A thick fleece might do.

Pinetree, was there a point you were making? :)

Jackfish: "Pinetree, was there a point you were making? :)"

In keeping with the apparent minimalist message, I'm gonna guess that he was suggesting going without a heavy parka, e.g., using a thick fleece under an anorak or something similar?

Or maybe he butt-dialed this one in ...

Just looking for a good quality warm anorak, probably a fleece type parka or something similar.
Wintergreen out of Ely could be a option .

maybe a heavy wool?

Wintergreen makes a very nice fleece anorak. Top notch.

Don’t own one, but I have seen many favorable reviews by fellow bowhunters:

Asbell Wool Anoraks

Asbell Wool Northwoods Anorak

Amazing products!
Empire Wool and Canvas Company

Made in Duluth by Kevin Kinney. A lot of dogsled racers buy his products.

Was about to post a similar topic, but since we're here... gonna hijack..

Anyone really put a Wintergreen Anorak through the wringer while camping? Probably a dumb question since I see so many people wearing them and if mushers abuse them and they hold up, they must be good.

Looking for a durable all-around shell to take camping, but also wear daily for snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, trekking, etc. Not sure I really need an Empire Canvas since I already have a Lester River wool anorak. Willing to splurge this year, but I can't afford both at those price points.

I'm leaning Wintergreen. Thinking I can throw the wool on when I'm dragging logs around and messing with fire.

Lester River Boreal Shirt has been good to me. One of my favorite parts of temperatures falling!

I've had the Empire Wool and Canvas anorak for about 10 years. Handles everything you can throw at it when below freezing. Great for splitting and hauling wood, very breathable. I also just wear a base layer under when heading out ice fishing, while bringing wool or down jacket to put on later when I quit moving as much. It's like a cocoon of warm air that stays around you. The hood is great too, many adjustments and wire to hold brim shape how you like it. It's my go to when having to shovel snow during high winds and blowing snow. In the winter if I'm fishing, shoveling, splitting wood or hunting, I'm wearing it. I just bring warmer layers for underneath when it'll be a low pace activity. I used to bring to many layers, but I've got it dialed in now and don't bring to many layers.

straighthairedcurly: "Amazing products!
Empire Wool and Canvas Company


Made in Duluth by Kevin Kinney. A lot of dogsled racers buy his products."

Gonna suggest Kevin as well. Purchased his Camp Coat last winter and it got me through the BWCA in January when it hit -40 overnight. Amazing coat, durable, and a lot of thought and engineering when into reinforcement and attention to detail.

What will you be doing with it?

Wool options will most often be significantly more breathable in my experience so they're good if you're going to be on the move and generating heat or sitting still in calm conditions. If you want something that will cut wind (lower output work or sedentary in cold windy conditions) you want other options that will cut the wind for you. That's always the catch in my experience balancing breathability and insulation level with the conditions and activities.

For something like winter camping I usually like an insulating layer that's very breathable (like wool) close to my base layers paired with a thin, less breathable layer like a light soft shell, and a thick insulating layer that cuts wind (like a down coat/parka). I can switch up any combination of those 3 layers to match most any condition unless there's a potential for wet conditions as well in which case you want to add a hard shell to the mix.

For use around home in Northern WI I do use a "heavy winter parka" (Fjallraven Nuuk) layered over just regular clothes around home for snowshoeing, woods walking, shoveling the driveway, etc and it's great for that, but it doesn't breath much and I think it's overkill as a final windbreaking/insulating layer for multi-day winter camping where you need to watch the weight a bit.

Hi Pinetree. I recently bought the Wintergreen Anorak expedition pull over fleece, and it is amazing. I don’t do much winter camping but if I did I’d have this and eventually the shell too!

I am now planning on parting with my Swanndri Ranger Anorak which is wool and lined as well for extra wind resistance. Swanndri Wool Ranger Shirt

I’ve had the Swanndri a couple of years, only tripped with it once. When I did use it it’s been great, just a bit bulky for my needs and I’ve got other items that work better for me. If you think you might be interested feel free to email me for price (I’m in the Twin Cities). I realize this isn’t the for sale section but thought I’d mention.

I ordered up a Wintergreen shell anorak (partial zip) yesterday for my birthday. Looking forward to using, I think it will pair nicely with some of the insulation layers I have and be cross-functional outside of just winter camping.