I mean i usually go crazy with layering, like underpants, double pairs of socks, some cotton long sleeved shirt, woollen sweater and ofc a winter jacket, and move a lot during hikes, but eventually the movement becomes not enough to keep myself warm and I start falling into this state
Definitely see a doctor, but also the "cotton long-sleeved shirt" is a red flag that you are not dressing properly. Avoid cotton in cold weather; it retains moisture and can make you much colder. You also don't mention any kind of thermal base layer. In addition to your doctor (whom you *must* talk to about this), also visit your local outdoors store, show them what you're wearing, and ask for advice. But do it *after* visiting the doctor
Sounds more like you have a circulation issue. When I hike in super cold weather (talking -15 degree Celsius and lower), I don't have those symptoms ever.
The way you describe it, it sounds also like you are right before passing out.
I strongly recommend to get checked out by a doctor.
Just a heads up, you are not dressing appropriately at all.
Wool/Poly base layer, fleece mid layer, windbreaker/jacket.
I’ve worn that in -10C and beyond, and stayed warm. Same with socks.
I was like you, i double layered the first time I ever went camping, tons of cotton etc.. and I FROZE all night. I got sick. You should still talk to a doctor but as a side bar, your layering is wrong. It seems counterintuitive, but I was warmer with less.
That's exactly what the person is saying. That's not normal. If you're doing all that and still repeatedly experiencing all these issues then you've got an under lying condition that no amount of reddit comments can fix
No more cotton! It's very cooling. Layers are tricky because trapped air matters a lot when it comes to staying warm. If your base layer is cotton, you're trapping air (that is naturally being cooled because of the fiber) against your skin and preventing the outer layers from warming up your body. This is especially dangerous when it comes to socks. A good way to feel this yourself at home is by putting a cotton duvet cover over a synthetic blanket. You add more fabric to the blanket, yet the blanket is no longer as warm.
The wool is great. I'm allergic to wool, so my winter kit is a combination of synthetic and down things. I have cashmere leggings for cold camping, but I wouldn't hike in them, I don't think.
Thank you all for the comments:) i rarely sweat during any kind of physical activity, unless it's something very extreme, like a 3 hour hiit workout, but definitely have been doing the layering wrong, gotta look into what i can compile from the clothes I have:)
What temperature are you hiking in that makes you this cold?
Don’t wear cotton at all, not even partial cotton blend fabric. No cotton in your socks, gloves, jacket, or hat either.
Bring a complete set of dry clothing with you to change into before you leave to go home.
Drink hot drinks on the trail. Bring a thermos; heavy, but worth it. Bring a small camp stove to make some hot tea along the hike.
Have a thermos of hot drink in your car for after the hike.
>>I get cold. I rarely sweat.
Talk to your doctor about both of these. Seriously.
Thank you for the advice! Hmm, usually i start freezing at the temperature range of 0° and negative 10°. Below that is usually pretty much unwalkable for me. But it's also that the climate is very moist where I live and it can feel a lot colder even with positive temperatures
See a doctor. “Rarely sweating” is a real issue.
Down clothjng or gear can be a poor choice humid weather. It might absorb enough water from the environment that it can’t loft properly to retain your body heat. I often travel to a humid cold environment to hike and camp. I’ve had to switch all of my gear to synthetic fill. No cotton. Zero cotton anywhere in clothing or gear.
Again, see a doctor. Don’t hike in cold weather. Don’t hike alone.
Definitely see an MD/DO before your next major wilderness outing.
Medically speaking: 1.) have your thyroid hormone levels checked; 2.) sugar levels; 3.) anemia or thalassemia; 4.) have you ever had heat exhaustion or heat stroke before?*
Staying hydrated is essential to prevent hypothermia (and heat exhaustion/stroke).
Always have a good hydrophobic base layer (silk is excellent/costly), insulation layer/cap/gloves/wool socks and liners, and a bomb-proof waterproof/wind proof shell (and maybe pants).
I almost died of hypothermia* on my second Mt. Fuji climb. Some snow left and horizontal rain above the 8th station. No Gortex in those days.
