cold weather clothing

[Whiskey James SASS#85199]

Howdy all,

Just curious what was worn for extreme cold weather, mainly for the head and boots.  I shoot with the Colorado Cowboys up in Lake George, Co and it tends to get brisk up here.  I can't imagine the real cowboys not having something better than a cowboy hat in below freezing weather.  Were insulated boots or Mocs worn?

Thanks a bunch,
Whiskey James

[Deadeye Don]

St.  George will be along shortly.   

[Books OToole]

St.  George will be along shortly.  

No doubt.  Until then...

A good wool great coat over normal clothes usually works for me.  In the winter I usually fore go "cowboy" boots and switch to brogans which will accomodate much heavier socks.

Books

[Mogorilla]

A good long and wide wool scarf is great.  Hang it over your head, top it with a hat, then wrap around your neck. 

[Delmonico]

A silk scarf tied around the neck in a "cowboy turtle neck" (modern term) does better than a wool scarf.  Also a silk scarf tied under your hat tied on like an old lady allows you  to wear your hat and is warmer than a stocking cap.

Also looser fitting clothing (the way 19th century clothing should be worn) layered is good, then you can peel layers as needed.

Also don't run your heater any more than needed on the way there and only enough on the windshield to keep it clear.  Floor heat will make your feet sweat and you've already lost the battle.  It took me two days to stand being inside after Ft. Hartsuff because it was to dang warm inside.

[Pitmaster]

I have to start out with warm feet so I run the heat into my boots and put them on after arriving. I'll wear some clogs or something on the drive to the match.

[Delmonico]

I have to start out with warm feet so I run the heat into my boots and put them on after arriving. I'll wear some clogs or something on the drive to the match.

Works as long as you don't start out in the cold with damp feet.  Don't own nothing but boots so I'd have to drive barefooted.

[Pitmaster]

Works as long as you don't start out in the cold with damp feet.  Don't own nothing but boots so I'd have to drive barefooted.

I spent several hours tramping around and through 6 inches of snow in 10º weather wearing steel toed cowboy boots with cotton socks. Had a good coat on though. Guy I was with had snow boots but no zipper on his coat which wasn't that heavy. We both found out later that we considered killing the other one for the appropriate attire. We were young (1979 or so) and not very sober either. Rabbit hunting from a pickup. My feet have been sensitive to the cold ever since.

[Delmonico]

I threw away all my cotton socks about 20 years ago.  One of the worst things invented for your feet.  One should wear either wool or a synthitic that wicks all year long.  Remember what I said about wet feet, cotton socks are almost a guarentee for damp feet.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Can't remember where I found this shot from the 1880's. Possibly here.  Fur hats and coats have been in use forever.

[Whiskey James SASS#85199]

Thanks for all the feed back.  Is there anything historical on insulated boots or mocs?  I do the same thing as far as not putting on the cold weather socks and my boots until I get out, but what did they do back then for cold weather?

Thanks,
Whiskey James

[Delmonico]

Hair one buffalo hide over boots, more wool socks, wrap the boots in burlap.  Have any toes that turn black from frostbite amputated before gangre set in.  Many folks lost toes and fingers to frostbite and some died from it. 

[Professor Marvel]

Thanks for all the feed back.  Is there anything historical on insulated boots or mocs?

Greetings Mein Herr James -
Whilst I cannot attest to insulation of boots and will gladly defer to our Good Delmonico, I can wax eloquent concerning mocs and what may be called "shoe pacs" from the late Rev War and Fur trade era:

From the early days of America, the colonials were regularly vexed by cold feet as the result of walking about in short knee pants, thin stockings, and thin leather lace-up shoes. Few normal folks could afford more than one pair of shoes so it was either purchase shoe that would accomodate heavy woolen stockings and go barefoot in good weather, or suffer cold feet ( or per Valley Forge, wrap feet shoes and all in rags or sacking).

Some Colonials (many of whom were longhunter types)  then learnt to make winter mocs and / or shoe pacs from the local tribal peoples. The winter mocs or boot pacs  often consists of two pair of mocs, one larger than the other, often with some sort of insulating material in betwixt, and often the inner pair were hair-on hides such as rabbit with the fur on the inside.

These designs of self-made footware carried on into the Fur Trade era, but i have not seen any indications of them being used past that time, except by the Indigenous Peoples of the local areas. Thus, without any provenance, I would not imagine they would be in general use by the folks we are trying to portray.

There were both Canadian and Eskimo Fur Lined boots available for some time, but I am not aware of their general use in the lower 48 states. Perhaps our more Northern friends could chime in?

Rubber boots were available  since perhaps 1860? but whilst the Rubber Welly saw much use in Europe, I do not recall seeing much evidence of their use over here.

hope this helps
yhs
prof marvel

[Delmonico]

Rubber boots were available  since perhaps 1860? but whilst the Rubber Welly saw much use in Europe, I do not recall seeing much evidence of their use over here.

I've seen other pictures, but this one from Guthrie OK during the land rush is the best one I've seen.



Also they show up a lot on dry goods and hardware store lists as well as being dugup from steamboat wrecks that were headed to the mining regions.  Got some more info but I have to dig a bit cause it's not in my files, but I know where to find it.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Two large rabbit skins (one for each foot) folded around the foot and then slipped into a pair or brain tanned moose or elk skin moccasins, water proofed with a combination of tallow and grease will keep your feet warm and dry in the coldest of weather wet or dry for up to two weeks. The rabbit skins should be tanned with the whites of eggs. This will keep them supple.

The moccasins have to be brain tanned for the tallow and grease to work. I keep two pair for winter, good for a month.....when the water proofing wears off the first pair you re-apply the tallow and grease while wearing the second.

Your second option for a period correct pair of cold weather mocs would be to make a set of moccasins out of the knee of the rear legs of a buffalo..real common method among plains Indians. Again, these should be brain tanned.

Bill

[Delmonico]

A taller version from the 1886 Goodyear catalog:

[Cactus Rope]

A taller version from the 1886 Goodyear catalog:

Del
Now you tell me. Sure coulda used these at Ft. Hartsuff.

[Frenchie]

By Jove, Holmes, that's a "deerstalker" cap! And check out the cantilever design of his chair.

[Delmonico]

Accually we decided it a sun helmet, they show up in a few photos of the Oklahoma Land Rush.

[Delmonico]

Del
Now you tell me. Sure coulda used these at Ft. Hartsuff.

I need to do some research, but I understan 4 and 5 buckle overboots are period, that will be another project soon.