winter duds

[Trying]

OK, winter is close and I FROZE last winter. What are the clothes for riding and work that you would not live without?
Thanks

[kip]

I wear a ton of layers. On a REALLY cold day I start with an undershirt that I can tuck into my breeches. Then I wear a long sleeve shirt over that, then a vest, then a sweatshirt, and then a jacket. I also make sure that I wear a pants over my breeches and some ear warmers. I hate being cold more than anything!!!! I love the layers because I can easily peel them off while I ride.

[dalpal]

Irideon base layers and thermal vests/pull overs are the best

I have their turtle necks, leggings, windpro jacket/pants (although I like my equissential artics much better than the windpros)

I have their climate control jacket w/hood
2 thermal vests (polar fleece
1 thermal vest (not polar fleece)
1 thermal pull over

I also have

Ariat Glacier tall boots
Ariat down vests
Ariat Down Jacket
Ariat Powershield Jackets (2)
Ariat Powershield Vests (2)

Mountain Horse Outlast tobogan

Now if someone could find me the holy grail in winter gloves, I'd be set.:lol:

[Trevelyan96]

Now if someone could find me the holy grail in winter gloves, I'd be set.:lol:

Try the SSG Winter Trainer gloves. They kept my fingers toasy last winter! Silk glove liners are also fantastic. My pet peeve is how everthing come with a velcro closure now, which I hate, as I'm constantly pulling gloves on and off.

For barn chores: Under armour, turtleneck, sweatshirt, vest, coat, skullcap. I usually end up peeling off the hat, coat and vest by the time I've finished cleaning the first stall. Ariat iceberg paddocks with Tingley rubbers keep feet pretty warm and dry.

For riding, any fleece lined tights seem to keep me toasty. If I'm showing, white under armour under my breeches. I also love the Riding Sport fleece turtleneck from Dover with a vest on top if I'm riding in the indoor. Mountain Horse original coat for outdoor, super toasty warm, but man, that thing weighs a ton!

Dover's Middleburg fleece lined tall boots are comfy warm as well.

Biggest problem I have is socks... my foot is a size 5 1/2 and all the best warm socks are too big for my feet and too bulky in boots. I go through about 4 pair of silk sock liners every winter. :(

[caddym]

the hot hand packets that skiers use - I buy them by the case. I dont like riding with bulky gloves and these packets fit in my rockles in my palms. also great for keeping hands warm for barn chores

The Fleece "tutle neck" neck warmers.

Also heavy skiers shirt that come down over your wrists and have holes for your thumbs (my favorite brand is Marmot) I have long arms and there is often a gap between my coat and gloves

fortunately in VTwe have access to good outdoor gear.

[mowgli96]

I LOVE my North Face Nuptse down jacket, its lightweight but very cozy even during the coldest days at the barn. Its the only jacket I've actually gotten too warm in and had to take off, and that's saying a lot because I feel like I am always cold especially when at the barn all day. No more cold long days anymore:)

[seabreeze]

My must-haves:

-80% polyester/20% wool long underwear
-Mudrucker boots - absolutely the warmest and dryest footwear out there
-Thick, fleece-like gloves that I get from LL Bean (forget the brand)
-Mountain Horse Zodiac hat - it is the best under a helmet or by itself!
-Neck warmer from LL Bean

[AmericaRunsOnDunkin]

Hands down, its my Patagonia snow boarding pants that I use for winter riding. They are waterproof (for great hacking outside), they have zippers on the legs for ventilation, lined with fleece, slide over thermal underwear or regular riding pants, the legs are big enough to fit over my insulated Ariat riding boots, but not too big that they slip around, they aren't slippery, they are warm. I love them!

For working in the barn, I wear my LL Bean big clunky boots rated for something like -40 degrees. Perfect! Couldn't get through winter without them.

[HollysHobbies]

I'm impressed with the Moutain Horse gloves...I wear them around the barn, then put on my winter SSGs for riding.

For REALLY COLD DAYS:
Kerrits 2-1 coat...quilted jacket inside with a shell over it. Lovely coat, warm and versatile.
Turtle neck
wool sweater
fleece vest

Polar fleece socks.

Fleece hat or ear warmer. Ear warmers worn under helmet. I also have a helmet cover with polar fleece sides that wrap around like a ski mask for really cold days.

FOR CHILLY DAYS
I have a down vest--that's good with wool sweater in the mid-40s. Combine with a North Face heavy fleece jacket (they are roomy-er) so you can layer.

2 pairs of pants...a fleece lined set PLUS an under layer (I wear cotton stretch dance pants) That makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE...that second leg layer...

[johnnysauntie]

From Chicago, where we brave sub-zero (F) temps, on the worst days I wear:

On bottom:
- long underwear, either from Columbia or my TuffRider longies (with stirrup feet, love)
- Warm Irideon winter breeches
- Mountain Horse insulated full seat pants

On top:
- Turtleneck
- Fleece turtleneck
- Land's End winter jacket

Under helmet, I may wear a baclava. Or, if it's really hideous, I may wear this crazy fleece helmet cover/cowl. It's really warm. But on super cold days, when we're just doing very light work, I don't get warm riding, so the fleece cover is necessary.

Feet:
Wool hiking socks
Winter riding boots (Ariat), paddocks
Footwarmers!

