Foul Weather Stuff

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

So, who makes the best jackets that keep rain off and are warm enough? What about the best heavy version of black pants -- do they repel rain very well?

I spent a couple years in Central New York (Syracuse area). For the "survival mode" games, I had a pretty good routine I modified from some camping trips.
On bottom, I used a pair of long compression pants, ankle socks, and then the knickers/white-striped socks, plus cleats. With multiple games like the Pop Warner sets, I would keep a change of socks for each extra game. It helped a lot to have dry socks, plus it gave me that psychological "something to look forward to". If Vegas gets really cold, I would still do two pairs of socks, and a pair of polypro long underpants under the Honigs water-repellent pants (because that's the pants I've got).
For the upper body, I used a compression shirt, long sleeved black baseball t-shirt, long sleeve stripes, and the regular Honigs jacket. In "survival mode" nobody minded that I used a pair of tan nomex aviator gloves. Plus, they provide a nice mix of warmth and dexterity. On top, I used a black balaclava and the regular hat.

Big things are redundant and replacement pairs of socks, and something to keep the water off from directly on top of your body. Do that, and don't stop moving during the game for more than a few seconds at a time. The heat you generate will move into your clothes, and with layering, you'll provide a nice cushion between you and the cold. The water will never warm up to body temperature, but at the end of the day, you should be steaming.