[fabsroman]

The only way to get the best, cheap gear is to find it on sale like I do. Last winter, Galyan's was being bought out by Dick's and they were clearancing a lot of stuff which included Under Armor Cold Gear. I bought 2 long sleeve and 2 short sleeve shirts for cheap. One thing that I didn't get on sale was my fleece leggings and top from Cabelas, but those aren't too expensive. So, now I have my under wear covered. Over my fleece, I usually wear an everyday pair of jeans and a sweater, which aren't too expensive unless you want to go designer on them, and then on top of that I wear my Columbia outerwear which can be pricey, but well worth it. Of course, I got it all on sale. I buy most of my winter gear after the season closes out. The Columbia wading jacket cost me a little over $200 from Cabelas and I found a set of Columbia bibs on sale at Dicks when the season ended. I also bought a set of icebuster waders on sale from Cabelas. Now, what I find to be the most important is the hands and feet. I have several different types of boots depending on the weather and the hunting I will be doing. If it is really cold out and I don't have to do a lot of walking, then I use the heavy boots with the insulated booties in them (i.e., Pac Boots). If I will be doing a lot of walking, I use heavily insulated boots that are light. In the gloves department, I have some icebuster gloves from Cabelas along with a set of camo Mechanix gloves. If it is really cold out I'll use both. Over my face, I use a face mask when waterfowling along with the hat from my Columbia parka.

Essentially, here are the activities and layers:

Waterfowling in 30* or below weather:

Under Armour Cold Gear
Cabelas Fleece
Everyday jeans and sweater
Columbia Wading Parka and bibs, unless I am hunting in water where I will use the waders
Cabelas Icebuster gloves on top of Mechanix gloves. I can usually see the birds a head of time to take the right handed heavy glove off to feel the trigger.
Facemask
Pac Boots with two layers of socks.


Upland in 30* or below weather:

Cabelas Fleece
Everyday jeans and a sweater
Columbia upland hunting jacket that is a lot lighter than my wading parka
Boots with 1,000 grams thinsulate
Gloves same as above but I will never wear the heavy one on my right hand.


For everyday use, I have a non-camo Columbia parka and black bibs.

Essentially, buy the good gear on sale, and buy whatever pieces you can afford every year. That is how I accumulated my collection of winter wear and I enjoy outdoor activities now in the cold. Don't get me wrong, I still hunted in the cold before I had all this stuff, I just looked like a snowman and/or the Michelin man.