Cold-weather gear, a must read...

[1000meterstare]

Unless you are in a Southern clime, when SHTF you are gonna need some cold weather gear.  I live and work in North Dakota.  I've loaded grain trucks outside in -25.  -55 with the wind chill, I kid you not.  This post may save your life, and I hope it does.  I recommend an essential piece of lifesaving gear that won't take up much room in your ruck or bug-out bag.  Under armor top and bottom rated 4.0.  This is the pimp de-la-crème of all thermal undergarments.  Here it is widely available.  Where you are you may have to place a special order.  By personal experience I can tell you this stuff bucks the wind like no other (WIND stands for We're In North Dakota) and you can work and operate comfortably in these without much bulk in the zeros.  Added bonus - you don't have to get bulky carharrt bibs or overalls and you can stay in below-freezing temps for long periods of time.  Take heed to this post, before it's too late.  BTW: 30F to 40 F you actually feel hot wearing this gear during normal work and activity.

[thatGuy]

That wind strips the heat right out of you doesn't it?

I've always carried a good set of wet weather gear to break the wind and it makes a hell of a difference.

[Burt Gummer]

Now here's a good post. and would love to know the details of your experience with them (maybe tips on gloves too) because i'm in the process of replacing my old military ECWCS which has been pretty good to me I must say although the fleece is bulky and it blocks 0% wind. 

This is made up of: Polartec® Power Dry® Set & Polartec® Thermal Pro® High Lof $15.99 & $15.99 + $24.99 & $44.99

You are refering to the: Men's UA Base™ 4.0 Leggings and the Men’s UA Base™ 4.0 Baselayer Crew $84.99 & $84.99

My Target for reviews this winter was the: Columbia Men’s PHG™ Base Layer Midweight Long Sleeve Top and the Men’s PHG™ Camo Base Layer Midweight Tight $75 & $75

[JohnyMac]

I mirror Burt's comments in this is a great post! Thanks for starting it 1000M! It's good to debrief as winter is coming to a close.

To TG's point, half the battle to staying warm is keeping the wind out! The other half of the equation is being able to disperse your bodies naturally produced moisture - Sweat!

My brother swears by Under Armor too 1000M. He doesn't use the 4.0 though. He uses the next step down.

Let me talk footwear though. I HATE COLD/FROZEN FEET! I have tried every kind of winter rated boot and have finally decided on the old fashion mush boot. You know the boots with rubber lower, leather sides and felt insert. I bought mine and MrsMac's years ago from LL Bean. When I bought the boots I purchased and extra pair of the felt inserts. During the winter, I rotate them every day during hunting season. At the end of the day I pull the insert for that day. The next day, I insert in the extra pair and rotate them through-out the hunting season. The boots are also easy on and off with the speed lace eye-lets.

On my tootsies I wear a medium thick pair of wool socks. 

[thatGuy]

I'm with you JMac, I can't find a boot that keeps my feet warm like my Sorels do.

Good tip on rotating the felts!

And kudos to 1km. Now is the time to think about winter gear.. its on sale!

[1000meterstare]

For most of you, a good pair of Red Wings with 400 (or more grams) thinsulate should do the trick.  I wear them to work but only with Remington brand socks (they are like 2-3 times as thick.  Pricey, but worth it.  For gloves in EXTREME conditions (like -20 or 25 without wind chill factored in) what I do is get polar penguins and use them sort of as a "liner" on the inside then get one size larger-than-normal modern pigskin or deerskin cold-weather work gloves.  (My personal preference is the piggies).  When the temp gets back to 15 or 20 you can ditch the penguin gloves you used as "liners" and go with the straight deerskin or pigskin work gloves.  May I also recommend a fur hat with the ear flaps.  They may look goofy as hell, but I've never owned a warmer hat and it's enabled me to work hours on end in subzero temperatures.  Facemask/baklava?  Get a carhartt.  The only reason I don't recommend bulky bibs/overalls is that in a SHTF situation you may have limited cargo space.  If you have the luxury of space, bulky carhartt bibs are very warm and enable you to operate and work in extreme conditions for long periods of time.  Hope these tips help you all from the frozen wastelands!

[1000meterstare]

It's real special, North Dakota.  It gets so cold sometimes it is meteorogically impossible to snow.  The mucus is uncontrollable, and it literally freezes in your mustache and beard.  Condensation from when you exhale instantly collects and freezes in the fur of your hat.  Takes a real hardass to work outside here.  And when the workday is over, you feel like someone threw you a beating. 

[Currahee]

In my climate I'm more worried about always having a rag to wet and wrap around my neck.  Alhtough if there is as much global warming next year as there was this year I might need to re-think my CW gear.

[thatGuy]

when the workday is over, you feel like someone threw you a beating.

I know that feeling.. It rarely gets properly cold here but it seems like everytime it does I'm out all day and night digging up a water pipe or some other shit.

I like that sunburned feeling you get from the wind it makes me feel special.

[Burt Gummer]

Soooo...