Hey all, I moved from San Diego, CA, to West Lafayette, IN to attend school in August, and it started getting cold here. (Cold for me anyway.) I was just wondering what tips/pointers you may have for me that will help me get through the winter without freezing my arse off too much.

I do have a jacket, sweatshirts, pants, gloves, hats, etc., no vehicle up here though.

Thanks a lot, your help is appriciated!

Go Boilermakers!

 
 
 
 
 

Layers....Put 'em on when you're cold...take 'em off when you get hot and stay dry.

Layers.....wear layers

Oh and forget about women.

That long underwear doesn't show a damm thing!

Ok, I grew up in Maine and have been out on the ramp at BGR when it was -24. The big thing as said about, layers...!! A good turtleneak sweater, or a Mock turtleneak shirt worn under a second shirt will do you fine. Also, dry sox...!! Staying dry is the biggest key of them all. Walking to class don't be stuiped and wear just sneakers... A good set of walking boots with wool sox will do ya fine. Wear a warm hat...geeeky or not, most of your body heat is lost through your head.

Stay inside. It's too cold to be outside

If you must go outside, like to go to class, layer up... undershirt/t-shirt, sweater/longsleve shirt, with your winter coat on top usually works well. If you find yourself walking around in the snow a lot get a few pairs of wool socks. Those will keep your feet warmer than regular old tube socks.

Gloves, hat, headwraps, ear muffs, scarves are all your friends.

Depending on how much money you have to burn and what if any activities you plan to do outside you couldn't go wrong with a layered gore-tex system.

Whatever clothing you do have, should be layered on your body. The bottom layer of clothing should be made of a material that draws the moisture away from the skin. This layer should then transfer that moisture outward so that you will always be dry, no matter what perspiration level you are at.

The next layer should be an insulating material such as fleece. The outer layer is the shell layer to protect you from rain, snow and wind. You should have a waterproof jacket with a hood to wear and gore-tex for this is unbeatable in my opinion because it allows moisture out while keeping rain and wind out.

Thanks for the advice guys, it will be greatly appriciated!

Would body armor work as an underlayer? I have a good pair of boots Ive been wearing latley, and theyve proven waterproof in puddles and rain and such. I also will be sure to pick up a knit hat...cant believe I forgot mine back home.

And to Thecoz...Boiler up!

Naked women or good doubleshots of some good ol Jack...

DeltaGuy

Suck it up, you'll get used to it eventually  

Greg

You wuss, just suck it up and deal 

Seriously though layers helps, and nothing can be worse (for me anyway) than cold feet. Whenever I'm snowboarding I try to wear thick wool socks to keep out the moisture and keep in the warmth. Seriously cold feet can be absolutely hell.

Futureualpilot,

Move to Bloomington, Indiana. It is warmer in more ways than one.   

You can be layered up until you look like the Michelin Man, but if your head is bare, you'll be cold. That simple. Cover your skull, especially your ears, frostbite is really painful, take it from me.....

Layers are important, if snow is present avoid cotton, like jeans, at all costs, when they get wet you are almost better off being naked. I reccomend gloves, mittens are better but they sort of limit your dexterity and I always hated having numb fingers when I got to class.

Gore-Tex is your friend as an outer shell if you can afford if, otherwise a cheap knockoff is a good idea, plain nylon makes for a weak shell thanks to its permiability by wind. polar fleece is awesome as an insulating layer. Keep your head covered and keep your feet dry. When your feet get wet you can potentially be on the virge of a problem in extremely cold weather. I used to wear polypropylene sock liners under my boot socks when I lived in Ohio, between those, wool socks, and gore-tex lined boots my feet stayed warm and dry.

Honestly, looking like the michelin man is not necessary most of the time. In temps down to freezing I would be fine in my gore-tex shell jacket. Down to 5 or 10 I would put the polar fleece liner in if i was going to be outside more than a few minutes. 3 layers was typically the most I needed even down well below zero. I would typically go with an undershirt, an insulating layer, then a shell. In really cold conditions I would wear long underwear under my pants Below 5 degrees I would break out the michelin man stuff (goose down heavy coat) for prolonged exposure. I would also typically wear a polar fleece ear band because I hated wearing hats. Also, make sure you get a longer jacket, one that goes well below your waist, literally freezing your balls off is no fun.

when wearing all this stuff keep an eye on your fluid intake, you might be surprised but you can dehydrate pretty easily in cold weather (some parts of your body sweating, very dry air). Also, if something is getting numb it is a sign you need to either wear more clothes or get inside, your body gives out plenty of warning signs (numbness, tingling, excessive shivering) before you get into real trouble.

Another thing, Never eat yellow snow.

There are two things I can suggest (not having read all of the responses already posted.)

1. Wear a hat. A real hat. Don't be afraid to look like a tool by wearing a genuine arctic Russian type hat if you have to. Keeping your head warm does wonders for your body's overall health.

2. Drink PLENTY of water. In cold weather our bodies don't notice the lack of humidity as much. I think the calculation goes something like, at 20 F and 40% humidity it would be equivalent to 10% humidity at 70 F. Drinking plenty of water not only keeps you from getting dehydrated; it helps your body stay warm, too.


redngold

"Don't be afraid to look like a tool by wearing a genuine arctic Russian type hat if you have to."

I actually have one of those hats, on cold days there is nothing better, but then again I already look (and act) like a tool.

Also, don't forget sunglasses in snow. The glare off the snow is very bright and after a long sunny day in the snow your eyes will have trouble adjusting when you come back inside, not to mention the tremendous headache you will probably get.