Winter clothing

Robes

Single-Sixer
Joined
May 12, 2014
Messages
393
City & State/Province
West Michigan
I'm one of those lucky individuals that is getting the lake affect snow. It is four feet deep and right now and it is a white out with heavy snow coming down sideways. I plowed last night,.... you can't even tell. I was out in it most of the day doing stuff and some old memories came flooding back. I remember when all I would wear is a pair of long-johns and jeans over the top. The boots were the black rubber ones that fit over your shoes with the metal buckles. Snow would ALWAYS get down the boots, even when buckled. Gloves,...nothing special and would get soaking wet fast. The hat was basically a knit cap. Scarf around the neck to keep the snow out and the jacket was just a bulky thing that kept you reasonably warm. I remember taking off my jeans afterwards and them being frozen stiff. If you wore the dreaded snow-suit,.... you could hardly move your arms and walked like someone put starch in your shorts.....

Now? I wear a base layer that is like a second skin but keeps you warm...without being wet from sweat, then pull on my Berne's Thermal bibs,..then add my knee high muck boots (completely water proof).. pull on my articulating balaclava, pull on my Berne's hooded fleece coat,... add my visor-ed knit hat,...and finally my water proof glove-mittens. Add my X-country ski goggles and pull up the hood. I can be out in it all day and be warm and comfortable. You are not so bulky that you cannot function and stay dry and toasty!

I wish they had this kind of stuff when I was a kid. Then again,.... if they did,.. . I might never of come in from playing outside.....
 
In my part of West Mi., we have only about 5" or so. We are about 50 miles East of the lake (St. Jo. Co.), so the lake effect is pretty much petered out by the time it gets to us. We have had a LOT of unusually cold temperatures though. I noticed going to breakfast this morning that the St. Jo river is frozen over and this normally happens in late December or early January.

I remember those 4 buckled "arctics" as my dad used to call them, and the frozen jeans, but when you are a kid, you don't know how miserable you are.

Today I don't have to get outside much so I just slip on a pair of Sorrell boots and a heavy jacket and I am good to as long as I am not out too long....one of the perks of retirement. 8)
 
I'm retired too,... but we have 9 horses. I run the back blade and cut a path through a couple of acres to the creeks so that they can get a drink. It doubles as a hell-of-a Luge. I have a toboggan that I put hay on and then ride it down from the barn. It's all down hill so I can get about 1500 feet of run. Makes ya feel young again!
 
Bob Wright said:
Would you kindly explain what an "articulating balaclava" is?


Bob Wright
For Old people like us it is a hood of sorts. I had to look it up :wink:

0-325-blackhawk-hellstorm-polypropylene-balaclava-black.jpg


I grew up in the 40s-50s in Ohio. Yea two pair of jeans and two pair of socks, big heavy jacket or a snow suite. We called the buckle boots Galoshes. In school they had to be buckled to go out for recess. Was possible for the buckles to lock in the other boot and you could fall down the stairs :D
I did have a pair of Red Flannels with the drop seat when I was 6-7. I REALLY hated those. I think I always had wet feet, frozen toes and fingers :(
While working in Russia in 1995 I was never cold even at -30/20 with todays clothing.
 
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Robes said:
I'm one of those lucky individuals that is getting the lake affect snow. It is four feet deep and right now and it is a white out with heavy snow coming down sideways. I plowed last night,.... you can't even tell. I was out in it most of the day doing stuff and some old memories came flooding back. I remember when all I would wear is a pair of long-johns and jeans over the top. The boots were the black rubber ones that fit over your shoes with the metal buckles. Snow would ALWAYS get down the boots, even when buckled. Gloves,...nothing special and would get soaking wet fast. The hat was basically a knit cap. Scarf around the neck to keep the snow out and the jacket was just a bulky thing that kept you reasonably warm. I remember taking off my jeans afterwards and them being frozen stiff. If you wore the dreaded snow-suit,.... you could hardly move your arms and walked like someone put starch in your shorts.....

Now? I wear a base layer that is like a second skin but keeps you warm...without being wet from sweat, then pull on my Berne's Thermal bibs,..then add my knee high muck boots (completely water proof).. pull on my articulating balaclava, pull on my Berne's hooded fleece coat,... add my visor-ed knit hat,...and finally my water proof glove-mittens. Add my X-country ski goggles and pull up the hood. I can be out in it all day and be warm and comfortable. You are not so bulky that you cannot function and stay dry and toasty!

I wish they had this kind of stuff when I was a kid. Then again,.... if they did,.. . I might never of come in from playing outside.....
Then and ONLY then, do you realize you need to go to the bathroom. :shock: :shock:
 
Frozen jean metal buckle rubber over shoes ah those were the days! Can not forget them flying saucers
head down the hill and without fail you'd be going backwards. ps
 
Fond memories, have always loved snow/winter. While I still have my Black Ice down parka from my climbing days, now it's mostly Carhart gear. Carhart of any kind is kinda the style around here. If clean, you see it in Church even.
 
