Warm Clothing

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Dale_tem

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I had a few spare hours yesterday and froze my arse off in the peak district (I think that's the area). Especially next to the cat and fiddle pub.

I was wearing my work clothes which weren't the best, but had on a fleece and my Henry Lloyd sailing jacket so my body was warm,. I had my polartec gloves with rubberized grips on to allow me to use my camera with them on, but they weren't the warmest in the wind.

My legs and feet were frozen, so I was wondering what recommendations people had for legs and feet. I normally wear jeans and trainers (with multiple layers of socks when its cold). The jeans aren't too bad, but useless if they get slightly wet. Are there warmer normal trousers? Is it just a case of sticking some windproof/waterproof trousers over the top?

Any recommendations on hats? I have a thinsulate lined woollen one.

Thanks in advance.
 
Walking/mountaineering clothes is what you need. Soft shell trousers are windproof, water resistant and very comfy. Walking boots with merino wool socks will keep your feet toasty, as for a hat, either a fleece windstopper or fleece lined goretex hat with ear flaps will do nicely
 
Before I retired, I worked for years in all weathers including at night in extremely exposed areas of the coast. The only thing I found to keep my legs and waist warm were salopettes. You can get them at outdoor shops, but often workwear specialists have them much cheaper. There are waterproof varieties too.

If you are particularly active then salopettes may not be so good. Try some on and see how you get on.
 
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A very good make of outdoor clothing is Paramo.
 
Blacks the outdoor shop have 25% off everything in store at the moment. Could be worth a look for some quality cold weather gear.
 
icnoble said:
A very good make of outdoor clothing is Paramo.
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If you're a 'rambler';):D

I prefer to stick to patagonia, arc'teryx, mountain-equipment, rab, icebreaker, smart-wool and montane.
 
Trainers arent the best in cold weather. I swear by lightweight walking boots and decent lightweight walking socks. I have some scarpa boots which are brilliant.
Trousers are interesting. Being a biker I can use my wyse padded trousers if I'm not walking, but otherwise I have some waterproof trousers. What you need is something that's reasonably good fitting with a minimal but some air gap, but you don't want them so loose they flap about.
In all times you need to keep your core warm. As soon as that gets cold, your body starts shutting down extremities, albeit slightly in normal weather, that just makes those hands and feet etc get colder.

Best hat I've ever had was a double lined one from my local rugby club. Really toasty warm.
 
One size over boots with double thick socks works wonders.

Heated waste coats if you can be bothered to carry the battery pack can last for hours are the intimate solution, as Byker says, once the cores warm its toasty everything!

I also like the motorcyclist waterproof one piece suites which wrap into their own belt and pouch so its easy to carry....elasticated ends and a high neck, big velcro opening down the front one can climb in quickly and be fully protected from all wind and rain.
 
'Icebreaker' base layers are like thermals made from merino wool, very warm, light and as a side benefit are resistant to BO - available in various weights, I use 260 and find them great.

Icebreaker

'North Face' Hoser hat gives great warmth and protection for the head and if necessary the face due to its side flaps.

Hoser
 
Jeans are the worst thing you can wear in the cold, in fact anything cotton is going to make you colder. Get them wet and it will strip heat from you faster than taking them off on going bare legged.

Polartech (assuming its the genuine stuff) has excellent thermal properties but is not windproof, unless you go for windstopper and such like

I worked in the countryside (in various part of the high pennines) for over 15 years and have tried pretty much everything on the market, and have found some great bits of kit that really do work

At the moment I'm loving Montane and Marmot gear - I've got some lightweight Montane pertex trousers that are lightweight, windproof, fast drying, warm and comfortable in any weather I've worn them in, including -20+ cold/windchill last winter). When it gets silly cold then out comes the full mountaineering clobber. If you can't afford stuff like this, then most man made fibres are better than cotton (even polycotton mix), trackie bottoms will do and if you slip a pair of Ron Hill tracksters on underneath then you'll be toastie.

Hat wise, you will never ever beat a Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap - it's the 'oft copied never bettered' classic that just works. If you can't stretch to these then just get something windproof. I'm not too sure about thinsulate as it's never really entered into the proper outdoor market and only ever seems to be sold in petrol stations (£2.99 if you send over £30 on fuel) or supermarkets.

Feet - Arco boot socks (3 pairs for £12) - these are absolutely brilliant for the money and outperform any Thor-lo, Bridgedale et all the myriad of 'high performance socks' that line the shelves of the high street fashion outdoor retailers.

