winter and how to deal with the cold

[The storm fisherman]

Hi All

How does everyone deal with the cold when trying to setup gear it is almost impossible to do it with gloves on?

As this was my first session tonight I was not very prepared and not thought very well about what I wanted to do. My hands got very cold and numb trying to connect the camera to the Nano tracker and tripod, so after an hour I had to give up as my hands began to hurt a little even with gloves on as my site is quite open to the elements.

[brantuk]

I use thinsulate woolen finger less gloves - you can get them with flip over mitts to keep fingers warm when not manipulating gear - there's also "Astrogloves" if you prefer the neoprene solution - and/or fishing gloves which only leave two or three fingers exposed. Depending on the wool and stitch density you can get different grades. Hth

http://www.astrogloves.net/?gclid=CMbe5YDKoskCFUEaGwodj5cNAQ

http://www.countryattire.com/barbour-fingerless-gloves-black-mgl0005bk91-d567.html?gclid=CKXB9rrKoskCFQoXwwod_foCuw

http://www.amazon.com/Tackle-Fingers-Fishing-Gloves-angling/dp/B00I2L53JM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_200_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=511iF9WrquL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=19TD4MWTZE69NVGG9014

[laudropb]

Hi. As you have found out it does get very cold at this time of the year. You have to wrap up well. The best idea is to have lots of layers and to take a flask of your favourite hot drink out with you. Always wear a nice warm hat and warm footwear. Hands can be a problem. You can get fingerless gloves or fold back mitts. There are even specific astronomy gloves for sale, but they are quite expensive. I have a pair and they are worth the money. Even so your hands still can get quite cold. I have a set of hand warmers. These pouches are designed for angling,but are good for any outdoor activity. You heat them in a microwave and they stay warm for a few hours. I pop them in my jacket pocket and warm my hands as necessary. Do remember to keep them away from the front of your scope or the warm air currents will destroy your image.

[jetstream]

I use mechanics gloves, worn inside mitts when very cold. If you find a pair that fits properly its almost like wearing nothing. The thin ones are the best IMHO.

[Knighty2112]

I found out a bottle of whiskey is the best thing. Doesn't do much in helping you aim the scope, get the EP's in position, focus the view, or even view through the Telescope very well, but it sure as h.e.l.l. keeps you nice and warm! Hehe!

Just joking! I am a responsible astronomer always!

[Tinker1947]

A wooly hat, Dickies workwear quilted coveralls, i wear long john's and thermal vest underneath, it really warm and lots of freedom of movement, thermal socks and walking boots, polyester gloves there thin so you can do stuff but keep the fingers warm....a Obby also helps so your set-up just open the roof and get viewing, worth whatever it costs to build.....

[BritAngler]

A decent insulated two-piece of the kind Anglers wear for those winter sessions isn't too expensive if  you shop around (Chapman's Angling has some good choices), plus a pair of good fleece-lined boots, thick woolly socks and woollen gloves. Finish that off with a Russian-style hunters hat (the one with lots of fur - the latter can be fake) and you are set for a good star-viewing session. A flask of hot something will round off the evening just fine.

[ChrisLX200]

Electrically-heated gloves and boot insoles. You can also get an electrically heated jacket but a normal insulated jacket of good quality is usually good enough. I could put up with most things but cold feet, once my feet got frozen that was end of session! The heated gloves stopped me dropping things so more for safety than comfort :-)

ChrisH

[Moonshane]

I tend not to wear gloves. I prefer putting them in my pockets. As long as the rest of me is warm (especially head and feet) I am quite happy.

[Putaendo Patrick]

I just bought a second-hand "Walls Polar 10" insulated boiler-suit with hood originally intended for people who work in refrigorated environments like meat packing plants - cost me about 5 pounds and keeps me warm as toast! Not exactly high fashion, but believe me, it works and the price was a steal.

Also, my new telescope came with a free Celestron red-light torch which has an in-built hand warmer with two levels of heat. Haven't really tried the heater, so I can't recommend it yet. There also used to be handwarmers available from hunting and fishing shops which as I remember slowly burnt some sort of fuel tablet.

[D4N]

I use thinsulate woolen finger less gloves - you can get them with flip over mitts to keep fingers warm when not manipulating gear

Exactly what I use, they're fantastic

The metal parts are the worst for me, it gets cold enough here that it is painful to touch metal with unprotected hands, mechanics gloves as already mentioned can help with this but since I like to use my iPad to control the setup I need to use a stylus if I use non conducting gloves which is a real pain.

/Dan

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Paul73]

Chocolate seems to help.

Keeping your feet off frozen ground helps. Even resting them on a few bits of cardboard helps.

Paul

[The storm fisherman]

Hi All

Thanks for the tips the problem is when the hands get cold it is not easy to get them warm again in a short space of time so part of my solution was literally staring me in the face last night.

talk about a homer moment. I ride a 125cc motorbike on my daily 50 mile round trip to work and I have a pair of battery operated  heated gloves made a company called Gerbring  they are  not cheap @ £200 a go with the batteries I see how much a spare set will cost.

keep the tips coming 

[ronin]

It is like most other aspects of astronomy - you need to buy the right equipment.

