Thermal Undies

[flames14]

I started a new job a few months ago as an electrical apprentice working in the oilfield. However now with winter coming quickly and the weather getting colder I desperatly need to start getting some winter gear for working in the cold weather and was hoping for any advice from the calgarypuck faithful. Any advice on brands to get or avoid and stuff would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[habernac]

I ride my bike to work year round, and good old no name long johns do the trick for me. I'm not outside as long as you might be, though. Mountain Equipment Co-op has some great stuff, I'd check there.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Helly Hanson - if you are going to be outside for any amount of time and I suspect that you will be you might want to look into one of the HH bodysuit things - should keep you more than warm.

I have an assload of HH gear and it will put you back a bit but just remember you can't find a marks work warehouse when you are in the field if you are to cold. Heres hoping for a mild winter

[Nufy]

Get good warm boots...

Don't cheap out on em either.

The Cold will start in your feet and your screwed from then on......

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Helly Hanson - if you are going to be outside for any amount of time and I suspect that you will be you might want to look into one of the HH bodysuit things - should keep you more than warm.

I have an assload of HH gear and it will put you back a bit but just remember you can't find a marks work warehouse when you are in the field if you are to cold. Heres hoping for a mild winter

Yes get the Helly's, make sure they are one piece long underwear..

[Vulcan]

I've heard that you lose 90% of body heat through your head. I wore a head band and one on my neck, kept me comfortable. Ordinary long johns did me fine but maybe the newer materials are better. A good cheap warm snowsuit and winter jacket also came in handy. Winter boots and gloves are serious business but I never wanted something to bulky even if it hurt. Layers are good as it gives lots of options. Army and Navy has some good and poor work gear as well as Marks. Keep busy, it keeps the body temparture up.

[jolinar of malkshor]

The key for me was layers. Nothing expensive just multiple layers. When I worked on the rigs I had long johns, two sweat pants, ski shell and then my coveralls. Up top I had a wife beater, t-shirt, two sweat shirts, my coveralls then a jacket to go over the coveralls. I never got cold, only my hands and sometimes my feet, I had about 10 pairs of gloves and swithched out about every 30 mins. Then I had a neck warmer and a thing that went on my head and around my ears and a toque. I pulled the neck warmer over my mouth and my toque just above my eyes. It helps to if your going to be in and out a bit because then you can peal of a layer or two.

The coldest I work in was -48 plus windchill. I opened up a can of coke set it on the rig, came back about 5 mins later and it was already slushy. I didn't realize it was that cold because I was dressed so warm.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The coldest I work in was -48 plus windchill. I opened up a can of coke set it on the rig, came back about 5 mins later and it was already slushy. I didn't realize it was that cold because I was dressed so warm.

Wow, you would think if it was that cold, it would have been frozen solid, not just slushy. Working out in that kind of weather must be harsh!

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Wow, you would think if it was that cold, it would have been frozen solid, not just slushy. Working out in that kind of weather must be harsh!

It can be, but as long as your dressed good and keep moving it usually didn't bother me. But I am glad that part of my life is over though.

The only really ****y part when it was cold was when we had to run a sting out of the hole. If you don't know what that is, it is the pipe connected together that goes down the hole. Inside the pipe is the drill mud so we had to unscrew each connection and all the water and mud comes shooting out. When it is -30 out it only takes a minute or two to freeze on your rain gear and you feel like the tin man when he gets rained on, hard to move around.

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It can be, but as long as your dressed good and keep moving it usually didn't bother me. But I am glad that part of my life is over though.

The only really ****y part when it was cold was when we had to run a sting out of the hole. If you don't know what that is, it is the pipe connected together that goes down the hole. Inside the pipe is the drill mud so we had to unscrew each connection and all the water and mud comes shooting out. When it is -30 out it only takes a minute or two to freeze on your rain gear and you feel like the tin man when he gets rained on, hard to move around.

Well if you had mud and water coming shooting out while you were tripping you had one s####y driller..
If you still can find them go with the one piece long underwear made by Helly Hansen (the ones with the Fleece lining) You can move real well in them and they will keep you nice and warm, they also breath so they won't keep you too warm

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by gordo67

Well if you had mud and water coming shooting out while you were tripping you had one s####y driller..

It happens all the time. Thats why the invented mud cans.

[gordo67]

I know it can happen (on a trip) but shouldn't.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by gordo67

I know it can happen (on a trip) but shouldn't.

Your right, but when it is that cold, they want to keep as much circulation as possible to prevent freezing, so the string is usually right full.

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Your right, but when it is that cold, they want to keep as much circulation as possible to prevent freezing, so the string is usually right full.

I drilled for 5 years and if you are tripping you want no mud in the pipe at all, no matter how cold it is.
If you are talking about making connections then yes there will be a little mud..