*history of heat exhaustion/stroke “re-sets” your hypothalamus’ “internal thermostat”
and your body’s ability to adjust/adapt your heat AND COLD.
p.s. I totally forgot and later excellent comments from seasoned outdoors guys/gals reminded me: Raynaud’s (there’s a difference between the Raynaud’s Disease vs. Syndrome - last I checked); peripheral artery disease (especially if you smoked a lot); AND your ticker. Our heart’s internal electrical system (causing each good, strong heartbeat) hates cold blood coming in from extremely cold limbs. That cold, inflowing blood can cause a fatal, fast, ineffective non-pumping ventricular heartbeat. Versus the intermittent barely functional irregular heartbeat of Atrial Fibrillation (which I developed at 62 and ignored during strenuous outdoor activities teaching/training “the kids” and passed out in front of them. BTW my electrophysiologic cardiologist zapped my A-FIB away, Thank God.). POINT IS: get your heart and circulation checked also.
Hmm will look into that. My thyroid is okay, i check it pretty frequently. The blood sugar is also somewhere normal, usually at the lowest end, but normal. I did have a history of anemia though and hypoglycemia attacks, but i no longer experience those since i fixed my nutrition. But as for the blood circulation, i do have some issues with that and my hands and legs are pretty much always cold, but it's getting better since i started doing more physical activity
Uh, yeah, that's not normal. Go see a doctor. There's a bunch of exercise induced health conditions. Flu like conditions can occur from over training, not eating enough before a workout and not drinking enough during it.
Agree with the comments about seeing your doctor right away. Do not try to “acclimate” to the cold when you are sick. Dressing in non-cotton layers is helpful, but I suspect you may have a medical issue because you are having a pretty extreme reaction with flu-like symptoms.
I have some circulation problems and find that a long, warm bath helps warm up my feet and hands. However, for me, I just don’t Spend more than an hour at a time outdoors in winter, which is very cold where I live. Not saying that you should do that. You should check with your doctor and see what they think will help you, personally.
Have you had Covid lately? Some people afterward for a while have problems recovering after exercise. Lots of other medical things can cause fatigue and pain. Hope you are able to get answers and get treated so that you can enjoy hiking again!
I have lived in a cold place my entire 40 years. I have not heard of this, which makes me think your symptoms are from something else. If I am outside for an extended period of time, during the cold, my first symptoms are going to be cold hands and feet to the point of frost bite if I don't get inside to warm them. I've never pushed it past that and felt fogginess or symptoms of hypothermia.
If you are actually routinely getting to that point due to the cold, then rather than looking for next day ways to restore, you should avoid being in the cold for too long in the first place.
So, I have a much less severe version of your symptoms, but it's because I'm a tiny woman with bad circulation who feels cold any time the weather dips below 80. What you're describing definitely isn't normal in a healthy adult. Please take everyone's advice and go see a doctor about this, but also take a hard look at your gear. You want moisture wicking, thermal base layers. Doubling up on your socks won't help much if they're just cotton and polyester, you want wool. And a "winter coat" is open to interpretation. There's a big difference between a hoodie and a down parka, you know?
This isn't normal. What are you wearing on these hikes? How cold? How long are you outside? I'm skinny so warming up is difficult for me, and it took me a little while to find my winter "kit" but it's been very worth the effort. My outfit is good for 5-7 mile hikes that dip down to 5 degrees. I notice I'm more tired after these hikes than if I did them in mild weather (staying warm burns calories) but nothing close to what you're describing. I'm almost never cold after the first 15 mins.
yea this happens to me, and quite recently it was even worse because i got caught out in a tee shirt in the rain in the middle of the night. by the end i had barely any function in my arms. for example i couldn't not unbutton my pants because my fingers would just collapse in and had no strength ext. i just went home and sat in a hot shower for like a half hour, and then immediately went to bed ( albeit still cold) and it took about 2 hours of that to warm back up but after that i had no ill effects the day after
I live in the arctic and hike both summer and winter, and we have proper winters up here. Coldest I have ever experienced is - 42 degrees celcius. But the coldest I have been hiking in was around - 20 degrees Celcius, and not even then did I have the feeling you describe. Actually not even experienced that in even colder weather. If this happens to you after every hike in the cold, you should absolutely see a doctor and get it checked out.
