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Adam in the Cold—Strategizing for the Brrrrrrrrrr

By

Jason Albert

The car dash reveals the truth: -26 is legit cold.

The car dash reveals the truth: -26 is legit cold.

Cold temperatures are relative. Is it a humid cold? A dry cold. Somewhere in between. Is the wind howling? And sure, although daylight savings time flipped us into body-clock disarray, it’s still winter for a few more weeks. And it will be winter again here in the Northern Hemisphere next December 21st. The information we…

Responses

  1. Slim

    Good points by Adam about strategies for going out in the cold. That’s probably more useful than specific clothing items anyway, due to personal variance (I am very jealous if his hot hands).

    All though I don’t wear a buff around my head, I do wear a balaclava (the excellent Blackstrap models, which have a hinged chin section) almost all winter. Like Adam I find a beard annoying under the fabric over my chin, so I make more of an effort to shave in winter.

    It is a bit unclear from the article, but are either of you saying you switch to thicker socks in cold weather? For me, sock thickness is about fit. If my boots are tight, I need to use thin socks, if they are roomy (maybe liners packed out) I go thicker in the socks, temps don’t play into it.

    1. Jason Albert

      Me too, I wish I had the hot hand problem. Socks: I’m using slighter thicker socks in colder temps. (Not too thick, though). The thicker or thinner socks, respectively, don’t change the fit in my boots to the point that I notice it (skimo boots…thin socks only). Before downsizing from the 27.5 to 26.5 ZGTP, I used thicker socks to take up some volume.

    2. Alex Hatcher

      Slim-a specific thought:
      -in reasonably (0F -20F) cold weather I’ve had good experience with the Dissent compression ski socks. They’re somewhat thin and pretty dang expensive for a pair of ski socks. You’ll find that compression socks = better circulation, and so long as your core is still warm, better circulation=warmer feet. My toes get cold FAST this season if I don’t manage proactively, due to some irresponsible boot sizing, and I’m leaning on the Dissent socks more than ever. Also don’t knock the Lenze socks too. Heated socks might be a “get out of jail free” card.

      Sincerely: a guy who recently gave himself permanent cold toes from ice climbing

      1. Slim

        Alex thanks (from a guy who gave himself permanently cold toes from ice climbing 20 years ago already).

        I’ve tried most brands of compression socks. Never really noticed a difference. Partly because I don’t feel much compression in the foot (narrow feet), even using the calf sizing. I use the OR X gaiters, those are pretty good. I am considering heated socks. Sadly, this winter has not provided any really cold days, just way too many melting days.

    3. Adam Fabrikant

      Hey Slim,

      I agree sock thickness is all about fit. For me I can use “snowboard” socks, thick socks in all of my boots which happen to be very warm, which works out well until its spring…

      Stay warm!

  2. Rich Schreckengost

    I feel the beard/Buff thing. It just doesn’t work.

  3. Alex Rose-Innes

    I also gave myself permanently cold toes, but from riding bikes in winter in poor shoes. I’ve found by trial and error that aggressive footbeds were a chief culprit in giving me cold goes. Since I’ve abandoned the overpriced orthotics my feet have been much warmer. Burt heated socks work much better for me than anything else. The trick is to turn them on early, because the heating element is so feeble that it won’t heat up already cold toes.

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