Thorlo socks,with polypropolene liners,medium weight silk top and pant liners,along with silk glove liners. Silk is light,breathes,breaks the wind,is all day comfortable next to the skin. And zero bulk. When it gets cold,the heated socks,pant liner,jacket liner,and gauntlets go on. Heated gear is the only thing that works in real cold.

 

Thanks for the replies.
I got my answer, I didn't want to yet spend for the heated gear, so thought to consider an alternative.

Gerbings it seems it will be with wool socks. I have the silk base layer, and I know I need something to keep the wind off, so my leather jacket with heated liner and I planned on the heated gloves G3 I have read are better less bulky than the T5.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Smartwool socks. I base layer, so can't help you much. But before doing the layer thing, I went with fleece.

 

The T5 might be a bit more bulky than the G3, but you get used to it, offer better crash protection, and the longer cuffs covers your sleevs opening better and block wind from going in. The G3 looks like more for city/commuting on a scooter imo.

 

I hunt in wool clothing and inch for inch it is warmer than fleece. The natural oils in wool also make them somewhat waterproof, and will keep you warm even while wet. Most people layer Merino wool against their skin because it is short fibers, and as such, doesn't itch as much. Inside layers of quality wool is expensive...outer layers are ridiculously high priced.


IMHO if you don't want to go heated gear, look for a nice, high quality snowmobile suit that you can zip on and off like coveralls...or better yet, a parka and bibs.

 

I guess it's a matter of preference. I much prefer the G3 over the T5 because the dexterity of the G3 is significantly better. Yes the smaller gauntlet of the G3 takes a few extra seconds to get over a jacket but the seal is good once set.

 

As an outer garment a heavy wool like the weight of a Navy Pea Coat might work but won't repel wind at higher speeds. Wool can absorb a lot of water before it soakes through and dries quickly. I'd suggest looking into the current US Military's Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS). It's a 7 layer system starting with silk weight under garments (Level 1) and works it's way through a Polartec 100 weight fleece to 200 and 300 weight fleece to Gore Tex wind shells to Extreme Cold Weather outer parkas. I'm not suggesting that this system was designed for riding because it wasn't. I use Level 1, 2 and 3 and occasionally the gore tex trousers. It's all Made in USA too so that's just an added bonus.

 

I wear a hooded sweatshirt under an armored TourMaster with a FF helmet, Thermal underwear and jeans. Riding Mittens with Hot Hands (Hot Hands do much better with mittens) Socks and boots.

Bike
Windshield, Guard Chaps, Fangs

That is comfortable for Winters here. But truth be told if I am just riding a few errand miles and not on a 100 mile ride to the VA in Charleston. I don't bother taking the time to dress for the weather. I choose another vehicle. 30 mils or so is not worth the time to bundle up and having to deal with dragging all the stuff around when I get off the bike.

 

yeah, I wear wool socks too........under my bunny slippers when I ride..........

 

Like they told us during Arctic training in Norway "There's no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing".

The cold is like water, it will find a way into the one weak spot you have in your whole set up and make the entire ride miserable.