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arctic-ish clothing advice

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ivymike

ivymike

Mechanical
Nov 9, 2000
5,653
okay, I'm going to spend 2 days next week at the DeBeers mine in Snap Lake NW Territory. I've been in cold before... but probably not THAT cold, at least not for long. My initial cothing plan is as follows:
- knit synthetic hat over polar tech blaclava
- columbia powder shell w/ down vest zipped in
- fleece sleeved zip-up jacket under shell & vest
- polo shirt under that
- regular boxer shorts
- a pair of regular sweatpants
- carhart quilted overalls
- wool socks
- sorel caribou boots

Think that'll cover it? I'm guessing I'll be dealing with -25F outdoors... not sure what it'll be like indoors.
 
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forgot to mention I'll also have Hestra Heli Mitt snowboard mittens on my hands, and chapstick on my lips. Don't have clear-lens goggles, but thought about bringing my amber ones... not sure that's necessary, and it might be dark a lot.


 
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Baklava is a poor choice for headwear, the honey tends to clog my ears when I wear it. Balaclava or face mask works good, though. :)

If you are working outdoors in that weather, or spending any serious amount of time in it: no cotton. Sweatpants & polo shirt are a bad idea, wear some polartec fleece pants and/or polypropylene long underwear. Take spare socks to change into if you get sweaty feet, dry feet = warm feet.

Everything else sounds ok, and having layers is a good idea to keep from overheating and sweating. I spent several hours unloading trucks at that temperature, and ended up stripping down to shirt sleeves - if there is no wind, you can stay pretty warm if you're working hard.

 
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Bring a ski mask too.

If you have to manipulate anything smaller than a big doorknob, a pair of knit gloves will help when you have to take the mittens off. Leather palms preferred, or sewn leather gloves lined with mouse fur.

Some people like turtleneck shirts to protect their neck; I can't stand them for more than a few minutes. I prefer a knit scarf/ muffler.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
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Might also have a ski mask in your pocket to cover your face. If you're not used to that degree of cold, a couple of thermal packs will help if you are going to do a lot of standing around (government job).

One of those yellow hats with the flashing red light on top would be good too...with a locator transponder too.

I could make a further comment, but I'll wait until happy hour.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
 
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the balaclava covers all but my eyes... it's a cheap fleece one

I know what you mean about the sweat... but I may have to go from shop to meeting & back. Dress is casual, so I suppose that they'll be used to people wearing sensible "winter" clothes. I do have a bunch of different wicking synthetic excercise shirts, and some fancy anti-bacterial silver-mesh synthetic long johns (tops and bottoms). Maybe those'll be better than the sweats. (I use 'em skiing to keep the copious amounts of sweat away)
 
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Sweat pants are useless. Don't like jeans much, either. Get some bona fide thermal long johns.
 
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Move south. That weather is not for humans.
 
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I spent a "summer" in the Antarctic, so take my advice for the little that it's worth.

Firstly, -25F isn't really all that cold. Don't be such a wimp.

Leave all the cotton stuff at home. If you're doing anything remotely physical you will sweat, the cotton will get damp and you'll be miserable the rest of the day.

Get some polypropylene long sleeve undershirts and long johns.

I second the pair of light gloves if your going to have to manipulate anything. The Army surplus wool ones with the leather palms are great.

Make sure that you have overlap at the waist. That is, you can tuck your top into your bottoms to keep the cold air out, not your gut overlapping your waist band.

Other than that your gear looks good.
 
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"Get some polypropylene long sleeve undershirts and long johns." PP undergarments develop a unique aroma after a while. Other than that, very effective.

If you can keep it dry - which at -25F shouldn't be a problem - down clothing is difficult to beat for mid-layer warmth. When I was younger and less tied by family considerations I used to frequent the Scottish Highlands in winter and down is by far my preference for warmth / comfort / light weight / small packed size. If it gets wet it is a nightmare.


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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
 
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According to the climate data on wiki, that region (Yellowknife) can reach -50C. I've been out and about at -40C in Ottawa, and I was forced to purchase a $80 fur hat just to survive my daily commute of walking several blocks from my parking spot to the office.

Theres a big difference if you're going to be running between buildings, or actually working outside all day.

If you can arrange an extra day in Yellowknife, you could check the forecast and buy the extra layers there if required. Another idea would be to arrange for loaners from your hosts.

Have fun.

PS: Don't forget about the very short daylight hours.
 
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PP undergarments develop a unique aroma after a while.
Click to expand...

Certainly if you don't wash them.

Nice thing about PP is that you can rinse them in the sink, wring them, then spread them out on a towel, roll it up and squeeze and they're almost dry. Certain to be dry in the morning to start again.

 
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Get extra liners for the boots, rotate daily and keep the spare pair where they will dry out. You can also get a felt insole that goes in the bottom of the boot, two pair of those is not a bad ideal.
Ty-wraps around your ankles will keep the snow snakes out.
 
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Good ideas above but number one on my list is clean feet.

Even if you change out dry socks for sweaty socks, your feet still have the sweat oils on them and you will be MUCH warmer over your whole body if you find a way to occasionally wash and thoroughly dry your feet before changing into dry socks.

 
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well that brings math into the thread... so I guess it belongs now! how do foot oils affect heat transfer coefficients? Doesn't seem like there'd be enough there to do anything. Replacing air w/sweat (in the socks) seems pretty obvious, but the oils have me stumped.
 
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I used to own a pair of cheap boots with something called a "cambrelle" liner or footbed. Essentially a woven pad of the same stuff used in baby diapers and feminine hygiene products. Laugh all you want, but I wore those boots hunting in Wash. state for years, snow & rain & dry - never had cold feet, and I have pretty sweaty feet most of the time.

Aint' google great:
 
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What I didn't see here is loose clothing. Have the overlap, but if you don't allow for some looseless when layering, like wearing two pairs of socks in a boot that normally fits with one pair or size large mittens over size large gloves you will be cold
 
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OP: "...I'm guessing I'll be dealing with -25F outdoors..."

If this is the week, then it was a pretty good guess.

It's supposedly about -27°F (-33°C) in "nearby" Yellowknife today.

 
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