Cold Weather Gear

[MGW]

My sister is a deputy in Oklahoma. She's working nights for the first time and freezing her ass off. Like most LEO she hates wearing a coat and is looking for stuff to wear under her uniform and vest. I wanted to buy her some long underwear that would help keep her warmer. Most of the stuff I use for .mil work is probably too bulky for her.

Could anyone give me some recommendations for some gear that works, will last, and won't break the bank? Also looking for a pair of gloves.

[Guerrero]

My sister is a deputy in Oklahoma. She's working nights for the first time and freezing her ass off.

"Freezing her ass off" and Oklahoma don't go together in my head for some reason. ;)

Pretty much any close-fitting polypropylene long underwear is a good start. I have some cheap stuff that I bought from WalMart at least a decade ago that works well, even in Wisconsin winters.

[PD Sgt.]

I am a big fan of Patagonia capiline baselayers. They come in various weights, and I have used them for years while standing out in the cold for hours working bar jobs. Good socks are a must as well, I like Smartwool personally.

[BobM]

I like the Mechanix brand insulated gloves as well as the Serius brand that is a neoprene type glove. Underarmor makes some good heavyweight thermal bottoms and I also use some from Omni Wool that Sams’s Club sells

[txdpd]

Gloves need to be tested for gun compatibility, some have too much cushion to work trigger safeties or holsters.

I would rather blast the heater and change sweaty socks 2-3 times a shift, than trying not to find some balance of not too cold, not too warm, and keeping my feet dry for 8 hours.

A boot dryer is golden. Boots that are wet or just have residual dampness will be cold and miserable.

[Coyotesfan97]

I’m in Arizona so “freezing” is a relative term here. It gets in the mid 30s to low 40s at night. I can’t wear a jacket over my vest.

My base level is Underarmor cold gear with light polypropylene on top of that. I’ll put a turtleneck on and a 511 combat shirt. My BDU pants and the BDU material of the sleeves helps with the wind. I keep my car heater in the mid 60s so there’s not a huge shock when I step out.

Insulated boots are your friend too.

ETA There was one night where it snowed here. It was below freezing without the wind chill. The whole week was record colds. I went on an alarm call on the edge of the city on a night with a high wind. My car thermometer showed mid 20s. It was the coldest I’ve ever felt in AZ. I had expedition level polypropylene underwear that really helped. It’s bulky though.

[OnionsAndDragons]

Kuiu underlayer stuff is the best IMO but it is priced to match that performance.

Eddie Bauer has really good merino base layer stuff including leggings for women, probably about 100 for a top and bottom set but if she wears it out they will replace it.

I’ve got a set of Columbia that I’ve been pretty happy with as well, that might run a bit less than the EB stuff.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[PearTree]

I prefer merino wool baselayers for anything mid 20’s and below. The brand I use is called meriwool you can search for it on amazon. They have different weights depending on temperature and I will wear multiple sets if it’s cold enough.

[vcdgrips]

I concur that Patagonia Capilene is a go to for syth stuff when price is not an object and durablity (sp) is key. A set could run you 80 ish to 100ish.


Sierra Trading Post has been a great source for baselayers and the items often exceed the intersection of quality and value with sets running 20-40 easily.
https://www.sierratradingpost.com/all/s~womens-baselayers/?page=1&overrideSort=LowestPrice


Additionally, my daughter who is attending school in NYC tells me that many a lady is using "Heat Tech" by Uniqlo at about 30 a set with good results
https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/women/heattech-collection

Finally, Costco often has the "32 degree" brand of stuff on sale. a set of these should run 20ish and when coupled with the Kirkland brand merino wool socks 4 prs/15ish, you can be quite warm.

[Wayne Dobbs]

"Freezing her ass off" and Oklahoma don't go together in my head for some reason. ;)

Pretty much any close-fitting polypropylene long underwear is a good start. I have some cheap stuff that I bought from WalMart at least a decade ago that works well, even in Wisconsin winters.

I've had lots of Yankees that I've encountered here during Texas winter weather events and they've said they've never been colder. Oklahoma is even worse, since its weather is not Southern, but is High Plains with all the cold, wind and enough snow to make it interesting. In either 1995 or 1997 ASLET held their conference in Dallas in January. Ron Avery lasted less than 10 minutes in an outdoor firearms class and he's from Colorado.

