Testing cold weather clothing Need a blast freezer

Tue 26 May, 2015 2:31 pm

So without waiting for winter does anybody know of a company with a blast freezer that would be willing to allow people to stand around and test gear combination?
I just called Barwon Seafood as they have a very large blast freezer and the manager thought I was insane. Also he thought it would be an OH&S veto as an insurance risk etc:
-40C would be great but even -24C is OK

Tue 26 May, 2015 3:00 pm

It will always pose an OH&S issue for cold storage companies to allow non-employees into their freezer space.
Typically these spaces have a lot of lift truck movement and are not places to stand around in.

Tue 26 May, 2015 4:03 pm

Aware of that but there will be somewhere that has a friendly attitude. I just need to find them with out moving interstate
When I was working I could always use the freezer in the kitchen on fast freeze mode even it that was only -24C

Thu 28 May, 2015 11:45 am

The story goes that Jon Muir used to sleep in the freezers at Woolworths in Wollongong (which happened to be opposite the outdoors shops) prior to some of his big mountaineering trips back in the 80s.

Given the current OHS/safety legislation, I think this sort of activity is well and truly a thing of the past- even for the likes of Jon Muir.

Clarence

Thu 28 May, 2015 12:00 pm

I'm of the opinion that a lot of the current OH&S legislation if "Feel-good BS" to make politicians look like they are actually doing something
I have heard similar stories about the English climbers of the 60s and 70s too, getting jobs in freezer works and then doing job in shirt sleeves to get acclimatised

Thu 28 May, 2015 12:09 pm

The story goes two ways these days. The fact that individuals in the community have a habit of suing big on various matters can't be discounted.

Thu 28 May, 2015 12:12 pm

GPSGuided wrote:The story goes two ways these days. The fact that individuals in the community have a habit of suing big on various matters can't be discounted.

Unfortunately also true

Thu 28 May, 2015 1:40 pm

Moondog55 wrote:I'm of the opinion that a lot of the current OH&S legislation if "Feel-good BS" to make politicians look like they are actually doing something
I have heard similar stories about the English climbers of the 60s and 70s too, getting jobs in freezer works and then doing job in shirt sleeves to get acclimatised

Meh - when I worked for a food distributor I went into the freezer in street clothes occasionally. But you couldn't stay there long.
The storemen wore insulated suits, but were constantly in and out of them in Queensland climes.
Suprisingly, the cold didn't bother the freezer rats.

Thu 28 May, 2015 3:16 pm

Freezer rats develop quite thick coats, they also have fast metabolisms I think.

Fri 29 May, 2015 10:22 am

May I ask where it is that you travelling to with winter temperatures of -40C ?

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=dres ... 3&ie=UTF-8

I found some acclimatisation practices from unusual directions recently;

In recent months I was trying to get on top of High (or Proximal) Hamstring Tendinopathy (caused of running several marathons and ultras last year). Advice included icing. So, for weeks, I got around with chiller bricks in both my back pockets - at most times, including at work. As we approached Autumn, it was easier when I told myself it would also allow for me to get used to cold discomforts camping on snow in Kosciuszko.

Very recently on an overnight walk, I accidently poured boiling water across my upper thigh at dinnertime. After whinging for a while, my companions suggested I go and stand in the (Colo) River. So I did, up to my hips, and at night - this ached, and the only thing that kept me there was self-talk, saying how this would assist with the temperatures of BC XC ski trips.

Fri 29 May, 2015 10:51 am

Last year I read Scared Weird Frozen Guy , a book by Rusty Berther , half of the Scared Weird Little Guys also known as lano and Woodley
(the last bit is a joke..)
In the book Rusty told how he prepared for his Antarctic marathon run acclimatising inside a Port Melbourne freezer*.

Due to a fortunate set of circumstances involving knowing someone that knew someone...

Funny thing is that as Rusty was training along the Port Melbourne beach (he found out that running on dry snow is a bit like running on sand) a mate (with me alongside) was pulling a pretend sled along the same beach training for an Alaskan adventure.
maybe we met.

Fri 29 May, 2015 11:12 am

Canada
The annual Deep Freeze winter gathering in Algonquin Park if I can swing it with The Boss.
But even without that it is an excellent way to see how effective clothing combinations are.
When I was working [ I'm a cook and Chef ] it was easy enough to use the deep freezers at work but those are only -24C so not a real test

I don't have a real problem with dressing for -40C, even with what I already own
What I would be using it for is testing how effective each combination was to get the best bang for buck for traveling weight

Fri 29 May, 2015 11:42 am

What would be your test protocol if you can gain access to one? Just stand around for an hour?

