OT----How do you dress for cold weather

01BIRDDOG

Member
This winter being pretty cold for us Southern units i would like to know how you are dressing for this. We have only had some -25 days but i know what it has been North of me. Most if not all of my gear is Marine Corps from a couple years ago and is doing the job even the boots but i want to really get squared away on this before another winter. How are you dressing for several hours in the cold. Thanks.
 
I'm retired Army SF myself.
Layering works for me. I start with a polypropylene shirt next to me and work out from there with as many layers as needed for the weather and degree of activity I'll be engaged in. If I start to sweat (big no-no in the cold) I open up a layer or so or take a break.
I used to have a good snowmobile suit that was loose enough to put extra on under it.
Legs don't get covered as much. Thermal underwear and jeans unless I got on the snowmobile suit.
 
In a word; Layers.
The most important thing in my winter wardrobe is a pair of light cotton long underwear.
Just the bottoms.
Good socks, shirts, parkas, boots, gloves and a hat are a given.
It's the light long johns that get me through the winter.
 
Layers, plain and simple. Doesn't even matter much what they
are made of unless you are in some extreme cold weather.

Today was pretty mild when I went out plow snow, ~15F, I wore
an insulated undershirt, a T-shirt and a fleece lined flannel shirt
over that. I could (mostly) stay out of the wind, thanks to a heat
houser on the old Ford, that matters too.
Insulated underwear and blue jeans below those. Leather boots.
Gloves and a stocking cap of course.
Face mask and scarf help if you're in the wind.

Get too warm and you sweat. Once you're wet, you're cold.
 
Layers and many of them. If out side a long time long handles top and bottom then blue jeans and then maybe sweat pants and then coveralls. I have 3 shirts on right now. A T shirt and long handle top and then a long sleeve T shirt and then some times a flannel shirt on top of that. I wish I still had the Falwell weather gear I had back when I was in the Navy that stuff worked well but one of my wives figure I did not need them
 

We have been having the same weather Y'all are... The biggest problem I have is getting use to the cold once I do I don't have a problem with it...

I had a customer with a small dump truck not start in a yard were he was working yesterday... It never got out of the 20"s... I took a quick look at it and said fudge this I will see ya tomorrow its spose to get to 48,,, well it never did so I worked on it on the ground today and once I got past the chill I did not have a problem with it... It took me about 1 hour to get use to it... It was probably because it is a rustbucket from ell,,, it took me close to 2 hr to remove 6/7 nuts with out breaking them that retain the fuel pump (lotta back and forth with a tee handle)... It took me a hour to round up stuff and tie down the load of used singles so they would not dump on me...

I wore normal uniform rentals, a vest, light coat and a military helmet liner... It snowed a little about 10:30 and around 2/3:00 but you had to look for it because the wind was gusting...


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Spent 2 hours today plowing the drive again....25
mph wind out of the NW and a balmy 10 degrees.

Blue jeans and "snow pants". T-shirt, turtleneck
sweater and a coat. Balaclava style hat to cover
my face and another wool stocking cap over that.

Mittens and a good pair of boots. When it gets
really cold out, I will add a pair of "under
armour" thermal underwear.

Today, I walked out about 100 yds. to check my
bees and was sweating when I got back on the
tractor.....but, I have to admit, I am a bit too
short for my current weight...

Tim
 
01BD,
As the other members have stated, layers are a key factor. Another hint is keep moving!! Learned this about 50 plus years ago in northern Minnesota. Recently purchased a surplus British fireman's jacket and bibs from the local fleet store that are lined with Goretex. To my knowledge Goretex allows moisture out which is a major problem in cold weather. Would also stay away from steel toed boots. Have a pair that are better used in the summer season. Hope this helps!
Mr. T. Minnesota
PS Will be close to 30 below zero Monday night:)
 
Layers is the key. I live in Southwest Missouri and it has been colder this winter than in a long time. I work outside all the time and I have found that layering, i.e. T shirt, long sleeve shirt, hoody, and winter coat is the best way to go. Long underware or flannel lined jeans are great.
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Thats about what i used today------18 with snow, Under Armour,long sleeve tshirt,fleece then gortex parka with goose down on head with parka hood. Under Armor and blue jeans on bottom. I like really long neck stuff to cover as far up as i can. Nothing as bad as a cold zipper turning up under your chin. Thanks for reply.
 
It depends on two things: How cold is it? (For me, it's not actually "cold" until it gets below 0°F.) And: What are you doing outside?

But regardless of all that, rule number one is no cotton anywhere near the skin--or anywhere if it's likely to get wet.

