Winter wear?

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kmw1954

kmw1954

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Need help finding the best possible winter wear for being outside working at the rifle range. I am not an ice fisherman of snowmobiler so I don't own any of those type clothes so I need some suggestions for when I'm outside working this winter on the range. Much of the time will be spent just standing around walking the firing line of sitting next to a small heater waiting for patrons to show up. This range is covered and enclosed on three sides but open to the downrange.

Long underwear has proven to not be enough and looking for something that won't be to bulky or difficult to get on and off for when I get to go indoors. I really don't have a clue and it looks as though I may be working 2 to 3 days per week throughout the winter!

I really like this work and they seem to like what I'm doing so I don't want to give up working the range.
 
I’d start your internet search with these two brands....Carhart or Walls 3 piece insulated suits (bibs/vest/ Jacket) are solid choices. The older ones had two pockets sewn on each side in the back by your kidneys. They were for Johnny E. Hand-warmers. When I bought a new set of Walls they no longer had them so my mother in law was kind enough to sew them in for me. Work like a charm. Throw a couple disposable ones in the hand warmer pockets before your shift and you’re good to go. Also, keep your head warm and covered. Lose a lot of heat through it.

Most bibs and one piece suits by either manufacturer have long leg zips on either side to facilitate getting into/ out of them without having to take off boots.
 
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Merino wool base layer does really well. Breathes and is light and soft but will keep you warm. I always layer up. If I were you I would check out the merino wool stuff for a bottom layer follow up with jeans, sweatshirt a jacket and you should be good. Shirts & pants go about $30-40 per piece, not cheap but a good investment. Good luck.
 
Carhartt bibs are great. They may seem a bit bulky when new but after breaking them in they soften up and get really comfortable. The full length zippers up the legs allow you to put them on or off without removing your boots. On really cold days when I know I'll be working outside all day I wear flannel pajamas under mine and it's really cozy.
 
wool sweater under jacket, wool socks, wool hat. thermals and bibs are good, but I'd want wool everywhere spending much time outside in winter. a really good scarf, and maybe a set of snowmobile goggles to shield your eyes if it is windy.
 
What I am wearing now are insulated boots with 2 pair of heavy boot socks, insulated underwear, a heavy sweat shirt, a Zip up hooded sweatshirt and a hooded jacket. Still get cold partly/mostly because of my very poor circulation. So far I think I have the feet OK but my legs get cold and my hands get cold. As long as I am busy and keep moving I'm not too bad but when there is no one on the range we sit and wait as on the range I work I'm all the way at the other end of the facility and not just a quick walk to get indoors.
 
Carhart is pretty rugged clothing, what a lot of outdoor construction workers wear. Might check out Cabela's, especially right now after Christmas....lot of their hunting clothing will be on sale and cleared out for next seasons inventory. Bought most of my hunting clothing after Christmas, usually 50% off or more.
 
There are a lot of really good cold weather materials these days. Biggest loss of heat is waist area with pants/coat combinations. Coveralls and insulated bibs help a lot. A good pair of insulated boots, preferably 900 gram waterproof thinsulate a little oversized and a good knit wool hat and neck garter can round out your cold weather gear.
 
I second, 3rd, and 4th the Merino wool base layer, socks, etc. Depending on your budget, next up would include good boots with good insoles and at least 400 grams of thinsulate. Gore-tex is typically known for being waterproof/breathable but it's also very good for blocking wind. Not cheap, but all my best cold weather outer wear is Gore-tex.
 
And since the OP followed up with a comment about poor circulation I’d also recommend looking into heated gear. Socks and gloves for starters. Also, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, coffee, tea etc. if you’re primarily doing a lot of sitting that will help....and throw a disposable hand-warmer in every pocket you have if need be.
 
kmw1954 said:
As long as I am busy and keep moving I'm not too bad but when there is no one on the range we sit and wait as on the range I work I'm all the way at the other end of the facility and not just a quick walk to get indoors.
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Can you set up one of these where you hang out waiting? https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200664866_200664866

When I'm tree stand hunting in the cold, I bring a sleeping bag and slide into it like a big worm ;). I put surplus sand bags over my boots to help keep the bag clean. Works great.
 
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kmw1954 said:
What I am wearing now are insulated boots with 2 pair of heavy boot socks, insulated underwear, a heavy sweat shirt, a Zip up hooded sweatshirt and a hooded jacket. Still get cold partly/mostly because of my very poor circulation. So far I think I have the feet OK but my legs get cold and my hands get cold.
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Jeans, sweatpants, and most trousers are lousy protection from cold. The wind cuts right through them and insulated long-johns don't have a lot of warmth to add. You need something insulated and windproof. 600 gram thinsulate or 6 oz polyfill will make a world of difference. I've used walls, carhart, and rothco over the years with good results down to -10. Coveralls need to unzip when temps get over 40.
 
