Staying Warm During Farm Chores in Frigid Cold

North Dakota winters can get pretty brutal cold here, but hey, we don’t have hurricanes or poisonous things, right?

Anyway, as someone who has zero body insulation, I’m always cold. I’m always the first to bundle up when temps start getting cool in fall and the last to let my gator and gloves go for the summer. Yes summer.  I wear gators and gloves into summer because I’m always cold.

Because of my extreme dislike for being cold, but also an even more extreme dislike for hurricanes and poisonous things, I’ve found some pretty great gear to keep me warm because as a livestock producer, we just don’t get days off for inclement weather. In fact, we usually end up pulling double duty outside when the polar vortex hits because things break, equipment won't start, waters freeze, and animals need extra care and feed to keep warm. So how do I do it? Here are my best finds from the feet up.

 

Inner layer. Some good smart wool socks.  Feet and fingers are the first to get cold, so keeping the feet warm is key. Keeping them dry is the secret to keeping them warm and that is why a good wool sock is what you want. Wool wicks away the natural moisture your feet will give off as they breath and sweat so your feet stay warm. I found most wool socks to be thick and sloppy. If they’re too thick, they make your boots fit snug which also causes your feet to get cold. Your feet need wiggle room to keep circulation flowing. I also hate it when socks fall down in my boots, or come completely off. The SmartWool brand of socks remedy both these issues. They fit nice on the foot, stay in place and they aren’t super thick and bulky, they fit more like a regular sock, and they are comfortably soft, not itchy.

Outer Layer: I have two pairs of boots. My warm hunting boots and my snow-is-deep warm Muck boots. Both are good warm boots. Warmer than any winter boot I’ve owned. The hunting boot is lighter and more comfortable to wear and walk around in, but the lugs track in mud, snow and manure. When the snow gets deep or it is muddy or wet out, I opt for the Muck boots. If these were lighter, they would be all I own and in putting them to a comparison test this last polar vortex, the Muck boots proved to be warmer than my hunting boots.

Inner layer: A good pair of long johns makes a huge difference. I’ve found these under armor base layers to be the most comfortable and warmest. Many long johns will slide down and sag in the crotch which is annoying and restricts movement. These stay in place. They fit snug, so they don’t creep up when you put your pants on over them. I hate having to reach up the leg to find your long johns up by your knees. These don’t do that, or pile up at the waist either. They are skin tight with a soft fleece inside so they’re not itchy. They check all my boxes for a fit, function, and fashion.

Middle layer: Jeans are the warmest, but not the most comfortable to wear so I’m all for a good thick pair of sweatpants. Thin won’t do though, so make sure they are nice and heavy, I like these fleeced-lined track pants or these sherpa lined ones are nice too, but go for denim jeans if you need more warmth.

Outer layer: Insulated Carhart bibs. I have ski bibs that are like my kids’ snow pants for “city outings” and they are noticeably NOT near as warm as my Carhart bibs I wear for chores. So go with Carhart bibs. They are more durable for working in too. I can move more freely in the bibs than a total one-piece coverall suit. I don’t like feeling restricted in movement. Can you tell?

 

Inner layer: same Under Armor base layer as the legs. This under a normal sweatshirt is usually enough, but during this last polar vortex cold spell where we hit -50⁰F windchill I opted for my shirpa-lined sweatshirt to go over the base layer. It adds a bit more bulk, but is noticeably warmer.  It’s like wearing a cozy blanket and I love it.

Middle layer: I am in love with this heated vest. It is my new winter gear staple. It prevents me from getting chilled better than anything else I have ever tried. I have a heated jacket I love too, but I like this vest even more because it fits closer to the body so you can actually feel the heating elements. I have yet to get chilled at my core while wearing this glorious invention.

Then to keep that heat in and the gusting ND winds out I love this insulated liner. You can wear all the layers you want, but if you don’t have some sort of a wind-breaking layer, you’ll feel drafts and get cold. It’s science. This liner is something I wear for all seasons. It’s comfortable, functional, and easy to keep clean.

Outer Layer: Insulated Carhart jacket. Yes, Carhart is king in chore gear / workwear. They are just so warm and durable to work in. a little heavy, but well worth the investment. They last.

Gloves: I have not found gloves that I love yet, so if you have, please share them. I’m tempted to try the heated gloves I’ve seen out there, but I feel like they wouldn’t hold up doing chores in them and they are a bit of an investment to be replacing often. So for now, I just buy insulated ski gloves. I go through a few pair each winter because they snag on things and get holes in them and it’s hard finding a pair that doesn’t sweat inside. I hate soggy gloves. The pair I have came from Walmart, but I linked them from amazon for your convenience to know a good pair that doesn't sweat, and so far, it's the end of January and I have only worn through across the index fingers because I snagged them on the fence. 

Head: A neck gator is a must. I have a thin cloth gator I wear in the early fall or spring when people might look at me like I’m weird for wearing the heavy fleece one I wear all winter, but I love feeling cozy, I hate getting wind drafts down my shirt. A gator solves these issues for me. Plus, I can pull it up to my eyeballs when it’s freeze-your-face cold out. You're looking for double layered. Single layers are too thin and any breeze will go right through.

Good warm hats are hard to find, but they are out there. I wear a fleece earband first, then put a thick hat that has a fleece liner that goes all the way to the top so it is double layers. When it’s really cold or windy the bomber hat comes out. Wrap those rabbit fur flaps around your cheeks paired with the fleece gator and you’re good to go. Be sure it has a wind proof material on the head though, or your head will get cold in the wind.

So there you have it. How I dress head to toe when the wind blows and temps get frigid cold in North Dakota. As someone who is always cold and hates being cold, staying warm is super important to me, and I’ve gotten quite good at it.

Now that you've prepared yourself for the arctic tundra, CLICK HERE to read how to get your animals through these harsh cold snaps. 

Be warm!