Coat material

[VultureChow]

Silly question, I know.

I'm looking for a new coat for this year, and I'm having a really hard time remembering how cold I was. I had a fairly light weight coat and remember thinking that this was way too light. And was absolutely freezing when I crawled into my sleeping bag.

Faux fur is popular, I know, but I was thinking of a nice long wool maxi and/or military style coat. I like the structured look with EL wire as piping. Wool isn't too heavy, right?

[lucky420]

probably wouldve been too heavy in 2010 or 2011 but not for last year. my big faux fur coat was super sweet last year. I've even made a big faux fur blanket for cuddling under...

[wandergirl]

it's so hard to anticipate, you know? I look at pics from the past few years, and some nights I was wearing a short skirt, military vest & a hoodie around my waist -- too warm to put it on! but then, other nights I was freezing even in a heavy coat. I tell all my first-year friends to bring several options, if they can: something heavy, something middle-weight, & a couple hoodies. or to plan on layering a ton.

that said, an el wire-lined military coat, wool or otherwise, sounds amazing.

[junglesmacks]

Layers, layers, layers.

Your best investment in night time clothing is a good set of polypropylene long underwear (ie Patagonia Capilene - worth it's weight in gold) in various thicknesses if possible. As long as you insulate your body, add a second layer by way of clothing, then a decent coat to block the wind.. you're fine.

Putting all your eggs in one basket with a coat that's too heavy is no good and may make you leave it back at camp when it's a warm night. Get something medium weight at best and then layer accordingly that night before you go out to whatever the temp range will be.

[trilobyte]

What junglesmacks said. Layers. Wool benefits from igniting at a higher temperature than cotton or synthetic fibers (ie more fire resistant) and since it's natural it won't melt onto your skin if it does ignite - useful info if you're looking to play with fire at night, but whatever you go with I'd suggest something that's not too heavy that you can wear with other layers.

A great big heavy coat is really awesome on really cold nights, but too hot if it's not really cold out.

[gaminwench]

I take a big fur coat, a modded cozy bathrobe and a short cape; also gloves and hats... covers it all!

[VultureChow]

Okay. I think I'll bring the lightweight one from last year, the wool one I'm planning on ( I don't find wool that overly warm. I think it will be okay) and per Junglesmacks awesome suggestion, long johns.

[junglesmacks]

Look into polypropylene based long underwear instead of traditional cotton. The poly stuff regulates your temp better, wicks away moisture and stays cleaner longer since it doesn't absorb moisture/body funkies as much as cotton. Like I said.. Patagonia Capilene is worth every penny. I use grade 3 out there and it's perfect.

[VultureChow]

Look into polypropylene based long underwear instead of traditional cotton. The poly stuff regulates your temp better, wicks away moisture and stays cleaner longer since it doesn't absorb moisture/body funkies as much as cotton. Like I said.. Patagonia Capilene is worth every penny. I use grade 3 out there and it's perfect.

Better than silk?

[junglesmacks]

Look into polypropylene based long underwear instead of traditional cotton. The poly stuff regulates your temp better, wicks away moisture and stays cleaner longer since it doesn't absorb moisture/body funkies as much as cotton. Like I said.. Patagonia Capilene is worth every penny. I use grade 3 out there and it's perfect.

Better than silk?

Yes. This stuff is amazing. It's super sheer thin and lightweight yet warm as hell. You can see right through it yet it keeps you perfectly toasty which is nice for a pair of long underwear since no one likes to bunch up in the wrong places. It has pretty much been a standard for years now and they have a trademark/patent/whatever on the material itself. It's not your normal polypropylene although traditional poly stuff (which is cheaper) will work well too.

The thing with TTITD is that you get a range of temps and conditions through the night. Crossing open playa you get the winds and chill.. then you get to a camp and warm up.. then you may go dancing and start sweating. Meaning, you need something that will adapt not only to the exterior temps but your own internal temp and sweating. Poly is great for this because it regulates temps well and also wicks away your sweat as you do athletic things such as dance or run for art cars.

[VultureChow]

Look into polypropylene based long underwear instead of traditional cotton. The poly stuff regulates your temp better, wicks away moisture and stays cleaner longer since it doesn't absorb moisture/body funkies as much as cotton. Like I said.. Patagonia Capilene is worth every penny. I use grade 3 out there and it's perfect.

Better than silk?

Yes. This stuff is amazing. It's super sheer thin and lightweight yet warm as hell. You can see right through it yet it keeps you perfectly toasty which is nice for a pair of long underwear since no one likes to bunch up in the wrong places. It has pretty much been a standard for years now and they have a trademark/patent/whatever on the material itself. It's not your normal polypropylene although traditional poly stuff (which is cheaper) will work well too.

The thing with TTITD is that you get a range of temps and conditions through the night. Crossing open playa you get the winds and chill.. then you get to a camp and warm up.. then you may go dancing and start sweating. Meaning, you need something that will adapt not only to the exterior temps but your own internal temp and sweating. Poly is great for this because it regulates temps well and also wicks away your sweat as you do athletic things such as dance or run for art cars.

Thanks. I'll look into it. I was going to get the silk from Campmor, but I'll look for the patagonia instead.

[trilobyte]

Silk doesn't wick away as well, but does have the advantage that playa dust doesn't stick to it.

[MacGlenver]

I echo the long underwear from Patagonia/Smart wool/etc. Thin underlayers are a key base and the moisture wicking will help with chaffing.

I wore every layer I could stuff into an expanded camelbak and was still cold this past year once it got to be 3 or 4am. Gloves/hat/scarf are gold. I think I'm going to add an additional hanging bag to my backpack to stuff in even more layers. Maybe I'm a baby when it comes to the cold, but once your dinner is burned off and you're just plodding around for hours (ie. not dancing) and the adrenaline from the start of the night wears off (and you're sitting on the cold ground waiting for sunrise), shit gets cold

[kiss-o-matic]

What got me was the wind... I'm not so good with that. I was mainly covered, but I had on a vest (fleece lining, pretty warm usually) and a shrug (even thicker fleece) on the coldest/windiest night (which I think was Friday). I enjoyed myself, but I was ready to roast my nuts off again after a few hours.

[knowmad]

Kangaroo fur
It cannot be beat. the silk lining helps too.

[kiss-o-matic]

Kangaroo fur
It cannot be beat. the silk lining helps too.

Indeed -- but I needs the pattern! I'm that awful, but at least I'm a big enough man to leave my sewing machine out all year and try.