Winter coat for climbing

delimbinator

delimbinator

Location
Fort Wayne
Just had our first wet snow in NE Indiana. What winter coat do you other climbers wear while climbing? I'm wanting something warm, light, windproof, waterproof, durable, and not to bulky. If that is possible! Any other cold weather clothing tips (gloves, pants, under garments, ect.) would be appreciated.
 
A 3-in1 jacket would go a long way and give you versatility, but I don't know how warm it would be below 32F/0C

Layering and staying dry has always been the best bet for me on those cold wet days. That and a change of clothes. No one piece of clothing is going to do everything for you.
My favorites:
- Base Thermal Layer - Cabela's Arctic Level Fleece thermals,
- Insulated layer - Longsleeve T or sweater,
- Double thick hoodie - Arborwear,
- Thin Rain jacket - Marmot (for wet days)
- and then Arborwear Vest if needed.

If you can keep moving and stay dry, you can usually keep warm. And if all else fails change out of your wet layers into the warm dry ones you leave in the truck.
 
I always wear a Carhart bomber jacket for freezing temps. Holds up ok to abuse, eventually the forearms wear holes depending what you’re climbing, I think locust bark is pretty damaging. When I was climbing full time I’d get about 2 years out of one before the sleeve were really ratty.
The waist is kinda high on it so it doesn’t cover your Ds or get in the way of stowed gear on the saddle. Has a hood that will cover a helmet but I hate wearing hoods and blocking peripheral vision. I trim the drawstrings on the hood short so they can’t blow into a saw. Same with hooded sweatshirts, I really hate strings or straps flopping around when working with any rotating equipment. Trim them short or just pull the strings out.

A local embroidery shop can design and embroider a company logo and phone number on the back and name on the breast. Gives a nice professional image.
 
Long sleeve base layer, t shirt, flannel pull over and or thermal waffle (Eddie Bauer has great fleece and thermals) and currently a Helly Hansen shell that is wind/rain proof. Last but definitely not least...a neck buff. It reallpy stops the wind from getting in and keeps the neck warm. Today will be a test...20191113_090904.webp
 
For anything outside in winter - work or play - I use Patagonia Capilene undies - preferably a long sleeved zip neck top and a pair of Capilene long johns. You can get the stuff in three weights - the heaviest, the Expedition Underwear, easily keeps me toasty at -25 degC or less. It dries when you've sweated it up but still stays warm (sorta) better than any other synthetics or merino combinations I've tried. This as a baselayer under fleece, layered with chainsaw pants and a Goretex jacket is my tree time go-to. When work isn't so high output (say ground work), I'll wear a quilted freezer jacket on top instead of Goretex shell. If Goretex will rip too easily for your work, then you could try some of the synthetic jackets on the market which insulate but still breathe. I find alpine climbing gear works well for trees in cold temps, at least dry prairie cold. The workwear world is still kinda playing catchup to alpine wear (although hold onto your wallet when you see the price of climbing clothes). There's a lot of neat clothes on Freeworker website (Pfanner stuff is nice too).
Freezer Jacket for ground duties:
https:// www.marks.com/en/dakota-mens-hi-vis-t-max-freezer-jacket-30608.html#30608%5Bcolor%5D=LIME
Socks:
https:// www.treestuff.com/darn-tough-full-cushion-boot-socks/
Gloves:
Wesspur used to carry a blue insulated glove made in Bellingham - I found these way better than the normal grey winter weight Atlas Insulated Latex-Palm Work Gloves, but I don't see them anymore on the Wesspur website.

Important thing is : No Cotton
 
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There are various hardshell materials that work really well.

The fabric is windproof and very water repellant. Not quite water proof but I haven't gotten wet in a rain.

Having pit zips in any jacket is mandatory. Being able to get rid of most of your sweat before it condenses inside making your insulation damp will keep you much warmer.

Finding a jacket with raglan cut sleeves helps too. THis is when the sleeves are attached to the chest with a diagonal seam from pit to neck. This reduces how much the chest part rises when arms are lifted. WIth sleeves attached in typical fashion will lift the jacket and untuck it from a saddle leading to kidney gap.

Like @ghostice says...look at mountaineering clothing too.
 
Patagonia Capilene Expedition Underwear is great stuff.
I've used it for decades !

Darn Tough Sox are good, but also look at heavy weight Farm-to-Feet Sox.
both are very durable.
 
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Layers are best imo. Polypropylene socks under wool socks, wicking shirt, nitrile gloves under regular gloves.

