Jacket and boots

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Jacket and boots

Postby khalampre » Wed Nov 23, 2011 1:00 am

Well, it looks like they may send me to A-stan after all. I will most likely be going some place North and West. I am told that it is pretty damn cold during the winter. I have always had a handful of light jackets (Texas is pretty warm) and layered up while in Geo, but I have a feeling this is a new level of cold. I need a new jacket. I would like something that has a zip out inner shell and a zip off hood. It cannot be ski resort purple, blue, and yellow. Suggestions?


My redwings have now walked several thousand miles and are completely slick on the bottom. I will put new rubber on them, but I really think that a pair of Danner boots would be nice because they would offer more ankle support. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

CK
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Hitoru » Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:23 am

What size is your shoe ?
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby khalampre » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:13 am

Brother, that depends on the shoe. My redwings are 9.5 and pretty wide, but if I buy dress shoes or nikes it is 10.5 most of the time. BTW, answer your damn phone once and a while! I will have tree weeks off around 12-17-11 and wondered what you would be up to.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby diamondcutter13 » Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:36 pm

Its already snowed up in MeS but weather is still great in Kabul.

I would go for a wind/water proof shell and a separate puffy liner jacket or fleece. Gives you more options for layering. I prefer Arc'teryx and Snugpak which both have low profile colors and cuts that do not all look like army gear if you just get black or crocodile. Places like Millbrook http://www.millbrookcanada.ca/ is selling Arc'teryx for up to 60% off. There are lots of cheaper civilian options from places like REI or MEC.

The Snugpak Sasquatch is a super warm puffy or you can get a Sleeka which is about midweight. Snugpak is often found on Ebay and can be marketed in the states as Proforce.

As for boots I prefer the leather lined European mountain/hiker boots like Lowa and Meindl to Danner but boots are a very personal fit issue sometimes. Nothing wrong with Danner quality. There are some great deals on Lowa's right now from UK companies Survival Aids or RVOps. The Lowa Desert Elites are very popular with the army guys and go for $350 back home. I just paid 89 GBP for a set delivered.
Last edited by diamondcutter13 on Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Mikethehack » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:53 pm

Tried and tested in the harshest environments by yours truly: ladies and gentlemen, the donkey jacket and welly boots.

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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby nowonmai » Wed Nov 23, 2011 11:19 pm

Mikethehack wrote:Tried and tested in the harshest environments by yours truly: ladies and gentlemen, the donkey jacket and welly boots.

Image


that only works when you have more hair in your ears than on your head and your blood is 50% Guinness.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Woodsman » Thu Nov 24, 2011 12:56 pm

For REAL cold, look to your hi-speed outdoor stores - the ones that sell Marmot, Moonstone, TNF, ArcTeryx, etc. and get yourself a high loft parka in whatever grey/OD/black/clay/camo color you want. Also, you might try Wiggys.com - Jerry Wigetoo (probably just slaughtered his last name) is an expert in insulation and he probably has something that will work better than anything you can buy off the shelf. His sleeping bags are top notch. I own two - specifically for damn cold weather.

Personally, I have tent camped at around -17F with no external source of heat, and there are always chores to do like cooking food, putting on clothes (cold boots are real fun to put on in the A/M as is working small steel gadgets with your hands), packing gear, etc. IF you have a heated shelter you are already a GIANT step up in the game.

I have also been on landings (the areas on my job sites where logs are decked) when it has been less than -20F and the loggers have a fire going in the snow to stay warm for lunch, etc. If you are moving (walking about, etc.) you don't need much more than a couple of fleece coats and a windbreaker. If you are stationary, you better keep some of that body heat near you.

You need not bother with gore tex, because that shit is only decent for rain. Once it gets cold enough to turn precip to snow, what you need is insulation that will allow all vapor to escape. Gore tex claims to do so, but when you get moving and then stops, it keeps the sweat inside and that sucks. The best stuff out there is multiple layers of 200 weight polartec made by malden mills. I would suggest 3 of these. For an outermost layer, go windproof fleece (windstopper) or a "softshell" which is highly wind resistant.

Don't forget mittens - if it gets real cold, gloves become worthless.

