ask Dr.cold weather

Keeping warm and dry

2010-01-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

Here are a few tips to help you keep warm and dry in Chicago in the winter.

Dress in layers.

Several light to medium layers are best in the winter. Temperatures can fluctuate and if you dress in layers you can shed one or two layers as the temperature heats up. Then if the temperature drops you can put the layers you took off back on.

The Carhartt C72 waterproof breathable shell is a great garment for Fall, Winter, and Spring. It is wind resistant and waterproof (waterPROOF, not water resistant). It is great by itself in the Fall and Spring and you can layer underneath in the Winter. If the weather turns wet you don't have to go looking for your rain gear, you are wearing it.

Wicking is important.

The layer against you skin should have wicking properties. Even in the Winter, activity equals persperation. If you wear cotton against your skin it will absorb the persperation and if the weather cools you will feel colder because you have a damp garment close to your body. Polypropelyne base layers do not absorb the sweat but "wick" it away from your body so you are drier, warmer and more comfortable. Polypropelyne sox (sock liners) do the same for your feet.

Keep your head covered.

Heat rises. That means if you are outside in the cold weather your body heat can escape out the top of your head. A hat or cap will help keep your body heat in.

Keep moving.

Activity equals warmth. Keep walking or moving or working and you will generate some warmth. The heat is in the tools. Try to shield yourself from the wind. Try and keep exposed skin to a minimum so you don't develop frostbite.

Proper equipment.

The right equipment is essetial. If you work outside you will probably need insulated boots and thermal sox in the winter. Don't try to tough it out with your summer boots. Your feet and your comfort are important if you are outside working all day.

Who'll stop the rain Two ??

2008-09-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

When you get that downpour in July the rain is refreshing. When you get that sideways rain in October and it is 39 degrees it seems to go right through your coat, clothes, and skin. If you want to keep working in these types of conditions you will have to be prepared. Carhartt is no longer just for heavy duty construction and cold. The Carhartt waterproof breathable coat (pictured on right # C72) is hi-tech, hi-strength, breathable, and completely waterproof. It is an unlined shell so you can wear it in every season and occasion. You can buy a large enough size to layer underneath or you can get the Carhartt 3 in 1 waterproof breathable parka with the zip in - zip out liner (pictured on left # C76). Either way you can't go wrong. To keep the rest of you dry there is a waterproof breathable pant (# B216). Don't get left out in the cold, you can be prepared for anything.

Who'll stop the rain??

2008-09-12T09:56:00.001-07:00

You will if you are prepared. Fall is a time when many days will be a challenge with cooler temperatures and lots of rain. But with the recent advances in workwear and footwear you should be able to handle those 12 hour days with no sweat (literally and figuratively).

There are many options to keep your feet dry (besides staying indoors). Many work boots are now waterproof and come with or without insulation. Don't assume that all work boots are waterproof. Many are only water resistant and over time this resistance can disappear. Get yourself a waterproof boot that has a waterproof "membrane". These boots are "really waterproof", not water resistant. The boot that is pictured is the Timberland Pro waterproof 6 inch workboot. It is available in eithter a lightweight safety toe or soft toe. Either way it is guaranteed waterproof.

BRRRRR

2007-12-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Now that the cold weather has hit with a vengence, this is a good time to review what you need to know to stay warm, dry, and comfortable during the winter.

USE YOUR HEAD!

And keep it covered. Warm air rises, so if you keep your head covered you will feel warmer.

WICK, WICK, WICK!

You should wear a garment with "wicking" properties on you body. If you wear basic cotton underwear or sox, the cotton will absorb the moisture from your sweat, making you feel damp and as a result - COLDER. Use underwear and sox made of polypropelene to "wick" the moisture away from your body, making you feel drier, warmer, and more comfortable.

LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS!

If you wear two or three layers to keep warm, you will have the option to remove a layer if the weather warms up. It may be 10 degrees at 7 AM when you start, and 40 degrees by lunch time. If you have one heavy coat, it could be too warm for your coat but not warm enough to take it off. Using layers allows you to adjust to conditions that are changing. The Carhartt waterproof breathable coat (pictured at top left) is a great item for people working in changing conditions. It is a lightweight, waterproof, breathable shell that you can wear all year (even during a spring or summer rainstorm). You just buy it big enough to fit some insulating layers underneath.

