Extreme Cold Weather Work Clothing
Dress warmly for work
in winter
Whether you spend whole or part days outdoors exposed to the elements, or in cold unheated covered spaces, here are some practical principles to apply to stay warm and work effectively without breaking the bank.
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Protect the Extremities - head, hands and feet not forgetting in between bits, ankles, wrists and neck. Head "When your feet are
cold, cover your head" - Inuit saying
Styles and materials. I favor synthetic materials over wool for comfort and fit, less itchy and less likely to go out of shape. A beanie type hat is very effective and should be able to be pulled over the ears or have ear flaps that can be folded up if not needed. A clean, plain shape enables the hood on your shell layer to be pulled over and fit closely, a bobble on top of the hat will give an air space that will make the combined insulation less effective. A personal favourite is a close fitting "windstopper" hat with ear flaps, small enough to easily fit in a pocket with a warmth far beyond its size and weight. Balaclavas are very useful and versatile, they can be rolled up to work as a hat or pulled down to cover the face and neck. Hats - Beanies | Hard hat liners | Balaclavas | Windstoppers Hands
![]() Work mittens The issue with gloves when it gets colder is that the dexterity reduces as the insulation and thickness increases, despite what you may see claimed, there is no magical thin, ultra warm glove that is going to allow you full use of your hands down to minus stupidly cold, it's all a compromise. ![]() Carhartt Men's Waterproof Mittens Fleece lined ![]() Insulated with a tough outer layer ![]() Fiberfill insulation, cowhide outer
Feet - Insulation from the cold ground is as important as insulation from the cold air
![]() Thermal socks: Men and Women's Boots: Boots are essential in cold weather as they span the ankles so reducing heat loss at a thinly insulated region. Thick insulated soles are as important as insulated uppers as a lot of heat can be lost through the only part of our body with which we contact the frigid ground. Work boots for extreme cold conditions: Men's Women's ![]() Stay out all day in extreme cold weather ![]() Rocky Men's FQ0007465 Construction Boot Steel toe, 1200g of thinsulate insulation ![]() Keen Utility Milwaukee Steel Toe, 6" heavy duty snow work boot, not insulated The Neck
A scarf must be worn correctly to get the best use
from it. An over-sized patterned cotton scarf loosely
thrown around the neck is of little practical use. Wool
or a performance synthetic material are needed and the
scarf should be worn under the shell garment and over
the insulating layer immediately beneath that so that
it restricts air movement as well as providing insulation
and preventing snow ingress. A neck gaiter is a neater
version of a scarf, a tube of stretchy insulating material
than can be worn like a scarf or pulled up over the
lower part of the face like the bottom part of a balaclava. |
Layering -- The idea of layering to keep warm is frequently misunderstood to just mean lots of layers regardless, 3 cotton shirts for instance isn't really going to do the trick, they are not the best material, they will be the same size (ish) and so won't sit too comfortably on each other and give you far more washing to do! Layering is about different layers doing different jobs. To be comfortable and effective in cold conditions, a little planning and strategic buying is more effective than simply throwing more clothes on.
The Foundation or Base Layer
- The function of this layer is to provide
insulation while also wicking sweat to the outer layers
if the wearer is going to be active. It should
be close-fitting to perform well.![]() Synthetics or merino wool are the better options as they wick moisture away from the skin to outer layers and provide better insulation, cotton is best avoided, though is a safety requirement for some occupations - the only time you should consider using cotton. Heavy weight long underwear Best performance for warmth, the gold standard: Men's merino | Women's merino Men's long underwear | Women's long underwear Heavy weight cotton underwear - if required by occupation such as working with risk from electricity or fire. ![]() Light-weight thermal underwear, easy care, non-bulky insulation for cold conditions Women's | Men's Foundation layer of silk - in a complimentary or contrasting color if partly visible, good insulation Women's | Men's |
Mid Insulation Layers -
The main insulating layer/s, flexibility
is important here along for ventilation during exertion
or warmer conditions, with the ability to batten down
the hatches when it gets properly cold. The requirements for this layer vary greatly according to the job and weather conditions. Periods of high exertion that generates heat or work that involves little exertion or hours of fairly static activity in cold conditions are considerations as well as the actual temperature. Outdoors the requirements can change quite rapidly, background temperature variations such as the sun coming out, the wind getting up, rain and snow falling all mean that flexibility in dress is vital to remain comfortable at all times and keep working efficiently. Zips, collars, draw cords and the like allow you to open up for ventilation during exertion or to shut down at rest, in very cold conditions or during those focused but non-energetic work tasks.
Bibs and overalls are particularly good here,
they add extra insulation and keep you covered while
bending or stretching.
Soft insulating garments aren't wind or water-proof enough on their own in cold conditions and you will need a shell garment as well if outside at all, you might not need it all the time, but when you do, you'll be glad you're no longer saturated or frozen by the wind trying to get by without. Winter shirts -
Men's
Women's |
The Outer or Shell Layer
- Direct protection from the weather,
this layer should be windproof and may be waterproof.
It could be simply a "shell" with no additional insulation
or it may have insulation built in. Jackets should always
have hoods. If the cold is not so extreme, or if you wear extra layers when it is very cold, an uninsulated shell is a good choice as it can be worn year-round and as a waterproof in the warmer months too. Being static for any length of time in extreme cold however means that you'll need the shell layer to be insulated too. Waterproof isn't always essential if snow rather than rain is going to fall. Like the insulating layer/s the outer layer should have features such as draw-cords and cuffs that can close over the tops of gloves to prevent warm air being pumped out with movement. Alternatives
![]() Tough nylon outer, heavyweight fleece inner ![]() Durable waterproof outer, detachable fleece inner |