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Silly question about keeping legs warm


Sallyandtex
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We are visiting late May on Inside passage round trip.

I understood we need layers as it can be freezing one minute, and hot the next if the sun comes out no wind.

I have layers including tshirt at the base then jumper, jacket etc, but what about the lower half?

Will I be too cold in jeans?

We from Australia, hot climate so I dont have too many warm pants and with luggage restrictions dont want to take TOO much.

Will I be too hot with thermal under garment under my jeans,.,,,I am not a "cold frog" and dont want to be sweating my way thru my trip. Should I invest in some woolen pants?

Thanks!

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We are visiting late May on Inside passage round trip.

I understood we need layers as it can be freezing one minute, and hot the next if the sun comes out no wind.

I have layers including tshirt at the base then jumper, jacket etc, but what about the lower half?

Will I be too cold in jeans?

We from Australia, hot climate so I dont have too many warm pants and with luggage restrictions dont want to take TOO much.

Will I be too hot with thermal under garment under my jeans,.,,,I am not a "cold frog" and dont want to be sweating my way thru my trip. Should I invest in some woolen pants?

Thanks!

Your jeans will be fine...no need to over think this. We did on our first of 4 Alaska cruises in May and we're from hot/sunny/dry Southern Calif. We learned it's not that cold ;)

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Windproof rainpants ... I swear by these anywhere where it will be cold with the potential for wind, which is what gets you. You can wear as many or as few layers as you want under the rainpants depending on the temp. We’ve done polar regions with smartwool long johns or fleece bottoms under rainpants and have stayed cozy. You can wear the jeans under the rain pants, but I like leggings or something less bulky than regular jeans better.

 

I would never go to Alaska without truly waterproof raingear — top and bottom. Ketchikan gets 13 feet of rain annually ... so it’s a small miracle when people don’t get wet in that port if nowhere else.

 

The other thing to think about ... toe warmers. If your feet are cold, it’s hard to be comfortable. And of course something to keep your head warm is essential ... a beanie under an adjustable hood will do the trick.

 

All this assumes you plan to spend extended time outdoors on shore or on deck on the ship enjoying the scenery and wildlife instead of running in and out for quick snapshots.

 

Enjoy your trip.

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An easy way to layer on the legs, especially if you live somewhere warm so don't want to invest lots of cash, is to acquire a thin pair of cotton longjohns or even cheaper (but perhaps problematic for the hairier-legged among us) a pair of tights. Anything right next to the skin will keep heat in better than an extra top layer - although if it's windy too, rain pants on top make an excellent windbreak. Even the most expensive of these options can be had for $10 or less, pack small, and would be very cheap insurance.

 

Jeans are a suboptimal pants choice in the rainy climate of this part of the world as they are horrible to wear when wet and take a long time to dry - May is the driest cruise month, but that's statistics and no guarantee of any individual day for you. Likewise previous reports about the weather are even less useful, since they're anecdotal and only cover a tiny amount of data even if they were actually objectively measured rather than mere personal observation of relative warmth.

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I hate being too hot, so I always opt for removable outer layers. You really need rainpants anyway for southeast Alaska, to keep you dry if it rains and block any wind, especially when on the water. If you have long johns on, what will you do if you're too hot in the middle of a tour?

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I hate being too hot, so I always opt for removable outer layers. You really need rainpants anyway for southeast Alaska, to keep you dry if it rains and block any wind, especially when on the water. If you have long johns on, what will you do if you're too hot in the middle of a tour?
Great question. My rainpants are a little too tight over jeans, so I am trying to figure out what to wear under them.
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I hate being too hot, so I always opt for removable outer layers. You really need rainpants anyway for southeast Alaska, to keep you dry if it rains and block any wind, especially when on the water. If you have long johns on, what will you do if you're too hot in the middle of a tour?

 

It hasn't happened as yet, but I suppose I could find a restroom somewhere to remove the long johns. Leggings would be a better option ... unless it is sopping wet out, I could (and have) removed the rain paints.

 

We all have different body thermostats, so what works for one may not work for another. Read the various options presented here and go with what works for you.