Footwear - these days my Scarpa SLs/Mantas stay at home and if I'm looking to be walking less than 10miles on non to technical ground, then it's wellies (Dunlop), with wool socks (over the Arco ones above). Toastie tootsies all day :)

For work I am provided with paramo gear but I choose not to wear it, as in my experience it doesn't work (for me)
 
+1 on the Icebreakers. I wore a pair of their leggings out over about 10 years. Now I have a new pair of 260s.

At a push Icebreaker leggings + jeans are OK to look "normal". If possible replace the jeans with waterproof overtrousers - something like this. Or just get some warm waterproof trousers - jeans are probably he worst thing to wear in bad weather.

BTW forget anything from Blacks and Craghoppers - Keela are better quality, cheaper and British ;)
 
Another vote for Paramo

Other alternatives are Craghopper lined trousers. My OH, who suffers a bit from the cold, has a pair and reckons they are excellent.

Also, as you mention, an ordinary pair of outdoor trousers and a pair of over trousers to keep the wind out.


Dave
 
if you're going to the blacks website like i just have after reading 25% off, you might want to make sure you to go blacks.co.uk and not blacks.com. They're very different websites :|
 
Trousers . Craghoppers Kiwi Insulated ... about £25 ... lovely and warm.

As for the rest Patagonia make some superb stuff.
 
If I can only persuade you of one thing....don't buy Craghoppers.

It took 3 tries for them to send me a pair of trousers that wasn't faulty (and I had to pay for all 3 or wait about a month) and the final pair needed repair before wearing. And again after wearing for a week or so. Seems are going after a few weeks wear.

Adequate clothes + high prices + shocking quality control + possibly the rudest customer support I've dealt with. Somewhat unsurprisingly they never approved my review for their website - they only approve ones that say how great they are.

Keela FTW. trust me.
 
JonathanRyan said:
If I can only persuade you of one thing....don't buy Craghoppers.

It took 3 tries for them to send me a pair of trousers that wasn't faulty (and I had to pay for all 3 or wait about a month) and the final pair needed repair before wearing. And again after wearing for a week or so. Seems are going after a few weeks wear.

Adequate clothes + high prices + shocking quality control + possibly the rudest customer support I've dealt with. Somewhat unsurprisingly they never approved my review for their website - they only approve ones that say how great they are.

Keela FTW. trust me.
Click to expand...

Have got loads of craghoppers and have never experienced anything like this, hubby has 2 pairs of kiwis that must be 15 years old and still going strong
 
JonathanRyan said:
If I can only persuade you of one thing....don't buy Craghoppers.

It took 3 tries for them to send me a pair of trousers that wasn't faulty (and I had to pay for all 3 or wait about a month) and the final pair needed repair before wearing. And again after wearing for a week or so. Seems are going after a few weeks wear.

Adequate clothes + high prices + shocking quality control + possibly the rudest customer support I've dealt with. Somewhat unsurprisingly they never approved my review for their website - they only approve ones that say how great they are.

Keela FTW. trust me.
Click to expand...

Jonathan sorry to see that ... I have had my Kiwi trousers for years and they get some right abuse, never had a problem. I also have a waterproof jacket that has been relegated to the one I wear for the work parties at the reserve, again it has been subject to all manner of abuse and stood up to it all, plus it is actually waterproof unlike some top name stuff.
 
Wonder if Craghoppers have changed their production recently because I have never had a problem with them, but my Craghoppers are a few years old now.

Dave
 
At the moment Aldi has cheap Ski gear, Merino wool base layers and the like. I have just bought some black Softshell snowboard trousers for 17.99 they are really great quality and not too bulky and very warm.
 
Yeah it's a tough one. I've no doubt they have made thousands of pairs of great trousers. A bad pair and even a bad batch can happen to anyone. But I can't forgive their customer service.

Talking to a some friends heavily into their outdoor they said that Craghoppers used to be awesome but they are pretty big now and quality seems to be suffering. I'll shut up now ;)

Never been disappointed in anything from Patagonia though :)
 
Martyn... said:
...As for the rest Patagonia make some superb stuff.
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They do- the best jacket I have (and I have a few:$) is my patagonia mixmaster. Can't get them anymore but it's fantastic- they should never have stopped making them- an awesome winter climbing jacket.

The only issue I have with them is the R1 design. I have a few in diff colours and the older ones are much better as they offer a much closer fit. Insider info is that the construction was dearer to manufacture so they changed the design to a cheaper one and upped the price. They're still ok but not as good a fit- it's much looser and for a company who push ethical values, perhaps less than you would expect.
 
