Cold weather operating

[Lars Erik]

The Canada Goose jackets are actually made in Canada. Used to drive past one of the factories here in Toronto often.

That's one of the things they pride themselves in.. rightfully so!

www.canada-goose.com/our-story/our-story.html

You're right Mark. My bad. But they do use dog fur in their hoods. That is why there's been a campaign against those jackets.

 

http://queensjournal.ca/story/2012-02-16/news/animal-rights-group-rallies/

[RonBaldwin]

there is a company names Outdoor Survival Canada who supposedly make (or made) the jackets for Canada Goose. They now make their own stuff that are nearly identical to Canada Goose...except one thing...they are water proof. They make a -40 version of the constable (zippers on the sides for cops'guns) which work perfect for my pro vest with the i-baird socket block adaptor on it. Can actually zip up the jacket while operating and you don't have to have it altered. Thought I'd throw that out there

[Afton Grant]

You're right Mark. My bad. But they do use dog fur in their hoods. That is why there's been a campaign against those jackets.

 

http://queensjournal.ca/story/2012-02-16/news/animal-rights-group-rallies/

 

Again, Lars... no they don't. Gotta get your facts straight. The Chinese knock offs perhaps do, but a real Canada Goose jacket uses coyote - from the canine family, so I suppose you could argue they're a dog, but only if you're trying to be sensational. As much as I'm an animal lover, I understand what a nuisance animal can be and do. In many states and areas, animals considered to be nuisances (often includes skunks, raccoons, porcupines, squirrels, etc) can legally be killed any time of year for any reason. Many are, and most are just disposed of entirely. At least the coyotes are being used for something. They'll be killed anyway, so you might as well give their death a purpose.

[chris fawcett]

I'm glad Canada Goose still makes their jacket in Canada. Their expedition jackets still look great, but their high-street 'fashion' stuff looks pretty bad to me. Is it possible they make that offshore?

 

12 years ago, or so, I went shopping for a Goretex shell, and asked why the Arcteryx jackets cost 2-3 times more than the others. The sales guy replied, "Because they're made in Canada—by adults." I found that a convincing argument, so I bought one that lasted until 2014. When I went back to the same store—same guy—to buy another, he warned me off by telling me that Arcteryx had moved offshore, and into the 'fashion' market. He recommended instead a jacket made in the old Arcteryx factory, the Crux Shok. I can definitely say that stuff that's really made in Canada is great. The Shok is a stunningly good jacket. Way better than my stupid North Face McMurdo Parka, which has teddy-bear fur in the hood. Not fit for anything beyond city use, IMO.

 

Chris

 

http://www.crux.uk.com/en/shell-clothing.php?range=9&product=15

[Afton Grant]

there is a company names Outdoor Survival Canada who supposedly make (or made) the jackets for Canada Goose. They now make their own stuff that are nearly identical to Canada Goose...except one thing...they are water proof. They make a -40 version of the constable (zippers on the sides for cops'guns) which work perfect for my pro vest with the i-baird socket block adaptor on it. Can actually zip up the jacket while operating and you don't have to have it altered. Thought I'd throw that out there

 

Baldwin, you got a link to that jacket? I read somewhere the fur they use is taken from pet bunnies stolen from children, since the love makes it extra soft.

[RhysDuncan]

little chemical hand warmers worked good for me ,in plastic just crumble around , texture of crushed cornflakes just dropped them down my jacket ,stayed warm for hours, apart from the fact that when you get in you're stride you tend to be warmer than the average camera guy

[Benjamin Verhulst]

These are part of my cold weather kit and I've found that very few people know about them -

 

http://hotsnapz.com

 

Reuseable hand warmers that are much warmer than the chemical packs (and also much better heat conductors, great when you've got cold hands right after docking the rig and need to warm them up quickly). The downside is they only last about half an hour, but I just have the assistants keep a stack of them in the ditty bag. Boil them at home to 'reset' them and they're good to go for the next day. Non-toxic too, I believe. I've used the zippo hand warmers for comparison, but they ended up being a real pain to get lit and keep going in the field.

[RonBaldwin]

Afton --http://outdoorsurvivalcanada.com/home/the-collection/mens/akiak/

[Mariano Costa]

Baldwin, you got a link to that jacket? I read somewhere the fur they use is taken from pet bunnies stolen from children, since the love makes it extra soft.

 

Looool!!

[Peter Abraham]

This is entirely accurate, Afton. The children's book "The Runaway Bunny" is the story- diluted down for younger more tender minds- of one such rabbit who, realizing his entire family was on the chopping block, hiked the hell outda Dodge for parts unknown.

 

Ron, I will try that coat on OVER my Exovest. I'm a big fan of being able to zip very tautly over my vest. A sexy long zipper from right socket area to bottom will allow me to get in and out rapidement !

[Peter Abraham]

Afton --http://outdoorsurvivalcanada.com/home/the-collection/mens/akiak/

 

From "Standard Features" on that link: º Removable Hood and Removable Coyote Fur Trim

[James Davis]

I really like the zippo style handwarmers, they're great and stay hot for the duration of most jobs, I normally leave a glove on my left hand and warm my right hand (I fly goofy) in my pocket with one of these:

 

http://www.heinnie.com/whitby-hand-warmer

 

It's similar to the Zippo hand warmer, once you've used it a couple of times they easily burn for 12-14 hours no problem.

[David Montroni]

I was on ice, packed snow, pavement, metal grated audience viewing platforms, carpeted rooms. Usually with very little time between.

And to complicate things: I wear a size 16 shoe. So I need the largest size possible, usually out of the range that most manufactures list.

I'm going to try

Stabilicer Maxx: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SMQX4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19Y6EEY9IL19R

and

Bigfoot Ice Claws: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SMQX4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19Y6EEY9IL19R

Once I get them, I'll definitely report back.

In regards to these foot stabilizers and traction getters:

 

The Ice Claws were a bust. The cleats fell out on the first day. They are being returned to Amazon.

 

The Stabil Icers were good, but they are a plastic later that gets strapped by Velcro to your shoe or boot. I wasn't a fan of them because of the separation between the plastic and my boot. Snow got in there often, I felt some slippage and occasionally they would get caught under things (i.e. stairs). These became my backups.

 

I went to a mountaineering store and bought MicroSpikes. They are 3/8" spikes and they go around the boot by a rubber strap. I was hesitant because I thought the rubber would break similar to what happened to my YakTrax, but no. These things worked great on city pavement, carpet, snow, ice and metal grating (stand by for warnings). In the beginning it felt a bit like walking in small heels and my ankle was wobbly, but after a day they felt perfect. I used them to walk down the drop in to a snow SuperPipe with no hesitation, granted slowly and with a grip downhill of me…

 

Dangers: Metal grating, especially scaffolding and steps to production trucks were bad. The spikes would get stuck in the metal and took some coercion to get out. One time I took an entire scaffolding stair with me, in the rig. Luckily I was moving slow and had the chance to stop. The other issue was after I would take my boots off, I could see on my feet where the spikes were. There were clear pressure points even with thick snow boots, rubber heels and insoles, so look out for that. Also, make sure that you put them on with the chain and metal laying flat and pointed down.

 

I was very satisfied with the MicroSpikes. Seeing the small holes in the ground caused by the spikes gave me some confidence regardless of surface. I can put up some pictures once they return home.