For work or play outside in the cold, forget fashion as your #1 priority. I teach winter camping / survival to Boy Scouts and the mantra is simple:

C = Clean. Dirty insultation layers don't insulate as well as clean
O = Avoid overheating. They key to this while performing moderate to strenuos exercse is to layer your clothing. We'll cover that in a moment.
L = Layer
D= Stay dry
E = Examine clothing regularly
R = Repair clothing quickly

You should also consider that there are 3 ways your body loses heat:

1) Raditation = This is the leading cause of of heat loss. Wear an insulated hat made of wool, polarfleece, acrylic or other insulating material, with an attached breathable but windproof shell.

2) Convection = You lose heat as cold air circulates around you. You can reduce the impact by wearing both insulating layers to trap warm air and windproof layers on top of insulating to keep the cold air from "stealing your heat".

3) Conduction = This is health loss from direct contact with something cold... skin to solid surface cooling. Think about place on your body that contact your environment (Primarily hands and feet) and insulate.

OK, that's the theory. What is the practice?

Wear an base layer against your skin. These are your "long underwear". It could be made of wool or a myriad of synthetics and should be chosen based on your level of activity. A thick layer if you're largely sedentary and a thinner layer if you're very active. This layer should start insulation and also wick away moisture from your skin if you're active.

Next, wear an insulating layer. This could be fleece, a down jacket, a synthetic fill or even good old wool. The idea is to trap enough warm air to stay warm, again based on your level of activity

Finally a windproof top layer. This could be simple nylon or a fancy GoreTex coated shell. If all three layers have zippers, you can open and close things to regulate comfort.

This strategy can apply to top and bottom, where insulated boots (I like Kamik brand for no-nonsense warmth and protection from the environment) finish thing off.

Being outside in winter is not only manageable, but also can be enjoyable IF you have the right gear. If nothing else, there are no mosquitos and you can always put more on if you are cold. Not so much so in the heat of summer.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

 

Pick up a Squall jacket and a fleece vest from LE. Squall over vest makes a very light but very warm combo. Underneath the vest you wear a thermal undershirt as Wisco describes and on top of that a woolen sweater.

Heavy woolen trousers like these help a lot as well:
https://secure.armysurplusforless.com/productView.php?id=384

 

Everything Wisco says is right. The advantage of layering is its adjustability, both for any particular day and throughout the day as you and/or the outside temperature become warmer. Tomorrow about dawn, I'll begin a crosscountry ski trip at about 10,000 ft. I expect the temperature will be about 5 degrees. I'll leave the car with two layers on my lower body and four above, with a lighter hat and pair of gloves in the pack than those I will wear at first. Throughout the day, I'll mix and match.

 

Nothing is as toasty as goose down, but you don't want to wear anything too heavy or tight over it: needs to loft.

Michigan is lots fiercer than NC, but I find silk longjohns to be an excellent base layer. Not too warm indoors, but surprisingly so under, e.g., flannel trou.

 

I find silk longjohns to be an excellent base layer. Not too warm indoors, but surprisingly so under, e.g., flannel trou.

Interesting, because many experienced winter mountaineers here, including me, prefer silk instead of any of the synthetics as a base layer. When a local mountain shop closed, I bought all five remaining silk turtlenecks in my size. The first one is now in its fourth season with no discernible wear.

 

Interesting, because many experienced winter mountaineers here, including me, prefer silk instead of any of the synthetics as a base layer. When a local mountain shop closed, I bought all five remaining silk turtlenecks in my size. The first one is now in its fourth season with no discernible wear.

Godan, I also like the added advantage that it lets overgarments slide, and doesn't bunch when you're, e.g., doing some scrambling over rough trail or just getting in and out of the car

 

A simple pair of Hanes long underwear (long johns) goes a long way in chilly weather

 

Bespoke environment suit?

 

Sorry, but you can't be serious, if, indeed, you are talking about the cotton model. Then again, you live in North Carolina.

