Thread: Brrrrrr, it's cold out there

in light (or lack there of) winter is coming and i wanted help on a new coat, my cousin and his girlfriend have what i think are properly called varsity jackets, hers coke cola brand (won with coke points) his polo they both look very comfortable and i like how they look

i can't find any at my local stores and the ones i have are to small or cheaply made im a 2XLT
and found some on this site Varsity Jackets from US Wings and http://www.gamesportswear.com/CGI-BI...57D072+A01+ENG
any of you guys know about these are they feasible for winter worth the price,good brand

also because many of you are around the world what do you prefer fancy or practical leather or wool, i prefer long sleeves thermo then a good sweatshirt keeps me warm while shoveling all that wisconsin snow

I'm partial to the waterproof suede bomber style jackets with the wool lining. Looks good, holds up in the snow and, most importantly, warm.

Not that it ever gets really cold here in Arizona, but I have a navy peacoat that keeps me nice and warm if I need it. I think I have maybe worn it once or twice in the last 5 years.

Back home in northern B.C., caribou pelt is the way to go -- 1,000 Eskimos can't be wrong! Here in MI I wear my MC leather year-round.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Back home in northern B.C., caribou pelt is the way to go -- 1,000 Eskimos can't be wrong! Here in MI I wear my MC leather year-round.

Yup, it's tough to argue with the Inuit when it comes to cold-weather gear! IIRC the hairs in caribou fur are hollow and so have extra insulating properties compared to other furs. For some reason I think the skin may have some kind of extra insulation as well, but I may have dreamed that up. But if you can't get your hands on a caribou pelt, this is apparently the next best thing for extreme cold: Canada Goose. Next time you see an arctic/antarctic expedition, check out what they're wearing - it will probably have been made by these folks. BTW there are apparently a lot of fake Canada Goose gear being sold online, so caveat emptor.

But then again, you're shoveling snow in Wisconsin and not wandering the tundra in Nunavut, so I imagine that would be definite overkill!

Wool is also an excellent insulator and has the advantage of breathing well and continuing to insulate when wet. Leather has the advantage of stopping the wind but the disadvantage of being a very poor insulator. If you're going for something with leather sleeves, check out what kind of insulation is in the sleeves. If that's crappy, you'll get cold arms. Layers are also important. If you get the jacket large enough to add a fleece beneath, you'll expand the range in which it will be comfortable.

Cangooner's on the right track. The hollow hairs of caribou pelt trap air, which is an excellent insulator.

Funny Cangooner should link to Canada Goose, I have had a similar jacket for 30 odd years. When the temps drop to -20/30C and the wind chill adds another 10 or so on to that it is just the ticket outside doing snowblowing in Northwestern Ontario. Normally it is overkill though.

Cangooner's advice to layer your clothing is the right way to do things and is far more flexible over a greater range of temperatures. I can also tell you the old style thick wool/melton bushcutters pants WOODSMAN with those big suspenders are warm and comfortable. We were advised when joining the local Search and Rescue organization to forget denim jeans in the bush. Not stylish but worn with a 3/4 down jacket very comfy and warm.

Bob

+1 on the Canada goose. Those suckers are warm. Anything with a good quality down fill is going to be your best bet. Makes for a nice light but warm jacket.

Well they are not to pretty but my goose down duck hunting jackets (hung outside and sprayed with thompsons water seal, work for me)they also smell pretty bad

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Well they are not to pretty but my goose down duck hunting jackets (hung outside and sprayed with thompsons water seal, work for me)they also smell pretty bad

Sprayed with Thompsons water seal???

One of the great things about down is its breathability. I've never put TWS on clothing so I *honestly* don't know what it would do, but is it still breathable? Does it go all stiff from the TWS?