Warm winter-wear

[soilman]

Any suggestions. I get very cold even when dressed warmer than most people. Even with my Outdoor Research Balaclava (http://www.outdoorresearch.com/home/style/balaclavas/85130) my lips get cold - the mesh nose and lip protector gets damp from exhaled air and rests right against my lips. And it does nothing to warm cold air going into my mouth and nose.

I need long underwear as soon as the temperature goes below 40 degrees F. A single pair of heavy-duty all cotton and a pair of heavy denims pants is not warm enough for me, when the temperature dips into the teens and 10's. Any suggestions? I don't want to overheat once I am indoors!

[LucidAnne]

check out llbean or patagonia or even EMS....
they all have info on the levels of protection that each shirt or long john provides.

im partial to capilene and other poly long underwares. they are warmer, then even wool. all of those stores have various layering components.
i find wearing a poly tank is good to just even keep my torso warm in the fall time, and totally neccessary in the winter. then follow up w/ another shirt of poly or light fleece, etcetc...
and make sure they fit well... if the size is too big, it doesnt offer as good insulation.

[bluesand]

Well i just use thermals , light weight and very warm , I see what you mean about the balaclava . Trying to breath the air that you exhale to bring in warm air without moisture building up ...dont no any way around that .

[soilman]

What do y'all think of this jacket (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=8455 24442593005&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302882871&bmUID=1193047852968)?

I don't trust their recommendations for usable temps, tho I don't see any in EMS specs. Also, why don't they show a model wearing the damn thing, or at least some human refereance like show the jacket next to a door, so you can see how big it is.???? All the jackets at all the site look too short.

[hoodedclawjen]

deja vous... didn't we do this last year? and you said you didn't like longjohns or outer trousers cos you'd have to take them of when you got to work, or something? and then rabidchild mentioned a good way to get changed in a disabled toilet? hmmm. anyway....

does that jacket look too short in the body, or too short everywhere? if the arms don't look too short, you can work out how long it'd be on your body, by putting your hands by your side and touching your wrists to your hips/thighs. it doesn't look really long or really short to me (just a little below waist level) but the skirt system mentioned might help avoid a draft getting down the back of your trousers. are you taller than average?

bear in mind, its a ski/sports/hiking style jacket- they don't tend to be very long, cos skiier, hikers and the like benefit from shorter stuff that doesn't restrict their hip, waist, and upper leg movement. if you suffer from a cold derrierre, you might prefer a 3/4 length coat. i know i do. 3/4 length coats do restrict lower body movement a smidge, but mine has zippers running from the bottom to the waist, up both sides, which is quite good for sitting down, bending over, and whatnot. and while they're a pain to take on and off, lots of light layers will keep you warm more effectively, and be more generally adaptable than one big hulking heavyweight coat.

[LucidAnne]

you could call EMS and ask the customer service for the length and any other info you might need

[soilman]

None of the winterwear stores or "outfitters" seem to have 3/4 length coats. They sell clothing for hiking, and for mountain climbing, and what they describe simply as "outdoorwear for cold weather" and "coldweather expeditions" not just for ski-ing or whatever.

And when you do, rarely, see a 3/4 length coat - such as at cabela's - it doesn't have a hood!

[Libellula]

have you looked at land's end soilman?