[Doc_Glock]

Capilene and other polypro/polyesther stuff is very comfortable and dries super fast. But it stinks, as in smells in short order.

Wool baselayers from Ibex, Smartwool, or Icebreakers are not cheap, and they itch slightly, but can be worn a week and not stink which puts them high on my list of baselayers. My preference is Ibex>Smartwool>Icebreakers, but that is sort of a religious discussion. The stuff lasts for years of seasonal use as well.

[SD]

Until retirement I spent my entire life living between Lake Erie & Lake Ontario, miserable cold and snow. If you are on a detail that is going to leave you outside in the elements
Columbia Baselayer Premiere couche with Omni-Heat. It is thin and cuts down on the effect of wind. If going in/out as others have mentioned in this thread a good medium weight merino wool set-up is very nice. For me one of my favorite cold weather uniform items was the heavy wool sweater, think they came from England, sweater was better than most of the winter issue coats. If her Dept. allows they are wonderful.

[Cypher]

I have been working nights outside in Colorado for the last 10 years. I spent most of those shifts outdoors on foot. I haven't found anything that even comes close to the Army gen 3 ECWCS thermals


https://www.armynavyoutdoors.com/military-e-c-w-c-s-gen-iii-mid-weight-top-coyote-brown-ocp/?sku=RO69041-16276&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6JjgBRDbARIsANfu58FIQlIIidMLVGEpx-L1nmT7pbj9bE-xZVpnq4WhJ_6RtWKNoEoCEEUaAmIbEALw_wcB

I worked 11-7 last night. The temperature was 3 degrees. I was wearing the silk weight thermals under the Polartec "waffle tops". Because of uniform requirements I had on a light black sweater. Then my uniform shirt (probably made by the same company that makes your sister's uniform) BDU pants and a sweater similar to the ones the Army used to issue with the class Bs. I also had on a Polartec beanie

I'm not going to say I didn't notice the cold but I wasn't uncomfortably cold. I was able to perform my duties all night.

I buy mine from the surplus stores. I pay about 30 bucks for an entire set

[LSP552]

I am a big fan of Patagonia capiline baselayers. They come in various weights, and I have used them for years while standing out in the cold for hours working bar jobs. Good socks are a must as well, I like Smartwool personally.

This! Best base layer I’ve used.

[Criz]

I am a big fan of Capilene also. I have found that it doesn't wick as much sweat as I would like but keeps me warm.
I also have Helly Hanson in light and medium form. Not bad. I like the fit. Not as warm as Patagonia.
I have 2 pairs of North Face. Unless you get it for free, not really that great. Like a lot of their gear, fit is meh and function about the same.
I have just purchased a Mountain Hardware base layer that I found on Steap and Cheap. Amazing! This is the thinnest warmest base layer I own. Looking to pick up more.
Best of luck!

[MGW]

I have been working nights outside in Colorado for the last 10 years. I spent most of those shifts outdoors on foot. I haven't found anything that even comes close to the Army gen 3 ECWCS thermals


https://www.armynavyoutdoors.com/military-e-c-w-c-s-gen-iii-mid-weight-top-coyote-brown-ocp/?sku=RO69041-16276&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6JjgBRDbARIsANfu58FIQlIIidMLVGEpx-L1nmT7pbj9bE-xZVpnq4WhJ_6RtWKNoEoCEEUaAmIbEALw_wcB

I worked 11-7 last night. The temperature was 3 degrees. I was wearing the silk weight thermals under the Polartec "waffle tops". Because of uniform requirements I had on a light black sweater. Then my uniform shirt (probably made by the same company that makes your sister's uniform) BDU pants and a sweater similar to the ones the Army used to issue with the class Bs. I also had on a Polartec beanie

I'm not going to say I didn't notice the cold but I wasn't uncomfortably cold. I was able to perform my duties all night.

I buy mine from the surplus stores. I pay about 30 bucks for an entire set

I have two full sets of that stuff along with the silk weights. It’s my favorite too. It’s not as good in the wind in my experience but not much is with out an outer layer. Thanks for the link.

[willie]

Have sis check out http://lapolicegear.com

They have good sales and closeouts. Over the years I've bought a lot of clothes, cases, boots, and knives from them. The place for me has had excellent customer service.

[Shoresy]

I have two full sets of that stuff along with the silk weights. It’s my favorite too. It’s not as good in the wind in my experience but not much is with out an outer layer. Thanks for the link.