If' you're working on (or with) tractors, some nice insulated coveralls work well--layer underneath as appropriate. (I'll admit my insulated coveralls are cotton, but if I'm wearing them, it's cold enough that I'm not getting wet from the outside, and I'm probably just wrenching or plowing, so I'm not generating a lot of sweat on the inside.)

If you're doing outdoor activities (snowshoeing, skiing), then layers are key. Some microfiber underneath, polar fleece above, and some Goretex (or similar) on top. Add in a wool sweater if you like. If you're working hard, the Goretex layer probably comes off pretty quick. (They say to dress for 15 minutes down the trail, not how you feel at the parking lot.)

But for just being outside without sweating (like walking the dog, or just going to work), my absolute favorite is a thick down coat. With that, the whole layering thing is irrelevant--I can (and do) wear it in -40 with just a T-shirt underneath it and not be cold. (At least not in the areas covered by the coat.) But as soon as I start exerting myself, it's too much, and the sweat starts accumulating...

-Paul
 

Wet is a issue...

A old lady down the road from me was found in the ditch in front of her house last Sunday around 10AM,,, She has the biggest tets you have ever seen I think they go down to her knees and she's not short...

She's in bad shape so till she comes out of ICU and can talk well we think someone had there way with her... He bloomers are in the edge of the woods and she had right much blood on her...

She smokes (gotta have a smoke no smoke'n in the hospital) so only stayed in the hospital till Wednesday,,, she calls my mom and ask if I can come over and light her heater.

I have to know so ask....

She heard someone around her barn/shed that night around 10PM so went to check and fell down she could not get up and peeded on herself... spent the night outside and said those bloomers had to come off they were wet and cold as ell...

Were the blood came from is she tried to use small trees to clime and get on her feet and all it did was tear the skin of her arms... I am glad she is OK but it sure was a mystery...
 
If I had to put on as many clothes as the respondents to your question are talking about I'd pack up and move farther south. Mexico would have an illegal immigrant problem!
 
Dickies insulated bib overalls normally over lite weight (employer issued) pants, t-shirt lite weight shirt matches pants, a hoody and insulated flannel jacket, a ballcap, insulated work gloves, barnboots with felt liners, and a full face beard. Worked well in -30* windchill other week. Fingers and toes do get very cold and painful but had touch of frostbite a few years ago. Once that happens I'm done!
 
This is how I usually dress for the cold. Carhart insulated jumpsuit, sorells pac boots, insulated hunting gloves, face/neck gator, knit hat, layers underneath. If it gets warm I can alway peel off a layer.

Kirk
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CHECK BACK.

Just got a NEW "SABLE" Official RUSSIAN OFFICER-type hat.

Look around the "SURPLUS STORES" fur OFFICIAL "MARINE" COLD head gear. -40

GOT MINE, Duty FREE. MOSCOW!

John,PA Delivered the 1 gal. container of "top secerete" gurnsey milk, here for next "SUMMIT metting, ice cream!""

John,PA BIRDOGS
 
long underwear bottoms all winter, inside or outside.
pair of sweatpants or those insulated nylon pants under your jeans help in real cold.
layers on top, a hooded sweatshirt under your coat so you can pull the hood up over your hat in the wind.
Don't know if you can still even buy them, but I always wear a dickie to keep my neck covered without the danger of a scarf.
Good winter boots, not workboots in extreme cold. yer feet get cold, you're done.
A good pair of mittens, with a pair of leather work gloves
in an inside pocket for when I need fingers.

Use that old survival trick, unzip your jacket and put your hands
inside, under your arms, and squeeze down hard. quick way to warm almost frostbit fingers.
 
As others have said layers are you best friend. I
have found a little oversized insulated full body
jumpsuit is best for me. It lets you move around
without creating openings for cold air to get to
your body. A front zipper allows you to adjust for
ventilation so you don"t overheat. I have a ski
mask for when it is really cold or the wind is
blowing hard. I also have a pair of mittens that I
wear when I am only doing things like pushing
snow. They keep my fingers warmer than gloves. Two
pairs of heavy socks and comfortable waterproof
boots. When the temperature first drops you freeze
but you soon get use to it. You can never get use
to a cold wind.
 
Like you, 95% of my cold weather gear is military. My last active duty unit was the 10th Special Forces in Ft Devens MA; I left w/ every bit of the cold weather gear to include ski boots. I really, really like the polypropylene long underwear. The ski mittens are bulky but do the job. And, I made sure to get a pair of GI boots in size 10 (I wear 9) so that I can get 2 pair of socks on in the boots.
 