You do not need to go to extreme lengths however, at least in terms of cost.

Gloves will always be a bit of a problem, good gloves that keep your hands warm will be bulky if not heavy. The ones I liked were the Trekmates at Go Outdoors. The external was a mitten the internal was a glove and the padding/insulation between was excellent, but you have to take them on and off for different actions.

Footwear go search the assorted sites for what is on offer, Trespass, Go Outdoors, Decathlon, TOG24 and the others will have a selection, another are the Pavers shoe stores.

Clothing you want something with a couple of layers under and not tight, you are warm by trapping the air and that is where the warming comes from.

Found a Decathlon store I can get to and they have some inexpensive items. Bought one of their lightweight jacket that is half down and half insulation and it is very good, think it was £30. Not blizzard standard but it does a good job. One I got was/is a bit shiny, but I think from the last visit they have some more in that look better.

[David Smith]

+1 for Astro Gloves.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Last year i bought a pair of fingerless gloves specially designed for wheelchair users (of which i am one) in all weather. They are a mixture of soft but thick(ish) leather on the palms which gives exceptional grip in wet weather, and the backs of them are i think neoprene which while keeping your hands warm, allows the skin to breath. 

So thats my hands sorted. Up top its usually a t-shirt and a hoody. On my head a wooly hat and one of those scarf type things that can cover your face also. My legs are just covered with my jeans and they offer little to no protection against the cold because even though i cant feel my legs...........they usually end up stiff and with even less feeling then usual and make getting in and out of the wheelchair pretty dangerous. So if anything, i need to be looking for something for my legs...............maybe thermal long johns.

[Eri]

last 2 nights i've been found lurking in the garden wearing this http://www.next.co.uk/g943134s1#869228and once the scope is all set up i put on some ski gloves till the camera has finished it's session.

[Size9Hex]

Lots of good answers above on clothing. The other side of the equation is calories, which you'll burn to stay warm. In any outdoor pursuit, food warms you up a treat if you haven't eaten for a while.

[happy-kat]

I wrap a mictofibre fleece rug over my legs for extra warmth

[scarp15]

I tend not to wear gloves. I prefer putting them in my pockets. As long as the rest of me is warm (especially head and feet) I am quite happy.

As above in terms of keeping hands warm and fingers dexterous enough for handling astro equipment such as filters etc. I do tend to wear gloves, but will often prefer not to and warm my hands in my deep through pocket of my down filled smock. 

[mapstar]

A wooly hat, Dickies workwear quilted coveralls, i wear long john's and thermal vest underneath, it really warm and lots of freedom of movement, thermal socks and walking boots, polyester gloves there thin so you can do stuff but keep the fingers warm....a Obby also helps so your set-up just open the roof and get viewing, worth whatever it costs to build.....

+1 for the Dickies workwear quilted coveralls good down to -10°C

[opticalpath]

Last year i bought a pair of fingerless gloves specially designed for wheelchair users (of which i am one) in all weather. They are a mixture of soft but thick(ish) leather on the palms which gives exceptional grip in wet weather, and the backs of them are i think neoprene which while keeping your hands warm, allows the skin to breath. 

So thats my hands sorted. Up top its usually a t-shirt and a hoody. On my head a wooly hat and one of those scarf type things that can cover your face also. My legs are just covered with my jeans and they offer little to no protection against the cold because even though i cant feel my legs...........they usually end up stiff and with even less feeling then usual and make getting in and out of the wheelchair pretty dangerous. So if anything, i need to be looking for something for my legs...............maybe thermal long johns.

Jeans are pretty hopeless at keeping legs warm but even a cheap pair of waterproof over-trousers on top of them makes a huge difference. I have a cheap 'pack-away' type that are very thin material but surprisingly still make a big difference.  Combine that with thermal long-johns under the jeans and you will be toasty!

Adrian

[LukeSkywatcher]

Jeans are pretty hopeless at keeping legs warm but even a cheap pair of waterproof over-trousers on top of them makes a huge difference. I have a cheap 'pack-away' type that are very thin material but surprisingly still make a big difference.  Combine that with thermal long-johns under the jeans and you will be toasty!

Adrian

Ive been thinking of waterproof over-trousers for every day use when its raining and i'm out and about. I'll look into those. 

[The storm fisherman]

Hi All

some fantastic tips coming through 

i do a 50 mile round trip to work every on a 125cc moped and i use 2 pairs of waterproof over-trousers made by regatta over my not so waterproof motorcycle trousers and that keeps the wet and cold at bay plus they are light for £9.99 a pair you cant go wrong i also put strip or two of gaffer(duck)tape over the pockets to keep the rain out3

[MattJenko]

I have a Celestron Firecel which is a battery powered red torch and also a pocket warmer, so I can at least have warm pockets for my hands after adjusting things. It works quite well.