I agree wholeheartedly; I've spent many a cold day/night waffle top under a windbreaking outer lay will handle the vast majority of what CONUS can throw at it, much of it in the Lake Ontario/Lake Erie region $teve described. There may be better out there, but it's a solid piece of kit and one of the best things to come out of the ECWCS products.

And I wouldn't doubt OK's ability to get cold. I spend a winter at Fort Leonard Wood (a bit north and east of there) - the winter wasn't as harsh as Fort Drum, but Leonard Wood, Drum, and Richardson were all about the same temp on any given day. While I don't normally associate the state with cold, hearing the night temps get frigid is unsurprising.

[scw2]

Have sis check out http://lapolicegear.com

They have good sales and closeouts. Over the years I've bought a lot of clothes, cases, boots, and knives from them. The place for me has had excellent customer service.

I've had the opposite experience with regards to customer service. The shipping times kept pushed back and customer service would seemingly make up a new date each time I contacted them. This happened a few times.

That said, if you go in with expectations appropriately set and can afford to wait (or cancel and reorder elsewhere if urgent), you can find great prices on stuff. Any delays aren't due to them stringing you along and you'll get your stuff eventually, you just need to stay patient.

[SD]

slight thread drift but still related to keeping warm. Wool socks helped me a lot. Once my feet get cold it was always down hill from their. Cotton and synthetic socks just cannot compare.

[willie]

I've had the opposite experience with regards to customer service. The shipping times kept pushed back and customer service would seemingly make up a new date each time I contacted them. This happened a few times.

That said, if you go in with expectations appropriately set and can afford to wait (or cancel and reorder elsewhere if urgent), you can find great prices on stuff. Any delays aren't due to them stringing you along and you'll get your stuff eventually, you just need to stay patient.

[Cypher]

And I wouldn't doubt OK's ability to get cold. I spend a winter at Fort Leonard Wood (a bit north and east of there) - the winter wasn't as harsh as Fort Drum, but Leonard Wood, Drum, and Richardson were all about the same temp on any given day. While I don't normally associate the state with cold, hearing the night temps get frigid is unsurprising.

I arrived at Ft Still on February 9th, 1988 and it was FRIDGID. Oklahoma gets that humid wet cold and it just eats right into your bones

[cmbarny2]

Merino wool socks make all the difference for starters. I wear Under Armor 2.0 Baselayer top and bottom under my uniform for central IL work. The 2.0 works well if you're moving but I would actually go up to the 3.0 if I did it again as a lot of the time when I'm standing outside and need it, I'm stationary. I do wear my winter jacket's liner jacket fairly often too though.

[MGW]

She ended up buying a set of the Cabela's brand extreme cold weather. I've looked at it before and it has a very similar construction to the .mil stuff. Not sure if she worked last night or not. It was 18 here when I woke up this morning and felt cold. Not sure what it was in Central Ok but probably was cold there too.

Thanks all for the help.

[Erick Gelhaus]

That Cabelas stuff will work; I've got a set for real cold (for here) nights and predator hunts.

One issue L/E has is uniform requirements - outdoor sport color and mil colors may well not match agency requirements. I can use bottoms from several differents companies but only Under Armour tops.

Spent a winter in Oklahoma. The descriptions of its type of cold are on target.

[Cypher]

One issue L/E has is uniform requirements - outdoor sport color and mil colors may well not match agency requirements. I can use bottoms from several differents companies but only Under Armour tops.

I just make sure to wear a black shirt over the thermals

[Default.mp3]

Lots of merino wool companies have pro deals for LEOs. Smartwool, Minus33, First Lite, Icebreaker, etc. Definitely worth signing up for.

Perhaps also invest in some handwarmers? I've not tried them yet, but I've recently purchased a couple of catalytic hand warmers in anticipation of my winter trip, and I can see them being useful when standing by to stand by.

[Erick Gelhaus]

I just make sure to wear a black shirt over the thermals

For us the requirement is white. Meh. My concern, issue (?) with that is it runs counter to how those are designed to work.

[Cypher]

For us the requirement is white. Meh. My concern, issue (?) with that is it runs counter to how those are designed to work.

I was always taught to wear the thermal layer as underwear (nothing under it). My uniform shirt and a sweater are over the top of it anyway so I don't see how having a t-shirt over it as well is going to change anything

[03RN]

I'm pretty used to working in the cold. I spent 10 years as a commercial lobsterman here in RI. Jan and Feb got pretty sporty some years.