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I hate being too hot, so I always opt for removable outer layers. You really need rainpants anyway for southeast Alaska, to keep you dry if it rains and block any wind, especially when on the water. If you have long johns on, what will you do if you're too hot in the middle of a tour?

Unless you're unwilling to wear a swimsuit in public, or you 'go commando', changing into or out of longjohns shouldn't be a problem even without a washroom available - no more flesh exposed and only for a very brief (pardon the pun) time;-)

 

Never been too warm to need to remove them personally - longjohns go on when I know it's a cold day and likely to stay so (e.g. glacier days or whale-watching trips when being outside for a long time is required to maximise your chance of good photos). Most often they're stuffed in my day pack just in case - and on days that run into evening with temp drops I've found them useful. Rain pants would achieve much the same thing of course, but I hate the crinkling/zip-zip-zip noises when moving - so for me they're strictly a snow-sports item. My regular coat is long enough to keep me dry to my calves, so with boots on rain pants are irrelevant - I'm sure they work well for the folks who like 'em though.

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I bought a pair of rain pants at the Columbia outlet for $20. I just went up a size to allow for jeans underneath. I also bought some tights-one fleece lined-to wear under my yoga pants for sea days. Not cruising til July, so not sure if this is going to be too much or not enough-hopefully just right!

 

 

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A pair of tights or old nylons(does anyone wear those any more?) can give your legs and toes that extra layer..and keep your bum a little warmer.

 

I have done the leggings under jeans before......works well....but am not happy about carrying the jeans....would rather be too hot.

 

Have lots of silk light weight long underwear from skiing have yet to take that anywhere and the places I have visited are far colder than Alaska.

 

I have Columbia rain pants...have taken them on multiple cruises when I know I am going to inclement climates...I have yet to wear them.

 

 

If you are going on escorted excursions..most vendors provide gear. On the ship people wrap themselves in all sorts of things.....

Can always buy whatever you might need on shore or on the ship.....

Edited by land lover
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Ok thanks,

So we are doing the Tracey Arm excursion into Juneau and also the Wilderness Safari in Skagway both with Holland America,,,,do you think they will provide wet weather gear?

A pair of tights or old nylons(does anyone wear those any more?) can give your legs and toes that extra layer..and keep your bum a little warmer.

 

I have done the leggings under jeans before......works well....but am not happy about carrying the jeans....would rather be too hot.

 

Have lots of silk light weight long underwear from skiing have yet to take that anywhere and the places I have visited are far colder than Alaska.

 

I have Columbia rain pants...have taken them on multiple cruises when I know I am going to inclement climates...I have yet to wear them.

 

 

If you are going on escorted excursions..most vendors provide gear. On the ship people wrap themselves in all sorts of things.....

Can always buy whatever you might need on shore or on the ship.....

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Ok thanks,

So we are doing the Tracey Arm excursion into Juneau and also the Wilderness Safari in Skagway both with Holland America,,,,do you think they will provide wet weather gear?

 

The Tracy Arm excursion in Juneau did not when I was there June 2017. This is one of those high-speed catamaran rides that can be pretty cold if you are outside to take pictures. By the way, the box lunch was really good.

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We are visiting late May on Inside passage round trip.

 

I understood we need layers as it can be freezing one minute, and hot the next if the sun comes out no wind.

 

I have layers including tshirt at the base then jumper, jacket etc, but what about the lower half?

 

Will I be too cold in jeans?

 

We from Australia, hot climate so I dont have too many warm pants and with luggage restrictions dont want to take TOO much.

 

Will I be too hot with thermal under garment under my jeans,.,,,I am not a "cold frog" and dont want to be sweating my way thru my trip. Should I invest in some woolen pants?

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

We did inside passage and while it was cold, I never felt the need for anything else under my jeans, with the exception of Movies Under The Stars one night, and I just wore leggings under my jeans.

 

 

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I have silk long underwear, very thin but warm nonetheless. I also take my thick nylon zip off hiking pants, wool socks, and waterproof hiking shoes (not boots). The problem with jeans is that they get heavy and cold if they get wet. That can lead to hypothermia. You could cover the jeans with rain pants, I suppose, and blocking wind can be important.

 

 

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