Winter wear?

[KevininPa]

Oly Wow. just did a quick search for Merino wool socks and base layers. Prices are scattered all over the place. Socks from about $10.00 a pair to over $40.00 a pair. Base layers the same thing. I also see a bunch of different blends. How do you determine which is best?

Next I was looking at bibs and ski pants, need more research. Feel like a complete dope and realizing how much I don't know. I want something good but I also don't want to overbuy. I will be spending most of this time inside a covered building so it will be somewhat wind protected. And again it won't be doing heavy outdoor work where I need heavy canvas duck to prevent rips/tears or burning holes.

I get merino wool socks from Sportsman Guide. They always have a three pack for a reasonable price. Haven't bought any lately, so I'm not up on the current price. I've always found them to be comfortable.

Actually, between Sportsmans Guide and Duluth Trading, you should be able to find all that you need.

 

[WisBorn]

All long underwear is not created equal!
Buy good polyurethane!! I like light weight moisture wicking and on cold days followed with heavy weight. Get the heavy weight a size larger. Non cotton pants - wool is good or high tech fabric. Same thing on top plus a thin fleece vest. The vest will help keep your core warm. A fourth layer of cold cold days. Make sure that the clothes are not to tight as you will get cold if you don't have circulation.

As many have said, wool socks, wool hat (Stormy Kromer my favorite), and good gloves. Don't cheap out on the boots you will pay for it.

Stay warm!

 

[Blue Jays]

Wool is a terrific year-round fabric. Dries instantly, does not stink, and will last years with proper care.
A few 100% merino wool tee-shirts in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve options is a solid investment.

You will find yourself wearing the wool tee-shirts even in the summer under a plaid shirt, for example.
That remarkable ability to comfortably wick is desirable in any season...so they pay for themselves.

As many others have shared, "cotton kills" and should be completely avoided during winter months.
It gets that saying because more than a few people have experienced hypothermia while wearing cotton.

Obtain simple 100% merino wool base layer items. Add some zip-front midweight wool shirts for layering.
A heavy Mackinaw-style caped coat with shearling collar is toasty, silent, and has timeless good looks.

 

[kmw1954]

OK, Folk here it is, I ordered a pair of these; https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Vent...9181949&sprefix=ski+pant,aps,226&sr=8-11&th=1 and the waist is large enough that I should be able to put on long-jons and sweat pants under them for those really cold days or just heavy long underwear, Also have a battery heated vest that I got for Christmas so with that ,a couple seat shirts and my winter jacket I should be good. Maybe some hand warmers in the pockets.

I'll see how this works or if I need to make an adjustment. Any how I have all your examples to fall back on if these fail.

 

[rdnktrkr]

A friend who is having circulation problems purchased some battery powered jacket liners and pants liners from marketplace at a reasonable price and he loves them, I have Gerbins for riding motorcycles when its chilly under leather with a therma-silk base layer

 

[DustyGmt]

Oly Wow. just did a quick search for Merino wool socks and base layers. Prices are scattered all over the place. Socks from about $10.00 a pair to over $40.00 a pair. Base layers the same thing. I also see a bunch of different blends. How do you determine which is best?

Next I was looking at bibs and ski pants, need more research. Feel like a complete dope and realizing how much I don't know. I want something good but I also don't want to overbuy. I will be spending most of this time inside a covered building so it will be somewhat wind protected. And again it won't be doing heavy outdoor work where I need heavy canvas duck to prevent rips/tears or burning holes.

I'd go with alpaca for the socks. It's better than sheep's wool. I can't qualify that with a breakdown analysis, it's just what I wear for socks in the winter time and my in laws own an alpaca farm and they have told me why I just forgot and took their word for it, something to do with lanolin content and better moisture resistance?. You can find alpaca socks for like $15/pair.

 

[doubleh]

OK, Folk here it is, I ordered a pair of these; https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Ventures-Waterproof-Windproof-Expandable-Waist/dp/B081TQ7G52/ref=sr_1_11?crid=1F2EX9P2C5PS7&dchild=1&keywords=ski+pants+men&qid=1609181949&sprefix=ski+pant,aps,226&sr=8-11&th=1 and the waist is large enough that I should be able to put on long-jons and sweat pants under them for those really cold days or just heavy long underwear, Also have a battery heated vest that I got for Christmas so with that ,a couple seat shirts and my winter jacket I should be good. Maybe some hand warmers in the pockets.

