7 ms·

Any specific suggestions on brand/tech/material?

loldot_ 6y ago
Wool. A wool undershirt, thick wool sweater and wind-proof, water-proof jacket has kept me comfortable down to about -15C. You can pickup some really nice gear on the cheap from army surplus sales in Norway at least, but I think it's the same in most NATO countries.
THE_PUN_STOPS 6y ago
Ditto, I am also interested on any input from others who have dabbled in the field that OP mentions. Being from the Northeastern United States, I have always just picked up base layers of various thickness from L.L. Bean, like this: https://global.llbean.com/shop/Long-Underwear-Base-Layers/516180 https://global.llbean.com/shop/Long-Underwear-Base-Layers/51... I don't think of this as a technology or expensive, though. They are somewhat pricey, but can be worn for many winters and thus have good value.
colebowl 6y ago
Living in the Canadian Rockies, we regularly see temperatures in the -20c (-4f) and colder range. I'd highly recommend looking at: [1] - Outdoor Research - https://outdoorresearch.com https://outdoorresearch.com [2] - Patagonia - https://patagonia.com https://patagonia.com [3] - Arc'teryx - https://arcteryx.com https://arcteryx.com And as others have mentioned, it's all about layering!
- ashtonkem 6y ago
  I'd also recommend Mountain Hardware. Some of the North Face's more expensive stuff is good too: my sleeping bag comes from them. Look for companies that are long standing and have good warranties. These companies have good reputations to protect, and are aware that buyers of outdoor gear tend to be very loyal to companies that treat them well. My family personally swore off Columbia after two of their coats failed us catastrophically, for example.
danparsonson 6y ago
If you have access to Uniqlo where you are, they make a nice range of decent-quality thermals. Durable and tidy without being too pricey.
ratww 6y ago
The suggestions by the sibling comments are great. I'm also in Berlin and I use Uniqlo's HeatTech undershirt and long johns under jeans/shirt. They're pretty cheap (€10 each) and it makes a lot of difference. I never feel cold. A good jacket is also essential. Downfeather Jackets are my favourite. Other than that it's just a hoodie between shirt and jacket, scarfs and "hand-shoes". The Coronavirus mask also helps during windy days.
- xcambar 6y ago
  "Hand-shoes" Read "gloves". I smiled reading that literal translation of "handschuhe" <3
  - StavrosK 6y ago
    Hah, is that what you call footgloves? "Shoes"? Interesting.
    - presentation 6y ago
      In Japanese it’s hand bags (手袋), and the old school split Japanese socks are foot bags (tabi, 足袋) :)
m12k 6y ago
High quality merino wool doesn't itch (at least not for most people), is naturally odor-resistant and can be super comfortable. I mostly use Icebreaker, but Smartwool and Aclima make good stuff too.
- yarcob 6y ago
  +1 for Icebreaker. Their fabrics are a blend of wool with synthetic materials, and they are the best shirts I've ever had. Unlike other wool fabrics they are very easy to take care of. I wash them just like cotton, no special detergents needed. Not even high spin cycles seem to harm them. (But I've never put them in the dryer, so I don't know if they would survive that). They may be odor resistant, but for me they still get smelly after two or three days. A lot better than cotton, but not odor free. The downsides are that even their lightest fabrics are too warm for summer, and the fabric is a lot less mechanically sturdy as cotton. It seems to tear easily. Most of my older icebreaker shirts have a few holes, even though the fabric still looks like new.
xcambar 6y ago
In addition to what's already been answered, Odlo and Ice breaker are on the higher price point, but definitely worth the price. If you have Decathlon nearby, start with them and ramp up as needed.
rashkov 6y ago
If you want to dip a toe into this without spending much, 32degrees has a a pretty good sale right now. In the men's baselayers section you'll find shirts for $7, leggings for $9). I think they're one of those Costco brands. I've heard that some of their stuff pills up after a few washes, but that's not really a big deal for me at this price.
dclowd9901 6y ago
Icebreaker makes extremely good thermal wear. It’s comfortable, warm, breathable and looks great. Be prepared to spend though.
odiroot 6y ago
I usually wear Uniqlo heattech sweater and when it gets very cold, Uniqlo heattech undershirts. I don't like puffy winter jackets so I wear a long wool coat instead.
KozmoNau7 6y ago
As others have already suggested, wool is king. I would recommend having a look at https://varusteleka.com https://varusteleka.com, they're the biggest outdoor/surplus store in Europe, and they ship just about anywhere. Their wool flannel shirts and field shirts are the best I've ever owned, as are their worker wool pants, and they have enough merino clothing to layer for any weather. Aside from the own brands, they often get very good surplus winter gear in, like thick Swiss knitted wool sweaters, Czech parkas, Finnish wool pants and so on. My current winter outerwear workhorses are a Czech parka and a pair of Finnish M65 wool pants, total cost less than €50. With long johns and a woolen sweater underneath, I have yet to encounter winter weather that would make me uncomfortable.