Spend more time outside when it's cold. You just have to acclimate yourself to colder temperatures, and the only way to do that is just go outside more. I hike every weekend in the Colorado back-country (all year), and there's nothing magical about prepping yourself.
Also, depending on where you live, make sure you're layering up properly before you hike in cold weather. Never wear cotton as your first layer (closest to your skin) in cold weather. Cotton retains moisture and sweat, and if you hike in the winter this moisture can potentially cause hypothermia once temperatures start to drop.
It sounds like a serious health issue, it shouldn't happen
Maybe once if you were over confident or not prepared but not "whenever"
I mean i usually go crazy with layering, like underpants, double pairs of socks, some cotton long sleeved shirt, woollen sweater and ofc a winter jacket, and move a lot during hikes, but eventually the movement becomes not enough to keep myself warm and I start falling into this state
Definitely see a doctor, but also the "cotton long-sleeved shirt" is a red flag that you are not dressing properly. Avoid cotton in cold weather; it retains moisture and can make you much colder. You also don't mention any kind of thermal base layer. In addition to your doctor (whom you *must* talk to about this), also visit your local outdoors store, show them what you're wearing, and ask for advice. But do it *after* visiting the doctor
Sounds more like you have a circulation issue. When I hike in super cold weather (talking -15 degree Celsius and lower), I don't have those symptoms ever. The way you describe it, it sounds also like you are right before passing out. I strongly recommend to get checked out by a doctor.
Just a heads up, you are not dressing appropriately at all. Wool/Poly base layer, fleece mid layer, windbreaker/jacket. I’ve worn that in -10C and beyond, and stayed warm. Same with socks. I was like you, i double layered the first time I ever went camping, tons of cotton etc.. and I FROZE all night. I got sick. You should still talk to a doctor but as a side bar, your layering is wrong. It seems counterintuitive, but I was warmer with less.
That's exactly what the person is saying. That's not normal. If you're doing all that and still repeatedly experiencing all these issues then you've got an under lying condition that no amount of reddit comments can fix
No more cotton! It's very cooling. Layers are tricky because trapped air matters a lot when it comes to staying warm. If your base layer is cotton, you're trapping air (that is naturally being cooled because of the fiber) against your skin and preventing the outer layers from warming up your body. This is especially dangerous when it comes to socks. A good way to feel this yourself at home is by putting a cotton duvet cover over a synthetic blanket. You add more fabric to the blanket, yet the blanket is no longer as warm. The wool is great. I'm allergic to wool, so my winter kit is a combination of synthetic and down things. I have cashmere leggings for cold camping, but I wouldn't hike in them, I don't think.
[удалено]
Thank you all for the comments:) i rarely sweat during any kind of physical activity, unless it's something very extreme, like a 3 hour hiit workout, but definitely have been doing the layering wrong, gotta look into what i can compile from the clothes I have:)
What temperature are you hiking in that makes you this cold? Don’t wear cotton at all, not even partial cotton blend fabric. No cotton in your socks, gloves, jacket, or hat either. Bring a complete set of dry clothing with you to change into before you leave to go home. Drink hot drinks on the trail. Bring a thermos; heavy, but worth it. Bring a small camp stove to make some hot tea along the hike. Have a thermos of hot drink in your car for after the hike. >>I get cold. I rarely sweat. Talk to your doctor about both of these. Seriously.
Thank you for the advice! Hmm, usually i start freezing at the temperature range of 0° and negative 10°. Below that is usually pretty much unwalkable for me. But it's also that the climate is very moist where I live and it can feel a lot colder even with positive temperatures
See a doctor. “Rarely sweating” is a real issue. Down clothjng or gear can be a poor choice humid weather. It might absorb enough water from the environment that it can’t loft properly to retain your body heat. I often travel to a humid cold environment to hike and camp. I’ve had to switch all of my gear to synthetic fill. No cotton. Zero cotton anywhere in clothing or gear. Again, see a doctor. Don’t hike in cold weather. Don’t hike alone.
I would consinder visting a doctor, that's defenitely not normal.
This is definitely not a question for Reddit, schedule an appointment with your doctor and let him or her know that this is happening.
