Chore gear for harsh weather

OmaMutti · #1 12/14/08, 11:39 AM

Expecting unusually low temps in my area, I'm curious about what you all find to be the best (warmest/dryest/most comfortable to work in) farm chore clothes in bitter winter weather. Waterproof coveralls over layers of warm clothes? Boots with wool socks?

-TWO- · #2 12/14/08, 12:22 PM

"Carhartt" makes some of the best. If you have a Big-R near you, they're always well stocked with Carhartt & other brands of quality, cold weather work clothes.

Cartman · #3 12/14/08, 12:24 PM

Hi I 'm sure it doesn't get as cold here as it does there but I deer hunt and the best thing I have found is insulated bib overals and a insulated jacket. Coveralls are too bulky and tend to make it hard to move around and work with your upper body. You will also want a few layers under those. I have been told by loggers that the warmest thing to wear is womens panty hose even better than long johns from what I hear. LOL<
And for your feet buy socks that wick the moisture away from your feet. The main reason your feet get cold is from getting too warm and sweating then the moisture from that causes them to really freeze

Charleen · #4 12/14/08, 12:41 PM

I agree with wool socks, you need to get the moisture wicked away from your skin. We also have a boot dryer which helps with boots that are wet from sweating.

Right now, I'm using woolrich pants and coat for chores. Red and black plaid. Hubby has some Carhartt's that are their arctic-wear separate bibs and coat. Easier to move in separate pieces than all-in-one.

We've got numerous pairs of gloves, so there's always a pair drying by the woodstove. I'll often take an extra pair with me to the barn if the first pair gets wet during chores. I have wool gloves with the fingertips cut off, too.

ETA - we purchase most of our Carhartt gear at the Outdoor Store in Bloomfield, NY http://www.theoutdoorstorebloomfield.com/# They have a split rail fence outside that's 100+ feet long and it's COVERED in old, worn out Carhartt's that people drop off and they nail to the fence. Inside the store they have on display a Carhartt coat that's ANCIENT, one of the oldest Carhartt pieces still around. Okay, back to the originally scheduled topic....

Jena · #5 12/14/08, 12:43 PM

This is what I used to wear...

insulated green rubber boots, with NO socks. Didn't need them. It may not seem like it, but those boots are the warmest I have ever worn and I have worn Rocky's and Danner's and all those expensive hunting boots. Green boots ought to cost about $80.

for hands...wool blend gloves then insulated leather gloves over them. Warm. waterproof, durable.

Carhartt bibs...uninsulated, red insulated, black insulated, depending on how cold you are talking and how long I'd be out. Under my carhartts I wore...sweat pants. By far the warmest and allow for better movement than jeans. then I wore tank top, tshirt, long sleeve tshirt, sweat shirt, carhartt jacket.

Fuzzy hat and a scarf. The scarf was one of the most important things I wore. If I kept my neck warm my whole body tended to stay warmer.

I wore this while doing farm chores in Illinois all winter long. I HATE cold and I found this get-up to keep me warm and provide the most comfort.

Jena

chickenista · #6 12/14/08, 12:59 PM

Don't know if you are a guy or a girl.. but I wear angora sweaters under my clothes on the coldest winter days and they are incredibly warm. I get them at thr thrift store for nearly nothing and I get sizes that are very small so they will not be bulky feeling.
I am pondering getting a bunch and cutting them up to resew into pants..ooooooh. Snuggly warm thighs and tush. I cannot imagine what that would be like.

ErinP · #7 12/14/08, 02:28 PM

DH starts out with a union suit and wool or cotton socks, depending upon temp and reason and length of time he'll be out.
Then add jeans and a button down shirt. Heavier, if it's a sub-zero day like today.
Then a fleece pullover and his usual neckerchief.
Next a pair of Carhartt bibs (as mentioned, he likes the freedom of mov't also that bibs give and coveralls don't).
Then his Carhartt coat.
Finally, good gloves (or mittens if he won't need finger movement) and his packs with the Thinsulate liners.

If he has to be out for an extended period (like when we lived in North Dakota and he had to chase buffalo back in every day in Dec. on a snow mobile) he also has a neck gator that he'll add.

I'm usually something similar to the above, but I don't have to be outside daily, for hours at a time, like he does...

kasilofhome · #8 12/14/08, 02:34 PM

Here in Alaska were so many people work on the slope in weather that is really extreme very special gear is out here to be picked up second hand. We where bunny boots. I personally slid off the road while dressed for church in church shoes. I stepped out of the car into a fridged ditch of a stream of ice covered running water. Instantly my feet were painfuly cold. I went to the trunk and got out the bunny boots tossing the socks off. in less than a few minutes my feet were warm and I was able to focas on the car.

There are artic coats and bibs that we have picked up from the dump. Each year the people working there get commished new gear and when they run out of family to pass them on to then they end up on Alaskan craigs list and on the local tradio shows I posted a place for people to contact a few weeks ago. I did not write the thread very well and it moved from the survial place to the barter board. I know that these clothes are made to keep people warm and to work in. Loss of mobiltiy due to wearing risticted winter gear would be a majory problem for the slope and platform workers.

paintlady · #9 12/14/08, 02:58 PM

You might want to get those little hot packs that you shake and then they heat up and stick them in your boots or gloves. I always keep some of those in my glove box in my car just in case in the winter time. I used to use them while hunting also in cold weather. They last about 10 hours.

paulaswolfpack · #10 12/14/08, 03:17 PM

If you wear carhartt and the like go to this site and sign up for e-mail speceals you can get good pricies it is a mark down site just watch the e-mail pricese sometimes about $20.00 or less and the coustermer sevivce is great.

http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/

eurycea12 · #11 12/14/08, 03:57 PM

It depends on the legnth of time and work to be done.
My boots summer and winter are Muck Boots. Very comfortable and warm. Not warm enough for hunting all day though. So I have to be moving. New wool socks every year for winter also.
I use silk underwear (the long type!) or polypropylene. Both are excellent.
T-shirt, wool sweater and then an oversize insulated jacket that I got at the thrift store. It is my favorite barn coat but is on its way out.
I'll wear jeans if I have the long johns on.