I like nice stuff for hunting, cheap stuff for work. I love smart wool but normal thermals from Walmart are fine. Get enough to wear for a week. Wool socks with dress socks or liners underneath are good. Neck gaters, wool or fleece stocking cap and thin fleece gloves are all good to have. I have a pair or insulated mechanix gloves that rock.

Check the sportsman guide for surplus/unused stuff.

[GOTURBACK]

If you can get past the brand and the price, I have some Nike Combat cold weather bottoms which unlike traditional thermal wear are designed like compression tights, no bulk but they are quite warm.

[Rex G]

Another “vote” for Patagonia Capilene base and middle layers, and Smartwool socks.

We do not always have much of a winter, in SE Texas, so I can skip multiple winters years using my thicker “Expedition-weight” Capilene, but when cold happens here, it can be epic. When standing for hours in freezing rain, during one Houston Marathon, with icecicles hanging from my duty hat, I was toasty warm, underneath it all.

Notably, odor clinging to the Capilene can be mitigated by wearing summer-weight Ex Officio T-shirts and briefs, underneath the Capilene base layer. This makes being trapped on duty, for multiple shifts, a more pleasant experience. (Capilene does not retain B.O. nearly as bad as all-polypro underwear.)

Smartwool socks have an amazingly low-odor-retention factor, summer or winter.

[txdpd]

The BO in synthetic fabric is from bacteria growing in body oils that are trapped in the fibers.

If you’re stuff is fairly new, Chemical Guys microfiber wash (https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-CWS_201-Microfiber-Fluid_Ounces/dp/B001W91J8K/ref=asc_df_B07D92895P/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312168126179&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7834607153724665476&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026794&hvtargid=pla-569817327335&th=1) will clean body grime out of synthetic fabric. It might also strip out any fabric treatments might prevent BO.

If you’re stuff is already nasty, soaking for several hours in a stripping solution of a tbsp each of Dawn dish soap, Oxyclean, Borax, Calgon and 4 gallons of hot water will get the crud out. Rinse in the sink and launder. It might also bleach or ruin some fabrics, so save the nuclear option for things that are already dead.

For things you can’t launder Sniper (https://www.amazon.com/SNiPER-Hospital-Disinfectant-Odor-Elimnator/dp/B00UKE9548/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1544853116&sr=8-3&keywords=sniper+odor+eliminator) will kill the smell.

No fabric softener on synthetic fabrics. The residue from dryer sheets will make BO worse, that stuff is like synthetic car wax and will last for a long time on the drum.

[csheehy]

I prefer merino wool baselayers for anything mid 20’s and below. The brand I use is called meriwool you can search for it on amazon. They have different weights depending on temperature and I will wear multiple sets if it’s cold enough.

I started using Meriwool last winter. It is fantastic. Never warmer than with their mid-weight bottoms--even heavy Duofolds can't compare. I'll occasionally wear light synthetics, but the wool breathes
better. Watch for specials on Amazon.

[MGW]

Interesting side story. My sister has alpha-gal syndrome from a tick bite a few years ago. She can’t eat red meat at all. Her allergic reaction isn’t as severe as some people but it’s still a real issue. The part I didn’t know is the allergy also prevents her from wearing wool.

[Cypher]

Part of this may be because I'm getting used to the cold but I don't think it's been above 20 degrees at night since I originally posted in this thread and I have yet to need a coat at work. My coworkers think I'm nuts.


slight thread drift but still related to keeping warm. Wool socks helped me a lot. Once my feet get cold it was always down hill from their. Cotton and synthetic socks just cannot compare.


As I mentioned earlier, I've done security for a little over 10 years. Almost all of that has involved out door patrols, on foot in varying weather conditions and terrain.

I've tried several different types of boots and shoes and found that Belleville Duty Boots work the best for me. Of all the different “duty” boots I’ve tried they are the most durable and comfortable and I like the fact that they are made in America. I have 2 pairs of the black 700s and one pair of the ACU version of the same boot and I’m really happy with them.

