clothing for Canada

[indigo_rose99]

It turns out that living in Central Texas is poor preparation for dressing in Canadian winter.

J&P told us to pack in layers. I did that part well enough. T insisted that I purchase snow boots. And T brought the hand and foot chemical warmers. I have the tools.... it is knowing what to put together that I lack.

"We are going for a walk," J says. What is the temperature outside? "Cold" they tell me unhelpfully.  What's the temperature? "-25." Fahrenheit or Celsius? P collapses in laughter.

And I have no way to judge whether I should be wearing 3 or 4 layers on my legs. Should I wear the heat packs or not? Should I wear the balakava or just a scarf and hat?

Yesterday they told me to dress for really really cold, I wore 4 layers of pants and heat packs on hands and feet. I sweated out all of my clothing. Then I took off a layer to sit outdoors in front of a fire.... And froze!  Argh!

When I ask P & J what they are wearing for the walk, it turns out that they have on fewer layers than I do when sitting INSIDE next to a fire! And I am cold next to the fire!

I suspect that this is a learning process time and experience would teach. I will not be here long enough to figure it out. Which means I am doomed to vary wildly between extremes.

Comments

I didn't laugh at you

[pamwheatfree.livejournal.com]

In all fairness, we just go with cold versus very cold and you would freeze to death in the clothing that I wear to skate in when it is -20C, since it is the same clothing as -10C but with a scarf. Activity level is an important factor.

Re: I didn't laugh at you

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Don't you wear 1 layer indoors and 2 layers outdoors? I can see how "cold" and "colder" would work for you. But I wore 3 layers indoors and wanted to know how many additional layers I should pile on to survive outside.

I'm currently wearing 3 layers. Indoors. In Texas.

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Could it be as simple as the number of layers they are wearing plus n? Or times n?

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Maybe. Perhaps I should take notes to that effect next time...