No good jacket suggestion bc anything warm enough for slow times of day like line setting, pulling trees etc is way too hot while climbing
 
On super cold days I have two air triggered handwarmers on each side, in whatever pockets are secure and easily reachable. The show stopper for me is when my fingers can’t operate a carabiner. The key is don’t wait until they’re numb, take a quick break here and there and bake them with the handwarmers and stay ahead of it.
-AJ
 
delimbinator said:
Just had our first wet snow in NE Indiana. What winter coat do you other climbers wear while climbing? I'm wanting something warm, light, windproof, waterproof, durable, and not to bulky. If that is possible! Any other cold weather clothing tips (gloves, pants, under garments, ect.) would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
I bought this 3-1 bomber jacket and it's killer.
It's not cheap but I found it at Staples of all places for a great price.
Really nice jacket, exceeding my expectations, really quality made.
Ergodyne 8381

Staples Link
Plus they have $15 off you purchase of $60 or more
So I bought these gloves to go with them...
Gloves
 
Never heard of a raglan cut. Thanks for enlightening me. I always thought stretch was the only thing that helps with a jacket untucking.
 
dsptech said:
I bought this 3-1 bomber jacket and it's killer.
It's not cheap but I found it at Staples of all places for a great price.
Really nice jacket, exceeding my expectations, really quality made.
Ergodyne 8381

Staples Link
Plus they have $15 off you purchase of $60 or more
So I bought these gloves to go with them...
Gloves
Click to expand...
That looks perfect if it holds up well, particularly the sleeves. High viz clothing is getting more and more common and I’m loving it.
One of my greatest fears in this work is not seeing someone and I feel like I spend a lot of time yelling “headache” and double/ triple/quadruple checking the area before dropping something. The high viz stuff really makes folks stand out and I get quick headcounts.

I hate that brown cotton duck material that somehow became popular with a lot of outdoor workers.
 
Nike makes a thick version of the runner/athlete compression type tights (long sleeve shirt and pants) that I have been wearing as base layer, but they are stupid expensive. I recently found something similar on amazon, but not as good. Then how ever many layers I need for temp, and wind proof outer layer. The wind proof is of paramount importance. I bought a fairly thin rain jacket from rei about 7 years ago for $100 and it has held up amazingly. Totally wind proof and easy to move in. Last year I bought a pair of downhill ski pants for the windproof aspect and paid about $200 for them. They worked great, a little lacking in durability, but they are still very usable this year. I found some nice fleece lined windproof soft shell pants on amazon for $40 and just tried them out for the first time today. So far they are great! I have found if I keep my core warm, my hands do alright in my normal gloves, ironclad box handlers.
 
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dsptech said:
I bought this 3-1 bomber jacket and it's killer.
It's not cheap but I found it at Staples of all places for a great price.
Really nice jacket, exceeding my expectations, really quality made.
Ergodyne 8381

Staples Link
Plus they have $15 off you purchase of $60 or more
So I bought these gloves to go with them...
Gloves
Click to expand...

The Glowear 8381 Bomber (Staples link) looks excellent, going on to my winter shopping list, thank you.
-AJ
 
I use Artic Skins polypropylene as a base layer. I think we got em at Sierra Trading post. Then whatever shirt you wear. My key piece is a Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Vest. My wife found it on EBay for 20.00 shipped to us in the back of beyond VA.

I bought a Patagonia fleece and that sucker is warm! I was sweating today and had to take it off mid climb.

Truewerk makes a nice T3 coat but it is not waterproof and does not have pit zips. I had a Mountain Hardwear Conduit shell I LOVED but it got lost in a move. I would recommend the Mountain Hardwear jacket without reservation.

I stay away from cotton and if it is really cold throw on a thrift store wool sweater go ground work. +1 on the neck buff idea.

Wind and water proof pants are a needed purchase. I think i’ll look at Marmot for those.
 
B_Strange said:
I use Artic Skins polypropylene as a base layer. I think we got em at Sierra Trading post. Then whatever shirt you wear. My key piece is a Mountain Hardwear Windstopper Vest. My wife found it on EBay for 20.00 shipped to us in the back of beyond VA.

I bought a Patagonia fleece and that sucker is warm! I was sweating today and had to take it off mid climb.

Truewerk makes a nice T3 coat but it is not waterproof and does not have pit zips. I had a Mountain Hardwear Conduit shell I LOVED but it got lost in a move. I would recommend the Mountain Hardwear jacket without reservation.

I stay away from cotton and if it is really cold throw on a thrift store wool sweater go ground work. +1 on the neck buff idea.

Wind and water proof pants are a needed purchase. I think i’ll look at Marmot for those.
Click to expand...

Yes, I have Patagonia fleece in the mix, it's a killer layer for the colder days. With the possibly $20 shell you describe I'm probably done for New England winters.
-AJ
 
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