ak70g2 wrote:TurtleNomad, currently in Romania (SE Europe) the coldest temperature in the last 10 years was -23 degree centigrade. Average temperature in the January is around -9 degree centigrade/celsius.
That's shirt sleeve weather!
Ok, not quite, but that's not nasty cold. I'm glad you'll be doing your work in temperatures that are survivable, if properly attired and mentally prepared.
I'm sure they drilled into you how easy it is for an unprepared person to die from hypothermia even at temps as high as +10C.
You should be able to find European mil surplus
much cheaper than swapping stuff across the ocean. If the shipping weren't so expensive, I'd definitely be
very interested in your rations, so
thanks for offering!
In particular, look for
East German equipment - there's been a consistent flood of it, at
very low prices, and I've always heard good reviews (both online and from reliable friends).
Personally, I go with regular
cotton underwear,
unless I'm expecting
wet/soaking conditions. In general,
avoid wool in direct contact with skin for long periods, unless it's a blend (like most modern wool socks). My wool "shirt" is uncomfortable at the wrists, if I use it too much.
For wool socks, check local "work" or hunting clothing supply companies. You can probably get a multi-pack for a decent price. I've tried high-end hiking wool socks, and "regular" work wool socks, and have found little advantage to the "high-end" socks. The "work" socks have lasted far longer. I do have some 20 year old wool "work" socks, most of which are somewhat "ratty", but still useable;
none of the high-end socks lasted long. Note that that was
before "Smartwool", of which I have one pair (haven't used much but they're nice!), so the newest generation may hold up far better (they're usually at least twice the price of good work socks).
The best thing is to
buy a variety, and
try them out.
Two decades ago, I bought a mix of gear from a hiking store, a work "wearhouse", and had some issue mil gear.
I ended up using a hodge podge of stuff that worked well for
me.
Particularly with
wool, buying local milsurp gives you high quality at cheap prices.
Some people love wool, some don't. It's highly subjective, so best to try frugally.
I don't spend anywhere near as much time outside as I did back then, but still use much the same gear. Once tested thoroughly, you'll just have to replace the occasional item as each wears out.
Here's my favorite gear, and is
intended to give you and others ideas of stuff to try:
- regular cotton underwear and tee shirt (far more comfortable as my innermost layer, in my opinion - many folks do prefer man-made materials)
- low end thermal long underwear, cotton-poly blend ($5 at Walmart/Target)
- $1 polyester gloves
(very small size, great for light winter use "around town", for not-too-cold photography, and as liners; I have a pair of these in all my emergency kits)
- wool socks, scarf, watch cap, (both) mittens/gloves, "shirt" used as a not-too-cold jacket (I also have a pair of milsurp wool pants I bought a year ago, but have not yet used them)
- fleece/pile/whatever as a middle layer: sweatshirt, light zippered shirt/jacket, heavier jacket
(I haven't used the heavier jacket in years, because my local climate is similar to yours - when I lived in -40C areas, it was my main layer of insulation, sometimes combined with the light jacket)
- civilian/hiking Goretex coat, unlined (useable all year), mid-thigh (I recently retired it, after 20 years of continuous use - quality lasts!)
- Sorel snow boots (the kind with the felt liner rated to -40C), with inserts to provide better arch support and a firmer/stiffer walking experience
- civilian hiking boots, rubber lowers ("duck hunter" style), Thinsulate lined (used down to about -20C)
The watch cap and scarf are almost
forty years old (birthday/Christmas gift from a relative), and still rock! I've tried several alternatives, and always came back to those. About once per year I wash them in a regular washing machine with regular (albeit "gentle") detergent, with no problems (I
never put them thru the dryer).
Among the stuff I bought two decades ago, were a couple of polypro longjohn tops, but eventually both had dryer massive shrinkage mishaps (i.e. I or somebody else accidentally put them in the dryer). Otherwise, they were in great shape. Maybe modern stuff isn't as sensitive to heat shrinking?
For town use, I use regular running/walking shoes all year round, but switch from cotton to wool socks in coldest weather.
If I'm birding or doing something else outdoorsy, and there's snow on the ground (or temps below -20C), I use the Sorels.
Part of my bi-annual "prepper" routine is to move the Sorels into the car in the Fall, and swap in the hiking boots in the Spring (i.e. there is
always one pair of decent cold weather boots in my car).
I've heard excellent reviews of "UnderArmour" longjohns, and plan to buy a set whenever I can get a good deal.
Last year, I bought some mil surplus items, including some parts (Balaclava, Poly-Pro Shirt, various mittens/socks) of the ECWS system, but haven't used any yet (except for the wool shirt - my old civilian wool shirt was lost in the 2008 Midwest flood).
Currently, they're in a knapsack in my car, in case of breakdown or if I encounter someone who needs them more than me.
If I get a chance, I'll field test some of them this winter (depends on my crazy work schedule - ugh!).
Good luck experimenting, and
please do share your own experiences and preferences with us!
Treesuit wrote:Even after a few bad winters here in the Pacific Northwest they are still holding up and I have even worn them to weekend drills in place of the ECWCS-gortex clothing.
Shiny!
Tree, what do you think of the
individual components of the ECWCS system?
I tried a pre-ECWCS balaclava in my mid-teens, and wasn't too impressed at the time. Picked up one last year, and plan to give it a try.
