Some thoughts on selecting clothing for subarctic climate

[Monk]

Interesting headgear..that looks like a version of the wool headover.

 

[Monk]

Martti,
just a thought...what kind of info do you have on the type of food folks were eating to stay alive-military and loggers, at those temperatures?
A diet high in pemmican?

 

[Martti]

Martti,
just a thought...what kind of info do you have on the type of food folks were eating to stay alive-military and loggers, at those temperatures?

Dried reindeer or elk meat is always a good choice. A document from year 1520 mentions that group of hunters/fishermen took with them bread, flour, beans, meat and some butter. Logging camps always had a kitchen that prepared them food of similar type. Finnish Defence Forces currently employs a special sissipakkaus which contains (at least) a package of pea soup, meat soup, sugar, chewing gum, cacao, coffee (naturally!), tea, porridge, spam, cheese and noodle. I had a pleasure trying this package during my time in the Army and found it to be enough for a day and a half of almost continuous walking on dirt roads, mostly during rain.

 

[Martti]

Another view to one type of loggers outfit, this time from year 1932. Blouse and trousers are made out of 100 % Finnsheep wool cloth and are unlined. Buttons are from galalith. Pocket lining and sewing thread are both made out of cotton.

 

[Wayland]

All very interesting stuff Martti

A surprisingly lean diet for the FDF, I would have expected a higher fat content.

 

[Chris the Cat]

Would the string vest be cotton Martti?

My best.
Chris

 

[Martti]

I'm starting to rethink my hat options as I have seen few photographs from the 1930s where people wore a leather aviator cap during winters. I'm not saying this alone will be enough for -30C temperatures, but basically the concept is the same as with fur cap the difference being that instead of one layer I would have two layers; windproof outer shell of leather/dense wool and another warming layer of knitted wool (neck gaiter). When you have two layers it is easier to replace the other without touching the other one and you can also use just the other one if needed. Incidentally the same kind of cap pattern was also used by Finns and other Finno-Ugric people living in Siberia.

Aviator cap is not that popular here in Finland but you can get one made from elk leather after spending around 25€. I also have patterns to make one if I'll just get my hands on some reindeer leather from up north.

A surprisingly lean diet for the FDF, I would have expected a higher fat content.

I found A. Pranttila's thesis (with English summary at the end) on war-time rations in Finland between 1939-45. Troops fighting north of the Arctic Circle received rations containing c. 4300 kcal per day in 1944. Recommended rations would have contained c. 4700 kcal. It is true that modern rations are low on fat and that might have to do with things that the industry can provide (FDF rations are all off-the-shelf products) and what the doctors recommend people to eat (mostly carbonhydrates and low on fat).

Would the string vest be cotton Martti?

Cotton or wool one (e.g. Aclima WoolNet) if one has extra money to burn.

 

[bayleaf]

That loggers jacket is very similar to the British 40 pattern battledress blouse, in design.

Yes,quite correct.In fact,quite a bit of the kit already described is very similar to 37/40 issue battledress.For those of you interested in such equipment, there is a very good supplier called 'What Price Glory'.Google them and have a look.Their battledress and trousers are an almost perfect copy of the original.I can vouch for that,as I have a set.Tough as old boots.
I have also worn 49 pattern british issue trousers through a british winter (I work outside) and they are the best,most rugged,and wind proof trousers I have worn,in over 20 years of work.
If you were to wear the standard issue battledress with a swedish army smock over the top,and a m43 cap,you would be more than warm enough.I have worn all of this,in winter conditions,and it was almost too warm.Hope this is of use.

 

[Martti]

I came up a couple of small bits of information that might interest you. I have previously used a Finnish long range patrol manual as a guidance of choosing clothing items. I have now found a second one written by the CO of another unit from Finnish National Archive. These quotes have never been published before in English, so be proud to be a member of Bushcraft UK. To me these items represent the sharpest edge of clothing design when using only wool, cotton and leather.

Clothing. Light in summer, wind and waterproof. Undergarments must be of wool or [cotton] flannel as they absorb sweat very well. Outer layer should be cool and equipped with large pockets. Best suitable for this purpose are dense cotton fabrics such as faux(?)-, windproof cotton etc. Rubber or rubber tipped boots [with leather top] are the best footwear. Men should be equipped with rubber coated raincoats or rain capes together with rubber coated gaiters against the rain. Equipment are carried with a frame backpack, which should be roomy and with outer pockets and lashes to allow equipment to be attached outside. For camping purposes and drying equipment, the patrols are equipped with two by two meters large waterproof tarpaulin.

