How to remain comfortable during those cool / cold nights...

[fillerupmac]

Hopefully this thread will generate some interest, and possibly some NEW ideas. Astronomy is a fairly passive hobby. Standing around at night for many hours doesn't generate much internal body heat.

Here are some of my tips - ideas, hopefuly others will chime in!

First of all, plan on dressing in layers, and don't be afraid to bring lots, and warmer layers than you first planned on. Coats, gloves, hats.

Fortunately, most observing takes place at night. It's usually pretty dark, so it's obvious this won't be a fashion contest. Folks don't care what you look like. They DO care if you are warm - and if you are really warm, them folks will most likely be jealous!

That said - I'm not embarassed about wearing a good warm pair of skipants/bibs. I find a good pair of longjohns, PLUS the skipants, make for a VERY comfortable (warm) outfit. And easy to get/down and or crawl around at the bottom of my scope, or sit down on the ground when looking at something on the horizon.

For the upper - a pair of longjohns, heavy shirt, bulky sweater or fleece jacket, followed by a good heavy coat, will keep me toasty. One of these layers must provide protection form the wind.

Dickie - or neck gaiter.

Hat - anything goes, if it's warm. Bob Vixie has a hat with rabbit fur ear flaps - I'm jealous!

Hands - I can't use gloves when I observe - they are off more than on. I prefer an old style Hand Muff. I toss in a couple of those air-activated chemical Hand Warmers, and stick my hands in the muff.

Heat for your back - I found a "back heater" in the pharmacy section, that works like the chemical hand warmers. It includes a strap like affair with room for a couple of heaters. This goes over the small of your back, then wraps around and velcro's in the front. Comes with two sets of heaters. NOT CHEAP. But if you keep the heater-holder, you can reuse it by replacing the heaters as necessary.

If my back gets cold (and it used to), it tightens up, and I'm too sore to continue. I used this last weekend, and after 5 hours at 40 degrees, my back felt warm and limber - it really made a difference for me!

Al S.

[Chris Peterson]

I also find the back heaters to be great... but I wear them the other
way around, against my stomach. That couples a lot more heat into your
core. Also, your body regulates blood flow to the fingers using sensors
in the wrist. Wear your hand warmers on the inside of the wrist, using
elastic wrist warmers or cutoff old socks, and your hands will stay
toasty- both because your body won't shut down the blood flow, and
because the blood to your hands passes through arteries quite close to
the surface, so it gets directly warmed.

Chris

*******************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

[tdeclue]

I had no idea there was such a thing as a back heater but it has me
intrigued.
I use open fingertip wool gloves (lined inside), with mittens that can fold
over to cover the finger tips. I find that works well for me. I also have
a fairly new pair of ski pants/jacket made by Columbia that uses the latest
technology in insulation, so it's light and warm. Lastly, I also use two
pair of warm socks, the inner pair is a lightweight synthetic material that
keeps the feet dry and wool on the outside with insulated boots. This getup
works well for me in the observatory or in the field in the winter. Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Peterson [mailto:clp@alumni.caltech.edu]
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 10:41 AM
To: observing@csastro.org
Subject: Re: How to remain comfortable during those cool / cold nights...


I also find the back heaters to be great... but I wear them the other
way around, against my stomach. That couples a lot more heat into your
core. Also, your body regulates blood flow to the fingers using sensors
in the wrist. Wear your hand warmers on the inside of the wrist, using
elastic wrist warmers or cutoff old socks, and your hands will stay
toasty- both because your body won't shut down the blood flow, and
because the blood to your hands passes through arteries quite close to
the surface, so it gets directly warmed.

Chris

*******************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com





Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com





-------------------- m2f --------------------

Read this topic online here:
http://www.csastro.org/forums/viewtopic ... 7088#17088

-------------------- m2f --------------------

[fillerupmac]

I had no idea there was such a thing as a back heater but it has me
intrigued.

Here is a link to the product I use...
http://www.thermacare.com/product/back-hip.aspx

Al

[Chris Peterson]

The supermarket generic versions run about half the price, and work just
the same.

Chris

*******************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

On 10/25/2011 9:22 AM, fillerupmac wrote:

Here is a link to the product I use...
http://www.thermacare.com/product/back-hip.aspx

Al