WATCH THE HEAT!

If you are working both inside and out, try not to get overheated when inside because you may start to sweat making you feel colder once you get back outside (see the paragraph above about the correct underwear and sox to wick away the moisture). If you drive to work, watch the heat in your car or truck. If you get used to a heated car or truck, the weather outside may seam colder.

WE GLOVE YOU!

Try to buy gloves that are flexible enough so that you can do your work with them on. If you have to take off your gloves to work with small items you end up with cold hands and cold gloves. Try to keep your gloves on your hands and you will end up with them staying warmer for a longer time.

Staying warm while working outside in the winter is a challenge. You need the right equipment tp stay comfortable in tough conditions. This will take an investment on money and time (both of which can be in short supply from time to time). But if you invest in your comfort and safety you will probably enjoy your work more, even in the colder months.

Stay warm,

The doctor

John and Bob

2007-07-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

John needed clothing so he went to Rasenick's on North Cicero Avenue in Chicago IL. John doesn't drive so his friend Bob drove him. While John was shopping Bob asked me for a place top sit down. He said his back was "killing him". A little later John came back to where Bob was sitting and began to try on some shoes. When John was told the price of the shoe he was trying on (Wolverine # 4326 , $99.99) Bob almost had a heart attack. "I never pay any more than 20 or 30 dollars for my shoes!", said Bob. I looked at the shoes that Bob was wearing and thought that someone should be paying him for wearing the shoes that he had on. The were very scuffed, dirty, and worn out. On one of the shoes it looked like Bob was walking on the side of the shoe instead of the bottom. I told Bob the reason his back was "killing him" was he was wearing crummy shoes that did not support his feet properly. I was hoping to sell him a pair of shoes. I suggested the Timberland Pro Titan oxford # 47015 because it is lightweight but very supportive. Bob looked at the sample but didn't think he needed shoes. But he asked what the price was. Before I told him I dialed "9 - 1 - on the phone and placed my finger over the "1" because I knew that as soon as I told Bob the shoe was on sale for $89.99 I was going to need an ambulance for him.

Bob survived. He thought that the shoes that I suggested were only for "rich" people and I was unable to sell him a pair. John did by a nice pair of Wolverine boots and he has no trouble with his back (even though he is older than Bob).

The point of the story is this: our feet are important! If you are on your feet, your feet support your body. When we are young our feet can support our bodies without much help. But as we age our feet, like other parts of our body, can weaken and need help. This is where a good pair of shoes becomes important to all of us.

THE PROPER SHOE CAN HELP SUPPORT YOUR FOOT AND YOUR ENTIRE BODY!

This is especially important for people who make their living on their feet. Construction workers, landscapers, and utility workers are constantly on their feet. Be sure you get the proper shoe and the proper size. Have your foot measured when you purchase shoes. Shoes that are too soft or too lightweight may feel good at the beginning but they may not be able to support for foot properly.

BEAT THE HEAT

2007-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

BEAT THE HEAT

The long, hot days of summer are just around the corner. Here are a few ideas to help you keep cool while you are working out in the sunshine.

LIGHTEN UP!

Light color, loose fitting clothes will help keep you feeling cooler. Dark colors absorb some of the heat from the sun and tight fitting work clothes don’t allow for any cool air to reach your body.

COVER UP!

Keep your head covered, preferably with a light color hat or cap. The light color will help reflect some of the sun’s heat.

BE FLEXIBLE!

The sun’s rays are most dangerous between the hours of 10AM and 2PM. If you are able, consider working outdoors before 10AM or after 2PM.

HYDRATE!

Drink plenty of water or sports drinks (like Gatorade) to keep from getting dehydrated.

WICK!

The Carhartt “Work Dri” Pocket T-shirt (pictured above) is made of a fabric that will “wick” the moisture away from your body, keeping you feeling cooler and drier. Regular cotton T-shirts just “absorb” the moisture (from your sweat) and then you have a damp T-shirt on your body, and this will make you feel hotter and sweatier.

2006-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

As I was wilting from the heat and humidity I noticed the amount of daylight getting shorter each day. With the sunrise coming later and the sunset getting sooner it won’t be long until the colder days of fall and winter are upon us. In the next few posts I will be letting you know about the great new items Rasenick’s will have this fall to keep you warm and dry through the winter.

