Advice needed from skiers, climbers

[Nero]

I'm off to Harbin in China where it will be about -15C in the day and even colder at night. I've been before and was only a kid and was not properly kitted out, so froze! So, not being a skier or climber, I wanted to know what type to stuff to wear. Can ED climbers and skiers who are used to really cold temps let me know what I should take? I've already thought about leggings, but what about socks - how many pairs etc? (I'm only going to be in Harbin for three days so don't want to spalsh out on loads of expensive kit. Can you hire it?)

Either post here or PM me please. Nero

[Asset]

get an Icebreaker base layer, they are merino wool and can be worn casual as well as technical. Warm, wicking, odour free, machine washable. They do leggings too.

Selfridges sell them or a good outdoor shop like Field & Trek in Covent Garden. They are expensive but very high quality and well worth it.

A good base layer and then a couple of fleece layers with a windproof jacket on top. Hats and gloves essential.

[spanish-archer]

And a down jacket wouldn't go amiss either. Slept on a glacier once without one and froze my knckers off. nice and light and packs down small.

[LostThePlot]

I visit Sweden every year to watch the World Rally championship, and it is usually -20 something. For this i have walking boots and sensible socks (As we have a fair treck to spectate) then thermal long johns over which I wear salopets. UP to O go for layers. two t shirts, a thin jumper then a berghouse (Sp?) fleece and outercoat. HAt scarf and gloves. As the day involves walking to viewing point, then standing for 5-7 hours it does the job for me, but of you're stomping through the hills then may need something more "technical" for your base layer...

HTH and enjoy!

[ClareC]

You cant go wrong with icebreaker, they are fantastic. You want to take layers, I usually ski in a Helly Hanson base layer, icebreaker mid layer, windproof fleece and then my ski jacket. I then keep an extra base layer and down gillet in my rucksack for extreme cold :-)

I would recomend buying silk inners for your gloves, these are avbout ?10 in Snow and Rock / outdoor shops.

[lozzyloz]

As above plus a regular top up of shaojiu;-)

[mockney piers]

echo many of the above, for arctic circle last year I found that good socks, long johns, silk inners and a merino base layer were essential, get a medium fleece over the base layer and just make sure anything above is rugged really.

Howies do some good merino stuff too, cardigan bay's third biggest clothing company, as their byline goes...well...you've got to have ambition!.

http://www.howies.co.uk/section.php/16/0

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Lidl in Peckham currently have on sale angora long johns and vests, also skiing gloves, hats and socks (in different parts of the store). This would be a cheap option for you but they change stock quite quickly.

[LizzygotDizzy]

Nero, Wow Harbin, small world! amazing ice sculptures, honestly the Chinese Yuan is about ?1 to 15-18 yuan at the moment, don't bring tons as you can go to the "Friendship" store there and buy woollen and cotton leggings and thermal long sleeved tops for about 50p, or if your brave find a market and do some serious bartering to get some serious bargains. Layers are the key to that kind of cold, (skating on rivers etc.) The chinese people generally put on the cotton long pants, then woollen ones over the top, and then padded trousers, mind you they really do fear the cold a lot more than we do, but layers are best then you can peel off as you go along and it gets warmer.

[LizzygotDizzy]

What size are you? Have some salopets you can have for free if you want them, only been worn once, mens ones.

[PeckhamRose]

Hi - another option from a motorcyclist is go to motorcyclist shop (say Metropolist at South side of Vauxhall Bridge).

Bikers know how to keep warm too, so you can get good gloves and boots and so on.

I'd also recommend along with everyone else here - lots of layers are important - but also sheets of newspaper down your jacket are also a good idea.

Don't know about where you're going but windproof materials are probably a good idea too (and newspaper helps!)

Natural fibres above polyester plastic rubbish is important.

[Comes out of garden shed...] [puts on ludicrous Birmingham accent...]

Today I am wear-eeeng M&S thermal long sleeve vest - a silk long sleeve sweater, 100% cashmere sweater, a thick cotton sweater over that, a very thick and winter lined (and - unnecessary for your trip I hope) armoured and waterproof jacket.

And

70denier thick woolly tights (Peter Jones and M&S do them) (and men bikers wear them too tho they may not admit it)

Woolley leggings over them

then thin socks

and very thick socks

Waterproof Motorcycle boots.

Thin silk gloves

Winter lined motorcycle gloves.

For a long ride in the fog.

Have a great trip though! What an experience!!

[mattham]

Echo Asset's comments...at least three/four layers, all man-made fabric that will wick away sweat. Beg borrow or steal a gore-tex outer jacket with a hood, wear a fleece under that and a couple of base/mid layers. if you're not moving around much (are you doing any sport out there?) then a Rab-type down jacket is great. V puffy though so not easy to move about in. Bike shops do really good thermal leggings, not necessarily expensive. Two/three pairs of socks.

Do you need to use your fingers? Mittens are warmer if not. Take some gloves as well in case you do need fingers ? get the type with waterproof outer and fleecy inner.

And most importantly a hat ? 25% of body heat is lost through your head. Sounds a bit extreme but a balaclava is a really useful but of kit. keeps your face warm, and you can just wear it as a neck warmer until it gets really cold.

Accessorize with a white silk scarf only if you want to look like the kind of pretentious traveller that gets really excited about having fancy gear. Sounds like a great trip ??enjoy.

[Gerrard]

Asset - I hired some stuff from behind Forest Hill Station, one of those shops in that short parade. They were reasonable and well stocked.. Well worth a visit if you dont fancy traveliing to the excellent though pricey Snow and Rock.. Hope you have a great time.