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What to wear when birding?! (1 Viewer)

christine

christine

Well-known member
Ok,so this sounds like an odd question,but what do you guys wear when out birding? When i was out recently i got really cold if i stayed still for more than 20 minutes,and i'd wrapped up pretty well.
So whats the standard "uniform",if there is such a thing?!!!

Christine :bounce:
 
Hi Christine,

I pretty much rely on a dark green goose-down quilted coat that I have had for years. It stops below my bum and is pretty good at keeping the cold out, along with fingered leather gloves that enable me to hold binocs and use the scope.

Lower half I make do with trousers. If it's cold enough for thermals, I don't bother as my glasses steam up too much in any case ;)
 
Over here:
couple of layers topped with 'Alpaca' wool jumpers bought in Peru! Gortex boots.Lightweight thornproof trousers and a quality fleece. If it's really cold add a gortex jacket. And always a hat in winter

Somewhere tropical:
I have two Ralph Lauren shirts one green and one brown (bought in Bangkok for £2.50 each) that I've worn for the last 8 years now! They dry in secs and keep the bugs off too!
 
At this time of year I just don't go outside to look at birds. It is too dark when I get home from work, and the snow needs shovelling anyway. But in the spring and fall I wear whatever is comfortable. We have a great chain of stores in Canada called Mountain Equipment Coop. It is a coop, and you have to be a member (costs $5) but they have great outdoor clothing. Mostly I layer, so I can shed or add more on as temperatures dictate. Stuff called polar fleece with an outer wind shell (Goretex or the like is completely waterproof but does breathe, letting moisture escape) make a wonderful combination. And there are different thicknesses of polar fleece, so something always works. They do have a web site so you can check them out if interested (and it is interesting to look anyway, because they have a world of stuff for really serious outdoorsmen).
 
I have tried to move away from the layering system of thermal - fleece-jacket. I am using at the moment montane extreme jacket which is a all in one system which has a vent system coupled with a superb degree of breathability.

I would recommend this to anyone who fancies a jacket with a difference. You can also pick these up at some bargain prices.

I also feel that in the cold weather a hat is one of the most important bits. i use a few pairs of rohan trousers which are quite good although i have never found a really good pair of winter trousers that don't make a lot of noise.

fingerless gloves are enough for me.

waterproof walking boots although i could do with some more as they have lost there qualities but you get used to them so it feels a shame to get rid.

what do you wear at the mo christine?
 
I adopt the layers approach. In really cold weather I'll wear several warm fleeces which helps keep you warm.

I'll recommend those fingerless gloves as well!! Mine have a mitten attachment for when not using the bins.

Of course a Bird Forum cap helps keep the head a little warmer!!
 
I use a fleece with waterproof outer jacket, woolen
thermal hat, fingerless mits like pete with fold back flap, when not using scope or bins. And a good pair of walking boots.
 
There is a Berghaus stretch hat. It is very thin and amzingly warm. You can wear it on it's own while active and if it gets a bit colder or you calm down slip on a normal fleece hat on top opf it. It is that thin. Millets have them.
 
I use layers. Except during the warmest summer days I have at least three layers at the upper body and two on the lower.

For example on a long winter outing in sub -20 Celsius, I wear something like 6 layers on the upper body, 4 on the lower, double gloves and extra soles in the shoes.

One of the few good things with beeing forced to spend one year in the Swedish military is that you get very good at handeling cold weather.
 
I'd have to nod approval at Berghaus as well Andrew. I picked up a fleece last year and it is absolutely the warmest thing I've ever had.
 
Got a battered old Barbour coat but planning to treat myself to a modern lightweight coat from one of Newcastle's outdoor shops soon. If it's FREEZING then i usually wear a t-shirt and a thin jumper on top of that. Walking boots or wellies if it's really wet where I'm going...usually Gosforth Park Nature Reserve! Got a lovely pair of green fishing wellies in 1985!!!! Still going strong as well and despite what most folks think...they are comfortable enough to wear all day in the field! I'll definitely shed a tear or two when it's time to replace them.....will probably recycle them as planters in the back garden LOL
Always wear gloves in the winter...just cheap thin ones as I like to still be able to write notes and do sketches...defeats the object of wearing gloves if I have to keep removing them cos they're too thick to write with!!! HATE cold fingers!!! Never really been one for wearing a hat...despite my mother-in-laws constant nagging! Got quite thick hair so don't really feel the cold.
Basically never really feel the cold....twenty-odd years birding off St Mary's Island in the middle of winter seems to have made me immune to bad weather!!!
In the summer months...jeans/lightweight walking trousers, t-shirt,walking boots or trainers...that's all!!!

GILL XXX
 
scampo said:
I was given a tip a year ago about this stuff and so, I'll pass it on:

Look into Paramo Nikwax Analogy clothing - despite the price, you'll never wear anything more comfy and longlasting:
http://www.paramo.co.uk/UK/index.html[/QUOTE]

My father wears Paramo gear and he swears by it. Unlike the gore-tex system there is nothing that damages the waterproof ability of the garments even if it is torn.

Only trouble I find with some of the walking gear is the colours, which would be fine if you want picking up off mount teide in a snow storm but i am not to sure about my local res!
Click to expand...
 
Yes - I bought mine half price because it was last year's style - but it's red and blue. Still - it doesn't seem to scare the birds away.

They do make "birding" colours, though - my son has a very cool looking and unbelievably comfy but lightweight black fleece and dark blue outer shell. They make dark green, too.

As you say, the Nikwax windproof / waterproof technlogy is unique and cannot ever wear out or become damaged.
 
Do what a lot of RSPB groups do: wear the brightest jacket you can have (borrow one off the lollipop lady if necessary), bright yellow wellies, a dayglo umbrella and a flappy-about chiffon scarf!! Accessorise with: walking cane for belting the floor of hides with, loud voice and mitchell-beezley bird guide!!
Sorry folks, I'm just being cynical at the moment.
 
Cheers folks,
Plenty to think about there,did have a look on a few websites specialising in outdoor clothing,and had chest pains when i saw the prices!!
Maybe i should stick with my old woolly coat!

Christine
 
Are you sure thats how you spell chiffon?

Oh dear rogerk it seems you are bitter and a little twisted ....take two before bed! LOL
 
Yes Christine some of it can be really expensive & I wouldn't pay a fortune, but most of my outdoor gear has come from Blacks & been a good bit cheaper as it's last years style etc.
 
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