Keeping warm - ashore and afloat.

[electrosys]

Ok - so I'm beginning to feel my age ... and as I'm currently landlocked due to a shoulder injury, and with snow and ice moving across country in this direction ... my attention has been drawn to how best to stay warm, and for the first time in my life I've looked to thermal underwear as a solution.

So I bought some brushed cotton long-johns off Ebay (which were obviously designed for someone with the belly of a Buddha and legs like a flamingo), and not only don't they make my legs feel warmer - the reverse is true. As a conclusive experiment, I wore them last night in bed (with middling effect) and removed them at about 3 a.m. - after which my legs began to 'glow' from the warmth below the duvet. Crazy. So those are now destined for recycling ...
I'm now wondering if a woollen mix would be an improvement ?

I've also looked at ski-ing trousers, but they're a tad expensive. Mind you - if they really work ....

For now I've fallen back on my old standby: wearing two pairs of jeans, one inside the other (40" inner, 44" outer). of course, this wasn't necessary when a certain make of jeans were made of decent thickness cotton duck, but then they became fashion labels, with a price to match ...

So - how do the rest of you keep warm in winter ?

 

[Daedelus]

At sea by using proper thermal underwear which has nothing to do with cotton. Cotton absorbs the sweat from your body so you are eventually cocooned in a wet blanket and you need extra energy to evaporate the water.

Try some of the wicking type of thermals.

However, I must say when dressed in thermals alone the figure I show is enough to terrify small children while women merely faint in horror.

 

[awol]

Ditto thermal underwear and the stuff that looks like a Spiderman suit from Lidl, Aldi etc. seems as good as the H-H stuff at >£s. Cycling vests with a thicker windproof front, microfleece tops, lightly padded snow boarding trousers, thick fleecy socks and don't forget hat and gloves.

 

[flipper]

In the old days it was the done thing to wear a pair of women's tights under your trousers. not that i'd admit to that

 

[Rivers & creeks]

I discovered that the makers of the military "softie" jacket make softie trousers. Good 'eavens above are they warm or what! I bashered out in November and used the sleeping bag as a duvet I was so toastie. Lots of new ones but I got some second hand ones on ebay for a tenner, best bit of cold weather kit I've ever bought.

 

[Twister_Ken]

As far as insulation is concerned, cotton is the work of the devil. Synthetic fibres are best. I'm lucky to have a Blacks nearby (just!) which has a sale of Helly Hansen* 'underwear' or base layer. Good stuff and can be worn without top layers without looking pervy.

*Other brands are available, but maybe not in Blacks.

 

[Flossdog]

When it's really cold, I wear long johns and long sleeved vest from Damart. Had them years but they are very good. Recently bought a pair of lycra type long johns from Aldi. Most uncomfortable as they were not made from a stretch material. Also, were not particularly warm. I don't know what the Damart ones are made of but they are very comfortable and warm.

 

[sarabande]

Snowboarding trousers have a good layer of insulation built-in.

http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/C/SNOWBOARD_PANTS_Ski_Tousers_Salopettes_SALE_cheap_DISCOUNT-(5).aspx


Or Winter Reaper Trousers from Mole Valley Farmers, which have a lining of brushed cotton.

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/category/trousers

 

[Cardo]

I splashed out and bought Musto base layer thermals and fleece windproof mid-layers. Yes, top dollar, but they work wonders.

 

[timmygobang]

Helly Hansen Base Dry Layers (top and bottom) http://tinyurl.com/ctzbs68
Cotswolds are doing a deal atm I think I got them for £39 which seems a lot but they did the trick on a winter voyage a few weeks ago

Fourth Element Artic Undersuit (top and bottoms which were given to me as a gift) - http://tinyurl.com/cwalgh4

I was given these, perhaps a tad over the top but super warm!

A friend of mine raves on about merino wool garments and he's an avid skier who spends weeks up in the mountains.

I also have a pair of these which are ace!! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mens-Holder-Thermal-Socks-Rating/dp/B001L0DZLO

My dad has gone through buying all in one ski suits for gardening to angler all in one outfits, not very stylish but he seems happy

http://www.bristolangling.com/korum-thermal-3-in-1-suit.html

 

[flipper]

I can recommend the 'weezle' snugpack one piece diving undersuits.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Loverly. Plus the zip goes all the way up to the thigh so you can still look alluring and provocative on mild evenings

 

[electrosys]

Yep - think I'm going to have a go at those 'softies' ...

(it was those zips that finally made the decision - visions of varicosed veins peeping out for all the world to see - much better than Acme thermals. Might not scare the cat quite as much, too)

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Lands end silk thermals and m&s lined trousers. That's fine for about minus 20.

 

[gardenshed]

Ice breaker merino wool
Expensive, but brilliant and don't smell after a few days use

 

[KellysEye]

We use Musto thermal underwear, salopettes (thick furry waterproof jacket and trousers) and ocean wet weather gear.

 

[Kelpie]

Fladen flotation suit is my standard winter sailing outfit- toasty!

 

[fireball]

In the old days it was the done thing to wear a pair of women's tights under your trousers. not that i'd admit to that

Certainly worked when I was at Uni... just go for the thick ones - not the fishnets!

These days we've got "proper thermals" ... which are nice and warm ... but then we had them for skiing and winter dinghy sailing - so it was important to stay warm!

 

[johnalison]

The popular answer round here is a flotation suit used by the local fishermen at around £80. I don't have one myself but usually put on layers of undies & fleeces and an ancient one-piece fleece-lined suit from Gill. When things are bad I wear a balaclava for headgear in Ocean oilies.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

On the boat I find a flotation suit / set of oilies to work brilliantly combined with fleecy beenie leaving the problem areas to be the hands on the wheel and the feet.

ashore, a vest from November to april , lots of layes , a fleecy pullover and if I am going out in really cold snowy weather, the ultimate answer is a sheepskin coat