That stuff barely breathes, gets damp from sweat easily, then loses any breathing or insulating properties it might have had and doesn't dry for a long, long time, and then not until you take it off and hang it up.

I have a pair of silk long bottoms, and the guy from Colorado was spot on. That stuff is the bomb. So is Capilene from Patagonia--I bought a bunch a couple years back from the Orvis tent sale and am pretty much set for life. The only kind of cotton underwear one should consider for the cold is Norwegian fish net. I don't even know if they make it anymore, but you wear it under the Capilene or silk, which creates heat cells. Together, it's like long underwear on steroids, and only for extreme conditions. I have a top that I break out maybe twice a year. The below link has a picture of what I'm talking about near the bottom of the page:

https://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=77480

A simple pair of Hanes long underwear (long johns) goes a long way in chilly weather

 

I have a pair of silk long bottoms, and the guy from Colorado was spot on. That stuff is the bomb. So is Capilene from Patagonia--I bought a bunch a couple years back from the Orvis tent sale and am pretty much set for life. The only kind of cotton underwear one should consider for the cold is Norwegian fish net. I don't even know if they make it anymore, but you wear it under the Capilene or silk, which creates heat cells. Together, it's like long underwear on steroids, and only for extreme conditions. I have a top that I break out maybe twice a year. The below link has a picture of what I'm talking about near the bottom of the page:

https://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=77480

Yes, you can still get the Mesh underwear, even though I recommend the wool or poly variant from Aclima (The woolnet recently won the Scandinavian Outdoot Award in the overall category). Keeps you warm, while not getting clammy, as the mesh "distributes" the perspiration. Might be hard to get ahold of in the US though. You can find their website here: https://www.aclima.no/

 

Yeah, the problem with cotton long johns (and down) is that if they get wet, they are useless.

 

Pretty much everything that has been said is spot on. I'm an avid duck hunter and all of this comes in to play. You're scrambling in the morning to find a good spot, set up decoys and set up your blind all while wading around in a frigid body of water at 4am. After that, you just sit for hours with very little movement. Layering is key. I wear a silk top and bottom base layer as well as sock liners. Mid-layers consist of several layers of (thick) wool and then topped off with a waxed-cotton shell. Boots are usually waders, but if I'll be dry most of the time I'll wear a pair of pac-boots.

For general wear in the cold weather, I'd recommend a pair of heavy wool pants (surplus or Cabela's, etc) wool flannel button-down, a sweater and a decent canvas barn coat or wool mackinaw over a silk base layer and some insulated bean boots or even insulated rubber boots. On your head I like a wool Stormy Kromer hat or even a Mad Bomber hat (rabbit fur version). For gloves, you can't beat chopper mitts. They're deerskin mitten shells with a removable wool liner.

 

I really echo what else has been said. As a long time boy scout myself, and son to an Eagle Scout this is all the stuff we were taught. I also played baseball my whole life and the coach doesn't care if its 15 degrees out in January, we are still playing. Layering is important, and the base layer is probably most important. Please spend the money once and get a good set of silk long underwear, cotton is next to useless as you sweat. Also, you have to insulate feet hands and head from heat loss. I wear some leather Red Wing boots, ski socks, good gloves and a hat(typically a beaver fedora that is satin lined, it holds heat well). The way I always looked at it is your base layer holds heat and wicks moisture, the next layer holds and generates heat and your top layer water proofs and wind proofs. As for gear, silk long johns, and I like flannel lined khakis if I have to look presentable outside and its real cold. I like to wear a button down and a sweater and a good coat. For me the coat is either a Carhartt quilted jacket if I'm casual or an insulated all wool peacoat if I need to dress it up some. If its real cold and nasty I'll wear my ski jacket. I would say above everything, staying dry is the #1 most important aspect and you should take extra care to wear clothing that will keep you dry while you are outside, and items that dry quickly when you get indoors.

