#cold weather survival

[tatersgonnatate]

[sea-salted-wolverine]

Cold weather survival tip that will keep your toes attached to your feet.

Change your socks.

Change your socks.

Change your socks.

Feet sweat. Sweaty socks are not warm socks. Trust me on this one, nerve damage sucks. Change your socks.

[vizrecon]

[thatdisasterauthor]

Also, with this cold incoming, here is the CDC graphic on recognizing and treating hypothermia and frostbite. There are a lot of myths out there that can actually be very dangerous, so be sure to do your research beyond just this introductory graphic:

(click it for a better view if tumblr isn't showing it well. Or go here to see it: https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/infographics/ast-frostbite.htm )

[ittybittykittyfingers]

Winter Clothing Tips

I wanted to make a friendly and detailed list of stuff I've learned from living in a cold climate.

(Note that I do not have vegan-friendly options- suggestions with links to a vegan product's efficacy are welcome)

This stuff is common knowledge where I live but it occurred to me that it might be useful to someone if I laid it all out. I'll be updating this list if I think of more.

I absolutely adore winter and want to help you love it too! Cheers! List below.

• “Cotton kills!" You see, when cotton gets wet, it will suck warmth from your body and freeze on your skin surprisingly easily. Use wool in place of cotton because when wool gets wet, it will still insulate you.

• Know how to layer! Counterintuitively, having layers of thinner, high-quality materials is less bulky than having a single jacket or pair of gloves/socks. Plus, it has the added bonus of being able to be taken off and switched around according to your needs.

1. Base layer - this is the layer that touches your skin. You want this layer to be light, flexible, and moderately form-fitting. This layer's job is to be moisture-wicking. Sweat evaporates, even under layers, so you want something that will move it away so you don't feel the cooling effect. You also just don't want moisture on your skin. Real silk is recommended.

2. Mid layer - this layer can actually be as many layers as you want. I rarely need anything more than a knit merino wool sweater, but accommodate yourself. This layer does the brunt of the work of keeping you warm. Real, non-blended wool is recommended, but really any wool will be miles better than most anything else.

• make it a priority to keep your center warm. Many people choose a vest as a mid-layer as it keeps bulk off of your arms and keeps your middle toasty.

3. Shell - this layer keeps the warmth in and the elements out. Many people go for waterproof shells so they can be worn all year (i.e. rain jacket). Shells have little to no insulation and usually have a hood. You want the shell big enough to always cover your underlayers, but not so big that it bunches up. I don't have a material to recommend here since anything truly waterproof and tough enough to resist puncture will do. It can actually get hot under there so consider whether you might want a ventilation hole for your arm pits. There are plenty of options. Know that any shell which says it's both breathable and waterproof is lying (unless it's a super fancy item, like $300 fancy). Sometimes, a water resistant material will be better for you than a waterproof one. It depends.

• socks, socks, socks! A pair of silk foot liners paired with a good pair of wool socks will keep you comfy all day. Make sure your winter shoes/boots are a bit too big to accommodate the extra space that multiple socks take up. Make sure your socks are taller than the top of your boots. You want the socks sticking out from the top. I like to layer my foot liners the highest, then the wool socks a bit lower, than the top of my boot lower than that. You can always fold the top of socks to make them a comfortable height. (Pro-tip: do not use ankle socks! They will bunch up)

• The above logic should be used for gloves too. You'll want to make sure your shell gloves are waterproof but thin enough that you are able to use your hands. Again, the name of the game is staying dry.

• Waterproof, non-slip boots are a must. You don't need to get fluffy or insulated boots if you use my sock tips. This saves money too because now you have boots to wear all year instead of just winter boots. I'm a fan of Gore-Tex with Vibram soles.

• If you do a lot of walking on pavement and such, get a pair of crampons! There are tons to choose from. They're awesome. They'll have you confidently walking around a frozen driveway with ease. Crampons are these rubber and metal things you strap to the bottom of your boot. They often use either spikes (only recommended for seriously rough terrain) or coils that lay horizontally under your foot to increase traction.

• Speaking of footwear accessories, consider getting waterproof gators. Common wisdom is to tuck pants into your waterproof boots to keep them dry. Sometimes, especially if the snow is deep enough, snow will get trapped at the top of your boots where your pants are tucked in anyway and it'll start dripping into your boots. Gators fix this issue. They're these... they're like shin guards that go all the way around your ankle and up to your knee. They cover the area where your pants meet the boots and will completely prevent snow from getting in. (Pro-tip: if you get ones that are also puncture resistant, they can be used in nice weather too to prevent ticks and protect against snake bites. They're perfect for tall grass. I use mine all year.)