Dr_O said:
They do- the best jacket I have (and I have a few:$) is my patagonia mixmaster. Can't get them anymore but it's fantastic- they should never have stopped making them- an awesome winter climbing jacket.

The only issue I have with them is the R1 design. I have a few in diff colours and the older ones are much better as they offer a much closer fit. Insider info is that the construction was dearer to manufacture so they changed the design to a cheaper one and upped the price. They're still ok but not as good a fit- it's much looser and for a company who push ethical values, perhaps less than you would expect.
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I have an older R1 and it fits like a glove, I also have an R4 that shuts out icy winds like you would not believe.

I like there Capelene 1 Tee Shirts, and other base layers, however their newer Capelene 4 stuff is a lot looser fit ... they do warn on their website which ones are best ordered a size smaller.
 
I've got some Musto (sailing) salopettes which are great when its really cold.

I'm looking for some normal(ish) trousers to where when its cold.

I might have a look at some of the thermal leggings type I could wear under jeans or cargo style pants.

I'm not generally walking long distances, its just to keep warm on those windy days I want to be out taking photos, ie being warmer in more casual gear that I won't have to take off lots of layers when I'm indoors.
 
Am I correct in thinking over-trousers are just waterproof trousers for putting over the top of your normal clothing and don't add any extra warmth, just windproof and waterproof?
 
Dale_d3100 said:
Am I correct in thinking over-trousers are just waterproof trousers for putting over the top of your normal clothing and don't add any extra warmth, just windproof and waterproof?
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You will find that the over trousers blocking the wind will help a lot, as will some leggings like these LINK, I should add that The Mountain Factor is a great shop to deal with, great service and no problem if you want to swap / return something.

Having said that there are plenty of places doing the Craghoppers Kiwi lined trousers for £25, they will keep the cold out no problem, if you shop around you can even get them the correct leg length.
 
For warm trousers then you need Deerhunter Rusky, they are quiet and very very warm. I would say they are best suited to sitting around though rather than hiking. They are rated down to -30 degrees or so and go do they feel like it....Best winter trousers i have ever had.
 
markyboy.1967 said:
For warm trousers then you need Deerhunter Rusky, they are quiet and very very warm. I would say they are best suited to sitting around though rather than hiking. They are rated down to -30 degrees or so and go do they feel like it....Best winter trousers i have ever had.
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I'll have to check out those trousers. :thumbs:

There's a lot of very hi tech clothing available today, but you need to choose carefully depending on your particular needs - what might be suitable for long periods of inactivity might not be suitable for more strenuous use such as prolonged heavy walking. It's really all about choosing the right outer garments and the right thermal layers underneath.

A lot of the outdoor clothing now so readily available to the public is up to being used in arctic conditions but the choice can be a bit bewildering. Specialised shops like Blacks and Go Outdoors are handy as there is usually expert advice on hand.

After trying several brands - I've finally settled on Paramo as the best I've used so far - really pleased with it.
 
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I wear a Canada Goose Expedition jacket, you won't get much warmer. I generally wear jeans with it, the jacket keeps you so warm I don't usually notice the cold on my legs, but if I do, I have a pair of gore-tex waterproof sallopettes that I put on.
The jacket comes with a hood but I also have a Barts Kamikaze furry hat that is really warm.
Allan
 
I've just ordered some Kiwis and will see they go :)

Sadly they won't be here for my Zoo trip tomorrow, but will be here for my Centre Parcs trip on the 16th :)
 
Martyn... said:
I have an older R1 and it fits like a glove, I also have an R4 that shuts out icy winds like you would not believe.

I like there Capelene 1 Tee Shirts, and other base layers, however their newer Capelene 4 stuff is a lot looser fit ... they do warn on their website which ones are best ordered a size smaller.
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Not tried their T-shirts- I'm sure I have an older capelene 4 pull on which is a great fit so sounds like they changed that as well.

I might have a look at the R4 again. I'd ruled it out with the use of soft shell and base layers which I thought were a better system for me but I do have a penchant for jackets/ tops:D
 
Dr_O said:
Not tried their T-shirts- I'm sure I have an older capelene 4 pull on which is a great fit so sounds like they changed that as well.

I might have a look at the R4 again. I'd ruled it out with the use of soft shell and base layers which I thought were a better system for me but I do have a penchant for jackets/ tops:D
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Under a shell they recommend the R3 as it breathes, apparently using the R4 under a shell is not recommended as it can restrict the breathing of moisture as you are using two membranes (but I think they are getting a bit picky).
 
