What to wear...?

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Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and I was just wondering. I have my first job in alberta coming up but I'm unsure of what to pack for the cold weather. Does anyone have any suggestions? I currently have the Carthartt winter jacket, dakotA winter trades boots, carhartt coveralls are on order as well as some long johns. Any suggestions on what to bring would be greatly appreciated, oh and it's a camp job 9 in 5 out
Reply:Layers are your friend. Some high performance base layers will help a lot in cold weather. Not cheap for the good stuff.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:I lived and worked in Alaska for a little bit and yes as stated above layers. You can get some army surplus base layers for a decent price. You're only working in them so who cares what they look like long as they keep your arse warm.Melt-n-Metal
Reply:It's obvious you have an internet connection, google up the weather forecast for the area you're going to. REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:As said, layers. As for your feet, I have tried a lot of insulated boots also with 2and 5 buckle over them but the best I've used is the old military Micky Mouse boots. I've worn these in 75 below( freezer) and my feet were toasty. Get the old ones not the new, their junk.
Reply:L.L. Bean river shirts, they are a 2 layer cotton wool blend. The best bottom layer I have ever worn, I am the only guy not crying when it is -10 with the wind blowing. Good socks, and good boots, throw a hot hands hand warmer in the toes of your boots before you put them on. Carhart bibs and jacket, and a good hat(mad bomber)to top you off.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Another vote for layers. When all else fails, there's really nothing better in cold weather than good old fashioned wool. Wool is a great insulator even when soaking wet and can maintain some thing like 70% of it's effectiveness even when soaked. Wool also is naturally fire resistant. Many of the newer poly type insulations melt and can cause horrible burns if in direct contact with the skin. A base layer of wool or cotton can greatly protect the wearer if the poly melts..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Some or a lot of people had the old "bunny boots" the military used surplus ones I gather. They were white in color. The old timers swore by them, me I'm stubborn I bought new boots. Had a pair that were 30° & pair that were rated to -100°. I still have the -100° boots in a tote with all my Carhartt's and winter gear. All of my LD Hiking gear is separate although it a different type of winter gear.Melt-n-Metal
Reply:I have a set of merino wool long johns I use, cost me $200 but they sure do work. I think they stopped making the best bunny boots, I think they were Bata brand, but you might be able to find some off brand, everybody in Alaska used them when I worked up on the slope.Some guys used a jump suit by Refrigiwear, but I don't know how they would hold up to welding. I used black lined arctic carhartts.make sure you get some good headgear, that's the most important thingLast edited by TimmyTIG; 02-02-2013 at 07:29 PM.
Reply:I second what Tozzi said. I bought 2 of the L.L. Bean river shirts (because of his recommendation) and I love them.
Reply:Talk to the company, they may have regulations for fire retardant outer wear, and I know lots of sites will not allow hoodies. I know a welder that had perfectly functional winter gear, yet had to drop nearly a grand for new gear to meet the regs with a new company.JasonXMT 350 MPA Dynasty 280DXSuitcase 8RC / OptimaSpoolmatic 30AThermco Ar / C02 mixerAssorted O/A gear
Reply:As you said you are working a camp job here in Alberta so I am guessing that probably means Fort McMurray. It can get to be -50 and below, so what you wear should be a matter of your very serious consideration. Not sure if you're moving here for the work or what... and what your current level of experience is working in temps this cold. If you're new to the area, I can promise it's colder than you knew was possible. Touching metal with your bare skin at this temp feels like a painful burn and you wouldn't want to leave any inch of skin exposed if the wind's blowing.Carhartts outer layer is what I use and that is a good place to start, it's durable and waterproof. Underneath, I advise you begin next to skin with a highly insulated base layer. I use Patagonia Capaline 4 (which is their thickest baselayer)... longjohns, longsleeve shirt, and balaclava (skimask which can double as a neck gaiter). Another good product is SmartWool Merino Wool which is pricier but very comfortable and you can wear it for days without smelling like BO. I advise you to get the very thickest offering of whatever brand you find.Between your longsleeve baselayer and jacket, you'll want a high-pile midlayer. Your options here are either a fleece (highly recommended since you have wind/waterproofing from your Carhartt) Polartec or equivelent 300... The North Face Denali is a good one to look at... and if not a fleece, something like Patagonia Micropuff or Arcteryx Atom LT (which is good, I use it and it's a lot of warmth without any noticable bulk). Recently people have also touted the return of wool sweaters to the performance mid-layer option... who knows if you find something good here that can be good as well. Something to be aware of, though, is that if you get a hood it will either need to be tucked in since it's probably flammable and can't be doubled under your Carhartt hood if you're welding. For