Warm in winter

[AKScott]

Couple ideas, supposed to hit -40F in Fairbanks tonight.

*** on sock liners. I have tried, well, all of them. I am stocking up on the Smartwool (tm) white wool liner socks, all the other stuff as headed for the trash at the first excuse.

Second, toe warmers. Similar to hand warmers, you shake them and they bake you. I think I have "Little Hotties" in stock right now. They are tombstone shaped, pretty thin, with adhesive on one side. Put the flat base of the shape towards the inside edge of your foot, under your bigtoe and the ball of the foot, adhere the sticky side to your smart wool liner socks, the rounded end should fit pretty well under your little toe, without bunching up in front of your foot inside your shoe.

Wool outer socks (I am a huge smartwool fan), I use the expedition weight under about -10F or so.

Next, I wear a full size larger boot in winter compared to summer. You need the loft in the socks to trap air. If you compress them, you are losing insulation value. Half size up? I am guessing you have to deal with regulation oversocks. Maybe SW liners, SW exhibition weight outersocks and then enormous regulation socks over that into bigger boots?

From there think about some cross-over underwear, shaped liked boxers but with lycra/spandex whatever so they fit pretty close. You can duct tape regular handwarmers to those, right over the femoral arteries is a good spot ;-)

From there I would look at a windstopping layer. Maybe you can find grey goretex pants? Cut the knees out, wear the loose ends under your socks and the "shorts" under your kilt.

From the waist up if the short coat just doesn't cut it I would duct tape handwarmers into my armpits. You do want a layer of cloth between the warmers and your skin at all times, so outside of your undershirt for this one.

I lived in Schenectady for years, I don't think I would choose to wear a kilt there this close to winter solstice.

A start anyway.

[AKScott]

I thought of two other things.

1. In cold weather, stay dry. It is fine to drink hot liquids, but keep your skin as dry as you can.

2. The other is something warm (and dry) to warm your knees as soon as can get out of the cold. Scuba divers will frequently pour boiling water into a clean cooler full of towels and grab them a couple hours later, but they are wet anyway.

A blanket or towel warmer would be worth its weight in gold if you can find one. Shoot for 140-145F, above 148F the dry towels will feel just fine, but that is hot enough to start being concerned about local cell damage. You do want to keep healthy germination cells growing new skin on your knee caps for, well, for the rest of your life.

[Woot22]

From the waist up if the short coat just doesn't cut it I would duct tape handwarmers into my armpits. You do want a layer of cloth between the warmers and your skin at all times, so outside of your undershirt for this one.

Duct tape hand warmers into your armpits!!! This is why I will never ever ever ever move to Alaska. When you have to start duct taping hand warmers to your body it is time to move dude.

[Lallans]

Someone reading this thread in my presence broke down and made a confession about panty hose. Such use would be likely to cause dismissal if used in the US Army, I imagine, and I would never do it myself- too insecure. Apparently used by cowboys all the time, but for anti-chafing reasons. Still not interested.

But BTW, kilts ARE way warmer than most people, or at least most men, would give them credit for. It's just that as far north as I am, there are too many winter days when I would worry about equipment loss....

[Burly Brute]

Please fill up this thread with helpful advice or at least humorous retorts.

Haha it happens enough without a request! I can't wait to see what you get!

I live in Phoenix, Arizona. On Monday we had a record high of 81 in the middle of December!!!!! XD I would say move out here!

[BoldHighlander]

Someone reading this thread in my presence broke down and made a confession about panty hose. Such use would be likely to cause dismissal if used in the US Army, I imagine, and I would never do it myself- too insecure. Apparently used by cowboys all the time, but for anti-chafing reasons. Still not interested.

That's a new one on me!
Having been around working buckaroos, I think someone is pulling your leg

Now, what is this about the US Army? This ol' grunt wants to know

[rondo]

Actually the pantyhose work very well...warm, flesh tone, relatively cheap...used to use them when playing football in high school.

[Woodsman]

Just curious, did anyone ever try these calf cuddlers from FootSmart.com? They come in a Navy color and you could wear them in conjunction with kilt hose.


http://www.footsmart.com/P-Calf-Cuddler-30796.aspx

[Pleater]

Could you add a plaid?

Not one of those wispy fly plaids but something long and wide enough so it can be spread out to cover the wearer.

The length is important, as a few inches longer than the kilt makes a huge difference to the air flow. The 'waft' of the pleats is reduced too, and the extra layers around the body add greatly to the insulation.

When I first started to wear a plaid I found that when rushing around in the rain I stayed relatively warm. Even though I got wet on the outside I became so warm that when I went indoors I caused consternation as water vapour was rising from me and condensing in the humid air. I created my own tropical micro-climate.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[EldarKinSlayer]

+2 on Panty Hose, wore them on watch many times, thermal underwear looked funky under Navy enlisted Dress Blues (Cracker Jacks).