Lots of layers: two more than the most you think you'll need. Avoid cotton and look for synthetics and wool, two pairs of socks, insulated boots, rain gear over the works, dry set of gloves for backup. Got to stop the wind and avoid holding moisture. 20 is a nice winter day in Maine!
Tricks and tips to handle the cold
- Thread starter WoodChuckDad
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Ed of all trades
Elite Member
I just layer up and do what needs to be done. If the wend is blowing and I am on the tractor long I put on my full face motorcycle helmet. I wish I could find some wind blocker long johns for the days I just want jeans and long johns and still block the wind. Ed
Buppies
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Snow mobile suit works wonders use one to ride ATVs in winter works wonders
mpham
Veteran Member
Same here. Can't believe how warm I stay with my snowmobile suit. Sometimes it's to warm.
Garandman
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In the Army we found the kids from the Deep South would dress much too heavily when exercising. They would sweat, then get cold: they did not have the experience base to realize you can sweat in below freezing temps. Bundle up to sit on a tractor, bundle down if you start working. You want to be a little cool, not overheated. That's why layers are great. I usually wear a down vest under a wind proof jacket, so my arms are free but my body core is insulated, and you can unzip one or both.
Alcohol may give you a flush of warmth but opens blood vessels in your extremities and you may lose heat faster, so not a good idea while working for an extended period.
Coffee is a diuretic (makes you pee). Cold weather also reduces your thirst reflex so it's surprisingly easy to get dehydrated in cold weather. This makes you cold and dumb. Drinking cold liquids can also chill your core, just as warm liquids warm you up.
Your body tries to fuel your brain no matter what, so wearing a hat is important. It's not the 40% number folks used to throw around, but it's significant: you lose a lot of heat from exposed skin, wherever it is. My favorite winter hat is a Carhartt insulated ball cap with ear flaps.
If you are wearing heavy gloves and have to take them off, first unzip your jacket and put them inside so you don't lose them and they are warm when you put them back on. I wear thin running gloves that fit tight and allow you to use tools, with heavier gloves or mittens over. "Trigger mittens" are much warmer than gloves and give you some dexterity.
Alcohol may give you a flush of warmth but opens blood vessels in your extremities and you may lose heat faster, so not a good idea while working for an extended period.
Coffee is a diuretic (makes you pee). Cold weather also reduces your thirst reflex so it's surprisingly easy to get dehydrated in cold weather. This makes you cold and dumb. Drinking cold liquids can also chill your core, just as warm liquids warm you up.
Your body tries to fuel your brain no matter what, so wearing a hat is important. It's not the 40% number folks used to throw around, but it's significant: you lose a lot of heat from exposed skin, wherever it is. My favorite winter hat is a Carhartt insulated ball cap with ear flaps.
If you are wearing heavy gloves and have to take them off, first unzip your jacket and put them inside so you don't lose them and they are warm when you put them back on. I wear thin running gloves that fit tight and allow you to use tools, with heavier gloves or mittens over. "Trigger mittens" are much warmer than gloves and give you some dexterity.
motownbrowne
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My new favorite winter product is called a Buff. It's just a tube of fabric (they make several models, mine's merino wool) that you can wear lots of ways, but i usually wear it around my neck like a scarf. When the wind starts blowing or i put the tractor in high gear, i can pull the buff up over my nose, right below my eyes and my face stays much warmer. Can't say enough how much i like this product.
Mens Tubular | Official Site
The best other tip I can think of is to keep a spare pair of gloves in your arm pits. It keeps you warmer and when the gloves you're wearing get cold or wet you can swap them. On a similar note, if you've got to take your gloves off for any reason, unzip your coat a few inches and tuck your gloves in there. Taking your gloves off even for 45 seconds makes your fingers cold and your gloves colder. If you can keep your gloves warm for when you can put them back on, it's a huge help.
Mens Tubular | Official Site
The best other tip I can think of is to keep a spare pair of gloves in your arm pits. It keeps you warmer and when the gloves you're wearing get cold or wet you can swap them. On a similar note, if you've got to take your gloves off for any reason, unzip your coat a few inches and tuck your gloves in there. Taking your gloves off even for 45 seconds makes your fingers cold and your gloves colder. If you can keep your gloves warm for when you can put them back on, it's a huge help.
groundcover
Veteran Member
18 below with a 30 mph wind two nights ago, had to zip my coat ! :laughing:
check
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-37 yesterday morning. Lots of layers and a Columbia BREATHEABLE jacket. Sat on the ATV and plowed no problem. Driving down to the next property, however, it was another matter. I should've had my full-face, heated helmet on. Had to drive very slow, or the tiny bits of my face that were exposed would have frozen.
CDN Farm Boy
Veteran Member
20 deg F??? I'll toss on a hooded sweater and get on with things. If the sun is shinning with little or no wind, just a T-shirt and my Carhart pants are plenty comfortable if I'm doing physical work at those temps.
When it actually gets cold (similar to check, we were well below -40 with the wind the last couple days), Carhart pants with insulated bibbed overalls on the bottom. Up top, Tshirt, hooded sweater and a North End brand hi-vis 3 season coat. I haven't worn long underwear in more than 20 yrs and spend as much time as I can outside.
The 2 biggest tips I can give are wear mitts not gloves and have all of your stuff a bit oversized, particularly boots and mitts. The extra air space provides great insulation.
When it actually gets cold (similar to check, we were well below -40 with the wind the last couple days), Carhart pants with insulated bibbed overalls on the bottom. Up top, Tshirt, hooded sweater and a North End brand hi-vis 3 season coat. I haven't worn long underwear in more than 20 yrs and spend as much time as I can outside.
The 2 biggest tips I can give are wear mitts not gloves and have all of your stuff a bit oversized, particularly boots and mitts. The extra air space provides great insulation.
nybirdman
Super Member
I purchased a cabbed tractor just for that situation;we had -22F yesterday morning.Had to start my tractor at -15F to plow out an elderly neighbor,normaly I would just wait until it warmed up.
If I still used an open station tractor I would invest in a heated snowmobile/motor cycle suit.
If I still used an open station tractor I would invest in a heated snowmobile/motor cycle suit.