• Scarves are often overlooked but they can make a huge difference. You'll want to find a way to tie them that is comfortable for you. There are plenty of guides on the internet for that. I've found that extra long scarves tend to be the most useful. I like to stuff the ends of them into my layers for extra coverage wherever I need it. Plus, it's easier to tie long scarves.

• Get a good hat that also has ear flaps. I like ones that have space above my head so that a warm air pocket forms, keeping my head comfy. Or you could get a pair of earmuffs that go around the back of your head to pair with your hat. You can use the hood of your shell to protect your hat if you need to, so focus on comfort and warmth for the hat rather than it being waterproof or especially durable. I tend to like alpaca wool for hats.

• Sunglasses can make a difference since blinding light glares off of the snow.

• Before you go out in the snow, put one of those foldable clothes drying racks in your bathtub. Leave a watertight bin by the door you'll be coming in from. Lay a towel at the door if you don't have a good/big enough doormat. You'll be dripping water and littering the floor with snow and ice when you come back inside. Wipe off/ shake off as much snow from your person and knock your boots on the lip of the doorframe before coming inside (this logic works for cars too). Put your wet clothes in the bin. Change into whatever you need to. Bring the bin with you to the bathroom and hang up your articles on the clothes rack to dry. You can keep your boots in there too, just make sure the clothes aren't going to drip into the boots. If you want to get fancy, you can buy a cheap boot dryer to keep in the bathroom.

• Once you get inside after being out in the cold, remove your jacket immediately. It'll take you longer to warm up inside if you keep wearing your outdoor clothes.

• Quick buying tip- if you end up visiting somewhere that's cold a lot, be sure to check out a wealthy location's Goodwill and thrift stores. I've found amazing brands like Patagonia, Kool, and Spider there for cheap!

• TL;DR If there's any one thing I would want to impress upon you, it's that materials matter. You could be wearing 4 cotton sweatshirts and still be cold or you could wear one marino wool sweater with a rain coat and be toasty and comfy.

[britcision]

If you have a candle and a ceramic pot, you have a tiny space heater. Do not leave it on while you sleep and do not let pets near it.

Place the ceramic pot open end down over the candle so the candle still gets air and so that You Do Not Need To Touch The Pot To Put The Candle Out

Whatever you balance the pot on will need to be able to handle heat

The pot is going to get fucking hot, that is what will heat the space. Bring oven mitts and be sure nothing flammable will touch it while the candle is lit or while it cools

All fire rules are still applicable, do not burn down your house by leaving it unattended or letting fabric or paper or fur near it

This works far better than just the candle on its own because ceramics trap heat and release it slowly - this is how brick and clay ovens work

Do not put a huge pot over a tiny candle, big pot heats a bigger room but needs a bigger flame source

We got two ready for this winter, big and small to heat the apartment as a whole and also just the bathroom, because my moron brothers walled the heat vents into the flat shut before moving

for fellow austins and the rest of texas

fuck ERCOT

[worstloki]

I like how the frost giants in Thor 1 are presented as these scar-riddled tough-skinned creatures with heavy voices that inspire fear in even the Asgardians and then the few times we see Loki transform he’s got smooth baby skin, well defined skin markings, softest shade of blue imaginable

[sea-salted-wolverine]

So my brother got me this absolutely gorgeous sweater for Christmas and I was wearing it while I drove home from my parents house. I know that everyone is dealing with what is most likely the worst cold snap of their entire lives atm but interior Alaska is just like that all the time so I have this heuristic running in the back of my head all the time that sorts all the clothing I own into levels of utility for insulation value and weatherproof-ness. New sweater is being evaluated because though it is beautiful i regularly face the kind of weather that where doorknobs can cause permanent nerve damage if you touch them without gloves and i need to know my clothes will keep me warm.

But no matter how warm your clothes are, getting all sweaty is a good way to nix that, so as im driving im just wearing a tee-shirt and the sweater when I have to stop for gas.

Which leads to the utterly deranged thought that this beautiful mid-weight alpaca wool sweater is not very warm at 17 degrees below zero with a stiff breeze and ill probably need a better base layer.

[anomellee]

If you have to go outside in temps below 0°F you NEED to be prepared to cover up EVERYTHING. Especially when it's windy you can get frostbite in less than 10 minutes.

Cold air is EXTREMELY DRY and you will become dehydrated faster than you expect if you're used to warmer weather, so drink water and lots of it. You loose body heat faster when you're dehydrated and dehydration in cold weather makes you more susceptible to things like nosebleeds or even cold induced asthma attacks.

