This morning, we had to do a spot inventory check of some of our products at a cold storage warehouse. We spent about 20-30 minutes in -20*F temperature. I could have been better prepared. This is what I wore:

ECWCS parka over a fleece vest over regular clothes, insulated boots, three layer gloves and a baseball cap.

This is what was cold:

My right hand because when I dug a flashlight out of my parka sleeve pocket, I had to take a glove off for about 30 seconds. The hand never recovered. My ears, should have worn a watch cap. My left knee, which still hurts, because it only has 50% of it's cartiledge. I need to figure out what to do about that, maybe some kind of heated wrap for the BOB.

One thing of note, whenever we were near a circulating fan, the temperature drop was extremely noticeable. Had this been outside, with real wind, it would have been much worse.

Just curious, but since you mentioned your ears, am I right to assume that either your parka doesn't have a hood or that you didn't wear it? Or were your ears that cold even inspite of wearing a hood?

How can you even write stuff down at that temperature to take inventory? My hands would be useless little shivering fists at that temp. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Have you tried those new icy hot knee wraps. you pull them over your knee and they heat up for hours. they make them for elbows too. I wear the one for backs. I Couldn't work outside without one on evey day

A watch cap is worth it's weight in gold! I drive a tow truck in the evenings and on weekends for a friend who has a body shop. I get called out at all hours of the night. I used to wear Carhart type overalls and a baseball cap. I have found that if I throw on a watch cap instead of the baseball cap, I can usually get by in just jeans and a jacket. Granted, I don't think I've ever had a night at -20 but it is often below 0, and for most incidents, I can get on scene and have a car loaded in 10-15 minutes. If I have to recover a car (where I am out of the truck for a longer period of time) then I'Il throw on the Carharts but I still wear the watch cap.

Now I carry a watch cap to work with me all the time in the winter months.

That certainly is one way to test your protective clothing!

Sue

After two operations on my right knee I've come up with this cheap solution : instead of throwing out old wool socks with holes in them, I cut out the foot part, sew up the loose threads. You now have a knee sock ! Pull it up over your knee, they stay in place very well, don't cut off the circulation to your feet, and keep your knees very warm, sometimes too much ! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And in an emergency, you can use them on your hands, feet, elbows ....

The hood on the ECWCS parka seems to have been designed for rain/wind more than cold. Honestly, I didn't even consider using it. It would work extremely well in conjunction with a balaclava.

As for the writing, I was using a pencil, as pens don't work in that temperature, and I was just circling numbers, not really writing.

Thanks for the suggestions on knee wraps!

Great idea -- I include watchcaps in most of my kits ( car, BoB, camping).

T RO

By mistake, I once bought this HAD headwear Miracle Scarf

It can be turned into / used as :
- neck warmer
- beanie
- ear gear
- face mask
- balaclava
- etc.....

It now resides in my car kit.

Even though it may seem that way, the idea is to block the cold and trap some of your own body heat around your head - essentailly creating your own microclimate in your gear. I'd really be interested in hearing how well you fared if you tried the same test, dressed exactly the same way, but using the hood next time...

M