Rick Courtright said:
Bob Wright said:
Would you kindly explain what an "articulating balaclava" is?

Hi,

Judging by Jim's picture, it looks like a Taliban tophat... :wink:

Rick C

That is just a cheapo balaclava. An articulating balaclava is much more comfortable. It is made from two panels. The best kind is a drifire balaclava http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRIFIRE-Flame-Resistant-Cold-Weather-Balaclava-Double-Layer-/331259485846?pt=US_Athletic_Clothing&var=&hash=item4d209a9e96
You can pull down the lower panel to uncover your nose,... or your nose and mouth and it doesn't drag down the top of it which would cover your eyes. I got three of them last year for about $12 per. This one is for VERY cold weather. They make one that is not as warm for temps in the 20's and 30's. I wear them when I cross country ski.
 
Well,
I don't know about all that hi Tec stuff :D I bought this hat that my Son is Modeling when I was at The Great Wall of China outside of Beijing. They told me it was Red Fox. Well when I wore it while in Russia. The Russians would smile and point and go Woof Woof. Found out it was made from Chow Dog :oops: I wore it when I didn't have on a hard hat. :wink: The Russians are VERY proud of their hats mostly Mink and Very nice. Yea I also had one of those ski mask things for cold days and wind. :wink:

 
Hey I still wear my 5 buckle overshoes. No one told us they were out of style in North Dakota! Are leather choppers with wool liners still OK or do I hafta give those up too. Are these Baclava deals better than plaid wool caps with earflaps? If so maybe I can be a trendsetter.
 
Man! I miss my winters back home! On the few days when the temperature went below 65, we would wear windbreakers. If not, a t-shirt on top of another was good enough. That was in Puerto Rico.

We went to the beach during Christmas break, but didn't swim too far out. It's shark breeding season.
 
Pal Val said:
Man! I miss my winters back home! On the few days when the temperature went below 65, we would wear windbreakers. If not, a t-shirt on top of another was good enough. That was in Puerto Rico.

We went to the beach during Christmas break, but didn't swim too far out. It's shark breeding season.
:mrgreen:
 
I remember hunting with my Dad, I'm 54...today, and he would wear his work boots, cotton chore gloves and work coat. No, never heard him complain, until they came and got him on a snowmachine at -25 degrees with 3 feet of snow. It was only a 7 mile ride, that was the LAST time he was or will ever be on a snow machine.
 
Five buckle overshoes. Reminds me of when I was a kid. Before and after the war (WW2) my dad was a US mail carrier. After he returned from the war he bought 2 pairs of Army surplus 5 buckle overshoes to wear when the weather was snowy while delivering mail. Later someone gave him 2 more pairs. He thought 5 buckle overshoes were the cat's meow.

I remember wearing them when shoveling snow. Or walking to school. Tucked my jean legs into the tops and buckled them up.
 
Tell me about this "Berne's" brand of clothing. It appears I guess to be near identical to Carhartt stuff is that right ? Maybe priced a bit lower too ? How is their quality and fit ?? Here in the south all I have found is Carhartt, Dickies, Wolverine , and Walls brand . The Walls winter coats are pretty dog gone nice and usually priced half that of Carhartt. Very warm.
The Walls/CE Smith shirts are also very well made

The older Carhartt was really well made, good stuff. But lately it seem they are not "quite" like they used to be. The fits and durability on some items is just not the same. All of the jeans I have tried seem to eventually give out at the corners of the back pockets. Results of going to China I guess

Ans whats with this new modern high tec type styling , fabric, light weight in their T-shirts. Just give me the plain old fashion shirt , 100% cotton and heavy weight. For years I wore a size Medium. Now a days a medium fits me like a circus tent and I had to go to a small in size. I dont want fashion wear, baggy and loose. I need clothes that fit and stay out of the way while working
 
The Berne stuff is very good. Quality materials and workmanship. There are other brands, but they skimp on important things like zippers and snaps. I have Cardhartts too and I would put them both (Berne and Cardhartts) on even par.
 
Berne stayed US made a couple years longer than Carhartt. Both are now lower quality than they used to be and are imported.
 
protoolman said:
Berne stayed US made a couple years longer than Carhartt. Both are now lower quality than they used to be and are imported.

Hi,

But they all kept US made prices, didn't they? Last time I looked at something with a Carhartt label on it I almost said something that would have gotten me run out of the store... I don't mind US prices for what I'd call "US-made quality" goods, or even what are generally "Chinese quality" goods IF they're sold at Chinese prices. Thing is, the Chinese CAN make "US quality" but we don't save much if they do. Getting their "usual" quality at our prices doesn't work for me.

Rick C
 

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