The first time I wore them I could feel the give in the foot bed when I walked on concrete or asphalt. They support my ankles when I’m in the rocks or walking up or down hill and the water proofing is good enough for me to wear them all day in the snow and not get my feet wet. My feet sweat a lot and I've found that these breathe enough to keep them ventilated and dry

[Gray01]

Worked extensively in a quite cold environment. Often sub-zero at night, with times in Jan-Feb where night could get to -40F, and -10 was not even an oddity, and daytime being a layer of rime ice from the ice fog on everything, with maybe a high of +5. Quite often the antennae on the vehicles would become 2-3 inches thick and whipping around crazily from the ice buildup in the ice fog.

There were a few times when the condensate on the sidearm froze upon leaving a heated environment and significantly impeded drawing from the holster (duty rig). When that happens the first time you never forget the feeling.

I avoided synthetic base layers, sticking to merino wool. The reasons was that wool does not melt and weld to human skin during fire exposure; it insulates wet and dry, and it does not have the bacterial odor retention.

Socks were also a layered approach, using Fox River Xstatic which are silver impregnated (anti-bacterial) liners and Smartwool Mountaineering Extra Heavy socks. I also layered gloves, with a very thin inner liner glove (to prevent skin from adhering to surfaces) under a heavier glove with attachments that would allow me to quickly "flip" the heavy gloves off with losing them (left dangling from the coat sleeve.)

[MGW]

Worked extensively in a quite cold environment. Often sub-zero at night, with times in Jan-Feb where night could get to -40F, and -10 was not even an oddity, and daytime being a layer of rime ice from the ice fog on everything, with maybe a high of +5. Quite often the antennae on the vehicles would become 2-3 inches thick and whipping around crazily from the ice buildup in the ice fog.

There were a few times when the condensate on the sidearm froze upon leaving a heated environment and significantly impeded drawing from the holster (duty rig). When that happens the first time you never forget the feeling.

I avoided synthetic base layers, sticking to merino wool. The reasons was that wool does not melt and weld to human skin during fire exposure; it insulates wet and dry, and it does not have the bacterial odor retention.

Socks were also a layered approach, using Fox River Xstatic which are silver impregnated (anti-bacterial) liners and Smartwool Mountaineering Extra Heavy socks. I also layered gloves, with a very thin inner liner glove (to prevent skin from adhering to surfaces) under a heavier glove with attachments that would allow me to quickly "flip" the heavy gloves off with losing them (left dangling from the coat sleeve.)

The absolute warmest system I have is a silkweight base layer, mid weight fleece mid layer, and a wind proof/gortex outer layer. I’m not a big fan of gortex because it tends to hold in too much moisture but it was all I had. Lows in the negative teens and wind chills much lower than that were no issue at all.

It’s not a good system when I’m doing a lot of moving because I’ll start to sweat. For static or limited movement stuff I have found anything warmer. Not that bulky either.

[luckyman]

Excuse the necro-post; this seems to be one of the few cold weather clothing threads we have
Rick R put me on to https://www.varusteleka.com/en in the “Finland makes ready” thread, and I ended up buying some stuff from them.

Item NOT from varusteleka that I really like , that I want to mention before I forget:
https://www.brynjeusa.com/product/unisex-t-shirt-super-thermo/
This mesh tshirt is fantastic at temperature regulation, and doesn’t stink like some polyester items can. It’s always my first layer in cold temps.

From varusteleka:
I really like their “ Särmä Tactical Jeans”. Not really cold weather stuff, but at least heavier than my Kuhl pants; they look flattering, and they have unobtrusive extra pockets. I want to carry my tourniquet, POM, flashlight, and keys all in extra pockets when possible, and these jeans let me do that.

The Särmä merino fingerless gloves are significantly warmer than my old fingerless gloves that were marketed as wool but I’ve always thought were synthetic.

The Särmä (merino) Henley Shirt is great, except it is so long it looks dorky unless you tuck it in.

Finally there are the Särmä TST L1 boxers and tshirt. The tshirt is unfortunately at little scratchy on me if I’m moving enough to perspire a tiny bit. I suspect it will always be my last choice of cold weather tshirts. The boxer briefs have super long legs which I love. That lets them pretty much function as long underwear for me, especially when I wear my boot length Darn Tough socks. I hate normal long underwear, the crotch usually feels like it is halfway down my legs, and either the waist is super loose or I can’t hardly get the damn legs over my thighs and calves because the legs are too tight. The boxer briefs are a tiny bit itchy also but they bother me much less than the tshirt.

Hope the above info is helpful for someone trying to find pants, base layers, etc.

Edited to add: well dang it, just saw this was the LE forum. Mods Let me know if you want me to move or delete it