Extreme Cold Weather Work Clothing
What to Wear Working Outside in the Winter

The requirements for this layer vary greatly according to the job and weather conditions, as well as the actual outside temperature, periods of high exertion so generating your own heat or work that involves little exertion or hours of fairly static activity in cold conditions are important factors. If the work is outdoors, then the requirements can potentially vary significantly from one hour to the next, background temperature variations, the sun coming out, the wind getting up, rain and snow falling all mean that flexibility in dress is vital to remain comfortable at all times and keep working efficiently. Zips, collars, draw cords and the like allow for increased ventilation during exertion or for all openings to be pulled closed while at rest and/or in very cold conditions.

Upper body - thick shirts, sweaters and jackets in natural materials such as wool, down and cotton (for a shirt) or synthetic materials such as fleece with a sufficient length at the back to avoid exposure of flesh during exertion. Vests or gilets are good for a moderate level of activity especially where freedom of arm movement is important, Mine is my standard wear for outdoor work in winter.

Insulating garments  generally aren't wind or water-proof enough on their own and you will need a shell garment as well if outside at all, you won't need it all the time, but when you do, you'll be glad you're no longer saturated or freezing trying to get by without.

Men's - Padded Quilted Lined Flannel Winter Work Shirt

Men's - Padded Lumberjack Flannel Fur Lined Shirt Jacket

Men's - TACVASEN Windproof Fleece Combat Jacket Hoody

Men's - Regatta Micro Full Zip Fleece Jacket

Winter shirts - Men's   Women's
Vest / bodywarmer / gilet - Men's   Women's  
Sweaters and hoodies - Men's

Lower body - Thick warm trousers of lined cotton duck or heavyweight synthetic material such as polyester/cotton. Personally I have worn moleskin (a kind of cotton, named for its texture and not made from moles) trousers in both polar regions and wouldn't consider wearing anything else, for warmth, comfort and practicality they have no rival. Trousers should not be tight fitting, too close a fit will affect circulation and make you feel colder, so ditch the skinny fits until it warms up again.

Wrangler Rugged Wear Men's Woodland Thermal Jean

Wrangler Authentics Men's Fleece Lined Carpenter Pant

Carhartt Men's Loose Fit Firm Duck Insulated Bib Overall

Men's - Hard Wearing Quilted Mechanics Boiler Suit with Reflective Tape

The Outer or Shell Layer

Alternatives

• Winter work parka, with down or synthetic insulation.

• 3-in-1 Jackets, a separate shell jacket and insulating inner jacket, which can be worn on their own or combined, windproof and usually waterproof, warmer than you think they're going to be.

• Waterproof rain trousers, large full length zips down each leg make it much easier to get them on and off without taking your boots off first.

Caterpillar Men's Insulated Parka
Tough outer, synthetic insulation

Portwest 3-in-1 Jacket - women's | men's
Tough waterproof outer, fleece inner

Portwest Hi-Vis 3-in-1 Pilot Jacket
Removable sleeves, fur liner and fur collar

Men's 3 in 1 Jacket Fleece Waterproof
Thermally Lined Jacket

Protect the Extremities- Head, Hands and Feet not forgetting in between bits like ankles, wrists and neck.

Head

"When your feet are cold, cover your head" - Inuit saying

When fully dressed in the winter, the head is the largest uncovered part of the body, often uncovered even when going out in the cold, so putting on a hat is the first step to make a big difference to keep warm. The effect isn't as immediately apparent as putting on a coat so it doesn't feel such an obvious thing to do (unless you have cold ears!). The other good thing about a hat is it's as easy to take off again if you start to get too warm. A hat allows more freedom of movement and vision than a hood, so have one as well, use the hood too for extra quick insulation.

Fleece beanies
Tight weave, thinner and lighter than other synthetics

Acrylic hats
Lots of variety and generally inexpensive

Thinsulate
Effective and warmer than acrylic for a similar price, though not so hard wearing

Balaclavas
Hat, full face, neck gaiter, versatile affordable garments for cold protection

Hands can get very cold very quickly, fingers have a high surface area compared to their volume which means they lose heat readily while generating and retaining heat poorly. Particular attention should be paid to keeping them warm, they don't need to get very cold before manual dexterity suffers which could impact whatever it is you're doing. Sensor gloves allow you use your touchscreen device without taking the gloves off, so keeping you warmer and allowing you to get that call for the next job all the quicker.
Sensor gloves - touch screen | Glove liners, lightweight gloves

Kunys 130 Flexgrip Workman Gloves

Briers Thermal Rigger Glove

Padded Fur Lined Cowhide Winter Warm Work / Ski Gloves

Sealskinz Waterproof Gloves and Mittens

Hand warmers - Disposable, refillable or rechargeable, these can help your comfort levels significantly, one for each hand works better than passing a single one back and forth.

Feet

Insulation from the cold ground is as important as insulation from the cold air

Thermal insoles - Add to almost any footwear to insulate them from the cold ground at little cost while being invisible in terms of what you are wearing, they are no substitute for proper winter footwear however.

Socks:

Thermal socks; Men and Women's

Boots are better for cold weather than shoes as they span the ankles so reducing heat loss at a thinly insulated region. Thick insulated soles are as important as insulated uppers as a lot of heat can be lost through the only part of our body with which we contact the frigid ground.

Work boots for cold conditions: Men's  Women's

Dickies Men's Talpa S3 Safety Boots
Steel Toe, water resistant, insulated

Dickies Medway Super Safety Boot
Steel toe, steel midsole for underfoot protection. Waterproof membrane, insulate

GroundWork Mucker Stable Yard Waterproof Winter Snow Zip Boots - Unisex

GroundWork Women's Mukker Stable Yard Winter Snow Lace Up Boots

The Neck

Neck gaiters - along with the head, the neck is often another often non-insulated region. It is a region where warmed air can be pumped out and lost to be replaced with cold air requiring warming up again. Both of these issues can be addressed with a neck gaiter.

A neck gaiter is a neater version of a scarf, a tube of stretchy insulating material than can be worn like a scarf or pulled up over the lower part of the face like the bottom part of a balaclava.