Anyone spent extended amounts of time in the extreme cold? Need clothing advise

I doubt it's the first time.

I suppose you wouldn't need to worry about condensation on your camera lens, since your pics are all out of focus anyway lulz
 
Make sure the outer layer is made of something like Gore-Tex or similiar - the mixture of breathability and water proofing really makes a huge difference to long term comfort.
 
Get your name on the notification list for an Alpkit Filo jacket. Was my choice of jacket for being inside the Arctic Circle earlier this year. Might not be a brand name like Rab but I couldn't find anything close for the money (£120).

I used big Ziplock type food bags when coming in / out with my camera.
 
Rroff said:
Make sure the outer layer is made of something like Gore-Tex or similiar - the mixture of breathability and water proofing really makes a huge difference to long term comfort.
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If its -15 then its unlikely you'll want a hardshell waterproof like Goretex. Insulated softshell or down with a Dryshell or similar outer would be a better choice.

Less useful once back in the UK though.
 
Ski socks, get some good ski socks. Last thing you want to do is stop moving for an extended period of time and then find you can't walk anyway because your toes are so numb they're about to fall off.
 
#Chri5# said:
Get your name on the notification list for an Alpkit Filo jacket. Was my choice of jacket for being inside the Arctic Circle earlier this year. Might not be a brand name like Rab but I couldn't find anything close for the money (£120).
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My mate has one and I was impressed by the quality, especially for the price, but like you pointed out the only problem I've had with Alpkit is availability.

J-FRO said:
Ski socks, get some good ski socks. Last thing you want to do is stop moving for an extended period of time and then find you can't walk anyway because your toes are so numb they're about to fall off.
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The problem is that good ski socks are relatively thin as you need a snug fit between your foot and boot for power and control. You want the oposite if you're going to be standing still in the arctic i.e. thicker socks, something like these - http://lissomandmuster.com/product/...dard+length+(for+Arctic+extreme+cold)+-+black
 
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Bony Maloney said:
Check out Icebreaker bodyfit 200/260 marino base layers. These are fantastic, wicking and stink proof!! I use them for skiing in January. My step son works as a farrier in Norway and swears by them (the 260 knit).
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Listen to this man!
Merino wool is your friend out there. I have the 260 and swear by it.
Your Brizzol based too aint ya? so get down Ellis Brigham just up from the zoo and get their advice.

Oh and Iceland in March wont be ANYTHING like North Sweden in January ;) so I wouldn't go overboard!

Also to note is that if this is an organised trip, they WILL NOT let you freeze to death out there, more than likely supply you with a "thermal onsie" type thing if it's really brass monkey weather (which I don't think it will be at that time of year)

I was given this in the IceHotel in Sweden. :D (it was -32°C on the day I went out on the snowmobile!)

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and very similar when up on the Glacier in Iceland while on the Snowmobile there.

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and if you've never had your camera out in proper cold weather, expect it to die after about 5 shots!!
You'll be needing a spare battery selotaped to each *** to keep them warm!

Layering is the key, not just one big puffy jacket that looks like you're wearing a quilt!
Spend the proper money on your base layers and get ones that fit well, (I do so love my Arc'teryx gear :D) try everything on as you wish to wear it too, you'll be surprised how you have to accommodate things like three different layers all having neck zips for eg, You have to get the kit to go together.

What kit would I suggest..
Gore-tex insulated boots and merino wool socks
Merino Icebreaker 260 full length leggins
Ski pants or insulated trousers (NorthFace ski or Craghoppers insulated trousers)
Merino Icebreaker crew neck
thin well fitting fleece --- > I absolutely adore this http://www.arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Mid_Layer-Sweaters/Delta-AR-Zip# Was wearing it yesterday at the Rolling Road Mini meet. :D
Synthetic insulated mid layer with insulated hood.

