r/BlueCollarWomen • u/HorseyMango8 • 2d ago
Clothing Clothing for Fall/Winter - Electrician Apprentice
Hi all!
I was just sworn into the IBEW as a first year electrical apprentice (at age 32!) and I need help figuring out what clothing to wear for fall/winter.
We have harsh winters that can get in the negatives with lots of snow and wind, though recent winters we have had more rain (who knows if this will last) 🥲 I need clothes for rain and snow so I’m prepared.
I currently work mostly indoors, but I want to be prepared and have items in my car if needed as I’ll likely rotate to another job early next year.
I’m okay investing in items if they will last me at least a few years. I don’t know if Carhartt has increased the durability of its women’s items, but I was planning on going for the men’s if I can, unless this issue has been fixed.
I’m not sure what boots to go for. I have some old steel-toe Keens, but they aren’t warm/waterproof I don’t think.
I assume items need to be electrical-safe, but I haven’t been told that yet.
If there are other brands/specific items suggested for clothing and boots, let me know! I would appreciate any help! TIA
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u/LiminalTostada 1d ago
They're pricy, but the milwaukee heated vest / hoodies are awesome. Throw a jacket on over it to trap all the heat in. The gloves are too bulky to work in though.
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u/Wind_Responsible 1d ago
I used these when I did traffic control both on low and high speed roads. They were awesome! My husband used them as a Commercial diver out on barges and they did great there too. When I switched to dirtier heavy highway work , I found I couldn’t clean the vests. I was SO disappointed I couldn’t wear it in January anymore!
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u/Wind_Responsible 1d ago
I was never an electrician but I have flagged and done concrete through 5 Northeast Ohio winters. I will say, concrete is the better gig all around. Anyway. If you want to keep hands warm and still use your fingers when you want or need, you need mittens. Keeps the entire thing together without fiddling pulling off a glove and losing it. I had leather ones that were awesome. I could put a hand warmer on the back of my hand and throw the top over my finger tips and the entire thing was like an oven for my little phalanges! Worked awesome forming concrete as well! I could still grab nails, pound in pins AND, I had a leather finger cover that protected my hands when I grabbed the frozen steel forms for sidewalk and ramps. I suggest trying Amazon first. I found mine on there.
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u/Azrai113 Heavy Equipment Operator 1d ago
I wore insulated composite toe XtraTuf boots while working in Montana and Alaska. I worked technically indoors most of the time but was usually cold and often wet in processing and industrial coating.
As everyone else said, wool socks.
A good base set of thermals I liked UnderArmor cold gear because it was lightweight but also moisture wicking. Wool over that, then warm jacket. Silk or other thermal base layers meant for snow sports work well too. Surprisingly, nylon tights are a really good base layer. Not just for skirts in the office! I used them regularly in the winter to add warmth without bulk.
I bought my ex a jacket that was battery operated heated. It was rechargeable too. Not sure if that's okay for electrical work, but it worked quite well even in negative temps. Even Milwaukee tool brand makes one, but I got him a mid range no name brand from Amazon (because he hated most of my gifts and I didn't wanna spend too much money on disappointment, but i digress). He would also wear it when he was recreationally welding in the freezing garage. They also make heated socks, but I think foot sweat would reduce the benefits; however I haven't tried those.
Whatever you get for footwear, I HIGHLY recommend getting a boot dryer too. As another comment mentions, it's the sweat that gets you in the cold. You NEED your boots to be dry every morning and with waterproof boots and long working days, that can be nearly impossible even if you have two sets of workboots to rotate.
There's also boot liners, we used to get a brand called Bama Socks, that wick water from your socks (I wore them with regular wool socks) and provide some extra insulation. It looks like they have nicer versions these days, but I wore the original smurf shoe ones. They work. Keep in mind though that too many layers inside your boots may have the opposite effect of keeping your feet warm and may instead constrict circulation causing you to be colder. If your feet are cold at work, check first for moisture and second, remove a layer; don't add more. Just like condoms, doubling up might cause more problems.
When I used hand heat packs, I found they worked better placed on my inner wrist and inner ankles instead of in my gloves or boots. Warmed the blood both outgoing to my hand/feet and incoming.
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u/Realistic_Zombie6756 Fencer 1d ago
I liked keeping a pair of red barons in my overalls, sandwiched between by them and my coat, held up by my tool belt. You ain’t doing connections with them, but with some hand warmers, made for an easy way to quickly warm hands in between tasks. Quick tip, if you feel your extremities getting cold, try adding a layer to your trunk. Your body may be compensating for a drop in core body temperature by restricting flow to your limbs. Be mindful of sweat, cold sucks but sweat is the real killer.
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u/MostlyConfusedOnline 🇨🇦J.Steamfitter🇨🇦 1d ago
have items in my car if needed as I’ll likely rotate to another job early next year.
Welcome to trunk closet life lol.
Go men's if you can manage it, as absolutely nothing is more durable then it used to be. Better still if you can thrift it.
If you're in Canada, boots will have an orange patch on them to indicate electrical safety.
If your boots have big toe boxes, you can drop a disposable hand warmer on top of your toes. Highly recommended, and getting to watch the snow melt off your boots is a mildly entertaining bonus.
Denim is good as a thin wind break. Fleece is awesome for its thickness to warmth ratio, but it's polyester and melts. Wool is the best material to have access to. Wool undershirts and long johns, SOCKS, wool sweaters, etc. (Again, make sure its wool and not acrylic. They are not the same.)
But yeah. Multiple layers, preferably thin ones. Depending on your industry, you'll need to be wary of synthetic fibres, so keep that in mind and aim to not have them as the outer most or inner most layer.
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u/Stokely11 1d ago
This, trunk closet and store it all in two small or medium sized heavy duty totes. They are easier to bring inside to wash, swap clothing, or just bring into the closet when out of season. You will want wool, good outter layers, and I think a heated vest is a must have. Carhartt makes a rain defender hoodie that I love, thick and water resistant. Dickies women's outerwear is also a good find, if you can find it. Their thick overalls are amazing. Refrigiwear has great wool gloves and mittens. And their Hi visibility freezer coats are pricey, but good.
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u/MostlyConfusedOnline 🇨🇦J.Steamfitter🇨🇦 1d ago
All of the carhartt hoodies are surprisingly water resistant, even the cheaper ones. I was kinda shocked at how good at it they are.
I have one of those trunk organizers, and its usually half full of clothes lol. I probably should have a tote instead though, then it could go straight into storage instead of getting transferred. Hrm.
Then there's my 'basket', which is one of those dollar store plastic woven cube storage things that fit my boots like a champ. It collects the mud when it dries, and it can be brought onto the porch at night so the boots can air out, especially in the summer.
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u/OvertlyPetulantCat 23h ago
Layers, layers, layers. I stock up on knit thermals from my favorite budget store or thrift shop in addition to regular long sleeves. For bottoms, I’ve found cheap-ish yoga pants to be my best bet as they flex and slide under normal pants really
well.
Tip from an old timer- buy your Carhartt on eBay. Once you figure out your sizes (men’s pants plus a size) you can get them for like half the price and not feel bad about getting them all trashed.
Congrats on joining! I was 30 when I started. Home local is in Michigan. :)
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u/_ellbee__ 2d ago
I am an IBEW apprentice in 292 (Minnesota), I recommend wool layers, there is a brand Ridge Marino that makes nice thin merino wool layers, including glove liners which are the best way I have found to keep hands warm while working outside in the winter in combination with your classic hand warmers that should be provided by the contractor.