this reason, you may want to get something without a hood and rely on your Carhartt hood for wind protection and a thick wool cap for insulation.Last 2 items of imporant are gloves and socks. Any super thick wool socks will do you fine. If your boots are big enough you might even wanna double up. Gloves... you'll probably be using leather gauntlets, so look for glove liners from any outdoor brand, like Patagonia.If you live already in Alberta, you can get a lot of this stuff from Atmosphere outdoor store (AFAIK there's at least on in Edmonton--shopping center). Good luck and stay toasty. Originally Posted by BCRDTalk to the company, they may have regulations for fire retardant outer wear, and I know lots of sites will not allow hoodies. I know a welder that had perfectly functional winter gear, yet had to drop nearly a grand for new gear to meet the regs with a new company.Jason
Reply:I find the very first thing that I notice to get cold in the winter while working is my toes!  I will be investing in some nice thick wooly socks and new boots... Right now where I am we get around a low of minus 25 Celsius in the last few days.
Reply:You guys are making me COLD !  Glad I'm done with that after 41 years. GOOD LUCK !  Try to stay warm !
Reply:Hey guys thanks for all the info and taking the time out to reply! I definitely have some shopping to do!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAnother vote for layers. When all else fails, there's really nothing better in cold weather than good old fashioned wool. Wool is a great insulator even when soaking wet and can maintain some thing like 70% of it's effectiveness even when soaked.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwik What is a camp job?
Reply:There is a lot to know about working in the cold, I would think the company would offer you a lot of information. Dehydration is another serious issue. Super cold snow is a serious abrasive and can wear footwear out quickly. Holding in your urine can lead to hypothermia.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikDon't believe that bs. I take dry anything over wet wool.
Reply:I have one more piece of advice. There is a lot of talk about getting boots rated to -1 billion degrees. Those boots are great if you are standing still. As in the case of the "Mickey Mouse" boots as we called them in the Army. The bad thing about those super insulated boots is as soon as you take 3 steps your feet start to sweat. Sweaty feet equals cold feet in whatever boots you are wearing. I'd suggest something medium insulated and when you get to where you are going a pair of down booties of some sort (with a cotton cover of course) to put over your boots to trap the heat that has already been created by walking.
Reply:I have had the the experience of working in very cold temps. When it drops to minus 45 with a wind it is very uncomfortable to say the least. Layers are your best friend. Keeping your feet dry is a must. I found that safety toed boots with a composite toe where much warmer than a steel toe. You do-not want to dress so warmly that you stay warm standing still. If you do you will sweat heavily when working hard and will lose your body heat. Then it thaws and the fun starts all over again. Mud and wet snow up to your *** , work boots that get bigger with every step. Then comes the heat and the biggest meanest flies and the smallest meanest bugs that want to suck all the blood out of you. Its a great experience; have fun
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWTrue it's better to be dry, but it's often impossible to stay 100% dry no matter how hard you try. When wet, good insulating materials like down or cotton knit are useless. Wool on the other hand doesn't loose anywhere near it's insulating quality other materials do. Perspiration is a great example of how you can get wet even in sub zero temps. Layering helps you avoid over heating that can lead to perspiration issues. Also if you are working around preheat, there's a high chance you may get wet from snow etc that melts due to the residual heat from the torches.Personally I'd rather be in wet wool, then molten poly given a choice. I've had the burn ward flay my arm due to serious burns and it would have been 50 times worse if I'd have been in poly at the time the accident happened.Not all materials wick away moisture. Cotton generally does not wick well, while poly wicks very well. The down side to poly against your skin is if it melts. The Brits learned this lesson the hard way in the Faulklins War.  Sailors who were wearing the new poly uniforms got terrible burns from flash melted poly that fused with their skin. After the battles, they took a close look at the casualty reports. It turns out that many sailors received serious burns on their arms and legs, yet those areas covered by cotton under garments received almost no injuries what so ever. Same went with those who had on wool. The cotton or wool might have slightly charred, but it didn't instantly melt when exposed to high temps. Those new poly uniforms may have held a crease well and resisted stains, but they were quickly found to be less than ideal in situations where fire etc was a real danger.Poly fleece is generally very flammable since it has a huge surface area to allow lots of O2 to contact very small fibers. You may get a lot warmer than you'd really like. Note that not all synthetics are flammable or melt. Nomex, Kevlar and other special synthetics are excellent for heat resistance.  As mentioned, check to see what is or is not acceptable to the safety team before buying stuff they won't let you wear.
