Recommendation for outer wear for a week in Finland in December?

[outdoorgirl]

We have now confirmed our holiday in Finland in December. We will be attending a freinds wedding, and also doing the usual things you do in cold countries in the winter - snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, etc.

What outer layer recommendations do you have? I tried searching for 'down jacket' in the forums, but apparently 'down' is too common!

We already have merino base layers and mid-layers, so it's only the outer layers we need advice on.

Thanks!

ODG

 

[Andy]

just how cold will it be?

my cold weather gear is just what I use on the motor bike (all in one suit) since I don't have that much need for it.

 

[outdoorgirl]

According to the webiste (www.levi.fi) the temperatures could be -20C.

 

[Andy]

that's about the same as the wind chill at 70mph in UK winter, of course you get a wind chill in finland that will take it lower

 

[BorderReiver]

If you're going to be standing around outside a lot,definitely a down jacket.

Or something in real fur.Or a one piece arctic suit.
Your friend might be able to hire the gear for you.The way the climate is going,it may not be worth laying out too much on cold weather gear.

The feet are the things to be careful of,if you're dog sledding or snow mobileing,a pair of double boots are essential.Moon boot type things with felt liners.

 

[Martyn]

We have now confirmed our holiday in Finland in December. We will be attending a freinds wedding, and also doing the usual things you do in cold countries in the winter - snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, etc.

What outer layer recommendations do you have? I tried searching for 'down jacket' in the forums, but apparently 'down' is too common!

We already have merino base layers and mid-layers, so it's only the outer layers we need advice on.

Thanks!

ODG

Debenhams were selling copies of Hillary's goose down parka last year for £58 quid. Quite a few of us on BB got em. Too hot for general use, but great as a standby if it gerts really cold - or for a trip to finland.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16315

 

[Labrador]

Missus & I both used cheap ski gear when we went to Levi last January. Hers (jacket, salopettes & gloves) came from Aldi & cost next to nothing, I already had a coat but needed salopettes which I got from Decathlon (I'm short & fat & Aldi stuff was about a foot too long)!
Underneath we just wore mid-weight thermals & a pullover. You'll need a warm hat, one of those fleece tubes to go around your neck (much better than a scarf) & don't skimp on gloves, my wife did & swore when we go again she'll be buying some there (they had some very nice leather ski gloves there).
On our feet we wore our normal hiking boots with the warmest woolen socks we could find.
All in all because we already had the boots, thermals, hats my coat & my gloves everything else didn't cost us any more than hiring it there for the week.
Hope you find this useful.

All the snowmobile rental companies include helmets, snowsuits gloves & boots in the price!

 

[Naruska]

At minus 20 degrees or more, it is very likely that your extremities are prone to freezing...As a rule of thumb, remember the layering principle: thermals, midlayer, perhaps something in between and then the shell/padded stuff

I recommend buying a buff and wearing mittens...five finger gloves are never as warm...

Toes are always prone to freezing...wind chill at minus twenty can actually go down to minus fifty quite easily...

P.s. You won`t be needing a mozzie net...

Marko

 

[Bjorn Victor]

I can recommend the Buffalo Special Six shirt (http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk). I used it a year ago in Sweden in February. It was the best thing I ever wore. No condensation inside, no sticky snow on the outside. Breathes really well, stops wind dead.
Nothing but good things...

Whatever you do: stay away from gore tex. I saw a guy with ice inside his gore tex jacket...

We also had these funny looking "Mickey Mouse" boots from the US army. Never had cold toes, even when I put them on after leaving them next to my sleeping bag at -30. Just hold them upside down over the fire and let smoke in the boots.

Bjorn

 

[Big Bad Stu]

The wife and I went on an activity holiday in Finland last year (Feb 2005). The cold is something that is hard to describe. Our nostril hair froze the first time we inhaled each time we went outside.

The clothing we used was as follows:

For activities such as snowmobiling, dog sledding etc.

2 layers of thermals (tops and bottoms)
1 mid weight fleece jacket (200 weight)
Power stretch fleece leggings.
1 insulation layer (all in one snow mobile suit though a good down parka would have done the same job for the top half and insulated/wind proof salopettes for the bottom half)
A balaclava and a Lowe Mountain Cap for the head
Double glazed goggles.
1 pair inner gloves (like thermals)
1 pair wind block fleece gloves
1 pair goretex over mits
3 pairs of socks
Specialist snow boots of goretex hiking boots (allow for a fairly loose fit as blood circulation will stop your feet getting cold)

For activities such as cross country skying, snowshoeing etc.

2 layers of thermals (tops and bottoms)
1 mid weight fleece jacket (200 weight)
Power stretch fleece leggings.
Goretex jacket
Fleece snood neck warmer
Lowe Mountain Cap
Sun glasses
1 pair inner gloves (like thermals)
1 pair wind block fleece gloves
3 pairs of socks
Specialist snow boots of goretex hiking boots (allow for a fairly loose fit as blood circulation will stop your feet getting cold)

In rucksack
Down Parka
Goggles
Goretex overmits
Spare fleece layer
Enough space to put any layers you take off.

