How do you keep warm when you ride?

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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Went on a hack today, I had socks, Dublin jod's which are really warm, t-shirt, fleece, waterproof coat and thick gloves. Still cold!!

What do you all wear?
 
the key is layering and picking the right fabrics.

Try a decent thermal vest instead of the t-shirt. Helly hanson do great ones, tuck it in your jodhs to avoid drafts. When it gets cold add some thermal leggings under the jodhs.

Buy some silk glove liners to wear under your normal riding gloves. Decathlon have some at the moment for £5.

On top of the thermal vest wear a microfleece or merino equivalent. You want a good tight weave to keep out wind but it needs to breathe and wick any sweat. Condensation and/or sweat will make you cold if it stays next to your skin, so avoid cotton as it stays wet for way too long.

Then choose your top layer depending upon the weather, I would ideally have a choice of:
1. Windproof outer, keeps the wind off but doesn't add much warmth, is highly breathable to keep you comfortable.
2. Waterproof outer, only use it when it is wet as this will be less breathable than say a windshirt, again get one that is think and doesn't add bulk. You can always add other layers.
3. Insulated jacket - down or similar ideally with removeable sleeves so you can wear as a gilet and ideally with a windproof outer. For really cold days either alone or under the waterproof.

You can get a few different thicknesses of thermal base layer and midlayer to vary according to the weather.

If your legs get cold add some wind and/or waterproof chaps or over trousers.

I'd buy a buff and wear this round my neck as it helps stop drafts and prevents warm air trapped between your layers escaping. It also keeps your neck warm like a scarf but is safer.

Tighten any draw cords around wrists or the bottom of your coat to prevent warm air from escaping.

Bear in mind that you will be warmer wearing one fairly light layer all over than wearing some thick items and having bare skin in places.

Buy a hat and ear warmers too as these areas leak heat when everything else is toastie warm.

Make sure your boots are warm and waterproof, get some good merino socks to keep your feet warm and comfy. Wellies or rubber boots will leave your feet freezing, and don't breath. Buy leather ones or and if you can goretex lined leather as that will waterproof them.
 
Oh and shop in hiking/outdoor shops they generally have much more technically advanced gear at better prices than tack shops.

Riding coats are particularly awful, about the only brand I would consider wearing is Musto. But your average north face, berghaus, lowe alpine coat will do the job much better at a similar price than your average horsey coat!
 
Wow!!! Lots of good advice from Katt!!!

Last year I found my toes were the problem. So I got some of those socks with toes. Bingo!!!! Warm feet. Although I can't stand wearing them any other time cos they feel so wierd, and so only put them on to ride :D
 
Yep, take your horses shoes off, clean his tack and put it away, put on your horses rug and chuck him out in the field for the winter! Honestly, works for me :)

Not much I can advise really - only things I swear by during winter are my SealSkinz gloves, Dubarry boots, cosy hat and Buff neck tube thingy.
 
Katt has virtually written a book on the subject so not sure how much I can add ;)

Lots of layers, thermals and ski socks. I generally wear thermals from October in general and not just for riding - I feel the cold... bbbbbrrrrrr.

And good quality gloves - my OH bought me a gorgeous pair of lined calf skin gloves last xmas. More expensive than I would usually go for, but they have lasted in to this winter and are well worth the money. Nice and cosy but not oo think that you can't "feel" - I hate bulky gloves.
 
I'm lucky enough to live near an outlet shopping centre & wear Helly Hansen, Tog 24 & North Face clothing, cheaper & much better than riding clothes.
I find that wearing a decent scarf makes a big difference when I ride.
Ski clothing is perfect for riding in, I wear a Helly Hanson ski jacket which is very good.
 
Katt said:
Oh and shop in hiking/outdoor shops they generally have much more technically advanced gear at better prices than tack shops.

Riding coats are particularly awful, about the only brand I would consider wearing is Musto. But your average north face, berghaus, lowe alpine coat will do the job much better at a similar price than your average horsey coat!
Click to expand...

Do you fancy a holiday in wales to come shopping with me :)
Fab advice!!! Shall have a mooch what to buy online :)
 
Def agree with plenty of trotting!

I also avoid cotton next to my skin. If you put a tech top or fleece next to your skin (tucked in) with a coat over the top then you'll be much warmer. Tech tops can be got from aldi for about £4 and a cheap fleece for about the same from primark. Brilliantly warm!
Wearing chaps or even just waterproof trousers over your jods will make a massive difference. In the coldest weather last year I had a pair of leggins, then some tracky bottoms, then my waterproof trousers. As all clothing horrors were hidden under the waterproofs it didn't look as bad as it sounds!! Super warm and comfy too!
Boots and gloves I have found to be tricky though! For yard stuff I have muck boots (ugly but oh so warm!) and I have mountain horse rimfrost riders for riding in. Not v pretty either tbh, but they are the only things that I don't have dead cold painful feet in - and no 'foot shattering' on dismounting either!. For gloves I have some ski glove liners (silk ones - TK maxx are pretty good for things like that) and I just put those £1 magic gloves over them (the chunky knitted pimple ones). Warm and certainly no worse than the much more expensive ones! I'm awful at loosing gloves too so £20 a pair ones when I just have a load of left hands left is no good!
For yard work I would go for ski gloves or mittens (mittens are warmer). Get a dark colour otherwise they look v grotty v quick! Also make sure they are big enough as snug ones won't keep your hands as warm as they can ristrict your hands a little. Always have a hat and scarf (cheap fleece ones again!) on before you leave the house. If you put them on when you start to get cold you will just stay cold!
 
lizziebell said:
Katt has virtually written a book on the subject so not sure how much I can add ;)
Click to expand...