Wool. A wool undershirt, thick wool sweater and wind-proof, water-proof jacket has kept me comfortable down to about -15C. You can pickup some really nice gear on the cheap from army surplus sales in Norway at least, but I think it's the same in most NATO countries.

THE_PUN_STOPS 6y ago

Ditto, I am also interested on any input from others who have dabbled in the field that OP mentions. Being from the Northeastern United States, I have always just picked up base layers of various thickness from L.L. Bean, like this: https://global.llbean.com/shop/Long-Underwear-Base-Layers/516180 https://global.llbean.com/shop/Long-Underwear-Base-Layers/51... I don't think of this as a technology or expensive, though. They are somewhat pricey, but can be worn for many winters and thus have good value.

colebowl 6y ago

Living in the Canadian Rockies, we regularly see temperatures in the -20c (-4f) and colder range. I'd highly recommend looking at: [1] - Outdoor Research - https://outdoorresearch.com https://outdoorresearch.com [2] - Patagonia - https://patagonia.com https://patagonia.com [3] - Arc'teryx - https://arcteryx.com https://arcteryx.com And as others have mentioned, it's all about layering!

ashtonkem 6y ago
I'd also recommend Mountain Hardware. Some of the North Face's more expensive stuff is good too: my sleeping bag comes from them. Look for companies that are long standing and have good warranties. These companies have good reputations to protect, and are aware that buyers of outdoor gear tend to be very loyal to companies that treat them well. My family personally swore off Columbia after two of their coats failed us catastrophically, for example.

danparsonson 6y ago

If you have access to Uniqlo where you are, they make a nice range of decent-quality thermals. Durable and tidy without being too pricey.

ratww 6y ago

The suggestions by the sibling comments are great. I'm also in Berlin and I use Uniqlo's HeatTech undershirt and long johns under jeans/shirt. They're pretty cheap (€10 each) and it makes a lot of difference. I never feel cold. A good jacket is also essential. Downfeather Jackets are my favourite. Other than that it's just a hoodie between shirt and jacket, scarfs and "hand-shoes". The Coronavirus mask also helps during windy days.

xcambar 6y ago
"Hand-shoes" Read "gloves". I smiled reading that literal translation of "handschuhe" <3
- StavrosK 6y ago
  Hah, is that what you call footgloves? "Shoes"? Interesting.
  - presentation 6y ago
    In Japanese it’s hand bags (手袋), and the old school split Japanese socks are foot bags (tabi, 足袋) :)

m12k 6y ago

High quality merino wool doesn't itch (at least not for most people), is naturally odor-resistant and can be super comfortable. I mostly use Icebreaker, but Smartwool and Aclima make good stuff too.

yarcob 6y ago
+1 for Icebreaker. Their fabrics are a blend of wool with synthetic materials, and they are the best shirts I've ever had. Unlike other wool fabrics they are very easy to take care of. I wash them just like cotton, no special detergents needed. Not even high spin cycles seem to harm them. (But I've never put them in the dryer, so I don't know if they would survive that). They may be odor resistant, but for me they still get smelly after two or three days. A lot better than cotton, but not odor free. The downsides are that even their lightest fabrics are too warm for summer, and the fabric is a lot less mechanically sturdy as cotton. It seems to tear easily. Most of my older icebreaker shirts have a few holes, even though the fabric still looks like new.

xcambar 6y ago

In addition to what's already been answered, Odlo and Ice breaker are on the higher price point, but definitely worth the price. If you have Decathlon nearby, start with them and ramp up as needed.

rashkov 6y ago

If you want to dip a toe into this without spending much, 32degrees has a a pretty good sale right now. In the men's baselayers section you'll find shirts for $7, leggings for $9). I think they're one of those Costco brands. I've heard that some of their stuff pills up after a few washes, but that's not really a big deal for me at this price.

dclowd9901 6y ago

Icebreaker makes extremely good thermal wear. It’s comfortable, warm, breathable and looks great. Be prepared to spend though.

odiroot 6y ago

I usually wear Uniqlo heattech sweater and when it gets very cold, Uniqlo heattech undershirts. I don't like puffy winter jackets so I wear a long wool coat instead.

KozmoNau7 6y ago

As others have already suggested, wool is king. I would recommend having a look at https://varusteleka.com https://varusteleka.com, they're the biggest outdoor/surplus store in Europe, and they ship just about anywhere. Their wool flannel shirts and field shirts are the best I've ever owned, as are their worker wool pants, and they have enough merino clothing to layer for any weather. Aside from the own brands, they often get very good surplus winter gear in, like thick Swiss knitted wool sweaters, Czech parkas, Finnish wool pants and so on. My current winter outerwear workhorses are a Czech parka and a pair of Finnish M65 wool pants, total cost less than €50. With long johns and a woolen sweater underneath, I have yet to encounter winter weather that would make me uncomfortable.