Winter gear - boots & bibs

jeans, hoodie, knit dot gloves and boots.

 

Helly Hansen overhauls and jacket with the blue "fur" are awesome outdoor work gear. Very common up here for the outdoor trades. Not sure what the availability is in the USA.

http://www.gear-up.com/products/view/helly-hansen-polar-parka---csa-striping---clearance


http://www.gear-up.com/products/view/helly-hansen-polar-bib-pant---csa-striping---clearance



Boots, either the Dunlop Puroforts or my new favourites (fit better, 1/2 the price of the Puroforts) Bekina Thermolites http://www.bekina.be/en/boots?f[0]=field_product_toepassingen%

Got a pair of gloves for xmas that Im digging in this -20C cold of late. Made in Finland called JokaPolars. They also have the same blue lining as the Helly Hansen coveralls. http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/jokapolar-gloves/A-p8566176e

 

Where are you at Scooby? We have no shortage of Helly Hansen in the USA. It's good stuff, just usually overpriced here.

 

Carhartt Extreme black coveralls, Sorels for boots- with a heavy wax coating, jackets can vary, but the important thing is multiple layers.
Good gloves are a must for me, but back to the jackets, a hoodie is a requirement.
Rain is a different story. I stay in when raining lest I melt.

 

cold=OK
wet=OK
cold and wet...going inside.

 

Another vote for Helly...Pricey, but you will be warm and dry!

 

Sorrels have never done me wrong on the feet. My favorite feature on jackets is a pit zipper/vent. Thy keep you from overheating from inside. They are usually found on more 'technical' jackets but are well worth it.

 

I haven't heard that, but it wouldn't surprise me. As a buyer, I've seen a lot of manufacturing go to China. It's now coming back to the us, as freight delays, quality concerns, price increases etc all make doing business with Asia tougher and less advantageous. These issues happen here too, but you can call and or meet directly with the companies to rectify these issues. Many companies don't figure in travel and other meeting expenses for doing business with lower cost suppliers in far away countries. Big misstep. I could go on and on about this, but I won't.

 

Im in Nova Scotia

Much of the Helly Hansen Canada product is made here in Halifax. http://www.helly.ca/EN/

Its expensive relative to imported stuff but not that expensive in the big picture. The Weyburn Bibs are around $250 and the Weyburn jackets the same here locally. More if you want flame resistant. The site I linked to before has the winter Helly stuff on clearance, $149 for the bibs and $200 for the jacket. Thats a phenomenal price (even their regular price is better than local). Id buy another set at that price but Im good for now. Helly used to have an outlet store that sold "seconds" here locally for cheap prices that I visited a lot. But theyve since closed it.

Life is too short to be cold at work to save a couple bucks. Cold body and cold feet suck.

Sorels have gone to China now and I think the quality has gone down since they were bought by Columbia (Bro bought a pair, not 100% happy). Kamiks are still mostly made here and in the US and the quality is still decent.

 

Well this sucks.

I was in a workwear store Saturday and it looks like the Helly Hansen jacket/bibs that I like are now made in China. Im pretty disappointed that Helly has joined the herd in going to china to get clothes made, its even more disappointing considering that much of their line is "Workwear". A lot of good workwear is when there is no-one working!!

 

I have a pair of Baffin boots which are pretty darn warm, although they're also heavy. For pants, if I need something tough and water proof I wear my winter motorcycle riding pants. They're Tour Master brand, and waterproof with extra layers of heavy fabric in the butt and knees. I've ridden sleds through sticker bushes and never felt a thing with these on, they're pretty tough! I think the pants retail for like $180, which is very pricey, but I picked up the set of pants and winter jacket for $160 when I found them on clearance in the spring.

 

I don't have a pair but Hoffman pac boots are supposed to be really warm. I have a pair of there uninsulated lone boots that are going on 6 years of pretty hard summertime use and they are still in good shape. Only have had to resole them.

 

Good thread and timely for me. My Columbia's finally separated where the leather uppers meet the rubber bottoms. I got about 8 years out of them, but they were not made for working in some of the conditions I have been in lately.

Most of the winter gear is gone around here. I was lucky enough to find a pair of Kamik hunters. Insulated to 40 below with inserts. I spent a good part of my week in deep snow clearing critical equipment at work. These boots were excellent. My feet were plenty warm and the nylon cuff kept the snow out. They are very utilitarian boots and will do well for ice fishing standing in the slush around the hole. I will buy another pair of Kamik's in a different style with leather upper. Made in Canada.

I've shredded two pair of gloves this winter. I will be looking for a pair that is waterproof and rubber armored for wear resistance. Having good gear makes all the difference working outside.