Oops sorry - did I go on a bit :o

It comes from doing lots of winter hiking in the peak district - I'm horseless so have to get some fresh air and exercise somehow! It can get very chilly up a mountain in december!

However the fact I hike and ride means I use my kit for both and I have been amazed at the difference in availability of good well designed technical gear for riders compared to the availability for hikers and cyclists. To the extent it surprises me that the big outdoor brands have never tried to get their foot in the door with riding gear!

Anyway look out for brands like North Face, Berghaus, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, Montaine and Lowe Alpine. The Cotswold Catalogue is a good place to start as they stock lots of reliable brands and their shops are staffed by knowledgeable people. Helly Hanson are brilliant for thermals, or icebreaker if you are feeling flush! I'd recommend Smart Wool for socks.

There is something very nice about being wrapped up all snug and warm in bad weather......
 
Ayla84 said:
Do you fancy a holiday in wales to come shopping with me :)
Fab advice!!! Shall have a mooch what to buy online :)
Click to expand...

Oh in wales you are really spoilt with good shops for outdoor gear, and lots of outlets and sale shops too! I loved shopping in Betws-y-Coed. More outdoor shops than we have in the peak! And lots of bargains!
 
hehe think most things have been said but I wear:
Riding hat (obviously), buff up over back of hat to cover ears and over nose, sunglasses so wind doesn't get in my eyes and low sun doesn't bugger me, long sleeve helly, t-shirt, micro-fleece, thermal long-johns, jodphurs, lined waterproof trousers, two pairs of socks, pair of hunter wellies one size too big to allow a pocket of heat, and gloves thin then fleecy ones, body protector if its really cold and a big double layer Hi-viz jacket on top. Note: you will need a mounting block to get on!

And of course Hi-viz lined exercise sheet for horse.

Omg I love winter. I don't school at all in winter always out hacking. Its infantantly better than summer. bran mash and boiled eggs.
 
Body protectors tend to keep you warm ...as well as the obvious feature :D

Lots of thin layers, so a vest top then t-shirt and a jumper, M&S do some nice thermal type vest tops, also making sure they are long enough to cover your back and tuck down into your jods to keep any drafts out.

Usually the more expensive makes of equestrian wear use better materials that are warm and wind proof, so if your prepaired to pay a bit more you'll usually stay a bit warmer too, I have a think quilted Barber jacket (don't mean the wax type) it's really thin but by heckers, it really does keep you warm.

If you call into one of these outdoor shops chances are you'll pick up some warm windproof clothing at half the price of say Musto riding wear.
 
My winter uniform is as follows:

Berghaus long sleeved zip neck base layers - couldn't survive winter without base layers!
Musto snug Chaps - about 10 years old and only now looking ratty! Keep you warm and dry whether you are riding or mucking out.
Kyra K Edinburg coat - so old, but sooooo warm!
Various microand technical fleeces from TKMaxx and Craghoppers
Very silly looking ear warming skiing head band thing
Sealskinz/Ariat technical gloves
Two pair of socks and if really cold - a plastic bag as well!

It's a good look....!
 
Hi MagicMelon You can get SealSkinz socks aswell Thinking about getting some for work as well coz Im an engineer and its bloody freezing in the winter. If anyone wants to keep warm on the yard try Dickies thermal overalls, they are amazing, I couldnt get thru winter at work without them:)
 
I wouldn't bother with sealskinz socks unless your boots leak, you don't need waterproof socks otherwise and there are warmer alternatives.

I would go with a thin liner sock and a thick wool outer sock, making sure that neither the boots nor the socks are too tight.

If you have room in your boots you can get quilted or fleece welly liners but I'd worry about rubbing, as they aren't close fitting.

I'd also recommend thermal insoles for your boots. If you can't find them in the shops try making a cardboard insole and wrapping it with tin foil, it reflects the heat back up to your feet and prevents it leaking out through the soles and reflects the cold back out the bottom. Like putting foil behind your radiators at home. I had some foil insoles when I used to help at the riding school in my wellies as a teenager and it really did help!
 
I really believe that some of us just do feel the cold. I often wear 5 or 6 layers in the winter and i am still cold (yes they are all the recommended thermals, technical fleeces etc). I have insulated wellies and would say at this time of year the work for me, in the middle of winter my feet are cold but not as ice blocked as they would be without them! I have every conceivable item to try and keep warm but generally i am still cold. My physio recommended Ginko Biloboa (sp?) tablets to help circulation, not sure they work! My friend on the other hand is always hot so we often ride together looking like i have dressed for mid winter and she is dressed for summer! If you find anything life (and cold) changing i would be very interested to hear!:)
 
I bought some little thingys (yes that is the best word I can think of to describe them) They are like a little gel pouch small enough to fit in palm of hand. They have little button on them and when you press it they warm up I tuck them down the back of my gloves it solves the freezing fingers! I got mine from I want one of those website. You have to boil them to reactivate. But are really great. x
 
I am never cold when riding and still get hat sweat even in freezing weather lol.

I have fleece lined mark todd leather gloves and they keep my fingers from falling off :D

Plus my Toggi Heritage boots have never failed my always toasty toes either I always wear ski socks with them :D
 
The only extras I can add are my Rambo Pull ups and snow boots. The pull ups are waterproof, windproof and breathable, I wear these loads, even all day at work over just thermal long johns, they really keep my legs warm. This winter though I'm going to be wearing saloupettes to work - our freezing cold feed merchants! I bought snow boots (Hitec, nothing flashy) on ebay, and they really work at warming my feet up - couldn't ride in them though.
 
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