Best winter gear for construction

[zyzz]

Will be working my first winter in the brutal Calgary winters. Was wondering what's the best gear to stay warm. Boots, pants, gloves and coat. Need to be mobile still so stuff can't be crazy bulky

Found this on the net, not sure if it would be any good
http://m.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/sto...2200&langId=-1

[Vulcan]

Carhartt is pretty popular but I was hard on clothes and just bought cheap stuff from the Army and Navy. I used layers so I could take off clothes as the day got warmer. I liked a neck warmer and another around my ears under my hard hat. I couldn't keep my feet warm but using too many socks cuts off some circulation. Winter boots are good but are clumsy. All that was some years ago though and there may be better solutions.

The easiest way to stay warm is to keep moving.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

I've had a massive helly Hanson jacket for about 4 years.. It is extremely warm (albeit bulky) and has endured it's fair share of abuse. As Vulcan said layers layers layers .. I usually just go with something dri-fit to wick the sweat away (I'm a gross sob) and add from there. Our new boot policy includes metatarsal covers and now selection is really limited, especially in EEE and up width so I can't help you too much there. I have some overpriced red wings that I do not like.

[stampsx2]

Anything Dakota from Mark's is really good. Have everything , -100 degree boots, coveralls, rain resistent jacket, insulated rubber boots from them and it makes working outside much better.

Now if someone could invent gloves for -30 that you can thread a needle with and use your touch phone with then you will make millions.

[JonDuke]

For clothing, Carhartt is king. Pricey, but very comfy, and very warm. Helly Hansen also makes quality work wear.

For boots:
I have these Dunlops. Not only are they very comfy, but they're extremely warm during any cold conditions. If you don't want to stick out so much in the orange, they have green as well. You can also usually find them on Kijiji for about $100. Like here.
They are about mid calf high though, so not great if you have to bend down a lot. Otherwise, the comfiest boots I've ever owned.



If those are too bulky though, I also have these Terra boots which are very similar to the Dunlops, but in a smaller height.


I alternate often between the two, and you really can't go wrong with either.

[GGG]

For face shielding get a close fitting wool or fire safe balaclava as a base layer, then add an insulating balaclava and then the face nomex piece and then a big hood. Keeping your face warm is the most important part to me.

Dry fit wicking base layers for the rest of your body are important to.

[2ArmBands]

What kind of construction are we talking? Residential? Oilfield?

Oilfield gets a bit tricky with all the high vis and FR requirements. And by tricky I mean crazy expensive.

[DoubleF]

Marks should be a good place to start. I find their prices reasonable and their product quite durable. MEC may have some stuff too, but additional research may be necessary.

I've also heard they have walk in freezers to test the clothes from -15 up to -40 with windchill if necessary, but I have never seen one in person. I think there's at least one freezer in Edmonton?

[-TC-]

I worked on the rigs years ago and swore by Helly Hansen... stay away from the cheap stuff. Winter wear is one place you get what you pay for. And mother of god, spend money on your feet, it makes such a difference.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by -TC-

And mother of god, spend money on your feet

This x 100000000000

You can thank us later.

[You Need a Thneed]

I have a pair of Blaklader pants, and I would recommend the brand. Great quality stuff.

[automaton 3]

Get yourself some thermal long underwear to start you'll be amazed how much warmer you are.

This is some years ago but I bought most of my gear at Marks and found it decent. Some guys had Carhartt and liked it. As others mentioned, layers are key. Make sure some of your layers are zippered and and at lease one hood to add flexibility (most of us had zippered insulated hoodies as one of the layers, they really work well). The mornings and evenings iirc were the coldest, once the sun came out it sometimes felt much warmer and you need to be able to shed layers quickly.

I bought the best Sorel boots I could find at the time, might be better stuff out there now. They are clunky but did the job.

That jacket in the link is long, which might be ok depending on what you are doing. If you are carrying tools the belt will go around the coat and might restrict your arm movements. Lots of guys had overalls and a short jacket overtop for that reason. I wore a down vest as a layer, which helped with the warmth and the arm movement.

We used fleece gloves and experimented with others but I don't think there are any great solutions there.

I had a wool touque which would keep warm even when wet.

Good luck, hope that helps.

[spetch]

If you want a good deal on Carhatt/Helly Hansen/Other workwear brands PM me. Now that hockey season is about to begin I come down to Calgary lots for games/work and can bring you anything you need at a great CP discount.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Yes x10 to Dunlops. I've had three pairs throughout my adult life. Some people don't like how they limit mobility (little high for some tastes) but man do they do the job.

[Vulcan]

For me those heavy bulky boots weren't the best when trying to maneuver around constructions sites with limited foot placings.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

For me those heavy bulky boots weren't the best when trying to maneuver around constructions sites with limited foot placings.

If the boots are heavy, bulky and you move around a lot it can start to bother your knees after a while, especially if dealing with the extra weight on them from the snow.

[btimbit]

Here's what I did up in the Arctic. Might be overkill for Calgary but the ideas apply

Layers are your best friend. Best to be able to add or remove warmth as you transition between standing around, working hard, or when the sun pokes out for a bit then suddenly goes away.

Legs:

Thermal underwear/long John's
Sweatpants
Insulated work pants (I had some carrharts that worked great)

Feet:
Thermal sock liners
Thermal socks x2
Cold weather boots + extra liners (one place you do not want to try and save money. Get the best)

Mid section:
Thermal undershirt
Sweater/hoodie
Double layered cold weather jacket w/windbreaker

Face:
Toque
Mask/balaclava. I had a half mask that I could pull down really easily ad my mouth gets warm. Some people want more warmth and get a full mask. Just make sure it covers your cheeks and nose and you should be good.

Hands. This is the hardest part, what I was doing required some finesse and couldn't be done with big gloves. Assuming most construction jobs would be the same. Get a few different pairs of gloves, lots of thermal hand liners if you can, you'll probably go through a few styles/types before you find one that works best for your work

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by zyzz

brutal Calgary winters

lol

But yeah +1 for Helly stuff.

[Nage Waza]

Those heat packs for your boots work really well, just follow the directions:

http://www.amazon.ca/Grabber-Toe-War.../dp/B002PDBUOU

[Northendzone]

man, getting dressed for some of you guys must be a 30 minute process