Lightweight winter clothes

Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member
I have worn duck and denim all my life. It's getting to be too heavy. I'm just a skinny guy and I need to stop wearing 30 pounds of clothes just to go outside. I either need to find something lightweight or stay inside. Do you have any good recommendations for lightweight coveralls?
 
Get some nylon britches and a Nylon jacket. Wind will not go through them very easy. Not very heavy.
 
My bibs for snowmobile weigh about one quarter what my carhart bibs do. Ski pants are even lighter.
 
I like to layer clothes so as it warms up, I take a layer off at a time. In winter I like Duluth bibs and jacket. Summer I use lighter ones. However I do have heavy arctic Carhart coveralls for the really cold times pushing snow on tractor.
 
The best clothing to keep you comfortable is snowmobile manufacturer made clothing, the coats, bibs, and gloves are MUCH better at keeping you warm but not overheated than anything else you can buy. They are crazy expensive tho and not too durable for farm work. I watch garage sales and pick up a new pair of bibs and gloves every year, I get several years from a jacket.
 
(quoted from post at 07:36:06 11/29/15) The best clothing to keep you comfortable is snowmobile manufacturer made clothing, the coats, bibs, and gloves are MUCH better at keeping you warm but not overheated than anything else you can buy. They are crazy expensive tho and not too durable for farm work. I watch garage sales and pick up a new pair of bibs and gloves every year, I get several years from a jacket.

I picked up a jacket and bids designed for ice fishing a few years back when I was still blowing snow here in MN on an open tractor. The reason was they are both wind and water proof. The outer part is heavy nylon and has proven to be very durable. They have padding built into the seat and knees of the bibs. They are expensive thought. About 300 for the set. I did pick them up on clearance for about half that and they have been worth every penny. When it's sub zero a heavy flannel shirt under the jacket and I'm good. I also use them snowmobiling and have been out for hours at a time in sub zero weather.

Rick
 
Don't forget the generic version of UnderArmor when layering clothing (long sleeved t-shirts and long johns). They are amazingly warm, light weight and comfortable. Both Fleet Farm and Shopko carry less costly versions than the name brand - they are excellent and the price is reasonable.

Pair them with the ski outer-wear that old tanker is referring too and you will be warm and comfortable.
 
One old farmer told me buy jeans in the fall that way through winter they would be thickest. By spring the knees would go and he would have patches on his knees which would make great pants for handling hay bales light and reinforced knees. I follow his advice and buy my tee shirts and pants in the fall that way by next summer there wore out and light weight. That's my secret to staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer
 
this worx for me ,,but didn't when I was skinny as a whip yrs ago ,,.back then I was jeans under coveralls ,preferred lite til it got dam cold so I could work , most times a thermal zip hoodie and by all meamns a hat ,,.. one with earmuffz is nice in severe cold ,that workt good for 10 hours outside doing home improvement and construction /hog farming ,. BUT TODAY I AM A ROBUST 250 hunk LOL,, so this worx best for me t shirt ..boxer shorts or sweats under denim bibs with a hoodie over all that ,, I can move good in that and keep warm if the wind aint mean or above freezing ,. I have serveral insulated coverall bibs for the cold weather ,. and lots of heavy plaid zip hoodie heavy shirts ,, a windbreaker over that is nice for auctions or roading tractors ,, I also have a firemans heavy weather coat to keep the weather off me in crazy wether rain . snow sleet ,. but that thang weighs nearly 10 pounds.. also have slip in cheap boots ,,. and add sox for the cold , my feet stay dry and therefore warm , summer time I prefer slipon older street shoes ,,. my feet stay comfortable and don't sweat like they do in lace up work shoes ,and I don't spend a couple minutes grunting to put theshjoes on and lacing them up theslip ons will come off easily by latching the heal on a step and lifting my foot out ,,. and I can march thru 6 inches of cow dupe without them coming off too ,,used to hate to get my hand s grimey getting work shoes off or fighting iced up shoe laces for 5 minute s.all the while my feet were froze and or wet ,, . I can jump in and out of all this in a couple minutes ,, and that's what I like ,, yes I have spent a hundred bux plus for good dry work shoes , but was soon saddened when a sumthing puncturesd thru somewhere and violated the dry with water ,, so much for that hundred dollar pair of shoes because ,, my worksessionsoutside in winter time are 3 hours in the morning ,, followed by a 2 hr lunch /mail / phone calls / research at noon and build fires ,,. then out again til dark,,. without the hour or more warm up at noon my plan to stay warm falls apart ,,. feet get cold ,, t shirt gets sweaty and wet from physicalmovement ,,,I always change out wet clothes .. failure to do so is a recipe for a cold ,.although I have crackt and split the rubber boots in the severe cold ,,. for another 12 bux at tractor supply I am good to go ,,. and I probably buy 1or 2 pairs a year and have taken a utiliy knife to the calfs topps andmade them into hi tops for summer wet weather work . I do have nice steel toed and also a pair of leather decent work shoes ,, but rarely wear them unless the demands of the day require it ,,.
 
Once it gets real cold , I like my union suit , sweat shirt and bibbed overalls. I am a cold hearty Norsky , and take the cold well. Don't like or need insulated boots , or insulated coveralls .Just some yellow chore gloves, and if isn't too windy ,of 30 below extreme cold , I don't really care about a hat either. But my wife , is the opposite , frozen all the time ,even with the best of cold weather gear. I guess we are all just different.
 