Cold and dry weather increases COVID transmission.

It's about to hit us here in Oklahoma and the rest of the southern states that are not used to this level of cold.

Please take this seriously if you live somewhere this is going to impact significantly.

I just sincerely hope texas' power grid doesn't fail them again.

but at least a small blessing is that this isn't bringing much precipitation with it and the worst of it will be the wind.

Anyway. Stay inside, wear layers, and bundle up. Get your cold weather shit prepped now if you haven't yet.

[skwivr]

-

[sentimentalmachine]

It's wild to me that people can be out in the sun, especially warm or hot sun, and not only enjoy it but also not feel sick and in horrible pain from it. Like people just go outside when it's 80f+ and don't instantly feel like they will perish!? What do you mean sunlight makes you feel happy when it hits your skin? You don't experience searing pain that feels like you set your exposed skin onto a hot grill?! It must be really nice for all the people who can get happiness from the sun. It could never be me, but I'm happy for the rest of you.

[valoale]

Wish me luck today I’ve got a photography gig for the longest time and of course it’s an outdoor location and of course it’s -15 degrees Celsius outside and on top of that I need to drive over 100km and the roads are icy as fuck and I still have the shitty winter tyres I’ve been bitching about for weeks lmao

Let’s see how I’ll survive, running on faith at this point

[isfjmel-phleg]

🖇️

[empty-cryptid]

To those going into the colder months with less sun, remember to:

-get vitamin d, either from vitamins or a sun lamp, they can help with SAD.

-drink water, even though it isn't hot, you still need it.

-go outside for a quick walk every once in a while (especially if the sun is out), even just for 5 minutes. (Only when it is safe to do so).

-remind yourself what frost nip and frost bite feel like - it can be deceiving - and renew your knowledge of hypothermia.

-put a blanket in your vehicle, along with some pocket heating pouches and basic survival gear in case you get stuck in the snow or something.

-get a cord to plug in your car if you haven't already, and make sure you have jumper cables. (Putting some electrical tape on the cord can deter thieves because it looks broken 😉).

-make sure your outdoor pets have a place outside of the elements and their heated water bowls are working.

-seal up your windows if you get drafts, that can save you money on heating.

Please add to the list if you have more advice and have a good winter! ☃️

[sea-salted-wolverine]

I can just tell you

Base layer: NOT COTTON. A wicking layer probably polyester or maybe a fine smooth wool. This is so you don't get all sweaty and clammy. Cotton gets wet and stays wet and will suck body heat and it's miserable. An athletic tee shirt will do. Wear a layer on your legs beneath your pants and make sure there's still room to move.

Mid layer(s): wool and fleece are your friends. This is for trapping layers of air near your skin that your body heat will warm. You want to be poofy, forget having anything resembling a waist, you want to be penguin shaped. Cotton again is a no no.

Outer layer: This is the windstop waterproof layer. Remember the air your mid layers are trapping? This stops the breeze from cutting through it and also water falling from the sky in various forms. If you have enough layers underneath a rain jacket is fine, just make sure you have enough room. This usually means going up a size or two so if you have a dad or brother or boyfriend or someone bigger than you now is the time to borrow their stuff.

Feets: change your socks, change your socks, change your socks. Your feet sweat, sweaty socks are damp socks, damp socks are not warm socks. Seriously, dry dirty socks are better than damp. Trust me, I've frostnipped my toes before and nerve damage ain't fun.

Don't layer dry socks on top of damp socks even if they're warm. A single pair of dry socks will keep you warmer than layered damp pairs.

Tight shoes will also not keep you warm, so if you can't fit 2 pairs of socks in your shoes comfortably a single pair of socks will keep you warmer than 2.

Hands and Fingers: if it's super stupid cold, your doorknob can give you contact burns. Gloves are good. Mittens are better. Wet is bad. Spares are good.

Head: Hats are good, ears fall off if they get too cold. A scarf over your mouth and nose will warm up the air before it hits your lungs. Yes, you can frostbite your airways if you breathe too hard in the cold, no, you're not breathing that hard. Don't go outside with wet hair, no it won't break off if it freezes but it will be a lump of ice on your head cooling down that really important organ between your ears. Very unplesant.

Sources: I live in interior Alaska, @ me if you have more questions

there was a post going around here recently about how to appropriately layer clothing for the cold, but I can’t seem to find it. could anyone please lend me a hand?

[agoodpairofsocks]

Survival Tip #1

If you're ever in a situation where you could get frost bite, shove your fingers up your ass.