Cold blast between jacket and pants when climbing

T

treeeguy

Location
Ocean County, NJ
Just wondering what you cold weather guys wear to keep from getting your midline exposed and uncomfortable. I have a pair of chainsaw pants with suspenders that work pretty good, but i don't really like to climb in them. I was thinking some type of heavyduty bibs might work pretty sweet, maybe some ice climbing guys would know?
 
When I was working above the snowbelt my work clothing of choice became snow boarding gear. The stuff is built with patches on knees, butt and elbows that kept me a bit drier. The gear also was just baggy enough to allow easy movement.

A pair of bibs with full side zips on the legs were perfect! They were baggy enough to keep my insulation layers tucked in so that there was no 'kidney gap'. At lunch, or for the drive, I could shed the pants without taking off my boots. The snowboard pants were cheap too...around $40. Snagging cheap clothes doesn't hurt as much!

If I was still in cold country I would have a jacket custom made by Beyond Fleece...follow Hollen's link.

YOu take careful measurements of your body and they make a pattern to fit your body. when I priced out an off the rack soft shell the Beyond Fleece jacket cost about 5% more without any fancy options. Having a jacket that fits my long arms would have been worth any difference in price.

clothing is as much a tool as chainsaws, rope and trucks. Buying crappy clothes is like using hardware store rope for climbing line.

Pit zips in all layers makes venting easy. Overheating, even at sub zero air temps will lead to chilling. Get rid of the sweaty air from inside your clothes.
 
Avoiding cotton is also essential for staying dry and warm. Try different brands of thermals too. Some are longer on the body and easier to tuck in.
 
Something I looked into last year while working in Mass. was a polartech or fleece union suit. wouldnt ride up on you like separate thermals (top/bottom). Seems strange, but good place to look for these is paddling gear outfitters (northwest river supplies, colorado kayak supply). They make a union suit that you wear under a drysuit that would work great for insulation. You dont get layers getting pulled down by your saddle.Another place to look for this type of layering is hunting suppliers, IE Cabelas.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

I used to wear the arborwear sweat shirts because they aren't as low lying so I could get to the tools on my belt but the problem was that it was low lying and constantly exposed my back. I tried wearing plumbers shirts (special made longer shirts so when they are tucked in they stay tucked in) but then all of my other articles of clothing would drift up with the sweatshirt and leave only thin shirt to protect me from the elements.

Finally I decided to stitch in extra fabric into the sweat shirt, nothing too thick though, just t shirt thickness, so that the sweat shirt may go up, but now the additional fabric makes it come back down. It's worked great and is only one of many adjustments I've made on my arborwear hoodies (I also took off those aweful "anti beard" snap buttons and replaced them with hook buttons, it really makes a difference and doesn't snatch at your facial hair)
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

Mountian Hardware bibs look up Syncros. This is my 5th season in them.Wind proof, water proof, breathable. No insulation just a shell. They also have built in gators.Great value.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

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Just wondering what you cold weather guys wear to keep from getting your midline exposed

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If it is below 25 than all i wear is the wife.
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Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

I have done that too Holl, but it makes me really tired at the end of the day from luggin her around.
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Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

I wear poly thermal unders with a t shirt over. Arborwear double thick sweatshirt over that. I work in that all winter long to temps around zero degrees without wind. I always tuck my sweatshirt in under my saddle and wear my saddle snugly. After 2 hours or so things will start to become untucked. Usually by then Im back on the ground and can retuck.
I like the AW sweatshirts but they could be better. I would do away with the large pocket on the bottom, lengthen and maybe taper out the bottom so it could be easily tucked under a saddle. The hood is nice but doesnt fit real well over a helmet with muffs on. And the snap buttons on the hood are worthless. Im considering drilling mine out and lacing them like boot grommets. Im a big AW fan, but I dont think they've hit the mark with their sweatshirts or cold weather clothing. Obviously they've never climbed an entire Minnesota winter.

What if the bottom of the sweatshirt had a drawstring or fabric hook loops that could either be attached to the bottom waist line of the saddle or the waist line on pants.

Im not a big fan of coveralls as they are too bulky and restrict movement, and anything but carharts will rip and tear too easily.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

and when I get really cold I just douse myself with gasoline and self ignite. Works every time.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

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I used to wear the arborwear sweat shirts because they aren't as low lying so I could get to the tools on my belt but the problem was that it was low lying and constantly exposed my back.

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So are they low lying or not? Or both
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

Hopper you are smart! It is definitely the base layer that makes all the difference. I use winter grade under armour. The stuff is amazing!!
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

I always wear two tshirts, one tucked in, the other out... mainly because it makes my harness more comfortable but it keep the drafts out too.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

Just bought some carhart noninsulated bibs. a pair of insulated jeans under those with longsleeve shirt and thermal over that and a hoodie all tucked into my new bibs..woooo can't wait to get back to work from my layoff (vacation).

i think the problem of my saddle riding my shirts up is finally banished
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

Patagonia has got some great base layer stuff. Keeps me warm all winter. I just keep layering up and then use a super thin running jacket as my last layer to keep out the wind. The carhart insulated bibs are nice for ground work, but pretty much suck for climbing.
 
Re: Cold blast between jacket and pants when climb

I agree with Seamus and Tophopper. Insulated bibs suck to climb in. Thermals, polys, Aw sweatshirt, and SIP sawpants do the trick for me.
 
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