I have only heard good things about Carhartt from the farmers around here. I just haven't had the need yet to spend the money.

Hunting gear made for cold weather is another good idea. I have a pair of medium weight bib overalls that I will use in the barn. My cold weather deer outfit is too warm to do any work in. If outside all day, I wear Sorels on my feet. They are or were fantastic! My pair is 18 years old and I just got something different this year. I tried a pair of 1000g Thinsulate.

Freeholder · #12 12/14/08, 04:37 PM

What I wore when we lived in the Interior of Alaska: long-johns, jeans, Carhartt overalls (not insulated -- they were given to me, probably third hand, and I used them for ten years or so and they still weren't worn out! I just bought a new pair.), two pair of wool socks, Sorels with felt liner, long underwear shirt, long-sleeved turtle-neck, sweatshirt or sweater, down parka, wool hat and mittens with wool gloves inside the mittens, and a wool scarf that wrapped around my face. My husband and one of my daughters had bunny boots, but I liked the Sorels better as they aren't quite as heavy.

Here, where it doesn't get down to seventy below: I still wear Sorels, with one pair of wool socks usually, jeans under the Carhartt overalls, t-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket or coat depending on how cold it is, wool gloves, wool stocking cap, and a scarf if the wind is bad. The record low for our area is minus twenty-five degrees; so far we've only seen minus five degrees since we've lived here. So it doesn't really get all that cold, although the wind can be pretty bad at times.

Kathleen

travlnusa · #13 12/14/08, 06:15 PM

Just so you all know, Carhartt will warranty their zippers for life, as in forever.

When the wind chill is very very bad, I will dress as others have said, but then put on an oversized set of rain gear. Best way I have found to keep the wind from cutting though you.

julieq · #14 12/14/08, 07:22 PM

Carhartt of course! They're the best for cold southern Idaho temps.

Jerry in MN · #15 12/14/08, 07:29 PM

Yesterday when temp was ~5 above & windy, cutting firewood:
Long johns, sweat pants, thick socks, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt,
black Carhartt bibs, snow boots with separate liners, polar fleece zipped up,
black ski mask, black Carhartt coat w/hood up, lined leather work gloves.

Minelson · #16 12/14/08, 07:44 PM

Long underwear (cuddle duds) /sweat pants/thin wool socks/Muck Boots (a must have)/bra/long mens tank/cotton turtle neck/wool or polartech sweater/hooded jacket/hooded down coat/polartech face mask that covers entire head/wool gloves. I usually take off the down coat after moving around awhile because I get too warm. Hot cup of coffee always helps before I go out.

chewie · #17 12/14/08, 10:15 PM

if you're not going out for a full day in terrible weather, you might try football warm up slick pants. i found a pair at a garage sale years ago, thought i'd try them--they are super! they are felt lined and wind proof, with zippers at the feet so its easy to get them on. so, i use the poly long johns, wool socks, heavy sweatpants and these slick warm ups. i can move pretty well, and stay very warm for a long time. (hint--do not ride a horse bareback down a steep hill in these pants tho.!)

the top gets similar--long john shirt, either wool sweater or a sweatshirt, maybe a polar fleece jacket if its reeeally bad, then a carhartt coat with hood. (didn't know that about lifetime zipper thing, great!) and i fully agree, a good scarf to keep wind from blowing down your neck helps tons. i will wear one of those hats like a baby's--with the flappies to tie under the chin. love that hat! put under the hood, and step into the iceman pacs, some hunting gloves, and i can stay out in some bad stuff for a long time.

haypoint · #18 12/15/08, 06:55 AM

Carhart bibs with a Carhart coat, with hood. Sorrel boots have leather tops and rubber bottoms, waterproof and wool felt liners. Leather mittens with wool liners or wool mittens with jersey gloves inside.
A knit cap is common, but I prefer my Stormy Kromer.

If I'm going to be out in the wind and its below zero, I'll cover my face with a wool scarf, too.

If I were expecting cold weather for Pacific Washington state area, I'd wear long pants and a sweatshirt.

SFM in KY · #19 12/15/08, 07:44 AM

Here in KY I've not even unpacked my "Montana winter gear" in the 10 years I've been here except for my goosedown insulated vest. That, when it gets "cold" here ... plus long underwear ... is plenty with a wool cap with earflaps and a windbreaker.

For Montana winters, the 20-below zero kind where you have to work out in it for long periods of time, the best thing I ever found was snow machine gear. Insulated coveralls, gloves and boots. Clumsy ... but warm. I even figured out how to ride in that gear and the only thing I ever wore that my feet didn't get cold.

netexan · #20 12/15/08, 08:07 AM

The single most important clothing item for me is my base layer or first layer of Capalene underwear from Columbia. I've worn it in all types of weather from Texas to Wyoming and Alaska. Love the stuff and wouldn't trade it for anything.