UKC

od evening,

Please find a previous post. I couldn't thank you guys enough for the fantastic help and advice.!! As this was a few years back and I know gear has changed and improved. I was hoping my updating my post I could kindly ask for some further help and advice please.?
 

Due to health issues I now have to use a motorised wheelchair all the time. This brings it's own problems however the main problem I'm facing is feeling cold. I'm currently considering the Montane Anti freeze xt hoodie & the Patagonia down sweater. I previously owed a rab electron pro which was a fantastic jacket however I found it hurt under my arms! I'm not sure if this is because I'm obviously in a seating situation or another reason. I have read several posts commenting on tight arm holes especially around the arm pits, I sadly couldn't live with it and returned it. As I can't really produce my own body heat I'm thinking a belay jacket or a something with a higher fill weight similar to the electron  may help. Could you kindly give me a few suggestions on jackets that maybe suitable.?ideally I would prefer a lightweight jacket with a hood. I have a budget of £450 and would be more than happy to spend this for the correct Jacket.

Finally I would also like to apologise for posting this on a climbing forum, However I feel you guy's would be the best and most knowledgeable when it comes to this sort of gear request.

Thank you  and a happy new year to you and family. X

You don't say where in the country you are but I would say much the same thing that is often said when people are asking about footwear.

Go to one of the specialist shops, explain your situation and try some things on, as you know the fit can be very different when you are seated all the time.

I would suggest Outside in Hathersage or Needlesports in Keswick but am aware they could be hundreds of miles from you.

With your suggested budget they should be able to help you get suitable clothing.

I'm familiar with the problem. I've worn 7+ insulating layers and still been shivering on my scooter. Although I haven't tried one myself (friends have praised), heated jackets might offer some solution for us.

One thing I've found, which I guess is quite obvious, is that slowing down, as frustrating as that may be, will make a big difference. Sometimes I just have to act like a lizard and find a sheltered sunny spot and angle myself towards the sun until I'm warm enough to move again  

Jamming a handwarmer into a glove helps. Not sure about wheelchair, but on scooter your arms and hands are quite exposed on the handlebars so I wondered if some of those handlebar type gloves used by kayakers and cycle couriers (are they called pogies maybe?) could be useful.

Sorry, that was just general advice rather than an answer to your question.

I guess on a wheelchair you don't have a windshield at the front protecting your legs like some scooters do so getting some good windproofing and insulation on your lower half might keep you more comfy.

Good morning Charcot, I don't have a direct answer to your query, but rather suggest another avenue of research. Perhaps post the same query on some carp fishing forums? Those folks sit around for hours in poor weather, immobile whilst waiting for a nibble. 

I had a look myself a few days ago, window shopping for a synthetic, ultra warm jacket. There are loads to choose from, and I suppose that like climbers, the forum folk are happy to share experiences and advice. 

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2025, julian

Hello & happy new year.

I'm not sure if this was a request, but your previous threads are here:

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=752548
https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/powered_wheelchair_user_some_help_pl...
https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/wheelchair_user_looking_some_help-75...

Something that doesn't seem to have been touched on much is what's underneath/behind you (and the clothes you are wearing).  What's the chair itself like, in terms of thermal conductivity?

Same principle as a sleeping mat is what I'm thinking.  I once froze myself half to death when I made a schoolboy error and bivvied in a hammock in a lovely warm sleeping bag but without using a mat.  I'd failed to realise that even though I was off the ground the bag being compressed underneath my body meant hardly any insulation on that side - just some squashed down and a few layers of thin fabric between me and the cold, cold air.

If the wind is whistling through underneath the seat might it be worth exploring options to insulate the chair itself a bit better, perhaps with some old-school closed cell foam like a carrymat?

For reference, here are the previous posts:

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/disabled_powered_wheelchair_user-752...

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/gear/powered_wheelchair_user_some_help_pl...

The copious amounts of alcohol goes a long way into keeping them warm i think.

OP, assuming you don't struggle with electric charge, a heated seat cover would go a long way into keeping you warm and producing heat for your clothes to capture in.

12v ones are selling in Aldi as we speak for under a tenner. I chopped off the cigarette plug and wired it directly to the batteries (via a fuse) and it works well enough for the money. Power consumption is laughably low, averaging under an Amp.

There's some pricier better ones to be had if you try the cheapo Aldi one and find it works for you. Also there's 24v versions if that's what you are running in your chair

I'd recommend looking at alpkit down jackets. https://alpkit.com/collections/mens-insulated-jackets

As you mentioned the fit was an issue they have a tailor service. Usually for repairs, but I know they have adjusted items for people.https://alpkit.com/pages/repair-station

Looking on their website the best option would be to give your local alpkit shop a call and discuss your requirements with them.

Best of luck 

One of those sounds like a great idea. I've had enough epics related to scooter batteries conking out unexpectedly so I'd rather power extra stuff off a power bank if that is possible though.

Provided the bank has enough capacity it should be perfectly possible.

Heated seats are somewhere between 20w and 30w. That's a maximum use of 2 to 3 amps per hour at 12v. Multiply the hours use you  want out of it and should give you a ballpark battery size.

For example, 5 hours of toastiness on a 30w seat would need a 15ah battery

My experience is that even if my legs don't themselves feel cold, having very warm trousers massively helps in keeping up overall body warmth and especially feet warm. 

I use a pair of Aldi padded snowboarding trousers because they are so cheap. They are superb but I'm sure higher quality padded trousers or salopettes  would be even better.

Electrically heated workwear might help. I’ve no experience of it myself though.

https://www.screwfix.com/c/safety-workwear/womens-heated-workwear/cat158300...

Salopettes would also add a bit of extra warmth over the body, which would be a good thing. Also, ski trousers and salopettes have higher waistlines than ordinary trousers, which I imagine would be more comfortable when sitting in a chair all/most of the time.

Someone else mentioned fishing gear: this is not ridiculous. My Dad works as a sound recordist for TV, and has spent many hours standing around outdoors trying to avoid getting cold. He too went to a fishing shop to get warm clothes. 

Another thought is shoes: go half or a whole size bigger so that you can fit thick warm wool socks in them without squashing your toes. And consider long socks for extra warmth on the legs.