There’s an old saying, “You get what you pay for.” Nowhere is this statement more true than in trucking. Work gloves that cost $10.00 for 3 pairs are great for gardening, or other yard work, but in trucking, you’ll be lucky if all 3 pairs last 2 days. A good pair of winter work gloves run about $15.00 a pair, and they are lined with fake fur to keep your hands relatively warm. The best winter work gloves are very expensive, and can be hard to find, but welding supply stores will likely carry them. They have a pocket for 3 fingers and one each for your thumb and index finger and are felt lined, so your hands will stay nice and toasty all day. These are the same gloves hydro linesman use outside in the winter all day. It’s also a good idea to wear a pair of latex surgical gloves under your work gloves to help keep your hands dry.
You can get a pair of winter work boots for under $20.00, but they won’t keep your feet very warm, especially on the prairies. Shell out the money, and get a pair that are winter rated – certified to -100°C. Make sure they come up your leg about a foot, and they have steel toes. It’ll never get that cold, but no matter how cold it does get, your feet will be toasty warm and well protected.
As 25% of your body heat is lost through your head, get a good wooden winter hat (toque) that fits properly and covers your ears. Better still, get a balaclava that covers your head and face, with holes for your eyes and mouth. If you need to wear a hard hat, get a woollen hard hat liner with ear flaps to prevent frostbite on your ears.
Now that we have the extremities covered, pardon the pun, what about your core? Get a few pairs of good quality thermal underwear. Any outdoor sporting goods store will carry them. Again, if you’re working outside, in addition to the long underwear, get a pair of safety striped winter coveralls, or good quality safety snow pants with a winter safety striped jacket. Dressed head to toe in these items may make you look silly, but you will be safe and warm, and that’s what’s most important.