Boots - Mickey mouse boots will keep your feet warm. If you don't want to go there, at least get something with a 1/2" thick felt insole and 1000g thinsulate. If you're considering danners, I wouldn't bother with any of them for serious cold except maybe their elk hunting lace to toe boots. Those would be suitable. I hear its rocky over there, so get something that has a rubber layer to protect the outsole from sharp craggy crap.

I am under the impression that Afghanistan is a dry cold since it is mountainous - probably like 12k+ in Colorado about this time of year. -10F feels like +20 here (based on my personal experiences), but cold is cold and hypothermia is a serious threat to your health, so plan accordingly!

Keep hydrated and don't make the mistake of being hungover or sipping schnapps (snowmobilers favorite seemingly)...

Good luck, go long in the weak arm and keep your head down.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby diamondcutter13 » Thu Nov 24, 2011 6:08 pm

Mukluks and Mittens will not likely be required here unless you are truly roughing it up in the mountains at altitude. Rain, mud, and howling wind however is a common feature of an Afghan winter, a good gore-tex shell is worth the investment.

Not sure if you working in a particularly dangerous area but a good no melt, no drip, next-to-skin layer like merino wool is a good idea compared to the poly-pro flammable shrink-wrap base layers. You never know and merino wool is good shit anyway.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Kurt » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:29 pm

also get the cheapest silk glove liners you can find. When you have to do work outside in the cold cheapo tight fitting glove liners are an asset...and they take up no space in your bags either.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby JITW » Tue Nov 29, 2011 5:44 pm

If you will be wearing kit under your jacket then I have one one suggestion: The Drop Zone Recce Smock

My Review Here: http://www.deathvalleymag.com/2011/04/1 ... cce-smock/

Image

I wear this fucker every day here in Iraq - it is the best jacket I have ever owned, they are all handmade and solid as a mo-fucker


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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Chimborazo » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:23 pm

Didn't those shitty gloves fall apart on you?

As for jackets, I got this last year and it's really warm. Too warm sometimes. It's also really light and compressible.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Men%27s-Hooded-Compressor%E2%84%A2-Jacket/OM4419,default,pd.html
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby JITW » Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:47 pm

Chimborazo wrote:Didn't those shitty gloves fall apart on you?

As for jackets, I got this last year and it's really warm. Too warm sometimes. It's also really light and compressible.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Men%27s-Hooded-Compressor%E2%84%A2-Jacket/OM4419,default,pd.html


Yep - those gloves were crap

I now wear work gloves


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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby thewalrus » Wed Nov 30, 2011 2:38 am

Afghanistan doesn't get THAT cold in winter, it's not Fairbanks...

I recommend REI or MEC for shopping.

One pair of liner gloves

One pair of outer gloves

Goose down jacket, like

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensCloth ... t-mens.jsp

or

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensCloth ... t-mens.jsp

some wool sweaters

Mammut/Raichle boots (Swiss):
http://www.mammut.ch/footwear.html

Arc'Teryx makes good stuff but it's pricey. Their larger 'serious' backpacks intended for mountain climbing/expeditions are quite good and very sturdy.

Wear whatever you would wear for spending time outdoors in Calgary in January. Mazar-e-Sharif doesn't get colder than that.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby Dabbi » Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:46 pm

Buy this
http://www.rei.com/product/785072/smart ... -wool-mens
http://www.rei.com/product/723971/smart ... -wool-mens

Then this
http://www.rei.com/product/817983/mount ... mens-short

this would be nice if you are expecting wet conditions
http://www.rei.com/product/803173/the-n ... ns-regular

then buy a good fleece jacket made from Winpro material from Polartec of your own design and liking

Then buy a good top shell i prefer stuff from mountain hardwear made from storm silk

For boots i would recomend just any vibram soled leather mountaineering boot with a solid leather upper that fits your feet nicely.

A Primaloft jacket is also something that is super nice to have for when you plan on spending a few hours standing around outside in the cold.
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Re: Jacket and boots

Postby diamondcutter13 » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:59 pm

thewalrus wrote:Mammut/Raichle boots (Swiss):
http://www.mammut.ch/footwear.html


I got about a year and a half into the Mammut boots that were sold through MEC. Fantastic boots that I have worn in temps down to -10 deg C. Good support, firm soles and shank without being crazy stiff like a full on mountain boot. Decent price too.

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwear/BackpackingBoots/Mens/PRD~5018-356/mammut-kootenay-5-backpacking-boots-mens.jsp
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