I'll see how this works or if I need to make an adjustment. Any how I have all your examples to fall back on if these fail.

Looks good. I do go out on somewhat chilly days and that is the type of pants I wear. Mine are fleece lined Wrangler carpenter pants that I found at Walmart for about the same price as yours. For a few years after ertirement I switched from the heavy Walls stuff to ski bibs and ski jacket but decline to go out when it's cold enough to require those now.

In my working days I wore heavy weight wool socks from Cabelas over a light weight liner sock because they were very warm, didn't shrink when washed, and lasted almost forever. I don't know if they are still available now.

 

[kmw1954]

Looks good. I do go out on somewhat chilly days and that is the type of pants I wear. Mine are fleece lined Wrangler carpenter pants that I found at Walmart for about the same price as yours. For a few years after retirement I switched from the heavy Wall stuff to ski bibs and ski jacket but decline to go out when it's cold enough to require those now.

I actually went on Disability retirement 5 years ago, just before my heart attack and the first winter wasn't too bad, but there after I got more and more sedentary gaining weigh and loosing strength. Then this past spring I finally got bored and went back to work. Best thing to happen. Which is how I got here asking this question. If it wasn't for this great job at the range I'd still be sitting inside looking out!

 

[doubleh]

I actually went on Disability retirement 5 years ago, just before my heart attack and the first winter wasn't too bad, but there after I got more and more sedentary gaining weigh and loosing strength. Then this past spring I finally got bored and went back to work. Best thing to happen. Which is how I got here asking this question. If it wasn't for this great job at the range I'd still be sitting inside looking out!

It's good you are up and moving around. My dad used to say if you sit down when you retire you will just stiffen up and die. He was active all his life. My father-in-law retired, went to his recliner and had a heart attack which he recovered from. His doctor told him to walk at least two blocks every day. He ignored this and went back to his recliner and didn't survive the next attack. The older you get the harder the moving becomes but one should keep at it as much as possible.

 

[Up North]

I'm in minnesota so I know your struggle. Insulated boots and wool socks are awesome. Don't laugh but union suits work well your lower body heat mixes with upper body heat much as coveralls do. As you know daytime high and low temps can vary greatly and what you wore yesterday might not be enough for today so best to keep extra clothes in your car. I find a hoodie works good as being bald sometimes I like to pull hood up or down to be comfortable.

 

[kmw1954]

I figure these pants will be less bulky and lighter than the heavy duck material and as I am at the smaller side of the waist measurement I can put a pair or two of long-jons or seat pants under them if it gets really cold. I already layer my upper body pretty well so I really think once I have my legs taken care of all should be good.

 

[JR24]

Grew up in WI, ice fishing and hunting.

Learned about cold when I moved to western Alaska.

Start out with base layer, in real cold i found the Under armor 4.0 base layer worked better than even good wool (no idea if they till make it, I've had mine for 10 years). Then layer.

I like a solid wool sweater, lined pants like Carhartt, bibs next when necessary. I made do with a Carhartt jacket over the top but when it got real bad i had a goose down parka from Cabela's that kept me warm even in -35 before wind for hours (usually tundra bumping on the snowmachine or buzzing down the river at 50 mph). Good hat with flaps (I'll admit I have a beaver and seal skin hat, which are best but fleece is fine) to keep the wind off, or a hood. I like an outer glove or mitt and wool gloves under myself over big snowmobile gloves. Wool socks, good boots. I have Irish Setters that are pretty old but old army surplus "Bunny boots" are great if you can find em.

Back here in WI I've only kept the Carhartt jacket, sweater and base layer and boots but can spend all day on the ice below zero just fine.

 

[DustyGmt]

It's good you are up and moving around. My dad used to say if you sit down when you retire you will just stiffen up and die. He was active all his life. My father-in-law retired, went to his recliner and had a heart attack which he recovered from. His doctor told him to walk at least two blocks every day. He ignored this and went back to his recliner and didn't survive the next attack. The older you get the harder the moving becomes but one should keep at it as much as possible.

It is said people with a job to do or folks that stay busy stand a better chance. I'm sure genetics plays a part but I know my father in law will probably die with his boots on, he acts like retirement is the grim reaper. He is one of those guys who has to be busy all the time. When he should be taking it easy on his time off he is is instead out on his tractor or something, I think he associates relaxing with rigormortis.... I think there is some truth to this stuff sometimes.