I really don't think you'll need the full parka insulated down jacket.
The above list is also more useful back at home when it's just "a bit nippy out" compared to the full on jacket, ten mins after putting one of them on in the UK and you'll be sweating your balls off :D
 
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semi-pro waster said:
It's the non-moving nature that's probably going to be the biggest problem. As soundood says a number of layers that you can easily remove/replace as necessary will be vital. The base layer is probably best to be made of some sort of wicking material to take sweat away from the body as it will be uncomfortable and probably lead to chafing.

As Dr Delphi suggests a good outdoors shop should be able to advise you further on what you need.

At those sort of temperatures you'll probably need to give some consideration to your equipment and how it will cope - there's also the practical issues such as how to operate the shutter and change settings so you might need to think about what sort of gloves/mittens you can wear. I'd probably go with a thin pair of gloves which you use inside a larger pair of water/windproof gloves.

Remember that if the temperature is -20C that with windchill it could effectively be significantly lower so make sure that your outer garments (at least) are windproof and be sure to cover up extremities as much as possible. It's all too easy to get chapped noses/ears/cheeks if you aren't careful.

//edit last thought for the moment - if you're going for the Northern Lights then it will mostly be at night naturally but remember that during the daytime that you'll have to deal with the sun above and the reflected glare below if there's snow/ice on the ground so good eyewear is another essential and also somewhat surprisingly for some people - sunblock is extremely useful when you consider that the light is coming from two directions in effect.
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Equipment wise it will be fine, just make sure to have one or two spare batteries next to your body to swap out every now and then. DSLR's are fine in those sort of temperatures.

The suggestion for a thick pair of gloves with a thinner pair of touch gloves is good, means you don't need to touch anything metal in the cold with bare hands...

I was out on a frozen lake several nights running last January in Finland, -30+ at all times and I wore a couple of decent base layers (thinnish Ice breakers), couple of 200 weight fleeces and a thin soft-shell with a thick ski jacket over it all. Legs wise less of an issue (if you have a warm core the rest look after themselves), just a base layer (icebreaker or HH) and a pair of salopets over the top.

Obviously a nice wooly hat and scarf (to protect the face if it's windy more than anything else) along with a thin balaclava.

The biggest problem I had was my feet. I had a thick pair of socks and a pair of NF thermal shoes (designed for evenings at base camp/around ski resorts) and it wasn't totally protecting me from the cold conducting up from the ground. I was on a frozen lake so that probably made it slightly worse.

Anyway, phate, hopefully that will give you an idea of how much you need to wear. It will probably not be as cold as that though as that was exceptionally cold even for northern Finnish standards.

EDIT: DON'T put your kit in your jacket, cycling from warm to cold will cause more damage than just having it cold the entire time, not to mention the size issue of DSLR's and condensation/freezing problems that could occur if you did that. I would be ****** if I got all set up and the lens had frozen up because of the condensation that formed on the lens as it was warmer than the outside. :p

EDIT2: Seems you already know about the camera kit. :)
 
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kierenharrold said:
Silica gel to keep your equipment dry :D

water proof socks and gloves.
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Good God NO! One quick way to get your feet to freeze... There is a reason GOOD walking/ski socks are designed to be super absorbent and wicking! Those Sealskins are rubbish as well.
 
J-FRO said:
Ski socks, get some good ski socks. Last thing you want to do is stop moving for an extended period of time and then find you can't walk anyway because your toes are so numb they're about to fall off.
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As Col_M says, a good pair of ski socks are thin (mine are no thicker than many peoples office work socks, except the sole). A nice thick pair of Smartwool or Wigwam socks would be best.

Rab do a couple of really nice fitted mid layer fleeces as well.

Oh and when it's really cold be extra wary about any feeling of cold/numbing of finger tips. I had been walking all day in the cold and on the way back started to get a cold little toe. Thought nothing of it until I got home and got in the shower... The toe was black and had no feeling... After copious rubbing and warm water it eventually came back to life but I did have a large callous of dead skin on the outside edge... Things can go wrong pretty quickly when it's -20-30+

EDIT: That's a good point Fuzz, if you're on an organised trip in the cold the company will provide a thick onsie... We got one when we went snowmobiling and it was rather warm on top of all the kit I had put on to keep me warm...
 
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