You won't feel the benefit when you go outside
Poll: You won't feel the benefit when you go outside
Total Members Polled: 160
Discussion
When it's cold I put my coat on a while before I go out, because I'm capable of plotting a thermal gradient through several layers of insulation and the damage to my back from when it was broken is such that I get crippling pain when cold.
However I keep getting told that I won't feel the benefit of my coat if I wear it indoors. I've had a quick google and people seem to think that it's something to do with how the skin feels temperature, which I'd be willing to discuss if the skin my coat keeps warm was exposed to the cold, which it isn't, because I'm wearing a nice warm coat. There was also talk of core body temperature which made me doubt the people who used the term knew which bits a coat covers.
I've also noticed that within my sample of people who tell me I won't feel the benefit none of them have spent any time in the arctic or even anywhere seriously cold. They are mostly middle aged women with no formal training in science, which may be relevant.
For those in the North of England - in the south and the far North during winter men wear garments with long sleeves which open at the front and are made of thick material called "coats". You may have seen them on tourists.
I used to live in Hull and feel I need to explain that I'm not now a pansy, I'm a cripple.
So: definitive answer please. In keeping with the spirit of the internet I'll not change my actual behavior regardless of the outcome because I've tried it and I don't enjoy crippling pain.
However I keep getting told that I won't feel the benefit of my coat if I wear it indoors. I've had a quick google and people seem to think that it's something to do with how the skin feels temperature, which I'd be willing to discuss if the skin my coat keeps warm was exposed to the cold, which it isn't, because I'm wearing a nice warm coat. There was also talk of core body temperature which made me doubt the people who used the term knew which bits a coat covers.
I've also noticed that within my sample of people who tell me I won't feel the benefit none of them have spent any time in the arctic or even anywhere seriously cold. They are mostly middle aged women with no formal training in science, which may be relevant.
For those in the North of England - in the south and the far North during winter men wear garments with long sleeves which open at the front and are made of thick material called "coats". You may have seen them on tourists.
I used to live in Hull and feel I need to explain that I'm not now a pansy, I'm a cripple.
So: definitive answer please. In keeping with the spirit of the internet I'll not change my actual behavior regardless of the outcome because I've tried it and I don't enjoy crippling pain.
In my non scientific opinion...
Your body does stuff to regulate it's temperature, blood flow nearer the surface etc... if you've been inside in a coat for the last half hour then go out in the cold, it has spent half an hour doing the wrong thing...
So yeah, a temporary effect I reckon. Just a guess though.
Your body does stuff to regulate it's temperature, blood flow nearer the surface etc... if you've been inside in a coat for the last half hour then go out in the cold, it has spent half an hour doing the wrong thing...
So yeah, a temporary effect I reckon. Just a guess though.
There's also the issue of relative temperature (probably not a scientific concept) to consider. If I put a coat on indoors and start to heat up a bit too much when I step outside, I think thank f
k for that as I cool down. I may even unbutton the top couple of buttons. 
Similarly, we probably set the heating hotter than we need if it's cold outside eg 15C outside, 22C inside whereas when it's 25C outside we'd set the aircon to 18C.
Or something.
k for that as I cool down. I may even unbutton the top couple of buttons. Similarly, we probably set the heating hotter than we need if it's cold outside eg 15C outside, 22C inside whereas when it's 25C outside we'd set the aircon to 18C.
Or something.
Coat on indoors you will get nice and warm and blood will then pass to your extremities to cool down and you may even start sweating. If you then go outside your warm extremities will feel colder exposed to the shock of the cold. Think going into the sea on a warm uk day being worse than going back into a cold swimming pool when you are already cold and wet. Only the initial sensation though and your body will quickly sort it out and neither would make much difference to your back unless you are wearing one of those hospital gowns
geeks said:
Adenauer said:
Captain Muppet said:
For those in the North of England - in the south and the far North during winter men wear garments with long sleeves which open at the front and are made of thick material called "coats". You may have seen them on tourists.
Before I go out in the winter to stargaze, I kit up in some thermals and some older motorcycling kit I used to wear in the winter (with thermal linings). Then I'm sorting everyhting out and lugging a telescope and stuff downstairs onto the balcony.
By that point, I'm quiet warm, so the cool night air is welcome
I stay outside for hours and dont feel the cold (except maybe in my nose and my exposed fingers...I'm wering fingerless gloves, a hat, a neck buff and my winter motorcycle boots)
A few nights back I fell asleep in the chair while I was trying to capture a long-exposure shot (it was st, btw)
When I've been cold, and I put on a jacket, it takes me ages and ages and ages to warm up. So I dont feel the benefit for ages.
I much prefer to pre-warm than not. I think there are differences between people ehre. Some people stay warm no matter what, others (like me) are sensitive to temperature
By that point, I'm quiet warm, so the cool night air is welcome
I stay outside for hours and dont feel the cold (except maybe in my nose and my exposed fingers...I'm wering fingerless gloves, a hat, a neck buff and my winter motorcycle boots)
A few nights back I fell asleep in the chair while I was trying to capture a long-exposure shot (it was s
t, btw)When I've been cold, and I put on a jacket, it takes me ages and ages and ages to warm up. So I dont feel the benefit for ages.
I much prefer to pre-warm than not. I think there are differences between people ehre. Some people stay warm no matter what, others (like me) are sensitive to temperature
Edited by thatdude on Wednesday 3rd December 13:25
lufbramatt said:
Captain Muppet said:
I keep my duvet at room temperature and once under it I stay in the same location. It's not really the same duty cycle as a coat, unless it's normal to go out in a duvet? I don't really follow fashion.
Captain Muppet said:
For those in the North of England - in the south and the far North during winter men wear garments with long sleeves which open at the front and are made of thick material called "coats". You may have seen them on tourists.
No word of a lie, I'm still in T-shirts 
I started "grafting" (what we call work in Yorkshire) at 9am this morning, outside in 3degrees in just a T-shirt you wimp.I'm going to complicate the equation and add time
I'm in NJ, quite balmy at present but can get chilly, single digit effs most years.
I've found that the length of time one is exposed to silly temperatures hast he greatest effect on the decision how to dress.
The shorter the exposure time the less you need.
As long as the coat is in the heated office when you put in on your chances of survival for you and your back are high.
However putting on a very cold coat seems to considerably reduce the time it takes for extreme cold to penetrate. (like an extra coat in the boot of a car)
But, as stated before, blood flow to extremeties will not be reduced, possibly making head fingers and feet feel colder and accelerate heat loss.
The fishwives do have it sorta right, they just don't know why
I'm in NJ, quite balmy at present but can get chilly, single digit effs most years.
I've found that the length of time one is exposed to silly temperatures hast he greatest effect on the decision how to dress.
The shorter the exposure time the less you need.
As long as the coat is in the heated office when you put in on your chances of survival for you and your back are high.
However putting on a very cold coat seems to considerably reduce the time it takes for extreme cold to penetrate. (like an extra coat in the boot of a car)
But, as stated before, blood flow to extremeties will not be reduced, possibly making head fingers and feet feel colder and accelerate heat loss.
The fishwives do have it sorta right, they just don't know why
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