Cold WX Gear
Thread Starter
Cold WX Gear
Looking for some unbiased advice please.
I'm not used to operating in particularly cold conditions as my previous aircraft spent winter in LA, a little NY and UK.
I am now likely to be doing lots of Russia - possibly up to Siberia.
For those operating in properly cold winter regions, what do you recommend for gloves etc.
I'm presuming some kind of thin silk / merino inner glove and something a bit more water resistant over the top.
I'm not planning on being out in the worst of it for hours, but would rather not be fumbling with blanks / covers / panels etc with clumsy / cheapo gloves bought from the UK high street.
Any and all input valued!
Cheers
I'm not used to operating in particularly cold conditions as my previous aircraft spent winter in LA, a little NY and UK.
I am now likely to be doing lots of Russia - possibly up to Siberia.
For those operating in properly cold winter regions, what do you recommend for gloves etc.
I'm presuming some kind of thin silk / merino inner glove and something a bit more water resistant over the top.
I'm not planning on being out in the worst of it for hours, but would rather not be fumbling with blanks / covers / panels etc with clumsy / cheapo gloves bought from the UK high street.
Any and all input valued!
Cheers
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Hi GC,
You'll probably want something different depending on the exact conditions/task. You will need something to stop your skin freezing to metal at very low temperatures. Gloves that give the dexterity required to open fiddly panels are unlikely to keep your hands warm for long in those temperatures. Polar explorers seem to go for gloves under mittens when outside.
You may need something to fly in depending on how warm you expect the cockpit to be.
I used to wear double-layer silk inners under soft leather flying gloves which were fine for walk-rounds and flying down to about zero (not tested below) much but are not waterproof.
The difficulty will come if you have a mix of water and ice because you will often sacrifice dexterity and warm for waterproofness. So whether it will be a dry snow or just a cold wet environment makes a big difference.
I have known people in cold wet environments being fairly happy with sealskinz gloves.
You'll probably want something different depending on the exact conditions/task. You will need something to stop your skin freezing to metal at very low temperatures. Gloves that give the dexterity required to open fiddly panels are unlikely to keep your hands warm for long in those temperatures. Polar explorers seem to go for gloves under mittens when outside.
You may need something to fly in depending on how warm you expect the cockpit to be.
I used to wear double-layer silk inners under soft leather flying gloves which were fine for walk-rounds and flying down to about zero (not tested below) much but are not waterproof.
The difficulty will come if you have a mix of water and ice because you will often sacrifice dexterity and warm for waterproofness. So whether it will be a dry snow or just a cold wet environment makes a big difference.
I have known people in cold wet environments being fairly happy with sealskinz gloves.
Join Date: Jan 1997
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SealSkinz seconded but some daft prices charged. For UK drivers/airframe Evans Cycles have got them for a tenner, Halfords second place and the rugged, butch outdoor mens shops £35!!
Rob
Rob
Join Date: May 2001
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Re gloves, i use three layers. First layer is a cheap cotton glove i pick up by the dozen in our tech dept. Second layer a wool glove (homemade MIL!), third xxl mittens - water/windproof hightech. I take off the outer two layers when inspecting aircraft components.
I tried a lot of different pants, and ended up with a cheap zip on outer layer. The zip is on the outside seam of the legs, easy to zip on and off without interfering with the rest of your uniform. I cant find a link for you, but any well equipped outdoor shop ought to have it.
Boots: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sorel-Carib...=caribou+sorel
You cannot fly with these boots! Or hike. But they are great at temps below -40 for preflights and tech prob troubleshooting. Buy them extra large to fit an extra pair of heavy duty woolen socks.
Remeber a good neoprene face mask/balaclava. It will save your nose from frost bite.
Canada Goose jackets are great but take up a lot of cargo space. Expiditon parka or heli arctic types are great. You can achieve the same level of insulation with a good woolen sweater, a "technical wool/fleece" middle layer (Bergans or similar) and an outer windstopping layer. Not cheaper, but more flexible for altenating temperaures/destinations.
Enjoy the arctic! Go skating, icefisching, hunting, skiing.
I tried a lot of different pants, and ended up with a cheap zip on outer layer. The zip is on the outside seam of the legs, easy to zip on and off without interfering with the rest of your uniform. I cant find a link for you, but any well equipped outdoor shop ought to have it.
Boots: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sorel-Carib...=caribou+sorel
You cannot fly with these boots! Or hike. But they are great at temps below -40 for preflights and tech prob troubleshooting. Buy them extra large to fit an extra pair of heavy duty woolen socks.
Remeber a good neoprene face mask/balaclava. It will save your nose from frost bite.
Canada Goose jackets are great but take up a lot of cargo space. Expiditon parka or heli arctic types are great. You can achieve the same level of insulation with a good woolen sweater, a "technical wool/fleece" middle layer (Bergans or similar) and an outer windstopping layer. Not cheaper, but more flexible for altenating temperaures/destinations.
Enjoy the arctic! Go skating, icefisching, hunting, skiing.
Join Date: Feb 2000
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If you are visiting the area that you are going to work in before winter sets in ask the engineers and ground staff, and have a look around the shops locally, see what they stock. It is usually the most appropriate, and most popularly approved, gear for the conditions in that region. It's probably quite a good way of getting to know some of the local characters as well.
