Cold Weather Gear Advice Needed

[TheReiver]

I am a MN native, I work outside in all she has to throw at us. I have been outside at work for 8 years now. No days off for snow or cold, ever. The worst I have been forced to endure is -45f with a -77f windchill. I also do allot of ice fishing, deer hunting, and snowmobiling.

First of all, I have a few questions for you.

Will you be in and out of the cold (going inside a building or heated vehicle), or will you be out in it all day?

Will you be physically active or doing allot of standing around?

What kind of cold are we talking? Iowa or Saskatoon?

It can be easy to stay warm as long as you don't over do it or make the wrong choices. I also feel that much of the super warm clothing stuff on the market is over hyped gimmick. There is no reason on earth to spend a whole pile of money on work clothes.

If you smoke, you will have cold hands and feet no matter what you do.

Buy lots of chapstick, it's worth twice it's weight in gold when the wind starts blowing. Use it before your lips start to hurt.

I'll be working on a boat on a major waterway. As for whether I'll be in and out all day, I'm not sure.

 

[HARV6]

I live in windy northern Ohio. When I'm set up in a stand I start with a fleece balaclava that fits snug around the head, face, and neck, so no skin is exposed. Then a looser fitting thick fleece balaclava around my neck that can be pulled up like a hood. Most times I'll leave that around my neck and put a Mad Bomber rabbit fur hat on top of the tight balaclava. After a while if I take any of those off I feel the heat pouring out of me. Once I started keeping my head, face, and neck warm, everything else kept pretty warm with good layers. For my body and legs I like snug fitting under armor to disperse any sweat. Then a thick wool sweater and fleece sweatpants. On top of that, any heavy jacket and overalls will do to stop the wind. Wool socks and mink-oiled leather boots. Insulated boots if you'll be sitting still, un-insulated if you'll be moving around much. Neoprene gloves will keep you warm even if you get water inside them. I'd also recommend 2 Zippo hand warmers for your pockets. They are awesome!

 

[1911 guy]

Dress in layers, as mentioned.

Mittens are warmer than gloves.

A hood in addition to a watch cap, tobaggan, whatever you call it, will keep your mellon very warm.

Athletic socks worn under wool socks and all worn inside water resistant and insulated boots will take care of the feet.

Some of the new microfleece and gore-tex rivals the warmth of wool with a bit less weight.

Working on a boat, I'd opt for warm under layers and focus the outer layer on being waterproof.

 

[Sav .250]

Lots of good infornation. The only thing left for me is.....get yourself a good
hat and gloves. Insulated/ water proof.

 

[35 Whelen]

Wool, wool, wool.

35W

 

[Legionnaire]

Good stuff here, but a question for the OP:

What are you going to be doing outdoors? Will you be sitting still, or active and moving? All the stuff about layers and what they should be made of is good. And there is a big difference between sitting still for long periods and keeping moving. You no doubt already know from experience that exertion raises your body temperature.

So if you're going to be doing physical labor outdoors, layers are a must, but make sure you can shed down to something comfortable, and that it, too, is wind and water resistant.

If you're going to be sitting all day, a trick I don't recall seeing above is an old, insulated sleeping bag. Doesn't have to be fancy, or heavy, and it shouldn't be a mummy-type bag; rectangle is better. Step into it, pull it up around your chest, and have a seat. Amazing how warm that can keep you for a long period of time.