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paulz
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2018 10:55am
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Is "a dry cold" really better? On the NorCal coast it's 38F this morning, foggy and wet. Been thinking about a second residence (selling our house in town), Reno, Palm Springs, someplace for winter where we could drive back to the cabin in a day. Temps are colder in winter, minimal snow, but it's a dry cold. I really like to be outside every day working on something.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2018 11:37am
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Yes it is. Here in my part of Canada we get winter temperatures ranging from above freezing to -40C/-40F. Ignoring that extreme cold (where there is no such thing as a dry or wet cold - just cold), I would much rather run/work/hike in a dry -20C/-4F than a damp -4C/25F. You learn to dress for it and even enjoy it. When it is damp, your clothes don't insulate as well and it just gets through to your bones.
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2018 11:55am
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The very worse thing you can do in the cold is get wet. You can get hypothermia at 60 degrees F wearing wet clothes. You can get wet from either exterior environmental conditions or perspiration.
We that grew up in great white north learn quickly how to dress for it.
But you can also over dress for activity and sweat yourself into wet. I love to cross country ski my mountain. Biggest rookie mistake I see with novice skiers is they over dress for activity and don't vent their clothing and they sweat. Then they get cold. Evaporation is a cooling process. Venting can be as easy as unzipping jacket and/or taking off hat
Biggest lost of heat to body is head, hands, crotch and feet. These are places where blood vessels are close to outer body. Insulate these first.
Cotton is a horrible fiber to dress in for cold. It gets wet and doesn't dry quickly. Base layers should be something that doesn't retain moisture. Wool is a miracle fiber. Even wet it retains a lot of warmth but there's a lot of synthetic fibers out there now that do the same thing for those of you that are sensitive to wool.
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ICC
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2018 02:50pm
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Quoting: paulz Is "a dry cold" really better?
Same as a dry hot climate is more comfortable than a humid hot climate
Dress in layers in cold weather. While my temperatures don't drop as low as those in the northern states or Canada I seldom use one heavy outer garment. Typical is 3 to 4 layers with the outermost being a close woven windbreaker type material
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2018 05:26pm
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I'd take 15f and snow over 35f and rain any day of the week.
I spent this past weekend working outside around the cabin in a 32 degree wet snow. I was wishing it was colder.
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 01:41pm
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Educate me: This morning was about 50, foggy and damp. Rain was coming. I did some chainsaw work on steep hillside, rigorous. Had cotton socks, briefs, t shirt, sweatshirt and hat. Denim jeans. Came back to the cabin soaked in my own sweat. What's the clothing I should have?
Went back out in the rain to finish. Gave up..
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ICC
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:14pm
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https://www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/news/news-post/winter-coming-what-wear-outdoor-wo rk
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/layering-basics.html
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:19pm
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There’s a lot of membrane fabrics. Goretex is my go to. Allows you to perspire out of fabric but doesn’t allow rain in. In my younger years I rock climbed a lot. Staying warm during activity wasn’t tough but you didn’t want to be wet and at rest for prolonged periods. And a cold rain out of nowhere wasn’t unusual .
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:42pm
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Thanks! Just so happens my wife is Christmas shopping today. She's at REI now. Texted those articles. We'll see what happens. Won't be cheap I'm sure..
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:37pm
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Quoting: paulz She's at REI now.
Not at that store! Way better choices IMHO....
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:59pm
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Luckily she called me from REI. 300 clams for a gortex jacket that I can make look like I'm homeless in one day.
What goes right over you skin, besides cotton? I can wear wool but it does itch.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 07:36pm
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Quoting: paulz What goes right over you skin, besides cotton? I can wear wool but it does itch.
Merino wool doesn't itch and is the cats A$$
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Borrego
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# Posted: 14 Dec 2018 10:31pm
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Rethinking the original topic......Our cabin in the SoCal desert can get sooooo cold it is for sure far worse than the winters i remember from my youth...that's why it's always warmer in the winter/cooler in the summer when you're closer to the ocean....
At least the moisture can retain a little of the heat, when it's dry and windy, it can cut right thru ya....
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2018 02:35am - Edited by: silverwaterlady
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We've purchased most of our synthetic and wool clothing from www.sierratradingpost.com or thrift stores.
I never pay full price for these items. It's taken a while but we've been able to outfit ourselves at a discount price.