CT said:
I'll have to check out those trousers. :thumbs:

There's a lot of very hi tech clothing available today, but you need to choose carefully depending on your particular needs - what might be suitable for long periods of inactivity might not be suitable for more strenuous use such as prolonged heavy walking. It's really all about choosing the right outer garments and the right thermal layers underneath.

A lot of the outdoor clothing now so readily available to the public is up to being used in arctic conditions but the choice can be a bit bewildering. Specialised shops like Blacks and Go Outdoors are handy as there is usually expert advice on hand.

After trying several brands - I've finally settled on Paramo as the best I've used so far - really pleased with it.
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Paramo has never felt "sturdy" enough for me Cedders. I use my stuff for all outdoor activity from building hides to siting nest boxes to chopping logs. Best I have had is Seeland stuff, gamekeeper jackets are top drawer.


http://www.ardmoor.co.uk/products/10-02-004-33/Seeland-Keeper-Jacket
 
CT said:
I'll have to check out those trousers. :thumbs:

There's a lot of very hi tech clothing available today, but you need to choose carefully depending on your particular needs - what might be suitable for long periods of inactivity might not be suitable for more strenuous use such as prolonged heavy walking. It's really all about choosing the right outer garments and the right thermal layers underneath.

A lot of the outdoor clothing now so readily available to the public is up to being used in arctic conditions but the choice can be a bit bewildering. Specialised shops like Blacks and Go Outdoors are handy as there is usually expert advice on hand.

After trying several brands - I've finally settled on Paramo as the best I've used so far - really pleased with it.
Click to expand...


This is where i and many others have bought some nice clothing from. The Rusky trousers are really suited to sitting around in extremely cold weather.

http://www.gamefayre.co.uk/index.cgi?page=home.html&d=2&mid=MM25&cid=1605724_9635
 
I'm a big fan of Finisterre gear, especially their Etobicoke jacket and merino base layers.

With regards to footwear if I've got a long walk in I've got a pair of Scarpa SLs which are great and can be worn with crampons when needed or for less strenuous walks (and work, going to the pub etc) I'm a big fan of Timberland boots, if you stay away from the chavvier ones they tend to be pretty sturdy and waterproof.
 
CT said:
There's a lot of very hi tech clothing available today, but you need to choose carefully depending on your particular needs - what might be suitable for long periods of inactivity might not be suitable for more strenuous use such as prolonged heavy walking. It's really all about choosing the right outer garments and the right thermal layers underneath.

.
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Just thinking this reading all the brand names coming through. if your doing stuff then fine but if your just sitting still its a bigger problem by far.

Motorcyclists have to deal with far greater extremes of low temperatures than most just sitting still riding a bike ...Like a 70mph ride at freezing point is producing a wind chill of -35 and at a few degrees below that it can drop as far as -50 ...wind and draughts suck heat energy from you so quickly its pointless trying to layer up to keep warm if you can't keep the draughts out.
I always carry a woolen neck tube, summer and winter, and I've a few spare ones tucked under seats just in case I forget, ...on colder nights is just enogh to block the cold air rushing under my leathers via my neck, such a simple item of clothing makes all the difference between just a bit cold, to painfully frozen, oh my marrow hurts!!. ..hours after getting home, real bad I can tell you. :lol:

Another bikers favourite tricks when caught in the cold unprepared is to buy several newspapers, and stuff the layers of pages all over your frontal area, feet hands and all .... Saved my life a few times.
 
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Erm yeah - newspapers, tights etc all good old remedies but not today surely.

Motorcyclists really have great clothing. Lets face it 2 degrees centigrade like it was this morning at 80 mph is actually -9.

Cold killers have great clothing. http://www.coldkillers.co.uk/
Really thin, but bobbly to trap air. Stops the wind getting through and traps a layer of air for warmth.

Neck tubes are essential throughout all the year, only the thickness changes. You really don't want to be hit by flies etc in the neck. Also useful when out and about in the cold - walking
 
Wowsers.

Some of you guys should definitely be on BadAss.

Mind you, I've just chucked my "winter kit" in the car - sleeping bag, dew liner, thermals, chemical hand warmers, and a bunch of primaloft. I'm going to Essex :)

To the OP: pretty much anything is better than jeans. Even a shell suit ;) Grab a warm layer then a wind and waterproof layer head to toe and I guarantee you'll enjoy outdoor photography in the winter more.
 
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