What advice for playing outside when it's cold?

GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Sep 18 2016 12:04 PM

Have some opportunities to play outside in January through March in SoCal. Figure temps in the 40s and 50s.

Thanks!

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Sep 18 2016 01:02 PM

Like Mom always said, wear layers. The main problem for doing anything outside in the cold is keeping your fingers warm. I've worked outdoors for many years and need my fingers free for working with small parts and tools. If you're doing multiple sets, some hand warmers in your jacket pockets will bring the feeling back.

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Las_Barracudas

Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
United States

Posted on Sep 18 2016 03:08 PM

Hand warmers and gloves until gig time.

—

METEOR IV on reverbnation

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wfoguy

Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2136
United States

Posted on Sep 18 2016 08:12 PM

Practice saying: oh no! Oh no! I can't do much at those temps anymore. Age related. I do know that if you maintain your core body temp, that the extremities will do better. This is from years of motorcycling with all kinds of gear so my advice would be to invest in some good clothing that doesn't inhibit you playing.

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 18 2016 09:08 PM

You might also consider feet warmers from Heat Factory. The are similar to hand warmers already mentioned. Wear head cover and scarf to keep body temperature from escaping. If you visit Lake arrowhead or big Bear often a pair of warm Columbia or Eddie Bauer boots are a good investment. Hope this is helpful.

—

Happy Sunsets!

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Sep 18 2016 09:50 PM

You aren't going to get too cold when playing, but staying warm before playing should be your biggest concern. Even if it means not watching an opening band, layering, exercising, anything!

40-50s is probably too warm(50s shouldn't cause your hands to become less useful), but companies like Nike/Under Armor make base layers that keep you really warm. Think modern long johns/thermal shirts, way more effective. Honestly that is all you will need. I wear those to play soccer when in the low 30s and I overheat.

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shake_n_stomp

Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 621
Vancouver BC
Canada

Posted on Sep 19 2016 07:40 AM

I've had a particular recurring gig for the past 17yrs in April here in the seaside dampness of Vancouver with the Arctic inflows still blowing through occasionally.
Good sleep, soup (w/meat), hat, gloves during load-in and downtimes, dressing in layers including liner socks, and a flask of tea. Cool winds and dampness are tough to deal with. This gig is without breaks and I play from 08:45 to noon (during the event, which is a 10km run) so standing on a fatigue mat also has the benefit of this insulating my feet from the concrete driving the cold up through my shoes/boots.

—

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 19 2016 11:35 AM

Great advice so far. When you're layering you want the base layer hang tags to say the material wicks moisture away from the skin. Dry skin is warmer than wet skin. For better advice check with your local sporting goods shop REI probably your best bet.

—

Happy Sunsets!

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Sep 19 2016 11:38 AM

Cognac. Not the cheap stuff.

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Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Sep 19 2016 05:14 PM

Gilette wrote:

Cognac. Not the cheap stuff.

Drinking before and during the show.....no chance of anything going wrong with that!

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2387
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Sep 20 2016 01:39 AM

This is a good topic for people in cold climates, and there have been some great responses. That said, ....Jeez-Louise! Temperatures in the 40's and 50's? You're in California! Really???

—

Bob

Last edited: Sep 20, 2016 01:44:04

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 20 2016 08:52 AM

The OP lives at the base of our local mountains. Within a short drive to snow and small ski resorts.

—

Happy Sunsets!

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Sep 21 2016 06:52 AM

I've played in the cold outdoors and found it didn't matter what I wore, once the guitar gets cold, your hands and fingers get very cold no matter what.

So my advice would be to try and keep your guitar warm for as long as possible, with maybe a spare warm one if that's possible. There is the problem of tuning as it cools to deal with as well.

Try to avoid starting with a cold guitar. You may be able to keep warm by jumping around a lot...

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

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GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Sep 18 2016 12:04 PM Have some opportunities to play outside in January through March in SoCal. Figure temps in the 40s and 50s. Thanks! Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Sep 18 2016 01:02 PM Like Mom always said, wear layers. The main problem for doing anything outside in the cold is keeping your fingers warm. I've worked outdoors for many years and need my fingers free for working with small parts and tools. If you're doing multiple sets, some hand warmers in your jacket pockets will bring the feeling back. Top
Las_Barracudas Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC	Posted on Sep 18 2016 03:08 PM Hand warmers and gloves until gig time. — METEOR IV on reverbnation Top
wfoguy Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2136	Posted on Sep 18 2016 08:12 PM Practice saying: oh no! Oh no! I can't do much at those temps anymore. Age related. I do know that if you maintain your core body temp, that the extremities will do better. This is from years of motorcycling with all kinds of gear so my advice would be to invest in some good clothing that doesn't inhibit you playing. Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Sep 18 2016 09:08 PM You might also consider feet warmers from Heat Factory. The are similar to hand warmers already mentioned. Wear head cover and scarf to keep body temperature from escaping. If you visit Lake arrowhead or big Bear often a pair of warm Columbia or Eddie Bauer boots are a good investment. Hope this is helpful. — Happy Sunsets! Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Sep 18 2016 09:50 PM You aren't going to get too cold when playing, but staying warm before playing should be your biggest concern. Even if it means not watching an opening band, layering, exercising, anything! 40-50s is probably too warm(50s shouldn't cause your hands to become less useful), but companies like Nike/Under Armor make base layers that keep you really warm. Think modern long johns/thermal shirts, way more effective. Honestly that is all you will need. I wear those to play soccer when in the low 30s and I overheat. Top
shake_n_stomp Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 621 Vancouver BC	Posted on Sep 19 2016 07:40 AM I've had a particular recurring gig for the past 17yrs in April here in the seaside dampness of Vancouver with the Arctic inflows still blowing through occasionally. Good sleep, soup (w/meat), hat, gloves during load-in and downtimes, dressing in layers including liner socks, and a flask of tea. Cool winds and dampness are tough to deal with. This gig is without breaks and I play from 08:45 to noon (during the event, which is a 10km run) so standing on a fatigue mat also has the benefit of this insulating my feet from the concrete driving the cold up through my shoes/boots. — Lorne The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers Vancouver BC Canada Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Sep 19 2016 11:35 AM Great advice so far. When you're layering you want the base layer hang tags to say the material wicks moisture away from the skin. Dry skin is warmer than wet skin. For better advice check with your local sporting goods shop REI probably your best bet. — Happy Sunsets! Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Sep 19 2016 11:38 AM Cognac. Not the cheap stuff. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Sep 19 2016 05:14 PM Gilette wrote: Cognac. Not the cheap stuff. Drinking before and during the show.....no chance of anything going wrong with that! Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2387 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Sep 20 2016 01:39 AM This is a good topic for people in cold climates, and there have been some great responses. That said, ....Jeez-Louise! Temperatures in the 40's and 50's? You're in California! Really??? — Bob Last edited: Sep 20, 2016 01:44:04 Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Sep 20 2016 08:52 AM The OP lives at the base of our local mountains. Within a short drive to snow and small ski resorts. — Happy Sunsets! Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Sep 21 2016 06:52 AM I've played in the cold outdoors and found it didn't matter what I wore, once the guitar gets cold, your hands and fingers get very cold no matter what. So my advice would be to try and keep your guitar warm for as long as possible, with maybe a spare warm one if that's possible. There is the problem of tuning as it cools to deal with as well. Try to avoid starting with a cold guitar. You may be able to keep warm by jumping around a lot... — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top

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What advice for playing outside when it's cold?