Give carhartt a try. Got my big coat from dicks for $25.00! Didn't have a price tag only one left 2xl. Took it up cashier asked is $25 enough? Couldn't get my wallet out fast enough. Does take some time to break in. But its worth the cost and time to break them in. Keeps me toasty.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm looking now!I am familiar with the Carhart stuff but don't know that I need that heavy duck material as no heavy physical labor is involved. Have seen light weight nylon type material like the ice fishermen or snowmobilers wear but again am unfamiliar. The jacket I wear is more than warm enough and is below waist length also large enough I can layer under it. Sock and boots seam to be good. Also wearing hearing protection, muffs, has really helped too. I think right now it is mostly my legs I need help with.
 
Start with the base layers: merino wool. Wool as a general rule both breathes and wicks, while insulating. Wear wool socks. Tuck everything in.

Get a bib. I have one from Sierra Trading Post which is camo, water/windproof, and insulated with a reflective layer. It cost about 100 dollars.

Get a good jacket. Down is a lightweight, very insulating material. Heavyweight wool if you dont go with down. The higher percentage of wool, the better the material.

Get a wool balaclava and wear it around your neck. Get a wool hat or fur lined (not fake fur) hat.

Good gloves are important, mittens will be warmer.

Good boots. Mine are sheepskin lined.
 
kmw1954 said:
I'm outside working this winter
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How long have you lived in WI?

What sort of boots are you wearing? Do you wear them just in the winter or year round? If these are your year round boots they won't do for winter outdoors in SE WI because they won't have the needed space for insulation or heavy socks. Many people just cram more sock into a boot ignoring the need for dead air space which is what is keeping your feet warm. You need to be able to wiggle your toes comfortably and the insulating socks shouldn't have all the air compressed out of them.

What sort of hat/cap are you wearing? You need to protect your ears and keep your head warm. A beanie and ear muffs will do or a ear band or cap with ear flaps.

Get a pair of Carhart (or competetor) insulated bib coveralls. The ones with the zips at the ankles so they can go on and off over boots. Goodwill and other thrift stores may have donated sets since outdoor workers may have gotten new for the season. Don't overlook ski bibs, but do make sure they'll go on and off over boots and your pants. Think of them as a jacket for your lower half.
 
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Cotton kills. Get silk for the innermost layer; polypropylene will suffice if you don't want to spend the $$$ silk costs. Poly stinks after wearing it. Merino wool or alpaca socks with silk or poly liners. Fleece lined- jeans/cargos from Duluth trading, or Carhartt bibs, and a Carhartt Arctic coat with hood. Wear a warm hat, wool.
 
IlikeSA said:
Get a wool balaclava and wear it around your neck. Get a wool hat or fur lined (not fake fur) hat.
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hso said:
What sort of hat/cap are you wearing? You need to protect your ears and keep your head warm.
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I'll "third" keep your head warm. You can lose an awful lot of heat through your head. I've never been to Wisconsin, but I did spend a week on Rainier, and 21 days on Denali in my younger years. Not only that, but every winter there's a good many days right here in Eastern Idaho when the thermometer never gets up to zero. And before I retired, I spent a good many of those days working outside as an Electrician and ice fishing on weekends. So I'll say it again - keep your head warm.
As far as boots go, although they would keep your feet warm, mountaineering boots like I used would be silly, and completely impractical. So I'll just say this - make sure your boots are big enough so that you can wear heavy wool socks without restricting the circulation to your toes. You can wear thin nylon socks as liner socks (under the wool socks) if you don't like the feel of wool against your skin. But you have to have enough room in your boots for heavy wool socks when you're outside in the cold day after day. I've seen some knarly frostbite on climber's toes because they didn't wear boots that were big enough.
 
No one said Sitka yet? They really are the Bentley of outerwear.:)

I live in my Carhartt jacket, save for the small reprieve of finish work inside that the cavemen would screw up.
But their bibs suck long wind. The clasps are thin and fiddley. There is no zip down the front, so the worthless clasps must be employed every time, and there is no way to quick vent heat after strenuous activity.
The tiny zipper fly was stuck on mine and it was a race to get out of a fall arrest harness, high vis, and that damn zipper! Narrowly made it. No one likes to ride home in the truck with a guy who peed himself!:thumbdown:

They are durable and have zippered legs high enough to not struggle with boots though.
I like this style best, just not this pair. Goodwill is getting a set this spring, in great condition, with a hammer smashed zipper...:fire:
Many companies are the equal of Carhartt, some much better.

But for the top and just standing there, maybe helping with a firearm, I would get a sports type jacket. Skiing, ice fishing, winter sports type jacket. You’ll not need the durability of duck canvas, nor the weight. But you will want the mobility and the windproof.

Wind and snow layer.
Bulk insulation layer.
Your clothing.
Base layer.

To keep your hands warm, put on a hat!:)

And don’t just stand there waiting while the range is slow. Get paid to exercise!
(Just don’t sweat, or you’ll freeze...)
 
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