 

A GREAT winter hat is the Filson Tin Cloth Insulated Packer Hat (mine is an older version in oiled green cover cloth which I consider better, but...):



The brim extends far enough to keep snow off your glasses and hair, the (more or less waterproof) crown has quilted insulation and the attached woolen ear muffs will actually fully cover your ears. All these attributes are, IME, lacking or inferior in the Stormey Kromer cap.

For below-zero cold consider the wool/shearling Filson Double Mackinaw Cap which has thick (real) shearling ear flaps and extra insulation in the crown:


Both are guaranteed to make you look like a geek but that's the nature of a lot of truly warm and protective clothing.

 

+1 what everybody said. Just remember, Cotton is "the cloth of death." Once you sweat, it becomes worse than useless. For the most part, layering in the way to go--provided you can take it off. It's easy to overheat, sweat, chill if you are cross country skiing or running and are over layered. In my younger days, I once ran 10 miles on a windless 10 below zero day wearing only nylon shorts, poly undershirt and a microfiber running suit (ok, I placed a little strategic insulation) and was sweating at the end. I burned calories then.
But there are times when you won't be moving much and it's damn cold and windy. A Canada Goose down parka is made for those days. Don't forget hands and feet. Thin glove liners make a tremendous difference and will let you wear a thinner outer glove--handy if you're taking pictures or preparing to shoot something. I just ordered a pair of Russell "Uplander" boots with 400 of Thinsulate around the foot, since 200 isn't warm enough to stand around in at 5 degrees.

Also let me plug the Storm System fabrics by Loro Piana. They are totally windproof and a great top layer.

 

Thank you for all the valuable information and insight. Are there anymore specific product recommendations that are reasonably priced?

 

For general wear in the cold weather, I'd recommend a pair of heavy wool pants (surplus or Cabela's, etc) .

This thread is interesting because of the general agreement about layering and the varied experiences and situations that have brought many of us to the same conclusion. My thrift/surplus wool pants have cotton waistbands and heavy cotton pockets with all of the bad qualities of wet cotton in the cold. As many know, changing layers on the lower body is not easy. On skis, in deep snow, taking pants, boots, etc., on and off can be an adventure. I finally migrated to synthetics, and I can especially recommend models with zippered vents inside the legs and through the crotch area. Mine were purchased at REI, pretty much on hope, because they looked interesting and would fit without alteration. On two trips this season, including five hours this morning, the venting system worked very well over silk longjohns. If anyone else has experience with vented ski pants, I would be grateful to hear.

 

My thrift/surplus wool pants have cotton waistbands and heavy cotton pockets with all of the bad qualities of wet cotton in the cold. As many know, changing layers on the lower body is not easy. On skis, in deep snow, taking pants, boots, etc., on and off can be an adventure. I finally migrated to synthetics, and I can especially recommend models with zippered vents inside the legs and through the crotch area. Mine were purchased at REI, pretty much on hope, because they looked interesting and would fit without alteration. On two trips this season, including five hours this morning, the venting system worked very well over silk longjohns. If anyone else has experience with vented ski pants, I would be grateful to hear.

That's interesting. I've worn wool pants for years in the cold and the waistband and pockets have never been an issue. Granted, I don't wear them without base layers. I'd like to point out that cotton isn't as terrible or deadly as some post make it out to be. It's fine for MID layers where it isn't touching your body or an OUTER layer where a tightly woven cotton fabric can cut wind and some water. For example, I've had good experiences with a Duofold union suit (cotton inner layer, cotton wool blend outer layer), but always worn over a silk base.

As far as synthetics, I've tried and use some sparingly but they always trail natural fabrics when it comes to longevity, feel and silence. Anything Gore-tex I've ever owned has never lasted more than a season (breathable waders? Ha!), feels like wearing a garbage bag and sounds like wearing a cellophane suit. I'm sure that for very specialized uses, synthetics are unmatched but in general, I find them an inferior choice.