I am experiencing a lot of productive envy, reading your winter adventure posts, and I think this means I should start planning some more cold trips of my own. Thank you so much for the inspiration, and for all of this practical knowledge, which I'll undoubtedly be returning to.
I loved reading about your gear. For years I have been so curious why you'd wear a simple fleece when it was brutally cold. I remember thinking while you were riding the ITI why in the world you'd wear the fleece . . . now I know. Also, over the years I would take screen shots of your pictures and then zoom in close to analyze your system. Funny, I know, but it helped me choose my gear. When I'd ask you questions you were always so sweet to answer. I remember the time I asked about your feet & your pedals. Since then I have never worn anything but hiking boots on flat pedals! It made so much sense & was so much safer.
This year I finally invested in an SK Hoop down skirt for the days I'm only out hiking with my dog for an hour or two. My bum is so warm.
I'm not riding my bike these days due to injuries but I'm hiking daily. I appreciate your stories because they continue to inspire me.
Oh Posh & Ebay have been the best for finding gear that companies have stopped making but with that I am the crazy hoarding type owner of Patagonia's old version of the "down sweater". I literally have 6!
My best to you as always Jill. I'm looking forward to the lower half version.
I too love buffs for all seasons (they're great for sun protection and getting wet to cool off in heat), and when it's below freezing outside (like on my run yesterday), I pull it up over my nose and mouth to warm my airways. But, I have a problem with it slipping down. As I run or hike, I often have one hand holding the buff up to my nose for a little while until my nose and airways warm up, then I let it slip down. Does yours stay up and if so how? Thanks for this informative post!
Interesting. My buffs will usually stay up when I pull them up — perhaps because I am pulling them over a beanie-type cap. I often use hoods as well, which also help hold my buffs in place.
I will occasionally use the classic thin buffs in cold weather. (A buff over our face outdoors harkens back to the weird era of early 2020, doesn’t it?) I’ve found these stay up well because the material is so tight, but they become saturated with moisture so quickly that they feel colder than nothing at all. But it will help keep airways warmer, it’s true.
This is what every below zero adventurer needs. After zero, it can go down 30 degrees, colder even, in a single day. Great list of survival and pleasure gear.
I second whoever recommended Patagonia's Retro-X. There are a lot of them on their Worn Wear site. I believe the wind block lining is a later model edition so maybe a newer rather than super vintage one will be the way to go. Let us know how it compares to the Monkey Man!
Thank u for this satisfying gear nerdery
I am experiencing a lot of productive envy, reading your winter adventure posts, and I think this means I should start planning some more cold trips of my own. Thank you so much for the inspiration, and for all of this practical knowledge, which I'll undoubtedly be returning to.
I loved reading about your gear. For years I have been so curious why you'd wear a simple fleece when it was brutally cold. I remember thinking while you were riding the ITI why in the world you'd wear the fleece . . . now I know. Also, over the years I would take screen shots of your pictures and then zoom in close to analyze your system. Funny, I know, but it helped me choose my gear. When I'd ask you questions you were always so sweet to answer. I remember the time I asked about your feet & your pedals. Since then I have never worn anything but hiking boots on flat pedals! It made so much sense & was so much safer.
This year I finally invested in an SK Hoop down skirt for the days I'm only out hiking with my dog for an hour or two. My bum is so warm.
I'm not riding my bike these days due to injuries but I'm hiking daily. I appreciate your stories because they continue to inspire me.
Oh Posh & Ebay have been the best for finding gear that companies have stopped making but with that I am the crazy hoarding type owner of Patagonia's old version of the "down sweater". I literally have 6!
My best to you as always Jill. I'm looking forward to the lower half version.
I too love buffs for all seasons (they're great for sun protection and getting wet to cool off in heat), and when it's below freezing outside (like on my run yesterday), I pull it up over my nose and mouth to warm my airways. But, I have a problem with it slipping down. As I run or hike, I often have one hand holding the buff up to my nose for a little while until my nose and airways warm up, then I let it slip down. Does yours stay up and if so how? Thanks for this informative post!
Interesting. My buffs will usually stay up when I pull them up — perhaps because I am pulling them over a beanie-type cap. I often use hoods as well, which also help hold my buffs in place.
I will occasionally use the classic thin buffs in cold weather. (A buff over our face outdoors harkens back to the weird era of early 2020, doesn’t it?) I’ve found these stay up well because the material is so tight, but they become saturated with moisture so quickly that they feel colder than nothing at all. But it will help keep airways warmer, it’s true.
Wow...you are one RESILIENT woman, embracing frigid 50 degrees below 0, often, with WIND. Hats off.
This is what every below zero adventurer needs. After zero, it can go down 30 degrees, colder even, in a single day. Great list of survival and pleasure gear.
I second whoever recommended Patagonia's Retro-X. There are a lot of them on their Worn Wear site. I believe the wind block lining is a later model edition so maybe a newer rather than super vintage one will be the way to go. Let us know how it compares to the Monkey Man!
Re the monkey man jacket, have you checked gear trade? They have some occasionally.
Patagonia makes some fuzzy windproof fleece jackets that are similar, they call them "retro-x" I think ->
https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-classic-retro-x-fleece-jacket/23074.html?dwvar_23074_color=DAPL&cgid=collections-retro-x
I hope 2024 is treating you well!