 

[whughett]

You are the second to bring this up and I ignored the first one. Being from Wisconsin or how long has nothing to do with handling the cold.

First off, I am 66 years old and have lived here my entire life. Cold was never a problem but then I never had to work outside in it for the whole day. Use to be I could do what I am doing now and handle it perfectly fine. As kids we would play ice hockey all day and never get cold. I've even fallen thru the ice thigh and had to walk home soaked so that by the time we got home my pants were frozen solid.

Twenty years ago I was diagnosed with Peripheral Vascular Disease and have artificial grafts going to each leg. Which means I have reduced blood flow to my legs. Next I had an open heart triple bypass almost 4 years ago. Even inside a 70* house there are times I am cold.

So your assertion about where I live is completely false. In 66 years I have never had to buy special clothing to be able to work outside.

As a man who worked New England winters in ocean front neighbors climbing telephone poles for 30 years I can say a few things about how to dress. 15 degree days and a 20 knot wind for eight hours on end will chill to the bone regardless of dress or acclamation.

 

[kmw1954]

15 degree days and a 20 knot wind for eight hours on end will chill to the bone regardless of dress or acclamation.

I spent the last 8.5 years working for a food company doing production maintenance. One minute I would be next to a 450* oven and the next in a -40* freezer working on conveyors or refrigeration fan motors. Even then I would tell people, I can handle the heat, yes it is uncomfortable but cold, Cold Hurts.

 

[HB]

If you are standing in 1 spot on concrete, see if you can put a mat down. The ground sucks the heat from you. And even a small rubber mat will help.

 

[kmw1954]

If you are standing in 1 spot on concrete, see if you can put a mat down. The ground sucks the heat from you. And even a small rubber mat will help.

Yes Sir there is a pcs. of carpet like a door mat size. Heavy cut loop pile.
I also have a small space heater I plug in under the little bench. Helps some but not much.

 

[whughett]

I spent the last 8.5 years working for a food company doing production maintenance. One minute I would be next to a 450* oven and the next in a -40* freezer working on conveyors or refrigeration fan motors. Even then I would tell people, I can handle the heat, yes it is uncomfortable but cold, Cold Hurts.

Darn straight it does, especially the hands as they start to warm.

 

[kmw1954]

Sno pants just arrived and impressed. They are not quite what I had imagined though I do believe they will work. Already tried them on and the fit over a pair of sweat pants! They feel like they actually weigh about the same as a pair of jeans.

I work Saturday so they will get the test. Only supposed to reach a high of 34.

 

[GAF]

I use a dickey when deer hunting.Also La cross Alphaburly 1600 gram insulation boots for deer hunting and ice fishing. I use these most of the time. Irish Setter makes a pair of regular boots with 2000 gram insulation called snow claw XT.

https://www.denniskirk.com/schampa/black-supreme-fleece-dickie-td001.p3429869.prd/3429869.sku?utm_source=google&utm_medium=csecid=9565474530&aid=102006560527&keyword=881096082647:la-881096082647&kid=881096082647&gclid=CjwKCAiA57D_BRAZEiwAZcfCxXgXvZxliFs6lvogIu_NHkQWfLkbh3MOdQakQx72mOrhWe8V41L7MxoCMTsQAvD_BwE

 

[GAF]

Perhaps a heated vest of some kind. I may try one next year for deer hunting.

 

[kmw1954]

Perhaps a heated vest of some kind. I may try one next year for deer hunting.

Back to post #54

 

[GAF]

Back to post #54

We can`t have two mentions of electrically heated garments?

 

[JR24]

I spent the last 8.5 years working for a food company doing production maintenance. One minute I would be next to a 450* oven and the next in a -40* freezer working on conveyors or refrigeration fan motors. Even then I would tell people, I can handle the heat, yes it is uncomfortable but cold, Cold Hurts.

I'm the opposite. Don't mind the cold, didn't particularly mind bumping around the tundra for 6 or 8 hours in 20-50 degrees below zero hunting or checking trap lines. Get the right gear and it's not so bad.

But put me out all day in 90+ degrees and humidity and I'm beyond miserable.

 

[geim druth]

Caribou already mentioned wool insoles for your boots. Get two and switch them out every day. They will work better, last longer, (and smell better) if they air out for a day between uses.

I also second the suggestion that you look for some military surplus heavy wool pants. I used to have a pair of Swedish or Finnish surplus that were very warm and rugged as well.