I have a serious question regarding Clothing

**SemperFi** · 02-12-2012, 01:50 PM

I realize that different regions of the world require different clothing items , but in areas where the climate has seasonal differences ,is there certain set of options I should require for my self ?

In other words ,I have a survival kit (bugout bag, plan etc) Im a little confused as to what I should bring in my clothing issue , I want rugged clothes , I ,right now have a set of cammies from finland ,they match the area well, year round ,I also have jeans, 2 pairs white socks and 2 thermals,1 set thermal underwear, 2 regulars, my coats are all layered which is a plus ,right now Im in a quandry as far as foot wear goes , I have some Rocky work boots ,they are nice and rugged ,but not very good as far as keeping my feet warm ,I need a good pair of shoes/boots for this not sure what to do about this ,over the years footwear has always been my downfall , not saying I couldnt make it ,I ALWAYS MADE IT BUT DIDNT FAIR WELL ! As far as Im on the subject , my extremities :hands, feet and head , what is the best combination for this , please I welcome everyones opinions !

I feel as far as Foot wear goes a good pair of boots that can retain heat and repel water would be great and a combination of socks with the boots to keep my feet warm and dry!

**Winter** · 02-12-2012, 02:14 PM

http://www.xtratufboots.com/products...es/22274g.aspx

That's what everyone here wears year round. I wear jungle boots in the summer and those for the other 3 seasons.

**Rick** · 02-12-2012, 03:46 PM

Semper - For Indiana I have camos and solid color fatigues that are 80/20 poly/cotton. They dry quickly, which is my main reason for having them.

I spent years working outside in steel toed Wellingtons with 4 buckle overshoes in the winter so I know how warm an overshoe is. Today, I have Austrian combat boots with green chem overboots. That covers both wet and cold weather. I also have -40 boots if things are truly cold. There was a glut of the overboots last year and I took advantage of it. I didn't buy from these guys but the price is the same, crazy cheap.

http://www.militaryhq.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=11462

As for extremities, I have military trigger finger mitts with liners. I also have some extreme cold weather gloves but I like my mitts for the weather around here.

For your face, I've found nothing better than the military cold weather face mask.

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I have a fish tail parka but my favorite coat is a hooded parka from Duluths. They no longer carry it but it's super warm. I have a fleece jacket from NorthFace I can add under it if I needed to but I've yet to see it that cold. My longjohns are Duluths wool. They are expensive, $100 for tops and bottoms, but super warm wet or dry.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/m...ear/75036.aspx

**SemperFi** · 02-13-2012, 12:02 PM

where do you find those face masks(funny they never gave us anything like that in cold weather training at Bridgeport?)

**Rick** · 02-13-2012, 12:52 PM

http://www.google.com/search?q=milit...ient=firefox-a

You should expect to pay around $4.00 plus shipping. If it's more than that keep looking. It should also come with two (2) detachable masks that cover your nose and mouth.

They have a detachable chest pad that helps keep your neck and chest warm but I find it too hot. If you wear glasses they go on the outside of the mask and slip through loops on the side.

**intothenew** · 02-13-2012, 01:53 PM

Get a good hat. I prefer a wool ski cap. They don't give you itchy head like a taboggan and are somewhat convertable. The kids, my spouse, and of course my peers make fun of it. But, I'm a big boy and my Mom thinks it's cute.

For the rest of this, I presume that you do not have any health issues relating to circulation.

Be extremally aware of how all your clothes fit. Any bunching, pulling, or tighteness will hurt circulation. Where does that show? In your extremeties. Lose the blue jeans, lose the belt.

Glove liners, I prefer thermax. They are a bit fragile, but they are thin enough to wear and still have good dexterity. Working, put a set of leathers over top of them. Hunting, hiking, fishing, etc a set of fingerless wool mittens over top.

Lose the white cotton socks. Smartwool make some great ones. I only use 200 gram boots, make sure they fit right long and wide, with the wool socks.

If you will blouse pants and coat properly, that makes a big difference. Back to how things fit, blousing needs to be somewhat loose and allow your clothing to move. And that means blouse everywhere, pants cuff, sleeve cuff, jacket hem, and jacket collar. I use a light scarf at my collar.

**RangerXanatos** · 02-13-2012, 02:46 PM

I've had good experiences dealing with this place and they have the cold weather masks: http://www.safezonellc.com/coldweathermask.html

**Wildthang** · 02-14-2012, 02:47 PM

Just remember, in wet weather, cotton is rotten! In fact, here in the north, I cannot think of 1 piece of cotton clothing in my BOB. It gets really cold here by lake Erie and in the winter if you get wet in cotton, you turn into a popsickle real quick!

**Rick** · 02-14-2012, 03:29 PM

I think you mean cold weather. Those attributes are excellent in summer even when it's wet. They allow evaporation, which cools you.

