KR Cold Weather LARPing: 101?

A few tips I read from people visiting Alaska/Yukon their first time.

1. No jewelry. Cold metal against bare skin is a bad choice. Same will be said for armor.
2. Hot drinks... can help keep your core body temp up, just don't count on it to do everything.
3. Moving... if you wear a lot of layers, then go running in the snow/cold, you'll sweat. Sweat = suck in the cold.

Everyone else has pretty much covered all the basics. Just follow the cardinal rule #1... if you feel like you are too cold or something is gonna go wrong... head back inside, get warm, & go OOG if you have to. This is a game. Last thing we need is someone going to the ER just because they wanna be "hardcore".

Well.... pretty much all the advice given above is spot on. i've only got a few items to add to or point out...

A note about the blankets and sleeping bag thing.

There are two ways to go about using them in tandem- either draped ontop on your bag or inside. If you go with the inside the bag idea, your best bet is to use it as a layer between you and the bag *zipper*- especially if the zipper tends to sit higher than your body when on your back.

As good as some bags are, the older the bag the more likely it will leak in cold/out heat. And yes, I found out about this the hard way.
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for outdoor stuff, if you have a good cloak to wear, I strongly recommend using it. It will help against the wind at Sac and if there is wet stuff falling from the sky, it will help protect you from it. If you have a cloak that can take scotch-guarding, do it.


If you start to shiver, that is your body tryingto tell you its time to go find somewhere warm.

One additional thought for tomorrow's clothes Place them inside a large contractor plastic bag along with a chemical heat pac Clothes will be toasty in the AM

And also stay away from down coats vest etc They will hold in the moisture
But heavy fleece or wool blankets over you sleeping bag allow you to layer in for the getting out

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.
If you feel like you need to get somewhere warm and fast, let someone know. OOG, let them know.
better be safe than sorry.

To continue the sleeping thing, please remember that wearing your clothes to bed is asking for trouble.

1) Clothes you wore all day are soiled, and contain sweat. Both of these conditions REDUCE their insulation.
2) While sleeping, clothes will trap moisture, adding to the problem above.
3) Furthermore, tight clothes, shoes or whatever will reduce circulation causing cold spots on your body which can lead to problems.
4) Due to all of these problems, when you get out of a sleeping bag, you are going to be immediately cold, and since you are wearing your clothes already, the options to warm you up are limited.

The solution is to not wear your day time clothes to bed. In fact it is better to strip down completely, even when super cold out.

Modesty of course demands some concession so plan for wearing pajamas or something light and loose fitting that breathes well. The key is to allow enough air circulation next to your skin to allow the evaporating sweat to move away from your body. In the morning, you will be warmer once you change into your normal clothes, as long as they are clean and dry.

Also consider a sleeping cap. Heat is going to be pouring through your head to the open air when everything else is covered.

Do not put on wet clothes for crying out loud. Set them out to dry overnight, whatever you have to do. Make sure you have enough extras for changing into. Establish how you are going to dry clothes with the rest of your cabin mates. Torrential rain when its cold is a double danger, not only does it increase hypothermia risk, the wet will make its effects linger long after the rain is over.

Hot drinks But without Caffeine Absolutely no Caffeine when working or playing out doors this would include the so called Energy drinks

Caffeine causes the capillary blood vessels to dilate ( Open Up) This interferes with your bodies natural cold preservation process As the core temp starts to drop the body starts shutting down the blood supply to your extremeties in order to preserve your (core Temperature) at the sacrificing of the fingers , toes and even limbs . Caffeine stops this self preservation process with the resultant dilation of blood vessels. Thus even more rapid drop in core temperature
The shivering as previously noted is one of your bodies first defenses against hypothermia
Another symptom is what is called 'The 'umbles" Stumbling, Mumbling , grumbling , Fumbling
You get the picture

Partners watch out for each OTHER And Cotton can Kill you especially when wet