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Nakomas wrote:
Ashley Waterstein wrote: After reviewing the answers to my previous post about imaging from indoors, I've decided to stay with the scope during planetary imaging like I always have. There is something I'm wondering about though. As I mentioned before, it gets very cold here during the Wintertime and I really haven't found a good (and cheap) solution for keeping the cold away for extended periods (2-3 hours below freezing)) when I'm at the scope. At my local department store the other day, I got to looking at sleeping bags. I notice different types have temperature ratings down to 15 deg F. This might be the solution I need. Can a sleeping bag be modified to turn it into a suit? This would basically involve cutting holes in it for the arms and legs I would think or maybe there's a better way. Or, does anyone know actual outdoor clothing that would do the equivalent to what a sleeping bag does? I think I've seen a sleeping bag/jacket combination touted in a past issue of Backpacker Magazine (within the last year or two). Check your local library. .... A good used -30 snow mobiler's suit with hood! Get it oversized. Or downhill skiwear, if you have some of that around. I have a Head Thinsulate/Goretex coat that would be great for this purpose, if I also had insulated pants. Incidentally, take a hint from backpackers. Dress in layers that you put on and take off as temperatures change. Wear acrylic, silk, or wool underwear and socks. Don't wear cotton underwear or clothing, as it doesn't insulate when it gets damp. Bring a thermos of a hot beverage along. -- Pat O'Connell [note munged EMail address] Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints, Kill nothing but vandals... |
#12
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I'm a great believer in down clothing. It used to be terribly expensive
when it was used purely for high altitude mountaineering. But when down jackets became fashionable the price dropped dramatically for what are still superbly warm jackets. My wife has just reminded me that I now have 12 duvet (down) jackets! No mention of how many down waitcoats I own though. ;-) I hate feeling bundled up in multiple layers of clothing. Down is the lightest and most flexible filling available. For moderate cold down to -10C I wear a t-shirt and thin jumper. Wadding insulated trousers and a down waistcoat under a down jacket. I don't usually bother with the down hoods because I get too warm! Despite sitting almost still for hours staring at the same thing through the telescope. On my head I wear a woollen tea-cosy hat over a balaclava (ski hood?) The balaclava keeps the warmth inside the important neck area where you have large blood vessels and no fat to insulate. I made my own wadding jackets from sleeping bags decades ago. When I couldn't afford the real down stuff for camping & climbing in winter. Much too stiff for my liking. I'd look for down fashion jackets in slight oversizes to allow room for down waistcoats beneath. Buy the thickest, purest down jacket you can afford. You should look like the old Michelin Man with a good jacket! With good down you can't feel any feather stalks when you squash the clothing between your fingers. Duck down is good. But goose down is better. Real Eider Down will bankrupt you unless you are in the big APO league.:-) I hate gloves and usually just stuff my hands in my jacket pockets. Avoiding contact with cold metal is important. It feels more like a burn and takes half an hour to recover. My record for cold temperature observing was -22C. As measured on two digital thermometers hanging from the scope. The air temperature was slightly colder than the snow covered ground. Keeping the eyepieces clear of dew was almost impossible. My extension cable out to the telescope becomes as stiff as wire below -10C making it impossible to coil it back up until it thawed. I don't observe in cold and wind. Too much like hard work. Fortunately it is usually dead calm at these low temperatures around her. Chris.B http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/...k4/index.jhtml |
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On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 12:40:08 -0500, "Jim Miller"
wrote: go to a store that caters to hunters and get the one piece insulated overalls with a hood. these let you avoid the gap at waist that comes from wearing separate top and bottom garments as well as the gap at the shirt/hat line. they make a huge difference in comfort when in the cold. they have well designed flaps in the front to seal the zipper area. you can get different weights for different cold conditions. also an online store like www.cabelas.com carries them if a hunting store is not nearby. good luck jtm And if you are still cold in a insulated overalls.... Try Rocky® Zip-Up Heater Vest. Runs on 12volts. Item #QR-941747 At www.cabelas.com or this... http://www.fishalberta.com/multiheater/sportsman.htm Although I have never used these items myself the vest sounds intriguing. KK |
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