Just a couple of tips

I spent the week continually dehydrated and have subsequently found out that you dehydrate by breathing, the air is so cold and dry that your body humidifies automatically. So drink loads of hot drinks.

The down side of this is that if you drink loads you need to pee and in all that clobber it is a pain.

We spent a lot of time adjusting layers, when we went inside etc. to make sure we did not sweat up, the sweat can freeze making you very uncomfortable.

Where we were (Kuhmo) the wind was not a great problem so wind proofs just help to keep you warmer.

The best piece of kit was the Rab Guide down parka and the goggles (they stop your eye balls freezing).

Finland is a fantastic place and to enjoy it to the full you have to rely on your equipment to keep you comfortable. We had a dog sled safari which has spoilt by me not being able to feel my feet!

I hope that this has been informative, I also hope you enjoy your trip.

Regards

Stewey.

 

[Big Bad Stu]

Just remembered after reading Bjorn's post.

When I used my goretex jacket for aerobic acitvities I had the pit zips undone to prevent condensation and the associated freezing problems.

Stewey

 

[rik_uk3]

Mickey Mouse boots, like these?

http://www.wardenssupplyco.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22&products_id=470

Nice guy runs this site, and does not sting you on shipping to the UK

 

[outdoorgirl]

Great advice guys, thanks! I had been concerned about the need for more layers, as I've been xcountry skiing in the French mountains and been able to get away with just thermal leggings and a fleece, but didn't know about the harsher conditions within the arctic circle - however I didn't want to go overboard and dress for an arctic expedition only to find that this was overkill...

I have a pair of Meindhl (sp?) boots that I use in winter, but they're a bit tight these days and will only take thin socks now, so I plan to get a new pair of winter walking boots anyway.

I'll look into the MM boots though - although it doesn't look as if they'd get much use in the UK (despite predictions for the coming Ice Age by the doomsayers), at the price I see on the suggested website, they look a good enough buy!

I don't think I can afford a down jacket - will regular skiing salopettes and jackets be OK?

Are the goggles strictly necessary? Would they be available to buy locally at a reasonable price?

Cheers,

ODG

 

[BorderReiver]

ODG,goggles or visor will be supplied with suit and helmet if you snowmobile.

Sunglasses are essential with all that snow about.

 

[Bjorn Victor]

Mickey Mouse boots, like these?

http://www.wardenssupplyco.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22&products_id=470

Nice guy runs this site, and does not sting you on shipping to the UK

Yep, those are the ones!!!

No hiking boot can compare to these in warmth. They walk a bit floppy if you use them to walk on the streets, but they are great on snow.

If you can, get a pair. Even if water should get inside (melted snow, fall through ice,...) the water will warm up very fast, so no frozen feet. In leather hiking boots, you feet would freeze.

Google on it for a while, I'm sure you can get some in the US. Most suppliers there ship overseas.

Bjorn

Bjorn

 

[addyb]

The down side of this is that if you drink loads you need to pee and in all that clobber it is a pain.

That's true, but one can always get a sure fire sign of dehydration by the colour of their urine.

When I'm on a cold weather hike, the first thing I do before I even begin to cook a meal is to make a hot cup of broth. The salt in the broth is good for replenshing what you sweat out during the day, it also helps to rehydrate your system. But by far the best bit is sitting down and reflecting on a day well spent.

Cheers,

Adam

 

[Big Bad Stu]

Both the wife and I got our goggles cheap from Cotswold in the sale, that is also where we got our down jackets, they were about £80 off retail price. They have a clearance shop in Betws y Coed.

In truth people on the trip were perfectly comfortable in ski gear, we just bought new stuff because we didn't have down parkas etc.

Penny mentioned last night that during the trip her glasses with a metal frame were very cold and uncomfortable, I presume it is a conduction thing? So we agreed that plastic frames were better, mine are plastic and I felt no ill effects.

Just a thought, as it is mid summer winter kit is now heavily discounted if you have a hunt round the shops, maybe Betws, Keswick or Ambleside would be worth a look. It always seems a good excuse for me to get to the mountains!

Regards

Stewey.

 

[charliefox]

Hi ODG,

In haste I'm afraid....

Try Nanok, you can't buy better, warmer kit for cheaper than this. Have a look here at the "SF Range"

You can buy them here about as cheaply as anywhere.

I used the kit in Sweden, North of the circle in temps down to -30, no wind chill and was often too warm. Great for static activity like snowmobiling.

When I was x country skiing in temps of around -20 I found that Ulfrotte 200g and a heavy cotton smock that was windproof was all I needed to keep warm.

Concentrate on extremities if you're going to be outside for any length of time - good gloves or mitts and boots that aren't too tight. If you've poor circulation to start with you're only inviting a cold injury.

Hope some of that helps. Have a look at the smock here

 

[wanderinstar]

ODG,
HOW many underblankets did you order???
Ian.

 

[Big Bad Stu]

Not enough!