Feel the Cold???

[acropolite]

Do you feel the cold when you're out observing?? Today I remembered I had a suit, bought a few years ago for powered hang gliding. It has been in storage for a few years because I haven't had time to use it. Although my suit came from an aviation supplier, I know that it's only a custom version of a freezer suit (made for workers that have to load and unload industrial freezers). It's a complete overall with nice padding and zip on hood. It has a nice knitted roll polo neck and is as warm as toast. Mine is big enough to wear over regular clothes and keeps me warm at altitude (5000 ft) with severe wind blast thrown in. Just thought you may all be interested, not exactly a fashion item but a great way to stay warm on those cold winter nights. Apparently there is a company in Oz that makes these suits called Hepworths.

[atalas]

Hey Phil! what a they worth?

Louie

[fringe_dweller]

Myself and a few friends were ski suits - as well as other stuff - moon boots ect. - my cheap ski suit (buy at the end of the ski season when they go for a song! if you can wait) 40 bucks - only thing is one piece suits have gone out of style and there the best i reckon - still bib and brace is good to - gotta keep your vital organs warm hehe! - mate uses motorbike suits as well.
Cheers
Fringey - Dark Site Michelon Man

[h0ughy]

I can see it now, whilest viewing the depths of space and the outer cosmos wearing a bib and brace in flourescent colours. :D Geez its lucky we pick a hobby that you can hardly see your mate next to you :anaut: wearing a moon suit :rofl: mind you a public viewing session for solar activity might raise a few eyebrows! :D

[Daring Dave]

Top idea Phil...

Ive got an old bib and brace ski outfit in the shed that I must have walked past for years.... If it still fits Im gonna give it a whirl.... No matter how much the missus giggles :scared3:

[acropolite]

The freezer suit is heaps warmer (and a bit heavier) than a ski suit and designed to fit (if you buy a bigger size) over your existing clothing as well. The fabric is also quite a bit stronger than ski suits. The legs are fully zippered and there are quite a few pockets. The last cost I saw for the freezer suit was just over the $100 mark. If you're interested I think Hepworths are in Sydney. Houghy, for those love to be seen, I think they can be ordered in a choice of colours and with fluorescent trim..

[fringe_dweller]

Houghy - In Space ... no one can see you are dressed like a dork!! :)

and i am sorry to disappoint - but I always buy super cool trendy black ones :) LOL

Phil is correct - always buy them a little bit oversize to fit clothes underneath if you can.

I am going to share with you my personal secrets that i have developed by trail and error over the years to keeping warm that allows me to stay comfortably out in the open till sunrise, and enjoy the show(s) without ever even thinking about the cold (except on rare occassions).

First - I start with board shorts - then thick quality trackie dacks over them - then cotton t-shirt close to skin followed by another thick acrylic/polyester t-shirt over the top of that (remember golden rule - synthetics sythetics synthetics - they dont breathe like natural fibres - so retains heat better) then a thin polyester damart long sleeved thermal top, then a thick synthetic long bottomed shirt - then put bib and brace ski suit over all this (with still room to move)- then a very thin (high quality - mountain climbers) polar fleece jacket over all that - then I bought from a mountain climbers shop an excellent (expensive - $200) sleeveless polar fleece vest (very long goes down pass my backside). And if it gets really cold i wear a huge road workmans wool coat over all that - on my feet i wear a pair of thick synthetic oversocks (I had left over from being a lumberjack (briefly) in Scotland that stopped your socks riding down in steel capped gum boots) over woolen explorer socks. And a quality pair of newish thick soled Nikes or something similar (i dont have moonboots yet) And of course an expensive quality special thermal material beanie.

