People who live in cold climates

[baratron]

Can you tell me how you dress in the winter?

I'm trying to work out what sort of clothes I need for this Canadian trip, and I'm confused about what to wear when it's -10 degrees C outside and 20 degrees C inside. See, I'd generally assume that when it's -10 degrees, you want to wear thermal baselayers - but I wouldn't want to wear thermal underwear indoors. So I'm trying to figure out what order you put the layers on in.

Also, sitting in a wheelchair, I get colder than people who are walking around. But I'm loathe to get one of those wheelchair-user leg-cosy things in case I need to stand up for some reason.

Comments

[dannilion.livejournal.com]

Might be a bit late to get them now, but there are weatherproof chaps (the legs of trousers, basically) available as an alternative to a wheelchair leg cosy: http://www.able2wear.co.uk/product.php?xProd=497&xSec=156
They might be available elsewhere (maybe for winter sports or motoring?).

Not done -20C, but for below freezing temperatures in my wheelchair before I got a leg cosy I went with layers: long socks, leggings (fleece lined or thermal), normal trousers, weatherproof over trousers. I was normally okay just taking the over trousers off if I was indoors for a while (such as college) and it never got too warm on the bottom half.

Don't underestimate blankets either. Might not be very fashionable but blankets tucked around work well in a chair. If it's not moulded I'd also put one underneath on the seat as well, as the cold can get through the cushions.

Everyone else has given good advice as well (sorry if I've repeated any- terrible memory and can't see them now I'm typing this on my tablet). Some of it will depend on how long you're going to be outside in the cold weather- if only a few minutes on the coldest days I'd probably go for more top layers/blankets than thermal underwear, but if I was planning on being out for a bit then I'd go with the thermal underwear and just hope I'm okay inside (though my thermal underwear is passable as day clothes in an emergency).

Good luck and enjoy :-)