Hunting Tips: Hand Warmers

Have you ever been out hunting and realized you can't feel your fingers and toes?  It happens to the best, but the problem is that some of us missed that perfect shot because our fingers were too cold to feel the trigger!  Now that's a problem.

What can we do about this?  First off, you need to get some nice gloves.  These may be something you don't want to splurge on, but the mobility of your fingers is very important when out hunting.  As with all clothing, you need to think in terms of layers.  Have a thinner pair of moisture wicking gloves so you can move your fingers around and zip up your jacket.  On top of those have a nice thick, water resistant pair to keep your hands dry and warm.  One major thing you want to avoid is getting your hands wet, that is one of the quickest ways to lose the feeling in those digits!  A nicer pair of gloves should also go further up your wrist, preferably under your coat sleeve, and have a nice Velcro strap.  This will ensure snow and wind don't make their way to your skin.

Your feet are also something you need to think about.  Cold feet can be miserable and make you turn around in a heart beat!  Be sure to have a nice warm pair of wool socks that come up past your boots.  Blisters can prevent you from going out the next day or two, might as well stop them at the cause!  Also, be sure to have a nice pair of boots.  The major factor here is water resilience.  You never want cold feet while hunting!

So you have the gloves, socks, and boots to keep you warm, all that's left is the hand warmers!  Forget those electric socks!  One of the most essential parts of any hunt is the hand and feet warmers.  They are cheap, simple, and effective.  With electric you have to carry batteries and they can be rather expensive, especially compared to those $1.99 hand warmers you can buy at the check out counter.  Better yet, buy in bulk and you'll be set for the season.  Just be sure to open them up and shake them up a little before inserting them into your boots and gloves.  They are air activated so you want to make sure they are nice and toasty, and they really do last for four hours!  Put them in your gloves, socks, and anywhere else you wish to keep warm and replace them for the morning and evening hunt and you'll be a happy hunter!

Hunting Tips: Layers>