Keeping Warm On A Cold Construction Site

If you’ve spent a decent amount of time on a construction site then you understand how important it is to prepare for cold weather. Nobody wants to get caught outside in 20-degree weather with just a t-shirt and jeans on.

Tips For Keeping Yourself Warm

You probably already have enough base clothing items to stay fairly comfortable during the winter months, but here are some extra tips for staying comfortable during those extra cold days:

Hats and hard hat liners

You’ve heard that you lose a lot of heat through your head. Well, it’s true, but not because there’s anything particularly temperature sensitive about your head; it just happens to typically be the most exposed part of your body.

Think about it: you cover everything else up from head-to-toe except for your head. There are several ways to keep your head warm. You can invest in a comfortable beanie if you don’t typically need a hard hat. If you do wear a hard hat, a liner will do wonders for keeping you warm. If you’re working on top of a hill or another really windy area, you may want to invest in a liner that covers your entire face except for around your eyes. This will help keep the majority of your face and even your neck warm when it’s blisteringly cold out. The best part is you can find these liners for less than $10 – definitely worth the investment.

Keep your extremities warm to heat up your whole body

Just like your head is the reason for losing a lot of heat, it’s also easy to lose heat in other uncovered or barely covered areas. This is especially true for your extremities–your hands and your feet (yes, your feet).

Chances are good that you already have a pair of work gloves. However, many workers make the mistake of buying gloves that are durable but not warm. These thinner gloves may keep you warm enough while you’re moving around but if you sit idle for any period of time then you’re probably going to feel it. If you depend on a particular type of lightweight work gloves, then consider getting a thin pair of gloves to go under them – that extra layer will provide a surprising amount of warmth for you.

The same goes for your feet. If you’ve ever purchased a pair of high-quality boots then you already know how much of a difference they can make. Ideally, you’ll have a pair of warm weather (heavier) and cold weather (lighter) boots, but we understand that’s not likely for most people. If you can’t get two pairs of boots for each season, then just focus on getting a dependable boot that is waterproof. This will keep you dry and warm if you have to work or walk through any wet areas.

Good quality outerwear and core clothing

Just like it’s important to buy a good quality pair of boots, you should also invest in good quality and durable outerwear and core clothing. Keeping your core warm is very important for your overall body temperature. Are you using a jacket that your construction company gave you a couple years ago?

Chances are good that the jacket isn’t cutting it anymore (and probably never really was). Good outerwear is surprisingly versatile. It can be warm but breathable on cold days or you can use buttons, zippers and other features to keep all of your warmth in on really cold days.

Stay Prepared To Stay Warm

The less you have to worry about the cold weather, the more work you can get done and also the less risk you have of getting sick (and missing work days). So, invest a little money in good quality outerwear, boots, and accessories, and you’ll be grateful on those freezing, windy days that make you feel like an ice cube. The best protection from cold weather is to be prepared.