will keep you warm if damp or wet. And if you go wool without layering much, it's not that bulky.

Best long johns I've found is Cabelas ECWS polar weight.

These combined with fleece pants and one or two fleece layers on top work for me. If it's windy you need a wind stopper layer. Some fleeces are dense enough for this purpose.

Headwear is most important though. A thick beanie hat and neck gaiter will be worth it's weight in gold when it's cold and windy.

When all else fails, a tumbler with some good bourbon back at camp never fails.

^^^This^^^. Get a Sitka Stratus jacket and bibs. Windproof and very warm but not bulky. Get some Fanatic bibs and jacket if you want the nuclear option.

Capilene

I can sit down into the teens with UA compression cold gear, polartec as a mid layer and wool on top.