Clothing must be light and warm during the wintertime. [Inner layer] Undergarments are the same as in summer. Middle layer undergarments and knee-, wrist- and neck gaiters should be made out of wool. Outer layer should be roomy and equipped with large pockets. Trousers should be straight and similar to skiing trousers [i.e. tapers towards the ankles]. The best material suitable for making these items is a dense and flexible military sarka (i.e. vadmal/hodden/melton) fabric. Other winter equipment includes also a fur coat made of sheep or rabbit or a vest from the same material. Ski boots made out of felt and reinforced with leather bits around the seams and the ski binding attachment are used as a footwear. Snow suit with roomy outer pockets should be made out of strong cotton cloth (e.g. moleskin).

There is also an interesting article on choosing right equipment for the Arctic called General principles governing selection of clothing for cold climates, written by Major Paul Siple of U. S. Antarctic Service in 1945. It was written before the widespread use of synthetic materials which makes it also an interesting to read. The author has also included some facts on general clothing design for the Arctics and subarctic climate so it also is suitable reading material for synthetics users. Siple uses two different clothing systems as a basic for Arctic, over- and underdressing. The first one he recommended for people standing still and doing little work while the latter was naturally for skiers etc.

 

[RonW]

Interesting read, Martti.
The felt boots have my special interest... Do you have any more info on those?
The only felt boots I know from that era roughly are the German military ones....

 

[rik_uk3]

Interesting that the Fins are using Norwegien type ration packs these days made by dri tech and pack and go meals

http://www.mreinfo.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3155

http://www.finnrappel.fi/militaryrations.htm

 

[Martti]

The felt boots have my special interest... Do you have any more info on those?

To my best knowledge, the German felt shoes were based on both Finnish and Russian examples. However the Finnish ones were based on a traditional leather design and were "skiable". I have instructions & patterns how to make a pair. They are made of 5mm felt around the toes and a bit thinner felt was used elsewhere. Here is a rather poor quality photograph how they look like. Notice the leather reinforcements around the seams and in the tip.

 

[RonW]

That doesn't look like it is easily made yourself....

 

[Martti]

That doesn't look like it is easily made yourself....

The structure is simpler than it looks, it is consisted only of three pieces and felt can be easily sewn with a sewing machine. These type of boots have been made and used from the 1910s until 1960s by people without previous knowledge of shoemaking.

 

[Martti]

The theory of using paper as an insulative material is well-known by many but it is interesting to see how successful it really can be. Paper vests were first adapted by Finnish Defence Forces in 1939 and were used up to 1945. They are simple to made: three layers of newspapers are covered by a layer of cotton (detailed instructions are available if needed). They are light and one account even says that they were almost as warm as fur vests made from sheep or rabbit.

I am really interested to try these one day as nowadays it is really easy to buy several types of acid free paper instead of using the worst quality yellowish pulp newspaper.

 

[RonW]

I knew about the insulative qualities of paper, from when I used to deal with homeless people.
I am just wandering how durable it would be. It wouldn't be hard to make, but if you'd have to do it every day.....

 

[Martti]

I am just wandering how durable it would be. It wouldn't be hard to make, but if you'd have to do it every day.....

What I have read from the reports, they were durable enough for the use they were meant, i.e. to be used on top of shell layer when standing still for long periods of time.

 

[Martti]

Just little more about the string vests, this is the homemade design used by the soldiers during the Winter and maybe also during the Continuation War before Norwegian vests were available in large quanties. I have not seen a traditional Norwegian fisherman's string vest, but I would imagine that this is how they would look like. It is knitted out of very fine fisherman's (cotton) twine. As usual I can provide instructions for making one, if necessary.

 

[Monk]

Marrti,

Thanks for taking the time to uncover and post all this information on proven methods to stay warm in the outdoors.

Yes,
can you please post instructions on how to make these string vests?
I would like to try making a vest for myself.

Thanks,
Monk

 

[forestwalker]

To my best knowledge, the German felt shoes were based on both Finnish and Russian examples. However the Finnish ones were based on a traditional leather design and were "skiable". I have instructions & patterns how to make a pair. They are made of 5mm felt around the toes and a bit thinner felt was used elsewhere. Here is a rather poor quality photograph how they look like. Notice the leather reinforcements around the seams and in the tip.

Could you be persuaded to share the pattern? I'll be happy to pay postage if it is in paper format.