**Wildthang** · 02-16-2012, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

I think you mean cold weather. Those attributes are excellent in summer even when it's wet. They allow evaporation, which cools you.

Yes, cold weather! Thanks Rick! In the summer I wear as little as possible depending on where I am and where I am going!

**Rick** · 02-16-2012, 03:34 PM

Commando Randy? Never mind. Don't wanna know.

**rockriver** · 02-19-2012, 02:41 PM

Not that I am an expert, but I have quite a bit of experience in cold weather exposure. I live in MN, and I'm a city mail carrier...meaning that for 6-8 hours a day, depending on the workload, I am walking a decent number of miles going door to door delivering. This year has been a blessing, as the weather has been very mild. The last few have been very challenging. Feet of snow on the ground, and temps ranging from the 30's all the way down to 28 below. I layer my shirts like this: tank, sleeveless, longsleeve, sweatshirt, and then my workshirt. For my trousers, I simply wear my USMC issued poly-pro's under my workpants. I have yet to wear a jacket, it is just way too bulky and restrictive. For my boots, I spent a number of hours really trying on what is comfortable in the winter boot section. I actually couldn't tell you what brand they are without looking, but they are rated at 30 below I think, and I got them from Cabelas. I also wear socks that are a wool blend. If it is one of the severe cold days, I wear a neck gator, and one of those hats that you see on "grumpy old me." If it's not too bad...15-30 degrees or so, I just wear a cotton beenie. Granted I am moving the majority of the day, generating body heat, but I don't find myself being cold too often. Another good piece of gear that is a benefit for all types of weather is he moisture wicking like underarmor.

**SemperFi** · 02-20-2012, 10:56 AM

@intothenew Ive actually been considering switching to suspenders anyway , I not overweight od anything like that but I agree with you about cutting off circulation!

@rockriver SF!

**Old Professor** · 03-28-2012, 02:43 PM

Living along Lake Superior, I get to deal with lots of cold weather although not as cold on the south side of the lake as on the northern(Canadian)side experiences. Basic clothing is thermax next to the skin, wool or fleece on top of that and heavy woolen outter bibs/pants and parka. For my feet, thermax socks or wicking sock linners unside Ragg wool socks, with my feet inside pack boots. I have feet that are sensitive to cold and the warmest foorwear I have found are the leather/rubber pack boots with felt or synthetic linners with a LOOSE fit, so that i can put a heat pack in the boot if necessary. Lately, for sitting on the deer stand in cold wearher, I wear a 1000 gran insulated leather boot and pull Boot Blankets over the leather boots. I can add a heat pack under the Boot blankets until my feet warm up if needed. The only drawback to Boot Blankets is that they are not meant to walk in. For keeepng my hands warm, a wool or synthetic inner glove and "choppers" - mitts are the warmest thing I have found. I do not wear them very often, prefering good wool gloves and keeping my hands in my parka pockets or inside a muff with a heat pack. For head warmth, it is hard to beat a balaclava! keeps both your hear AND neck warm. For a hat, I prefer a Filson wool hat with ear flaps that tie under the chin. Most of my outterwear is Gortex but in really heavy or presistant rain or wet snow, I do have a heavy Gortex rain outfit that will fit ovet all that clothing.
Cool weather is a snap to choose clothing by comparison. I still rely on a lot of wool and fleece. I like Muck Boots as foot wear except in extreem cold, as I always seem to be in wet ground.

**Thaddius Bickerton** · 03-30-2012, 07:14 PM

I wear ho chi mins in summer or birkinstocks (don't laugh they are comfortable)

I have a pair of dress shoes for church, but sometimes wear my boots if the weather is bad.

I wear herman survivors in winter or moccasins I have made.

I always have a pair of rubber boots for mucking around the barnyard etc.

I have a pair of LL Bean maine boots that I have sent back a couple times to be redone that are nice for trashy wet swampy weather which most of our southern (Alabama) winters provide.

I have a couple of pac type boots that don't get much use unless i'm sick at home with cold feet.

Id say 80% - 90% of the time it is ho chi mins or moccasins of some type that I wear. (kids swear my foot sole is like leather lol.)

I'm not hard corp enough to go "cody lundon" and barefoot it. To many things I don't want to step on. to much ring worm / parasites around a barn yard . etc.

**Rick** · 03-30-2012, 10:57 PM

When I was a kid my mom told me if I ran around barefoot I'd get a case of ring worm. I'd never won anything to that point so I was barefoot as often as possible. I wasn't at all certain what ring worm was but if it was free then I was all for it. My bare feet found two bottle caps and a pile of dog poo that summer but I never did get my case of ring worm. Some other little kid probably won it. He was a heathen no doubt.