MN winters

Sam Hodgson

Sam Hodgson

Location
Bluffton, SC
As some of you know Minnesota gets pretty cold in the winter, and I am sick of climbing in so many layers. It gets to the point were it is next to impossible to footlock up without taking all your warm cloths off. On the cold days ill wear long jons, Flannel pajama pants, Thick jeens, and then carhart insulated bibs. On top ill wear polyester shirts with a fleece and a sweetshirt and if its windy a windbreaker over that. So now you can see why its so hard to climb. Does ANYONE have a better way to go on this besides moving to a warmer state??
 
Start here:

http://www.treebuzz.com/pdf/coldweather.pdf

Then, eliminate every piece of cotton in your winter wardrobe and replace with synthetics, wool, silk, etc.

Think and dress like a mountaineer or ice climber.

Get shell jackets with pit zips.

Wear vapor barrier socks or plastic bags over your light socks.

Shop at Thrifty Outfitters, upstairs of Midwest Mountaineering, on the West Bank.
 
I would say no jeans, no flannel, no carharts. Carharts suck period for mobility. Cotton longjohns will kill you. spend the money on Smart wool or silk long johns if you got money or poly propelene if you can abide the smell. Double or triple up on the long underwear when it gets colder. I got a pair of poly pro running pants that are kind of like real thick, long johns but have a lot of mobility. NO COTTON-NO COTTON -NO COTTON. It always makes me mad that they sell all that cotton "outdoor" hunting gear. The stuff is hypothermia waiting to happen. Good socks and fill your pockets with those hand warmer things. I dont agree with the plastic over socks, your feet will turn into ice cubes if they cant breathe. Own good boots and don't let the snow in. I believe in turtle necks and keeping the blood in your neck warm. Vests are also good to maintain mobility but keep the core warm. make sure your wrists are covered and your head is covered. If the blood on your wrists gets cold it takes the cold back into your core. Knee socks are good too. Keep everything tucked in. If you got enough long underwear on, than arborwears are fine with maybe a shell. I have been wearing my SIPs chainsaw pants in the winter. (i dont in the summer because they chafe my legs without longjohns). I also notice my groundguys have their chainsaw chaps on all winter regardless if they use the chainsaw. Chaps are great against the snow.
 
just read your article tom. I will have to try your bread bags this winter. Makes some sense the way you explained it. If you are dealing with a lot of Snow. Gators are definitly the way to go. They also keep sawdust out the boot too.
 
this works for me... go for a run every morning just two miles...what a difference it will make to your metabolism..

wear running and outdoor exercise undergarments and clothing..eat food for energy and donot stop working until your done.( if you do stop take off the jackets and stuff) to help warm your core... instead of a hat wear ear warmers...wear a vest for mobility...wear work boots...


hope this helps, it works for me
santa.gif
 
I've been doing this for 20 some years and one thing that works is the poly socks, long underwear, and glove inserts. It sounds like you are definitely wearing too many layers. When you start your climb, you need to strip off those extra layers. In the winter it is sweat that is the killer. You might be shivering when you start, but half way up the tree you will be generating enough body heat to stay warm. Nothing worse than getting soaked with sweat climbing and freezing after a couple of minutes on the ground.
 
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Smartwool everything, and NO cotton. Nuff said.

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yep :)

also, rub anti-perspirant on the bottom of your feet, especially where your toes and the ball of your foot meet; this will keep them from sweating.

Sweating = cold :)

old bowhunter trick ;)
 
Sam,
I'm wearing uninsulated bibs, (Duluth Trading Firehose) with Fleet Farm insulated under wear, a fleece jacket and shell. I stay warm. If it's really cold I add another fleece. The whole set-up is fairly light weight and easy to move in, the insulated underwear are the key IMO, check FF early because the smaller sizes sell out quickly. I also make sure my neck is covered. I do Smartwool socks and my feet rarely get cold
 
Jim,

What liner socks did you have inside the bags?

I have a couple of pairs of seam sealed VBL/vapor barrier liner socks that I used in MN and never had the clammy feeling.

When I told Gary Albig about VBLs he was skeptical, surprised? :) I had him try a plastic bag on one foot in the morning to compare and then switch to the other foot at lunch for the afternoon. He was convinced!

VBLs don't work for everyone, I know.
 
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