[Coldjensens]

TO me the key is gloves. I had frostbite once and now cold causes a lot of pain in my hands. I wear some good ski gloves everywhere in the winter. They say SWANY on them, so I assume tht is the brannd. They also say Triplex and dryfinger. All I know is that they are incredibly warm. They have little pockets in the back of them to hold those packs of shredded steel that rusts real fast and makes heat (you get them for about $1 in home depot and other stores). You do not use the little warmer packets unless it is super cold. Those things really crank out heat and they last up to ten hours.

I have not found a good solution for my feet. Obviously boots help, but I would like to find some really warm socks somewhere. I once had some electric socks. They had a little heating element across the toes and a batter pack at the top of the sock. They got too hot and could burn your toes. Now I usualy just throw one of those steel heating packs in each boot, but it is not very compfortable to walk around with those in your boots.

I find that almost any decent coat is sufficiently warm. I have trouble with durability though. I usually need a new coat every season. I layer. T-Shrit, thermal, long sleeve shirt, sweater, coat. Then I can take off some layers if I am too warm. I use less layers if I am not going ot be out long, it is nto that cold or I will be working hard. IN fact sometimes if I will be working hard, I do not even wear a coat, just gloves hat lined jeans and a sweatshirt and t-shirt. otherwise I get too hot and sweaty.
For your legs, get some flannel lined jeans from one of those outdoor wear catalogues. If you cannot wear jeans or it is really cold get good quality thermals. Synthetic, not cotton.


If it is really cold and you will be outside a long time, wear a face mask.

In extreme conditions, you can also use vasiline. Put a heavy coat of it on your hands, then some glove liners then gloves. Put a havy coak on your face, then a foam mask then a head sock then a hat. This is really only for when you will be out in subzero temperatures all day or all night.

Althogh I have not gotten around to it for my car, I strongly recommend a remote starter. WE put one on one of our cars and it is wonderful. You never have to be cold. Just dash from your heated home to your already warm car, park and dash inot your heated work or store, then warm up your car and dash back to warmth again.

[Coldjensens]

Looked online at the pictures. My gloves that i love so much are either Swany X-Cell II or Xclusive model. I cannot tell for sure, I think that they are the X-cell II. They are listed at $125, but I got them on sale for about $50 or so. Althoguh they are ski gloves, I wear them all the time. They are very warm and do not restrict movement as much as many other warm gloves. I also love the heater packet pockets and the flashing to keep snow or wind from getting inside.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Looked online at the pictures. My gloves that i love so much are either Swany X-Cell II or Xclusive model. I cannot tell for sure, I think that they are the X-cell II. They are listed at $125, but I got them on sale for about $50 or so. Althoguh they are ski gloves, I wear them all the time. They are very warm and do not restrict movement as much as many other warm gloves. I also love the heater packet pockets and the flashing to keep snow or wind from getting inside.

Thanks so much for posting this!

Amazingly, I just got on here hoping someone would recommend really warm gloves that actually work.

I bought some Columbia "snow cave" gloves last week and am going to be returning them shortly - my fingers froze in 25 degree weather while wearing them

Thanks again!

[chiroptera]

Thanks for the glove info! I need some really warm ones.

Rabbit-fur lined "Mad Bomber" hat with ear flaps from LL Bean; ancient now and looks dorky but warm as heck.
Also have a cashmere stocking hat that has a part you pull down to cover all but eyes and nose (Old Navy brand I think) that's great for keeping your face warm.
LL Bean flannel lined jeans. Failing that, a pair of woollen tights or thinsulate tight pants under a pair of warm pants.
Oil-skin wool-lined "crofters coat" from Scotland. It even has a big detatchable pocket to tuck an ailing lamb into while you're out in the field. Warmest coat I own besides my mink coat (there's a reason you always see Russians wearing fur) but I don't wear the mink for chopping wood or walking the dogs.
Vasquez hiking boots, very comfy, water resistant and warm.
Woollen socks.
On my shopping list: another pair of LL Bean snow boots, I used to have a pair that I loved. I'm a fan of LL Bean products, a little spendy but last years and years. As I type I'm wearing an LL Bean fleece sweatshirt that is probably close to 20 years old and I have worn the heck out of it.

[stanman13]

Wool. Real wool, not some cheaper-to-make blend. It stays warm even when wet. I have a Woolrich coat that I've worn for years, and I love it. My wife likes the Navy pea-coats.

Dress in layers, especially if you are going to be active. Many times I find that when I'm snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, I end up with just my wool long underwear shirt and a good warm outer shirt. I like the chamois shirts, they are warm and comfortable, and get softer with each washing. For this type of activity, I usually wear long underwear (again wool) with a pair of cargoes. Not everyone likes wool against their skin, though.

I have a pair of Sorels, they are very warm. But honestly, when I'm very active outdoors I often just wear my gore-tex hikers (I like Vasque Sundowners) with 2 pairs of socks, one thin, one heavy.

Gloves, most of the time I just wear deerskin work gloves. I do have some heavier gloves which I take when it's extremely cold or I'm less active. I don't like the warmer-pac thingies, they are too hot for me.

A lot depends on what you are doing, and how much you are moving. Also depends how cold it is. For obvious reasons, you are going to dress differently for a 20° day than a -10° day. The more active things like snowshoeing, you generate a fair amount of your own heat, so that's why layering is good, because you can adjust as needed. I'd rather wear a separate wind-resistant outer jacket with a fleece jacket underneath than a big parka which I tend to regret a couple hours later.

Snow-blowing your driveway or snowmobiling require more extreme gear. I do much less snowmobiling than many in Michigan, so I'm not your best source of info for that.

You'll have to experiment a bit, everyone is different. It's better to be over-prepared than under. Remember, though, in the winter, sweat is your enemy. You can have the warmest gear in the world, and if you start sweating, you are headed for trouble.

ETA: Forgot to say, welcome to Michigan!

[YAZ]

Never underestimate the power of long underwear.

[jeeg]

We live on the top side of da U.P. and my wife and I both just wear carharts. I've had mine for 10 years now, just took it in and had the zipper replaced last winter. My wife has had hers for 5 years.
We don't own anything else and don't see the need to.

[Dave Wojo]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Not yet, I'm still on my Canadian made pair I've had for many years. They are not the exact same as the link I posted, but they don't make the pair I have anymore.

I have been seriously thinking of a pair of Kamik boots. I've heard great things about them and one of my sons just HAD to have a pair last winter. He has abused those things like no tomorrow and they still look great and he says they are the warmest winter boot he has ever had. I'll see how they look at the end of this winter before I give them a try.

More than a few of the reviews I read were directing folks to Kamik.

[Dave Wojo]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

Fleece is great to wear under a bigger coat, and just to let you know...I was at JC Pennys today, and they had a ton of Fleece jackets like 70% off. I could have got a real nice Fleece jacket reg. $70 for $19 (I also had a $10 off coupon) but I ended up getting a nice heavy Fleece shirt (to wear under my Carhart vest I am getting for X-Mas) for $6 reg. $40

Good advice on the fleece. The thrift stores around us always have some, and they're selling for $3-$5. I'll stock up.

[zthatzmanz28]

We had a stock pile of Carhart and North Face (NF stuff was 10 years old pre-commercialism before it became junk like Columbia USED TO be great). Lots of gloves and boots with Gortex backed with layers of wool and cotton.