Winter Recommendations

[mccmeadows]

Hey everyone!

What are things you can’t live without during winter in the barnyard? Really looking for a good pair of gloves that I still can move my fingers around in/have enough grip to open waterers, etc.

 

[cavemanrich]

You are not in the polar portion of Ontario, but do get sufficient snow to shovel. I recommend GOOD BOOTS, and Good Socks. Wool if you can tolerate them. A down jacket, so it is light, and easy to move around in. Insulated pants. Your choice here, since there are more than one option. I like the jeans that had a flannel lining inside. One thickness of fabric, but kept me warm outdoors. Long johns are OK also, but more clumsy.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[saysfaa]

Good boots are by far the most important. I prefer to insulate them myself with a felt insole. Then various kinds/layers of socks depending on how cold it is.

Mittens are much warmer than gloves. And more comfortable when it gets cold enough to need much bulk. Handy Andy still makes chore mittens although stores rarely stock them. I have't found brown jersey mittens so usually put brown jersey gloves inside the chore mittens. Every winter I mean to knit myself mittens for this purpose but get bogged down in modifying knitting patterns and rarely get the second mitten finished.

Alpaca is warmer than wool. Too warm for a sweater if I'm moving much but welcome in some situations. A scarf, socks, and mittens in alpaca are easier than a sweater to layer up or down quickly and easily.

Leather jacket is more windproof than canvas (carhartt) but canvas is more comfortable if it isn't super windy.

The reusable hand warmers are awesome in some situations.... the kind activated by bending the metal disc inside the gel.

 

[mccmeadows]

You are not in the polar portion of Ontario, but do get sufficient snow to shovel. I recommend GOOD BOOTS, and Good Socks. Wool if you can tolerate them. A down jacket, so it is light, and easy to move around in. Insulated pants. Your choice here, since there are more than one option. I like the jeans that had a flannel lining inside. One thickness of fabric, but kept me warm outdoors. Long johns are OK also, but more clumsy.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

I am gonna have to look for lined jeans cause that sounds like a great idea! Thanks!

 

[mccmeadows]

Good boots are by far the most important. I prefer to insulate them myself with a felt insole. Then various kinds/layers of socks depending on how cold it is.

Mittens are much warmer than gloves. And more comfortable when it gets cold enough to need much bulk. Handy Andy still makes chore mittens although stores rarely stock them. I have't found brown jersey mittens so usually put brown jersey gloves inside the chore mittens. Every winter I mean to knit myself mittens for this purpose but get bogged down in modifying knitting patterns and rarely get the second mitten finished.

Alpaca is warmer than wool. Too warm for a sweater if I'm moving much but welcome in some situations. A scarf, socks, and mittens in alpaca are easier than a sweater to layer up or down quickly and easily.

Leather jacket is more windproof than canvas (carhartt) but canvas is more comfortable if it isn't super windy.

The reusable hand warmers are awesome in some situations.... the kind activated by bending the metal disc inside the gel.

Great info, thanks! We’re going to go boot shopping tomorrow and I’ll see what I can find for either a winter pair or warm insoles. Will look around for those handy andys

 

[Folly's place]

The Muck Boot brand is the very best! Warm, comfortable, water proof, and live for years. Might be slippery on ice, I have crampons for that.
I like long johns under jeans, and haven't had the lined jeans yet. Also like insulated coveralls; make sure you get the softer fabric, not very stiff canvas for them. Parkas.
Gloves, and I can't find the cheap knit gloves with tacky palms any more, sadly. They were great in cold, not super cold, and easy to work in.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I had the Arctic Sport Muck boots, and they were fine. Now I have their tall all season boots, and they are warm enough for southern Michigan winters, and lighter weight than the Arctic Sport boots.
Mary

 

[mccmeadows]

The Muck Boot brand is the very best! Warm, comfortable, water proof, and live for years. Might be slippery on ice, I have crampons for that.
I like long johns under jeans, and haven't had the lined jeans yet. Also like insulated coveralls; make sure you get the softer fabric, not very stiff canvas for them. Parkas.
Gloves, and I can't find the cheap knit gloves with tacky palms any more, sadly. They were great in cold, not super cold, and easy to work in.
Mary

I will look into Muck Boots, thanks! We have good overalls and we buy those tacky knit gloves in bulk packs from tsc cause they’re great and cheap. I just don’t feel like they’ll be warm enough when we get into the thick of winter, but great for nightly chores right now!

 

[itsasmallfarm]

how cold do you get out there?

Saskatchewan here, we can get minus -45C/-49F in the winter. so i like to where an old snow mobile suit, heavy winter boots and heavy mitts/gloves plus face covering.