Leading off is the new Carhartt Waterproof Breathable Coat. The durable nylon shell is water resistant, and there is a fully waterproof and breathable membrane inside to keep you dry. The body is lined with 100% polyester mesh. The cut is oversized to accommodate sweatshirts or vests underneath when the temperatures get colder. It has a bunch of pockets and comes with a snap on hood. This item will be in stock by mid to late September.

There are many other new and innovative products coming in the Fall of 2006 to Rasenick’s and rasenicks.com. I will let you know about new items every few weeks.

Hot, Heavy Safety Shoes

2006-07-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

You can't wear your safety shoes because they are too heavy and too hot. And all safety shoes are the same, right?

WRONG

There are many safety shoes available that are both lightweight and cooler. You just need to keep a few things in mind:

1. LEATHER.
Make sure that your shoes have leather uppers. The upper is the part of the shoe above the outsole. Cheaper shoes that have vinyl uppers do not allow your feet to "breathe."

2. NON-INSULATED.
You cannot wear that same pair of insulated waterproof boots that felt so good when it was below 40 degrees. Invest in a pair of safety shoes that are not insulated and have a lining like "Cambrelle" or "DriLex." These linings help "wick" moisture away from your feet, leaving them drier, cooler, and more comfortable.

3. SOX.
Make sure you have a sock designed for the summer. Many new styles are available that help to wick moisture away from your foot (just like the Cambrelle or DriLex linings mentioned in # 2). Plain old cotton socks absorb moisture. They may be comfortable for a while but once the cotton socks have absorbed all the moisture they can handle you are stuck with a damp sock and a damp foot.

4. BOOTS.
There are new "LIGHTWEIGHT" safety shoes that feature a lightweight alloy safety toe cap. Timberland Pro's "TITAN" line of shoes feature some of the lightest safety work boots. The picture at the top is Timberland Pro # 40006. You can see the entire Timberland Pro line here:http://rasenicks.com/home/default.asp

5. FIT
Fit is critical. The best shoe in the world is no good if it doesn't fit. Take some time and try on your work boots and make sure you have enough room for you feet to swell slightly as you work day progesses.

If you have any helpful information or experience with anything work shoe or work clothing related, post a comment. We would love to hear from you.

2006-06-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

There is no Free Lunch

Everybody is always looking for something that is FREE. Usually, something that is free is not worth the time or effort it takes to get it. But I have found something that is FREE and worthwhile.

I’m short and I can never find pants that are the right length. But at rasenicks.com, they offer FREE alterations, they can shorten almost any pair of pants, jeans, or bib overalls that they sell. Lets say you are a 38 waist and a 28 inseam. At most stores the shortest inseam is a 30. The inseam is the measurement of the pants from the crotch down to the bottom of the leg. So either you wear your pants dragging on the ground or you take them to a dry cleaner and pay $7.00 to $10.00 to have them “shortened.” At rasenicks.com this “shortening” is FREE. Just think what you can do with the time and money you saved. They have lengths from 24½ to 38 and if you don’t see your exact length you can email them and they will take care of it. There is also an added bonus if you live in the Chicago area. If you go to their store and purchase pants, jeans, or bibs they will shorten them for you, often while you wait.

Safety shoes. Why?

2006-06-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well you're staring a new job and the boss tells you to "go and get some steel toes and be here at 5:00 AM sharp". Well you think what the hell is a steel toe and do I need to go to the doctor for this? Eighty nine percent of the people in the world who get hired by a company requiring steel toe shoes have never owned or even of them. the ones that do, all swear by a brand and will only buy that brand. Some people buy shoes just like there fathers bought cars. If you where to ask me, that's not the way to do it. If you have a certain brand that you have worn in the past and you are happy with then by all means stick to it. But if it's your first time try couple of different brand or styles. One of the best places to do this is at www.rasenicks.com . The guys have an unlimited knowledge of boots and shoes and they love to answer your questions. So I gave them a call at 773 736 7705
and started in on them.