Hands:
In barn, thick gloves, leather w/wool lining. Riding, SSG winter gloves.

Gaak. Not looking forward to winter. Blargh. Blech.

[meupatdoes]

It was 19 degrees when this picture was taken:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/meupatdoes/Jinxy/DSC03648.jpg

long sleeve shirt
light polarfleece shirt
polarfleece sweater
windproof polarfleece marinac jacket from Land's End
down vest

[JRG]

I covet the vest.

These were designed to plug in if you are riding sleds for example. But the battery operated ones, I am eyeballing this year. http://www.gerbing.com/

[Vesper Sparrow]

I live in cold country but ride in an unheated indoor, so I like to layer because I invariably warm up as I ride.

I use a combination of long-underwear tops, fleece pullovers and fleece and down vests on top. I also have a synthetic down jacket that is supposed to be used as a liner that I also wear a lot in the depths of winter.

Winter breeches and my regular tall boots (which have an insulated lining) are plenty for me.

[Geeka]

I got a really ugly Mountain Horse coat on sale once. It's navy and hot pink. But man, when it gets really cold, I luff that thing.

Other than that, Lands End had some polar fleece long underwear. My poor college student self can't justify buying winter breeches. :lol:

I've got a pair of snowboarder mittens that I wear over my winter riding gloves when I'm not riding/grooming.

[gettingbettereveryday]

Layers are the key for me. I wear regular breeches that are a little bigger on me with a pair of long underwear under them. (I, too, can't afford $100 winter breeches.)

My SmartWool socks are a must and are paired with foot warmers. On top I wear a sweat-wicking undershirt, a t-shirt, a turtleneck, and my winter riding coat that has an outer shell and an inner liner, so I can adjust as needed.

I wear winter work gloves (the high tech kind made for contractors) because they are warmer and lightweight--designed for working with tools and other stuff--and not as bulky as riding gloves (or as expensive).

I wear a scarf over my mouth and nose because I have asthma that's induced by cold weather, so I need the extra protection for my lungs.

[sayyadina]

I'm in Maine, so you might not need what I wear. We've already had about 2 weeks near freezing at night, and a little snow too.

I love my Sorel boots. They aren't riding boots, but they keep my feet nice and warm, which is what matters. I also have some really thick alpaca socks.

For my legs, I wear a combination of Capilene 3 & 4 leggings, with fleece pants over those. And I have a pair of my dad's flannel lined pants that'll fit over all that. Though on some days, I was still a bit cold.

Usually a Capilene 3 or 4 top, with or without a down vest, and then a down coat from Patagonia.

Have an alpaca hat for my head, and an alpaca scarf I made.

I have gloves that keep me warm, but don't allow my fingers to move very well. Made by Kombi.

Really need to figure out something better for my legs & hands, and find somewhere I can get glove & sock liners. Does LL Bean, Patagonia, or North Face?

[Cowgirl]

Starting with the top of my head, my polar fleece helmet covers--or the Kerrits headband/ear covers under my helmet. The polar fleece helmet covers do go around your chin and the sides of your face and provide more warmth.

My Mountain Horse original jacket. Very warm. I don't usually ride in it though. Under that, I have the quilted jackets from Kerrits, and zip turtlenecks and polarfleece sweaters from Patagonia that I had from years ago for skiing. I shop alot at REI, and some of the outlet places like Campmor, for the shirt/sweater layers.

I like the mountain horse gloves, that don't last very long because they are cheap, but to ride in I have to have my Romfh winter gloves and if it's really cold, I stick a HotHands pack in them. I get the HotHands from Costco by the box.

For the leg level, I use cordoroy full seats and regular boots, but throw on a polar fleece quarter sheet that covers my legs until I am warmed up. On freezing days, I might wear those Mountain Horse winter boots (although I hate riding in them). Last year, I bought a pair of Mountain Horse snowpant breeches. Hate riding in those too, but they keep you warm.

FOr sitting at a clinic or barn chores, insulated Carharts coveralls. If you are bringing a trainer in and have an extension cord, it's really nice to give them an electric blanket to sit in!

[whicker]

I just had the battery heated vest arrive and I am powering up the battery. The vest is cut well and even becoming! The wiring goes over the shoulder. The wiring is around the rib cage, not down along the small of the back and waist. It does qualify as a medical device, too. They will do custom orders and sizes. They make these for the military in Afganistan and police here, so they have to work well. They also have battery heated insoles, gloves, and pants that all interconnect , so there is only one battery to deal with. Or you could plug them into the battery of your motorcycle (Cackle) Now I know what our horses are really missing!

[MissBri]

Feet - silk socks, with wool socks over them. Muck Boot company tall boots, mountain horse winter tall boots for riding. No cotton!
legs - silk long underwear, winter breeches or jeans, mountain horse winter over pants or full chaps.
torso - silk undershirt, Chamois shirt, wool sweater (Icelandic wool is super warm) or hoodie sweatshirt, mountain horse winter jacket, leather biker jacket, or ski jacket.
hands - silk glove liners, construction winter gloves or SSG winter gloves
head - Turtle fur scull hat, Icelandic wool hat, hood from sweatshirt. I have a larger helmet for winter riding that fits over the scull hat and hood. My regular helmet fits over the turtle fur hat.