Sub Zero Winter wear & gear

I use layers. Cotton usually. Then the outer layers have to be syntethic proof against wind and rain. It's the moisture when penetrating that takes away your heat fast. And overall a big ### larger than size dickies suit top to bottom.

Ive been close to - 60 without windchill at times and Im good for about a hour max but have to go inside to protect the exposed skin, what little there is of it. I recall trying to fuel in Dakotas at -55 and the thinsulate gloves finally reached it's limit forcing me to go inside 4 times in that hour it took to fuel from the old pump with the engine running at 1500 rpm idle. Ive wondered if I was gaining on that old pump sometimes... its possible.

You must have a good scarf or two to cover your nose and mouth -60 air will freeze you inside the lungs in 20 minutes. For adults. For children it will kill them faster that way with no protection over mouth and nose.

What I don't like is a noreaster where its 35 degrees and sideways rain that will become snow in a few hours on the back side at greater winds driving wind chill values below 0. If I needed to be doing that in flatbedding, I should go to sea, I would be more snug when there is green water over the bow and greybeards on the bridge.

 

Exactly what heavy said. Though I will say that you must be careful with your layers. What I mean by that is if you are outside working with all those layers on you are going to reach a point where you are starting to get warm. At that point you need too stop and strip off a layer, especially if you are going to continue being outside for an extended period of time. The colder it is outside the longer it takes to reach this point.

My layers tend to look like this:

Base:
Regular Underwear
Long underwear top and bottom
Pair of medium to heavy wool blend socks

Layer 1:
Jeans
T-Shirt
Watch cap/Beanie
Decent gloves (I tend to use heavy leather gloves and a cotton glove liner....this is not the best option but is better than nothing)

Layer 2:
Sweatshirt/Hoodie
Snow pants/Coveralls/Overalls (I have the snow pant overalls that come to my chest and are more wind/rain resistant than insulated though they do keep the heat IN)
Shemagh in either a neck wrap or SAS wrap depending on temp. (I personally don't use the SAS wrap unless it is colder than -10F otherwise I get overheated very quickly)
Heavy winter boots.

Layer 3:
Warm coat. I tend to use a "Carhartt" style coat. I do have a down filled South Pole that I rarely wear because I overheat EXTREMELY quickly unless it is colder than -20F AND I'm not being very active. I also would worry about the durability of the South Pole over the Carhartt.

When I'm shedding layers I tend to remove the Shemagh first, then the coat, then the sweatshirt. I try to keep the gloves and hat on, though sometimes the hat has to come off so I don't start sweating.

I'm sure many people could argue over what is best for each layer and what brands of whatever. This is just what works for me. Take what you will from it and tailor it to YOUR comfort.

 

There is another thing.

Some of you newbies will think Im crazy but you need to listen and learn a little bit.

There were times in Reefer work that you spend so much time in the cold, say 30 degrees. It's COLD brrr. Eventually if you eat enough meals equal calories converted to heat and work it off in the back of that trailer, I have been down to t shirt, cut off at knees jeans and steel boots and gloves back there for hours and hours. That means the body was adequately hydrated, fueled most especially and has the acclimation to that type of environment. You wanted to work throwing heavy boxes so you did not over heat or get cold. There is a balance.

Once your metobalism burns off the morning meal with several thousand calories you are going to get cold then hungry. Hopefully your work is done by then because the next step is converting towards a form of cold infection of your mind and body, taking away your focus, clarity of thought, muscle control in stage two followed by a intense need to sleep which will kill you. There is a big H word for it for that conditon I cannot think of off the top of my head but you should understand and watch out for that in winter or in a reefer trailer. The greatest heat loss is literally your head. Your brain has a way of accessing everything inside your entire body when in battle against cold that causes you to literally try to convert muscle into fuel I think that is a form of glocuse but am not doing well with big words.

If you are not strong and are already tired, you must get fueled (Big time food) hydrated and rested before you try to take on severe winter in battle.

 

I usually wear dual layer long underwear under my jeans. A thin pair of socks and a pair of heavy, insulated socks over those. Boots are just CSA approved non-insulated rubber boots. I like them because I find the snow and ice that gather on the boots eventually melts and seeps through waterproof leather boots if you're in and out of the cold often. Regular t-shirt and sweatshirt up top, then I wear my coveralls over top all that. I find I'm usually good to about -18C with that if there is no wind. If I get warm I peel off the sweatshirt.

I have a heavy nomex jacket I put on and take off as needed. I have matching winter overalls but have never worn them in the last 2 winters. I also wear a heavy ski mask often. As for gloves, I wear thin kevlar gloves as a base layer and heavy insulated leather gloves over top. Reason for that is if the bulky gloves are hindering my ability to work, I can take them off and still have hand protection. A lot of times in extreme cold (-30 or below) I'll keep a 2nd pair of gloves on the cab floor in the heat and switch them out as I get cold.

 

As for Boots I usually only go to the heavy winter boots if I'm going to be in deep snow or temps below 0F. Personally I can't wear 2 pairs of socks or my feet wind up getting cold quickly but many people can. I also don't normally pull out my overalls unless I'm going to be getting down into the snow, especially wet snow, for extended periods or the temp drops below 15F depending on wind and what kind of work I'll be doing.

Remember the golden rule:
Moisture is your enemy in the cold.

 

I wore a standard square toed steel toe equipped trucker boot availible at any old 76. I don't think I will ever find another one like it today. Ive a mind to get into it and see. It's the socking and leggings you need to be careful here because the boot material is not exactly defensing against cold and moisture. Much. Leather is nice but there are things you can do to it to waterproof it and so on. A lining would have been much better in them days but there was none so you wore layers.

I wear a summer tank boot for the Marines from Bellevue which makes the labeled civilian side so that I don't get beat up everytime a Marine sees it. It has a silver shank in the middle against infection and is made to keep the feet good when up against a hot firewall or something similar which I found more a problem than winter stuff. I do have a standard gander mountain rubber boots for snow work and carry a set of chains that fit onto the bottom of anything size 12 when I need to. Ive got ankles of a old woman now a days and it's good to have a good pair of boots. And am fixing to find a square front steel boot sometime this year and order it to be shipped. Gonna need a month to break it in.

 

I love these.....



Not sure if they come in steel toe (I don't need that) but they handle snow/cold real nice... Got like 3 pair and rotate them...

 

Yes you do need the steel toe. I hate to be the heavy here but that steel toe will save you. It's not hard to see it CHOP and have you bleed out.