What jacket do you use for cardio-intensive winter yard work? (e.g. shoveling snow)

[Mabouya]

IME jeans seem to be fine for pants (it's OK if the bottom 6" or so get wet) but I'm having trouble finding just the right outer layer that breaths enough.

The inner layers are NBD - I can use any of my normal cycling gear, but I don't think my bike jackets are sufficiently rugged for outdoor work.

What works for you?

TIA

[j44ke]

Icelandic sweater.

[rccardr]

Fleece lined hoodie with windbreaker, zipper location dependent upon wind velocity.
Bigger problem for me is finding replacement wool glove liners for my ancient LL Bean deerskins (nope, no longer sold by LLB).

[j44ke]

Fleece lined hoodie with windbreaker, zipper location dependent upon wind velocity.
Bigger problem for me is finding replacement wool glove liners for my ancient LL Bean deerskins (nope, no longer sold by LLB).

Check Vermont Glove. https://vermontglove.com/

[robin3mj]

Any fleece from $20 to $200 will do. Unzip as needed.

[72gmc]

A used/thrifted work jacket or Pendleton/flannel shirt jacket perhaps? I like the latter because I run warm anyway.

[SlowPokePete]

Bigger problem for me is finding replacement wool glove liners for my ancient LL Bean deerskins (nope, no longer sold by LLB).

Try Ibex or Icebreaker.

SPP

[Bob Ross]

It has literally been decades since I had to shovel snow, but I do remember that my old Performance brand winter cycling jacket was the perfect garment for that sort of activity. It's made of a very breathable fleece, but the front of the torso and front of the arms are covered with a wind-blocking fabric. The entire back being breathable is what made it superior to any parkas or ski jackets or rain shells that I had previously tried for shovel duty.

[bigbill]

In the past 30 years, my Showers Pass Elite jacket has seen far more use off the bike than on. The seams failed on the pit zips three years ago and Showers Pass repaired them and it only cost me postage. It is not as brightly colored as when new, but the reflective trim still works. It's my go-to for outdoor chores that don't need my Carhartt jacket like feeding livestock or stacking hay.

[AngryScientist]

It certainly depends on what the actual temperature/wind/sun conditions are!

Generally, around here, after a good snowfall the weather is usually pleasant, and if the sun pops up, I can get away with shoveling out in a hoodie; but obviously that won't work in all conditions.

Above hoodie weather, my Patagonia micropuff jacket is the most used for yardwork. After that the Carhart gear comes out.

Conditions are variable enough that you really need a bunch of options and layers to decide what will work best on the day.

[Peter Polack]

I use something similar to L.L. Bean's Fleece Lined Warm Up Jacket or WearGuard's 4 Layer Jacket.
Actually, it's more like the latter since it's a cast off from my old employer. I don't care if it gets ripped or torn when I'm working in the woods, it's roomy enough to layer, it's windproof and the high collar and synthetic fleece work. If you're paying for them, they're relatively cheap.

I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a decent winter yard work jacket in second hand stores-something that's not pricey so you won't baby it, and gets the job done.

[j44ke]

My go-to jacket in the winter is made by Kuhl. It is the insulated version of their Burr jacket. Some magic sauce in there somewhere. I'm usually wearing an Icelandic sweater underneath. Or a Patagonia Nano-Puff hoody. The Kuhl jacket then gets taken off and put back on depending.

I don't know what material Kuhl uses but it is super durable, largely because the weave of the fabric is so tight that thorns slide over the material rather than snagging it. I had Patagonia work pants made out of hemp something or other that were worthless because of the opposite issue. Everything snagged those pants including my chainsaw. No way was I getting a jacket made of it.

But their Nano-Puff hoodies are perfect if covered over by something tougher. They make a jacket called the Steel Forge Puff, but it isn't water-proof and it is cut for someone twice my width even in Small.

Really the Icelandic sweaters are amazing. Warm breathable even if you get wet from snow. Or sweat.

I think Lumpy said he hunts for 2nd hand cashmere sweaters for winter riding. That's a good one too. I have a couple I bought on clearance somewhere that get used and abused.

Also any of the Rapha merino sweatshirts. Excellent warmth/weight ratio.

[thollandpe]

For me, the question of what to wear for outdoor work comes down to whether there will be firepit activity afterward. And because that answer is usually “yes” that means a cotton or wool outer layer.

Or unless I’m wearing the nylon bubble jacket, fleece, or micro fleece that has burn holes from previous fires. Fawk!

And regardless of if I’m wearing those things that have been previously perforated, the best choice is my LL Bean field coat, and depending on temperature there’s a tee, turtleneck, down vest, or Norwegian sweater underneath. And a wool cap, those fleece things are so short lived.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/1821...ol-nylon-liner


Cheers! (Felted wool coozy for the win)

[Marvinlungwitz]

Temperature and wind dependent.

And sometimes I shed layers as I get warmer.

[rccardr]

My go-to jacket in the winter is made by Kuhl. It is the insulated version of their Burr jacket. Some magic sauce in there somewhere. I don't know what material Kuhl uses but it is super durable, largely because the weave of the fabric is so tight that thorns slide over the material rather than snagging it.

Kuhl stuff is simply amazing. Their Thrasher pants series is bulletproof but looks nice enough to wear in a jeans+ situation- I have two pairs, often take one to France to wear instead of jeans. The Thrasher jacket is made of the same material, which my SiL thinks is what Superman's cape is made of- would stop a bullet. With a merino sweater underneath (Jos A Bank sells a surprisingly high quality one, recently on sale for under $40) and a pair of light gloves, I'm comfortable down to subfreezing.