Reply:Originally Posted by TimmyTIGyou're out in the boondocks and they have to set up a special place for the workers to stay, also called a mancamp.
Reply:don't drop the soap in the shower!
Reply:Just my 2 cents...... I've never worn more than one layer of cotton socks. You want your feet to be cool. Not cold and never warm. Warm feet causes sweaty feet. Sweaty feet are are your worst enemy. Your feet are furthest from your heart causing your warm blood to lose temperature before they get there. You absolutely must protect your feet. Once my feet get cold my body tends to follow. A good pair of insulated boots that are tight and form fitting with a thicker pair of cotton socks will almost certainly do the trick. You don't want sloppy fitting boots that cause rubbing and friction. Be sure they are all leather and waterproof. No rubber. Long johns and under armor cold weather gear works great. Denim jeans and carhart cover alls or bibs are perfect. They are rugged and help shield fire. Until they wear out then they light up like a Christmas tree. Layers of long sleeves and hooded sweat shirts. And top it off with a good durable carhart coat. A good scarf and face mask to top it off. There is a fine line between too much and not enough. Too much hinders your movement and causes sweat. Not enough will cause you to freeze up. Find that line and keep at it. This may sound completely nuts but an old fella I worked with right much always wore panty hoes. He swore by it. Wore the ones with feet and cut some leggings for his arms. He said it was the absolutely best thing for wicking away sweat. I never got cold enough to try it and I don't think I ever will. Another fella used to put bread bags on his feet over his socks. There's lots of tricks. Just keep asking and trying. Oh and I'm sure there will be some "camp clam" around somewhere. So you wont have to worry bout dropping the soap. One of the hands will almost certainly have a hook up for you to relieve "stress". May cost ya but its way better than not having it and even worse...throwing butt darts. Thanks for reading!For hood liners, I get the Occunomix fire resistant ones. http://www.occunomix.com/products/wi...nt-liners.htmlMost are under $10 each."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Joe Namath wore the panty hose. Silk, something I don't have experience with also meets with good reviews.Military surplus is good inexpensive clothing. Heck, you can buy a nice pair of wool pants for a dollar here.
Reply:I just want to throw in some info as the cold weather here in Alberta is different than other areas... dampness is a huge issue in general cold weather, true (I'd rather be in -60c and dry than 0c wet and windy anyday) however due to the relatively low humidity here, moisture is not nearly as much an issue. Think dry ice... that's the feel of the cold when it drops below -50c and the wind kicks up 15+ mph.My advice--focus on getting your layers right, making sure all your skin is covered, and that your shell has proper FR properties. I've never had a problem being wet... it's just too cold and dry here for that, yet there is a certain dry cold which can put you at great risk for serious dried out, frostbitten skin when you leave it exposed for "only a minute". To be honest, it's the small problems that result when you don't put enough thought into your layering that tend to become a problem, like not having enough dexterity in your gloves so you take them off... you can imagine how bad of an idea that is when it's -50 with 10-25c additional windchill. Or not having the back of your jacket open because it doesn't have a draw closure and cold air gets under your insulation... Brrrr! Little things that you would never expect become the big issue. Put thought into your layers and keep them practical. Originally Posted by JimboSliceThis may sound completely nuts but an old fella I worked with right much always wore panty hoes. He swore by it. Wore the ones with feet and cut some leggings for his arms. He said it was the absolutely best thing for wicking away sweat.