There you have it - the colonels secret formulae :)

Of course there a thousand otherways to do this - my co-observers have their own set ups -Bazz swears a thick loose one piece pair of workmans overalls with two pairs of trackie dacks underneath - Stew swears by his 1000 dollar lightweight motor bike suit - lots of ways to skin a cat as they say

We have only been sprung twice dressed like this - once some roo shooters came up close with spotties on us one time - they were really nice but soon disappeared - we have made a few petrol station attendants speechless as well :). I have only wrecked one pair of cheap ski pants and that was coz of stitching coming apart

If you can handle lots of swishing noises as you walk - i reccomend ski suits - but I like the sound of the cold room overalls - thanks phil - will look into that :)
Cheers
Toasty warm Fringey

[ving]

I am all man... I go out nakid!! ;)

[Dave47tuc]

The Industrial freezer suit is about as good as you can get to keep warm :thumbsup:

I have been using one for many years. When it gets really cold in July, August
I have the long Johns underneath :D

With this combination I have never been to cold :cold: Observing.

"Ving" must scare the locals :rofl:

[fringe_dweller]

Ving I am impressed! you are truly an astro Jedi :)- even in brass monkey weather?:poke:

I know lots of meteor shower watchers have always used use sleeping bags, on top of something water proof.

I like the sound of the freezer suit more and more! funny how the grading of cold goes as you go north - tassie - freezer suit - mid southern mainland - ski suit is good enough - NT and the north - shorts and T-shirts! :rofl:
Fringey

[acropolite]

I'm not so sure about the grading bit, below zero is just that and I have experienced below zero West of Sydney (-4) and oddly enough it's the same sorta cold. Hey Fringey, you sure you're not really Fridge Dweller...:poke:

[fringe_dweller]

I have raided a few fridges! I do have a bit of natural thermal padding heheh like a seal? :jump: we do live on the edge of the desert here in adders - the spots we go to rarely get to zero (going by the car inbuilt thermometer) mainly 3-4º would be common lowest temps - but Birdwood and places like that are in hollows get to zero a lot - I remember when i lived in tassie a week of 24º C was considered a heatwave :) But there is no such thing as being to warm while observing in the cold I know. I must of been cold and I didnt realise it? :poke: No sense no feeling i suppose! :rofl: When there is lot more moisture - like tassie - i think you get more of the cold to the bone sensation - which is nasty i know.
Fridge magnet

[RAJAH235]

Long Johns are a must, then a pair of cord jeans. Thick socks & UGG boots. On top, singlet, 't' shirt, flan shirt, short & long pullover, parka & either beanie or balaclava, & woolen gloves. Don't forget the thermos of tea/coffee & eats.
But then our temps only get down to around zero to 1 degree C. on the coast.
As long as my feet are warm, I'm O.K.
Regards, L. :D
ps. I was born in the north of England tho. & I prefer the cold.

[toetoe]

There are lots of ways to keep warm on the cold nights in all sorts of clothing, dosn`t matter what you look like to others, as long as you are warm.
I am a little concerned for Ving though. :eyepop:

[Starkler]

I doubt Ving will be impressing anybody in winter :lol:

[h0ughy]

is that a short order, or does he do impressions :D

[astroron]

the most important things to keep warm are your feet and your head,about 60%of bodey heat is lost via an uncovered head, and once your feet are cold you soon loose the enthusiasum for observing.
I have a lightweight thermal suit which I put over a Tshirt and Track suit and Moon Boots, but if it gets realy cold its out with the Freezer suit, the same worne by the guys and girls who work for woolies and coles, and my Russian fur hat and I can go all night and be as warm as toast. astroron

[fringe_dweller]

I have found large doses of chewable (kids) vitamin C (say 1000mg to 2000mg, an adults dose!) before going out (and after even) and pulling an 'all nighter' in tough cold conditions - Will (for me personally - i am prone a bit) most of the time prevent the occasional cold/flu getting hold as a result of breathing very cold air all night and being a bit run down possibly, and tired. Many, many people, i know, dont beleive in vitamin C's properties and poh poh its claims - thats fine :) - doesnt worry me if you dont believe this. It might work for a few people maybe?
And dont forget a little bit of chocolate can be your friend out there!(contains caffiene of course- some mountain climbing/trecking friends swear by it at 5000mtrs)
Cheers
Kearn