Fri 29 May, 2015 12:46 pm

I think standing around and sitting still for an hour would be a reasonable short test. If I had access to data loggers and monitoring technology I'd swallow an RF smart pill and wear the skin temperature / HR monitor. My first step would be to wear what I would wear here for a ski touring trip and see how long it took for me to become uncomfortably cold wearing gear for -18 then see if adding a warm layer had any effect
If there was already in place a protocol for live testing and I had access to it that is what I would use of course.

Sun 31 May, 2015 2:34 pm

Sydney university School of Exercise and Sports Science (Cumberland campus, Lidcombe) has (had?) a climate chamber for just such experiments. You could contact them to see if they're interested in collaboration - it's the sort of stuff they do routinely. I don't know what the lower temperature limit would be in the chamber, but a few emails would start some conversation.

Skibug

Sun 31 May, 2015 3:05 pm

Thanx skibug I wasn't aware of that facility but USyd is a bit too far from Geelong for me.
How-ever it won't hurt to compose an email and send it off

Mon 01 Jun, 2015 3:20 pm

Just composed and sent the email. Can I get a gear check on my new winter layering ?
it's a follow on from my question about T-shirt underwear
Patagonia Cap 2 T-shirt
Katmandu Powerstretch zip neck
Montane windshirt
ALDI fleece pullover hoodie
Mont Bell LW Thermawrap parka
My old track suit top of polyester microfibre for knockabout protection
Storm parka or raincoat

Wed 03 Jun, 2015 12:41 am

Cold storage centres in Geelong...

http://www.yellowpages.com.au/search/li ... wMode=list

Wed 03 Jun, 2015 7:29 am

BTDT
None will risk the chance of being sued

Wed 03 Jun, 2015 9:11 pm

I just got a reply from the University; their environmental chamber is "Tropical" ROFL 10C to 40C

Fri 05 Jun, 2015 1:53 am

Ever thought of contacting the Antarctic Survey based in Melb.
The have acclimatisation test facilities.
I've seen ABC doco's on them in -40C in Melb at 100 kph wind speeds...

Fri 05 Jun, 2015 7:10 am

It'll cost ya!

Fri 05 Jun, 2015 7:44 am

I just checked the AAD website and it seems all training is Hobart based
If you have any information on a Melbourne facility I'd like you to share.
may years ago I knew the bloke [ Fritz from Bush & Mountain Sports} who conducted the outdoor training, that was based at Falls Creek

Fri 05 Jun, 2015 3:00 pm

GPSGuided wrote:It'll cost ya!

Yep, gov'mnt don't take taxes paid as dollars down! I will cost lots...

Mt Buller (3 hours drive) at the start of the snow season usually gets the big chills, blizzards and white outs... might be a cheaper and more enjoyable consideration?

:idea:

Tue 09 Jun, 2015 2:06 am

Saw this while reading reddit https://m.reddit.com/r/mildlyinterestin ... sting_out/

A walk-in freezer in to test cold weather gear in a clothing store - http://i.imgur.com/kg5HWBv.jpg

PIty we don't have anything like that here - I believe that is in a Canadian store.

Tue 09 Jun, 2015 2:17 am

keithy wrote:A walk-in freezer in to test cold weather gear in a clothing store

Not just a freezer. It has optional high-powered fans inside to test windchill too.

COOL!

Tue 09 Jun, 2015 8:19 am

I like that maybe we should head to Edmonton while we're over there in the USA

Sat 20 Jun, 2015 12:14 pm

Alternatively you could do what we just did, visit Phillip Island when it's 5C wet and windy.
Cecile snaffled my PCU parka and I wore my fishtail with liner It was cool to cold for 2 days until it rained and the sun came out

Sat 20 Jun, 2015 4:27 pm

Or kunanyi when it was like yesterday. Fair bit of snow on top, icy wind. Even in the warmest down jacket I own it was cold when that wind hit .

Tue 23 Jun, 2015 1:14 pm

Hey Moondog, unless your heading to antarctica that test won't give you relevant results. Get your kit on, pour a bucket of icy water over yourself and then stand in the fridge at the bottle shop in front of the outlet. Zero degrees with wind chill and wet through is a good simulation of walking up through wet undergrowth and then emerging above the treeline with a 20knot wind blowing. Here it's the wet thats gonna get ya. Dry cold is easy.

Testing cold weather clothing Need a blast freezer

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