well....I don't know. All I know is that I have been wearing cotton underwear, tee shirts and cotton Long Johns in the winter, ever since I can remember my first snow.. I've used them since I was a kid [about 40 years by now] and I'm not dead yet...so I'll have to assume there's some advantage to wearing them, regardless of what modern/'new' information tells us.
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15 Survival myths that can actually kill you
- Thread starter druid189
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No. It proves you're not dead yet, and, considered carefully, that's not trivial. Life is a Pass/Fail course until that Final Exam.
Of course, Bear Grylls is also not dead yet. Hospitalized four times doing his fake show, but not dead. Yet.
Of course, Bear Grylls is also not dead yet. Hospitalized four times doing his fake show, but not dead. Yet.
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Nothing might about that. Gortex is wonderful with cold and wet but in very cold it seems not to breath or at least that's been my personal experience. I do like wearing the pants and gaiters in extreme cold but take them off once in the shelter. If I don't pack the heated tipi odds are the Gortex pants aren't going either. The Gortex gaiters will go because snow down boots just sucks. But then again I have been known to walk around naked in the snow. Nothing beats a nice snow bath after being out for a few days.
Of course it helps having very small heated shelter on my back. LOL!
Multiple synthetic layers. Notice the Gortex pants. Even in the lower positive teens honestly I don't think they breath but it's not the end of the world. Layering is really were it's at. Maybe another topic for another post.
Liberando
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Excellent discussion, I'm sure enjoying everyone's insights.
I concur, guidance is dependent on the location. Many decades ago, I was a scout in Arizona and learned some great survival skills for the desert. After a couple years in Arizona, our family moved to Alaska, and after joining a troop up there, I found myself learning a whole different set of skills. Humbling, but very worthwhile.
Re the cotton clothing topic: I'll offer up what was taught to us scouts in Alaska for winter camping, long before the era of modern synthetic clothing. When cotton gets wet, it stays wet and is difficult to dry. The wet and cold wicks away body heat, and if you can't get dry or warm, you know the rest.
Wool, on the other hand, will keep you warm even when wet. Got some old military wool pants at the surplus store (nice and baggy to trap body heat, cheap, tough as iron) and wore them over the classic long johns. With a good pair of snow boots and gaiters, I stayed warm.
Things have evolved quite a bit since then, so I don't offer the above as gospel, just a slice of history. Thanks for perspectives, I'm learning a lot.
I concur, guidance is dependent on the location. Many decades ago, I was a scout in Arizona and learned some great survival skills for the desert. After a couple years in Arizona, our family moved to Alaska, and after joining a troop up there, I found myself learning a whole different set of skills. Humbling, but very worthwhile.
Re the cotton clothing topic: I'll offer up what was taught to us scouts in Alaska for winter camping, long before the era of modern synthetic clothing. When cotton gets wet, it stays wet and is difficult to dry. The wet and cold wicks away body heat, and if you can't get dry or warm, you know the rest.
Wool, on the other hand, will keep you warm even when wet. Got some old military wool pants at the surplus store (nice and baggy to trap body heat, cheap, tough as iron) and wore them over the classic long johns. With a good pair of snow boots and gaiters, I stayed warm.
Things have evolved quite a bit since then, so I don't offer the above as gospel, just a slice of history. Thanks for perspectives, I'm learning a lot.
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Wool is magic in a certain sense. As it absorbs moisture it actually creates a small but measurable amount of heat. It does not feel wet since the moisture is absorbed into the fivers ("Regain") TO A POINT.
When wool absorbs about 1/3 of its weight in water, it becomes simply wet fabric - cold feeling and hard to dry in the field.
Still, that's pretty good compared to cotton: "The wet and cold wicks away body heat."
Many man-made fabrics are hydrophobic and absorb only trivial amount of water - a little as 1% of their weight on the surface of the fibers. That is one reason man-mades have come to dominate the clothing use by expeditions to the polar areas.
When wool absorbs about 1/3 of its weight in water, it becomes simply wet fabric - cold feeling and hard to dry in the field.