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creeky
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2018 10:59am
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I look for some of the old brands. Kombi. You can look at the materials. Polimide features big. I like the new wool / poly whatever blends. Very comfortable.
Wicks the moisture away. Makes for a nice dry warm day.
My gortex jacket took a beating for years and always looked brand new. Until I dried it in the drier and the arm got caught in something. Anyone know how to fix shredded gortex?
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2018 01:23pm - Edited by: paulz
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Welp, I'm sick in bed, dammit. 102, dry cough, headache, weak. Been taking Ibuprofen for a couple days, felt well enough to work at the cabin, mistake I guess.
I wouldn't shop at REI, too many spotless SUVs with shiny tires outside. But when the wife goes Christmas shopping you gotta go with the flow. She didn't get anything fortunately.
Because I remembered I have a drawer full of old dress sweaters, bet some are that good wool. Gonna go check it out as soon as I can get up. Also the Goodwill is nearby, isles of clothing, probably some from REI, last year's styles..
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2018 11:45am
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Funny thing about REI is that started as a low cost co-op for climbers. I believe it was run out of someone's basement. I was one of the original member. The catalog was ditto sheets of the equipment they offer which was all climbing stuff. Now they are all high end but still somewhat loyal to their climbing roots.
Most import layers to consider are your underwear. These you can purchase at Wal-Mart, ski shops or similar. Next layers can also be had fairly cheaply. The one that's going to cost the money is the outer layer if you want something like Gore-Tex. I think Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) is more economical than REI.
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snobdds
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2018 01:28pm
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I live in Wyoming and learned a long time ago how to dress. Skiing and working out in the cold will give you a lesson on how to dress. For really cold days...
Silk base layer
Wool Second layer
Fleece Mid layer
Down layer
Technical shell.
That will keep you warm and dry. If you overheat, only shed down to the fleece mid layer. I never get cold.
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fitzpatt
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# Posted: 17 Dec 2018 04:03pm
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I swear by UNIQLO. It's a Japanese brand. Both the Heattech and AIRism work great as they allow the body to breath and do not trap moisture. www. uniqlo.com
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2018 12:12am
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I got my gortex jacket at vv boutique (value village). 7 bucks.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2018 10:59am
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Great ideas! Still sick in bed, forgot how much fun the flu can be! Can't wait to start my new vintage non cotton winter cabin work wardrobe! Might get the underwear new.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2018 02:23pm
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For long johns, you want silk, synthetic, or wool (some can be really soft).
Of the synthetics, there must be 500 different high tech sounding fabrics but almost all of them are mostly polyester. They may be mixed with spandex and some others for fit and comfort.
You don't need to spend a lot of money on these. I just picked up several pairs of long underwear pants for $7 each at Costco. 76% polyester, 19% acrylic and 5% spandex. Comfortable and worked fine on a 2-hour hike at 10F. I'll probably go get a few more.
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 18 Dec 2018 02:51pm
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NorthRic. Spot on. In your description of miracle fabric description. Polypropylene is another material they use.
Decent socks should also fit into this catagory. There are always wool blended with polyester.
One thing I’ve come to love is the balaclava made from same material. Even the lightest weight ones are warmer than any hat and all your face gets protected. It’s not hard to freeze your ear lobes or nose.
Mittens are generally warmer than gloves due to less air circulation around figures.
Anything that’s tight and restricts blood flow is bad.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2019 06:06pm
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I bought several undershirts of wicking polyester and some long johns at Walmart. Couple friends gave me wool sweaters and I found a couple more buried in the closet. Wonderful!
Thanks again for the tips!
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Whiskey Jack
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# Posted: 9 Jan 2019 10:22pm
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I'm just gearing up for another winter camping trip. It will be 4 days outside 24 hours a day. Warm clothes are a must. My personal setup:
Base layer of polypropylene bottoms and merino wool top.
Military wool sweater
Wool pants or coveralls.
For really cold weather, either a down vest or jacket.
Wool anorak outer layer.
Feet get smart wool socks and Steger mukluks.
Absolutely NO synthetic on the outer layers. Why? They melt when sparks land on them. Since there is always a fire going, wool is always on the outside.
For a hat it is usually just a wool beenie with the anorak hood. If it's really cold, a sheepskin trappers hat.
A simple merino buff covers the gap at the neck.
With this combination I can sit outside all day from freezing to windchills in the -50s, taking off or adding layers a necessary.
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