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Clothing<\/span><\/p>\n With the development of modern fabrics there is no excuse for not keeping your core temperature up. It is vital to use a layering system of clothes right across your whole body. The base layer should be skin tight and made of a non absorbent material which wicks sweat away from your body.\u00a0 Any dampness in any part of your clothes will lose heat and feel much colder. The next layer should be warm and also non-absorbent \u2013 most modern fleeces will do. The top or outer layer should be breathable and waterproof. As a top layer I love my Sundridge Igloo Suit (Mark 2) made up of a bib and brace and a jacket. I have yet to fish anywhere where, used in a correct layering system, this wasn\u2019t plenty warm enough. It\u2019s not cheap but you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n Remember to put these layers on as you need them. A good layering system will keep you dry even if you get sweaty carting your gear round to your chosen swim, but there\u2019s no point having more layers on than you need. Even a good wicking system has its limits though so I always take a change of base layers and a spare pair of warm socks (and snow boot liners if I\u2019m using them) so that if they get too damp then I can put a dry one on while the other one dries out.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Hand and foot warmers<\/span><\/p>\n I love these little packets of heat and would be lost without them. If you haven\u2019t used them before then you are seriously missing out. Simply open the packet, expose to the air and the chemicals packed inside the sealed bags start to warm up. I keep one hand warmer in one pocket and swap it from side to side and from hand to hand. The foot warmers come in pairs and you simply stick them to your socks under your toes and put your boots back on. Both the hand and foot warmers take the edge off really cold days. They only cost about a quid and each one will last several hours.<\/p>\n Bivvy heater\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This year I decided to buy a\u00a0little portable bivvy heater. Having shopped around I found this Sunngas Cartridge\u00a0heater for \u00a38 on line including postage! It works off the same propane\/butane gas canisters I use for my cooking. The tight flame in the middle has a metal guard around it and it\u2019s very stable. But as it\u2019s a flame system\u00a0USE IT CAREFULLY!<\/strong>\u00a0If it toppled over it could melt your groundsheet or worse so I put mine on a low metal bivvy table. It only takes a few minutes to warm a bivvy up with the door down; I put my heater on for a while before I go to bed and turn it off before I climb into my bag. Luxury! On really cold days I might put the door down for a bit and get really warm.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Hot water bottle<\/span><\/p>\n I simply don\u2019t know why more anglers don\u2019t take one of these fishing with them. Think about it \u2013 we go fishing next to thousands of gallons of water! I have a large spare camping kettle which I use to boil lake water with. The piping hot water bottle goes into my sleeping bag ten minutes before I do. There\u2019s not many better feelings while fishing on a cold winter night than climbing into a warm sleeping bag.<\/p>\n So there you have it \u2013 just a few tips and some of the things I do to take the edge of those cold winter days and nights. Go out there, stay warm and enjoy!<\/p>\n Wishing you a fish filled 2013. May all your bites be one toners!
\nElie Godsi<\/p>\n