A nylon windbreaker over a light denim jacket then a down filled nylon insulation vest or jacket. For the bottom half, Poly propylene layer then insulated snow pants. if getting into rough abrasive material, an outer cotton duck layer to take abrasion. US government white mickey mouse boots on the toes to really make a difference. Jim
Propylene Uwear
 
I am somewhat unusual. I wear a thermal long sleeve t shirt, a mid weight long sleeve shirt, a pull over hoodie, and either a jean jacket or a mid weight hooded jacket, for up to zero, below that I dig out the heavier stuff. On my legs I wear a pair of leather chaps that my wife built. ( her web site is www.lwlether.com ) Wear a ball cap or felt hat until it gets below zero, then will dig out the ear flappers, which I ABSOLUTELY hate to wear!!!!!!!
custom leather products
 
It is all about the bottom layer . First a cotton T-shirt ,then some material I don't know the name of that is an undershirt. You get these more in ski shops than work clothes stores. Once you have that material it seals in the body heat. You can have a flannel shirt and jacket after that.
 
Polypro underwear. Pendleton wool sirt, heavy cotton zip up hoodie, light nylon windbreaker or the 25 dollar fleece lined nylon jacket.
On the bottom, poly pro medium weight underwear, and then a pair of GOOD fleece pants that are windproof. Look for hunting pants. If needed a pair of cheap windpants over them. Nylon woven belt. Stocking cap with the little bill on iy. Fleece gloves.
 
I think that's what I need to watch for, snowmobile or ski suit. I have a camo hunting suit that is not too heavy but plenty warm. It's worn out though and needs replaced.
 
Nothing new, but thin cotton layers are about the most practical warmth you can get. No heavy jacket. But then I don't live in western Nebraska. Northeast Wisconsin is drafty enough.

Glenn F.
 
I like poly-pro/Gortex for the first layer to wick moisture away from my skin. No cotton underwear, once I sweat a little bit the cotton seems to stay damp the rest of the day for me.

Ski clothes or snowmobile outer clothes are much lighter and just as warm as regular insulated work clothes. I skip blue jeans under bibs, they just add weight and restrict movement without adding warmth. Below zero some flannel lounge pants between the inner long underwear and the outer bibs works fine for me. Shop online sales of last years ski and snowmobile clothes for the lowest prices.
 
Under Armour Its not cheap but it works for me. Most sporting goods or outfitters handle it. Or just Google it and buy it on-line.
 
GordoSD,

I strongly agree with the use of fleece garments (had to do some research to find out just what they are called) , different name brands do exist but the common denominator is being called fleece. I have stayed away from these products until my employer gave us all fleece jackets free for promotional reasons, in fact they gave our department two so one is for good and the other for home use. They are light weight and very warm. I wear them under all my usual carhart and blue jean jackets. Now I must find some fleece lines jeans to go with my flannel ones.
 
It seems to me on auction day, no matter what I wear, or take along in the truck, to wear, I am always freezing, and usually wet! I don't see how one to two acres, of milling people, can fail to throw off any heat. It does'nt seem to make any difference wheather, I am in Ore. or eastern Washington, it is just as cold. Using the speaker truck as a wind break is too loud to work.
 
If you wear cotton UNDER the polu pro . you are defeating the wicking of body moisture. Fordet the cotton. Try this wash a heavy cotton sweatshirt and a fleece item together. When you remove them from the washer the cotton will weigh about 3 lbs, be very wet and cold. The fleece will be almost wearable without drying. Same with the polypropolene.
 
Carhartt makes a thin thermal top and bottom that works for me pretty well. That with a short sleeve tee-shirt over it works great. And i wear a flannel lined shirt from LL Bean for a coat over that. If your a working Man and im sure you are all thats warm enough and thin enough to not bogg you down. You can move your arms up and down and work without alot of effort. If the temps get really cold just wear the thicker carhartt thermal top. Works like a champ.
 
I bought a pair of ski pants, like bibs, for skiers many years ago on the discount rack for work. They are very light and very warm. Not real good for rough work but they lasted me about 30 years. You have to be very careful around barbwire but the trade off is worth it.
 
Carhart X06 arctic coveralls weight 6 lbs.
Haven't worn long underwear in years.
-40 is common around our place.
Not cheap but they keep you warm and are built tough.
The fabric is near airtight and very good at keeping the wind out.
Be warned though that you might not want to put them on until you wait a few hours after eating a big bowl of chili.
 
(quoted from post at 17:22:14 11/29/15) Once it gets real cold , I like my union suit , sweat shirt and bibbed overalls. I am a cold hearty Norsky , and take the cold well. Don't like or need insulated boots , or insulated coveralls .Just some yellow chore gloves, and if isn't too windy ,of 30 below extreme cold , I don't really care about a hat either. But my wife , is the opposite , frozen all the time ,even with the best of cold weather gear. I guess we are all just different.

I'm pretty much the same way. Only I don't have to work outside all day anymore. Long Johns are a must in the winter. If you need to be outside for extended periods of time the Thinsulate ones work the best. My dad wasn't a very heavy man and always wore long underwear. He always told me to stick to the long johns until they stuck to you. Meaning, he wouldn't quit using them until the first of June.
 

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