Depends on what I'm doing. I have a bib jacket Carhartt set that's artic rated. I wear that when I'm going to be out setting on a tractor. I have an ice fishing bib jacket set that breaths a little that is designed for wearing layers under it. I wear that when I'm going to be physically active outside and wear the layers accordingly. Couple of layers if I'm going to be on the snowmobile and less like if I'm working. It's wind and water proof. Boots are another matter. I have boots that take a heavy liner. I wear those for on the tractor. If I'm going to be working my Redwings that I wear year round. Gloves are also determined by activity. Blowing snow or snowmobiling then heavy gloves designed for that. Sometimes heavy insulated leather gloves if I got fencing to repair or other work and then insulated mechanics gloves the rest of the time.

I have a complete set of other clothing for hunting that is only worn for hunting.

Rick
 
Hey bruce (VA), I was station in Fort Devens back in 1966, with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. My brigade went to Vietnam afer that.Do you know if that fort is still active?
 
Should have mentioned, if blowing snow with the big tractor (I ain't setting on no open station tractor in the cold if I can help it) with the cab and above zero pair of jeans, running shoes Carhartt jacket and gloves. I wear hearing protection so I don't worry about my ears being warm. Below zero I wear the ice fishing suit. Long as that wind isn't blowing directly on you that's pretty good.

Rick
 
Back when we were there, it was the ASA tng facility, plus it had some AD combat units. (yours & mine) It closed in 1996 as a US Army post, but the MA NG does have some units there. AFAIK, just about everything north of Rt 2 is all gone as far as Army buildings, etc & is now commercial development & housing. I know from looking at Google maps that the post housing were I lived in 1970 on Salerno Circle is gone.
 
(quoted from post at 08:11:54 01/26/14) Like you, 95% of my cold weather gear is military. My last active duty unit was the 10th Special Forces in Ft Devens MA; I left w/ every bit of the cold weather gear to include ski boots. I really, really like the polypropylene long underwear. The ski mittens are bulky but do the job. And, I made sure to get a pair of GI boots in size 10 (I wear 9) so that I can get 2 pair of socks on in the boots.
eally good article in this months VFW magazine on the 10th Mountain Division with a lot of pics. Can you think of their gear as compared with what is issued today.
 
I've got three words for ya. Wool. Wool. Wool. No synthetic material matches for warmth or durability. My work wardrobe is all second hand, so though wool can get spendy, I can't remember when I've paid more than $10 for a good sweater. I do wear cotton thermal long johns. Mine stay on inside or outside from Nov-Mar.

Pack boots are really important when the temps get below 0*. Sorel, Kamik, or L.L. Bean all make good pack boots. LL Bean is still made in the US I think, and Kamik is still Canadian. Sorel now makes their stuff overseas.

I really dislike thinsulate and goretex. You sweat in them and then you freeze. And polar fleece is junk and it doesn't even make good shop rags.

There are also degrees of comfort. It's important to remember that if it's 20 below, you'll never really be comfortable. And if the windchil is -20, you're going to be miserable however warm you are dressed.

Colin, MN
 
(quoted from post at 13:02:15 01/26/14) I've got three words for ya. Wool. Wool. Wool. No synthetic material matches for warmth or durability. My work wardrobe is all second hand, so though wool can get spendy, I can't remember when I've paid more than $10 for a good sweater. I do wear cotton thermal long johns. Mine stay on inside or outside from Nov-Mar.

Pack boots are really important when the temps get below 0*. Sorel, Kamik, or L.L. Bean all make good pack boots. LL Bean is still made in the US I think, and Kamik is still Canadian. Sorel now makes their stuff overseas.

I really dislike thinsulate and goretex. You sweat in them and then you freeze. And polar fleece is junk and it doesn't even make good shop rags.

There are also degrees of comfort. It's important to remember that if it's 20 below, you'll never really be comfortable. And if the windchil is -20, you're going to be miserable however warm you are dressed.

Colin, MN

LOL Colin, that's easy for you to say, try finding anything in a used shop to fit me.

Rick
 
That would be true, Rick! You are above average :)

You know, I actually have a really hard time finding blue jeans. Usually takes me a couple of months of keeping my eye on the local thrift store racks before I can stock up for the coming year. Christina has pretty much given up patching my jeans because I wear the patches out in about 2 weeks - just not worth the trouble.

Colin
 
Well Colin if you stop setting on yer butt so much you wouldn't wear holes in the seat of yer jeans...... :lol:

Rick
 

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