Open Association of Landscape Industries
Wet weather gear
I seem to remember this was one of the "disappeared" threads, so I thought I'd resurrect it ....
What sort of wet weather gear do you guys use ? Has anyone found a "breathable" fabric that actually works whilst gardening ? I always find that working at anything even vaguely strenuous in rain generates far more heat than any breathable fabric seems able to disippate, and the atmosphere inside the coat is little drier than ouside! Its almost worthless! Admittedly I haven't tried some of the more exotic stuff - the sorts of things that cost hundreds of pounds in outdoor shops - but I don't want to spend that sort of cash on something thats going to be covered in mud....
Do you bother with coats at all?
What sort of wet weather gear do you guys use ? Has anyone found a "breathable" fabric that actually works whilst gardening ? I always find that working at anything even vaguely strenuous in rain generates far more heat than any breathable fabric seems able to disippate, and the atmosphere inside the coat is little drier than ouside! Its almost worthless! Admittedly I haven't tried some of the more exotic stuff - the sorts of things that cost hundreds of pounds in outdoor shops - but I don't want to spend that sort of cash on something thats going to be covered in mud....
Do you bother with coats at all?
Replies to This Discussion
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
I remember when I started (19 years of age) I would go to work in a T shirt whatever the weather and even if it was raining, I would prefer not to wear a coat.
I took the view that you could only get wet once and I would try to stay warm through activity.
I am still very much the same but I avoid starting if it is too wet but I will continue if it rains when I am out.
I remember plastering what is now my bedroom after Christmas in minus five degrees. Although it was indoors and dry, I could not escape the wind chill factor. However, I could not work with gloves or a coat either and I still remember the pain as I dipped my hand in the icy water to damp my plastering sponge down.
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Permalink Reply by Bird Garden Design on -
I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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Permalink Reply by Classic Gardens on -
I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
Bird said:I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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Permalink Reply by Bird Garden Design on
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Well, we stopped due to the site becoming a hazard as it's on a steepish gradient. We're also having to take the spoil through the utility room of the house and the mud is a problem, so best to call it a day really... the additional work created by 'toughing' it out makes no sense to me - what you gain by carrying on, you lose by the additional clean-up.
martin said:I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
Bird said:I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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Permalink Reply by steve loftus on -
general winter attire would consist of long-johns,work trousers(strauss direct),t shirt,shirt,fleece(craghopper/berghaus), in extreme rain i have a regatta jacket and trousers(£70),but would rather work without the restriction of the jacket,as the rain never really gets through all the layers,more often meets with the sweat going outwards.
top tip,wear layers in winter,and keep a set of dry trousers/jumper in a bin bag in the van......and drive home smugly from site while your workmates shiver and cower by the heater vents in the van.
peter storm and craghopper do quick dry trousers,peter storm are cheaper(£29),they work,but the crutch seam tends to go,whereas craghoppers will cost an extra tenner(£39),with a 3 year warranty i think,both available at millets
our work uniform trousers come from strauss-direct.co.uk at around £30
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Permalink Reply by Vanessa Langford on -
I wear lots of layers in the winter and remove them as I get warmer.
In the wet...wellies are a must...I've got a thin waterproof and windproof jacket that I chuck on if it gets too wet...but I generally wimp out if it's more than drizzle...
In super cold weather I take a flask or 2 with me with hot soup and coffee and add a pair of long socks to my attire...then I can hardly move!!! It doesn't take too long to warm up.
I also,like Steve L,take spare dry clothes with me in my work vehicle...just in case...you never know,that pond your clearing out may just jump over the top of your wellies/waders and then you've got wet feet all day :o(
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Permalink Reply by Classic Gardens on
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I wish i could take the time off when it rains! We dont do landscaping only garden contracts so mud and mess isnt really an issue.
Bird said:Well, we stopped due to the site becoming a hazard as it's on a steepish gradient. We're also having to take the spoil through the utility room of the house and the mud is a problem, so best to call it a day really... the additional work created by 'toughing' it out makes no sense to me - what you gain by carrying on, you lose by the additional clean-up.
martin said:I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
Bird said:I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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Permalink Reply by Bird Garden Design on
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Gah! I'm beginning to feel like a wimp here lol
If we put the tools down it's invariably due to conditions underfoot and the problems and hazards it creates on site. From painful experience, slippery clay can be a death trap when you're lugging materials around by hand. I always look at downtime caused by weather as a good opportunity to work on quotes, garden designs, accounts etc. Also, customers appreciate you not turning their property into a quagmire by driving heavy plant over the garden... we get quite a lot of recommendations due to site tidiness and minimal making good. It certainly works for me!
Anyway - back on topic, I'd wholeheartedly recommend a softshell fleece... they are surprisingly waterproof and breathable.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
"I am about to dive into a wildlife pond!"
A wetsuit probably :)
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Permalink Reply by James Hall on -
I normally wear a cheap fleece from decathlon, I bought 3 for £20 and had them embroidered up with my logo, only cost a few pence each so really look the part.
They tend to keep off a small shower or drizzle.
Any general jobs i need to do in the rain, i invested in a Timberland Pro Gore Tex jacket, absoultly brilliant but cost me a small fortune!! £130!! Well worth it. Also has a fleece collar and waterproof pockets and a great storm hood. I really couldn`t recomend it highly enough. I got mine in the sale at Arco, should have been nearly double that!! Think its the 901 model.
I`ve been a greenkeeper for 10 years, so over time i`ve tried almost everything on the market to keep me warm and dry whilst sat on a mower in the wet for 8-12 hours.
If you really have to work in the rain doing hard landscaping, try a product called grundins(??) They are a thick, very hard wearing waterproof, but don`t give great comfort or flexability, but they wont let a drop through. If you get covered in mud, you can hose down or jet wash down and they will be dry by morning if hung in your garage or van.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Britten on -
being a bit of a wuss, I don't like to work in the wet. It compresses the soil and makes a nasty mess. I'm with mr V. if it's raining before I go out I don't go. If it rains while I'm out, I take refuge under a tree. I wear 2 fleeces, one with a hood, and if it's really bad I'll put on a hat, nice warm fleecy one hubby got from the local rugby club. Thermals and tough jeans and a superb pair of walking boots lined with sheepskin. I can move about, bend down and dig comfortably and take the top layer off if it gets too wet. Always got a spare fleece in the car. Gloves are always double, a cheap cotton pair for warmth, then a pair of mens rubber ones over the top. I can still do the finer weeding,and can pick up and pull all the thorny stuff like bramble. The VERY worst thing to be trying to prune is pyracantha - just goes through anything on yer hands!!!All go into the washing machine as soon as I get in, and then tumbled in the morning so it is toastie to put back on. Would appreciate SOME dry weather this year tho'!!!!
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Permalink Reply by James Hall on
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