Still, that's pretty good compared to cotton: "The wet and cold wicks away body heat."
Many man-made fabrics are hydrophobic and absorb only trivial amount of water - a little as 1% of their weight on the surface of the fibers. That is one reason man-mades have come to dominate the clothing use by expeditions to the polar areas.
Liberando
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Thomas Linton, thanks for the insights, I wasn't aware of the science behind wool, nor just how much better the man-made materials are.
Codger64: I agree, avoid the polar areas! I enjoyed outdoor winter stuff when I was younger, the colder/snowier, the better. Then there came day (in my early 40s) when the cold was a lot tougher to take. I can still get out there in the cold, it just isn't as fun.
Codger64: I agree, avoid the polar areas! I enjoyed outdoor winter stuff when I was younger, the colder/snowier, the better. Then there came day (in my early 40s) when the cold was a lot tougher to take. I can still get out there in the cold, it just isn't as fun.
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Maybe someone said this already but about not eating snow you can actually do it safely and it will keep you hydrated. Just place the snow in your mouth and let it melt before swallowing. It wont be enough to cool you down when its in your mouth so its not dangerous at all. I've relied on that in the past and it works fine. Its actually kinda nice because you can continuously drink while having the snow in your mouth for long periods of time which feels quite soothing.
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Eating snow is only dangerous if you need the heat (required to melt the snow) to survivie. Usually, that is not the case. But do avoid yellow snow.
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Interesting list. I wouldn't say that arrogance got me in a frightening spot in the northern woods years back, it was more like complacency. I was fixated on finding an old fur trade post in dense bush and "survival" was a distant consideration. I did have enough foresight to bring along a ball compass, a tin of sardines, a lighter, a pocket knife and a water bottle. My wife had an idea of the general area that I was in also. I felt secure then, and still do, that I would be ok with a night out there. It would suck, and I would be bug chewed, and a bit spooked by things that go bump in the night, but I wouldn't die. What I was not prepared for was the psychological kicking that I took. I felt waves of anguish flashing to fear several times as I felt my body tiring badly, I was cold and wet with torn clothes. I had to mentally put myself back together a few times and take stock, realizing that my situation sucked, but was not really dire. But I really was scared a few times out there. So now that I had a wake up call I have put some effort into learning a bit more about staying warm and hydrated in the outdoors. I believe that additional knowledge, my past experiences, and better preparation on future trips, all will alleviate much of the anguish that I experienced on that spooky day.
and red/pink "watermelon" or "blood" snow. The algae is called Chlamydomonas nivalis and while it's supposedly not a toxic algae, it has been suggested that eating "copious amounts" of it will likely give you a bad case of diarrhea. True or not? Dunno and I'm not going to test that theory out.
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Does anyone here have a tip or two on wool socks ? For years I have worn felt pack boots (military wool liner actually) with wool socks for winter romps, and for years I have worn the heels out of the socks prematurely, and often quickly. It is hard to find a thin nylon summer sock that will fit over size 13 feet which are more like 15 when you have to cover the original wool sock and don't want a tight fit. Any insight is appreciated.
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When I was in the German army one pair of wool socks lastet about 4 month of everyday use. Man was that stinky.
Nah we had multiple pairs of socks for a longer time frame and I just did the math.
I think the secret was the insole which was a tightly woven plastic mesh which allowed sweat to go through and was a bit slippery and cushy which reduces moisture, friction and impact on your socks and feet thus increasing their life.
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You might want to try a polyester liner with Wigwam merino wool over socks. I mention the brand specifically because although they're more expensive, they tend to last.
Buy a yard of silk and make an oversock for your foot.
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^Genius.
Might also breath better than adding a whole new layer.
Codger_64
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At the very least it should reduce the friction causing the excess heel wear. I know that even two thin socks have helped me for years with reducing blisters and hot spots because they allow movement between the layers as well as between the outer and the shoes.
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For sure. I noticed the same in boots. Silk or nylon socks worked. It was hard to find them big enough to be worn on top of thick wool socks.
Cutting the toes off is so simple. I wish I would have known earlier.
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