East coasters, get out of here. I don’t want to hear about that Syracuse weather, and how it is winter, but for most of us normal folk, it’s not a bad idea to take a crash course in cold weather survival every now and them.
Personally, my breaking point is around 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which I might add, has been constantly and severely tested this season. But there are special tactics that enable you to live something resembling a life, while staying somewhat warm (or at least not getting pneumonia or turning into a straight-up popsicle). Most residents are looking for furnace installation services and hire hvac companies that provide Boiler installation like these HVAC services in Cedar Park, TX to help them survive the cold weather. Some also experienced water leaking from furnace and it's good that HVAC experts like the ones at https://barnettelectrical.com/oklahoma-city-furnace-repair/ are always ready to help.
Residents also make sure to clean their vents and ducts via an expert heating and air conditioning services like vent cleaning to ensure good air quality.
It is no longer about common sense. It is about that common sense, and employing advanced tactics to get through the situation. Amazon is your friend, because absolutely no one wants to step outside for this sh*t.
(For the record, the human body is remarkably adaptable. Given enough resources, most humans are capable of adjusting to extreme weather, considering it is within a livable range.)
Dress and layer properly.
There’s supposedly a funny GIF when Joey from Friends’ wears Chandler’s entire closet. Supposedly, because it has become something close to reality and the GIF is less and less funny as temperatures actually plummet.
I also assume everybody reading this is over the age of 30 and understands a pop culture reference to the 1990s sitcom Friends. But if you don’t, next.
Don’t be afraid to kick it up to four, five or even six layers. For example, shirt, light sweater, thicker sweater, fleece, coat. That’s five. So while that is often the max for people used to temps 30 degrees Fahrenheit and over, that’s often the baseline for extremely cold weather.
If you can’t button a proper winter coat all the way because you are wearing so many layers inside, then you’re probably (starting) to do it correctly. Remember: It’s always preferable to take off more than not be wearing too much. Or be prepared to pay for it at the doctor’s office the next time.
Covering the extremities
Nose, neck, ears, hands. These are the body parts that can be the most susceptible to cold. So while it’s great to have the main parts covered, the little bits are often the most easily affected (especially when frostbite creeps up).
For the neck, a thick scarf should be required (infinity scarfs are great for looping and creating additional layers around the neck). It's okay to wear two scarfs! COMPLETELY OK.
Gloves are also important, but it’s important to skip the thin Target gloves (those are fine for 30 degrees Fahrenheit plus), but start thinking warmer materials, with wool, cashmere or leather gloves. It’s not about being fancy, but those “fancy” materials provide much better warmth insulation than thin, cotton gloves. (Don’t forget to pad them!)
Suddenly, wool and cashmere are functional items.
Quality materials make a huge difference. For once, it’s not about fashion, either, but about function.
Strangely, Gizmodo has a good primer on what materials make the best base layers. The best ones to consider are synthetic, cotton, silk and wool (merino wool is specifically pointed out here for its lightness, odor resistance, and insulation properties).
The same article notes:
Note that all these materials come in a variety of weights applicable to different temperature ranges. Typically, the smaller the number, the warmer the temperatures they'll be designed to deal with and the higher the number and the heavier the weight, the colder the temperature range. For instance, I'll wear Icebreaker's 200-weight base layers when I plan to encounter temperatures above and below freezing on the same trip, opting for the 260-weights when temperatures won't rise above freezing. The higher the number, the warmer they are.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Buying things can alleviate the cold
It's amazing how quickly problems can go away once you start throwing money at it. Here are things that have been a downright revelation, at least to my California ears, almost quite literally.
Ear muffs
Hat hair begone! No, seriously. There's a litany of ear warmers out there (and probably get the job done equally as well), but we can attest the 180s Urban Ear Warmer perform in single-digit weather (they also fold up quite nicely in the coat pocket). Be aware that men and women often have different-sized heads (no, not being sexist, it's a physical fact), so think about that when buying. Especially for petite women.
But other than that, ear muffs are great for getting that noise isolation factor up. Talk about tuning out the world.
Hand warmers
Essentially, think heat sand bags for the hands. Instead of glove liners, which actually may be a more economical and environmentally-friendly option, these aren't a bad option either. In fact, they're kinda great because they generate heat for hours and hours and hours. Liners don't do that!
The serious stuff, the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System.
Chicagoans know their stuff, so when one recommends the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) as a viable clothing method/system, it’s time to listen up. In fact, said person reported feeling fine and toasty with -77 wind chill with military-grade ECWCS gear on Lake Michigan. That's an endorsem*nt if I've ever heard one.
(By the way, the Celsius and Fahrenheit system converges at minus 40.)
ECWCS gear was originally developed by the U.S. military for soldiers that faced extreme cold weather for extended periods of time, up to 60 below zero (zikes!). Like the suggestions above, it is basically comprised of a multi-layer clothing system.
The most recent system, Generation III, comprises of seven layers, or levels:
- Lightweight base layers
- Midweight base layers
- Fleece cold weather jacket
- Wind cold weather jacket
- Soft shell jacket and trousers
- Extreme cold and/or wet weather jacket and trousers
- Extreme cold weather parka and trousers
Some of it, unsurprisingly, can be bought on Amazon or eBay for less.
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