[ rb=rich-------dcw= me]

dcw: "So rb, what's the first thing people tend to do or say when they come to you to get some safety shoes?"

rb: "Well, most of the time the guys walk right past the men's shoes and pick up a womne's size 5 and ask if this come in a 12 wide[3E]. " Sorry sir but that is a women's shoe". You should see how fast they drop it and start talking about the Bears or Cubs. Then they tell me how they are on there feet all day long and start to weigh the shoes in their hands. Here's the funny thing, they put there hands inside the shoes and press down trying to fell the inside. I know that it's only human nature to use your hands to tell you how some thing is going to feel. So I ask them would you like to try one on"?

dcw:" So what your telling me is that I should not buy my shoes by the pound"?

rb: "No I would vote against that one."

dcw: "Why not? If some thing is heavy then why would I want to wear it? Isn't a lighter shoe going to be better on my feet at the end of the day?"

rb: "Well a general rule of thumb is if a shoe is to light something is missing. Many of the support systems in a better shoe will make it a little heavier. If a shoe is very light weight (like a gym shoe or a running shoe), it may not be able to support your foot for a eight or ten hour day. Now there are some exceptions to this rule, like the new Timberland Pro Titan. Talk about light and comfortable. These lightweight shoes and boots have state of the art components that will support properly, even for a twelve hour day. But that's not all. Wolverine has lead the way in comfort for years. Their DuraShocks have a three layer comfort system that will provide support and cushion"

dcw: "Now my brother-i-n-law braggs about his Redwings all the time. Is Redwing the best boot out there, or is he just a clown?"

rb: "Now your brother-in-law, he's the one that still wears a mullet that I meet at your labor day party last year who had loggers on with shorts, right? He's a clown! But Redwings are a hell of a great boot company. Now are they the best? Who knows safety shoes are like tools. Some guys like Bosch and some guys like porter cable. But that's a whole other thing. We are talking about shoes."

dcw: "How do I know if a shoe fits?"

rb: "Outside of trying the thing on you should maybe get measured by your shoe salesman. Now this is not 100% accurate. I some time measure guys and they take a size bigger or a size smaller. It what fits the best at the end of the day that counts."

dcw: "How long have you been selling work shoes for?"

rb: 'Since 1978."

dcw: "If you could tell people to do one thing what would it be?"

rb: "How about two things?"

dcw: "Knock your self out."

rb: "If its cold out don't put on four pairs of cotton socks. Why? Well cotton will hold all the moisture your feet give off. Spend the $5.00 and get some sock liners. Your feet will thank you at the end of the day. Eighty percent of all body pain starts in the feet.

dcw: "And the other 20%?"

rb: "Wives!"

dcw: "I don't know if I should post that."

rb: "My second pet peeve is this look at buying safety shoes as a tool. If you buy cheap tools you going to get just that, a cheap tool. But if you spend a few bucks like on a Lie-nielsen tool,
then your going to have a pair of shoes you can trust and depend on day in and day out. "

dcw: "How long should my safety shoes last?"

rb: "From 9-12 months depending on your work and how you take care of them. "Do you have any more questions for me?"

dcw: "No, are late for a date or something?"

rb: "No, I have go light a candle for the Cubs, they need all the help they can get right now."

2006-05-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

Some info on keeping cool on hot summer days

Light colors reflect the sun's heat while dark colors absorb heat

Keep your head covered with a light colored cap or hat

Wear loose, light colored clothing

Consider wearing a shirt with "wicking" properties. These shirts, like the "Work Dry" from CARHARTT, do not absorb moisture and help pull heat and moisture away from your body to keep you drier and cooler

Light weight, light colored, loose fitting pants are best for those HOT and HUMID days. While this type of pant may not last as long as a heavier pair, they are cooler, and a great option for those people who cannot wear shorts to work.

Remember to make sure your work boots are LEATHER. Cheaper boot may be made out of vinyl or other manmade materials that will not BREATHE. If your feet are hot and itchy, check the inside of your boots to see if there is a label. On that label see if it states "leather upper". The UPPER is the part of the shoe or boot above the outsole (bottom). You can also purchase sox that have "wicking" properties. These sox help keep your feet drier and therefore cooler. Quality boots from manufacturers such as RED WING , WOLVERINE, TIMBERLAND PRO, THOROGOOD, WORX, and CAROLINA use top grain leathers for breathabilty, durability, water resistance and comfort.

What to do in the hot sun?

2006-05-22T16:19:00.000-07:00