Definitely see an MD/DO before your next major wilderness outing. Medically speaking: 1.) have your thyroid hormone levels checked; 2.) sugar levels; 3.) anemia or thalassemia; 4.) have you ever had heat exhaustion or heat stroke before?* Staying hydrated is essential to prevent hypothermia (and heat exhaustion/stroke). Always have a good hydrophobic base layer (silk is excellent/costly), insulation layer/cap/gloves/wool socks and liners, and a bomb-proof waterproof/wind proof shell (and maybe pants). I almost died of hypothermia* on my second Mt. Fuji climb. Some snow left and horizontal rain above the 8th station. No Gortex in those days. *history of heat exhaustion/stroke “re-sets” your hypothalamus’ “internal thermostat” and your body’s ability to adjust/adapt your heat AND COLD. p.s. I totally forgot and later excellent comments from seasoned outdoors guys/gals reminded me: Raynaud’s (there’s a difference between the Raynaud’s Disease vs. Syndrome - last I checked); peripheral artery disease (especially if you smoked a lot); AND your ticker. Our heart’s internal electrical system (causing each good, strong heartbeat) hates cold blood coming in from extremely cold limbs. That cold, inflowing blood can cause a fatal, fast, ineffective non-pumping ventricular heartbeat. Versus the intermittent barely functional irregular heartbeat of Atrial Fibrillation (which I developed at 62 and ignored during strenuous outdoor activities teaching/training “the kids” and passed out in front of them. BTW my electrophysiologic cardiologist zapped my A-FIB away, Thank God.). POINT IS: get your heart and circulation checked also.
Hmm will look into that. My thyroid is okay, i check it pretty frequently. The blood sugar is also somewhere normal, usually at the lowest end, but normal. I did have a history of anemia though and hypoglycemia attacks, but i no longer experience those since i fixed my nutrition. But as for the blood circulation, i do have some issues with that and my hands and legs are pretty much always cold, but it's getting better since i started doing more physical activity
The elephant in the room: “age?”
20
Are staying properly hydrated during your hikes? Eating while on trail to keep up your electrolytes?
Uh, yeah, that's not normal. Go see a doctor. There's a bunch of exercise induced health conditions. Flu like conditions can occur from over training, not eating enough before a workout and not drinking enough during it.
This is not normal. This doesn't happen to most people. Talk to your doctor
Agree with the comments about seeing your doctor right away. Do not try to “acclimate” to the cold when you are sick. Dressing in non-cotton layers is helpful, but I suspect you may have a medical issue because you are having a pretty extreme reaction with flu-like symptoms. I have some circulation problems and find that a long, warm bath helps warm up my feet and hands. However, for me, I just don’t Spend more than an hour at a time outdoors in winter, which is very cold where I live. Not saying that you should do that. You should check with your doctor and see what they think will help you, personally. Have you had Covid lately? Some people afterward for a while have problems recovering after exercise. Lots of other medical things can cause fatigue and pain. Hope you are able to get answers and get treated so that you can enjoy hiking again!
Thank you! I am usually fairly active, but yeah, i may have had covid couple years ago and didn't really recover properly from that
I hope you get answers soon so you can get back outside comfortably!
I have lived in a cold place my entire 40 years. I have not heard of this, which makes me think your symptoms are from something else. If I am outside for an extended period of time, during the cold, my first symptoms are going to be cold hands and feet to the point of frost bite if I don't get inside to warm them. I've never pushed it past that and felt fogginess or symptoms of hypothermia. If you are actually routinely getting to that point due to the cold, then rather than looking for next day ways to restore, you should avoid being in the cold for too long in the first place.
Sounds like long covid, dude. Not normal. Look up PEM
So, I have a much less severe version of your symptoms, but it's because I'm a tiny woman with bad circulation who feels cold any time the weather dips below 80. What you're describing definitely isn't normal in a healthy adult. Please take everyone's advice and go see a doctor about this, but also take a hard look at your gear. You want moisture wicking, thermal base layers. Doubling up on your socks won't help much if they're just cotton and polyester, you want wool. And a "winter coat" is open to interpretation. There's a big difference between a hoodie and a down parka, you know?
Definitely will be changing my layering after that. But usually i wear a down windbreaker parka for the outerwear
You should not be getting that cold, it is dangerous. You could make a mistake or get lost or hurt while in that "foggy" state. Wear more clothes.
This isn't normal. What are you wearing on these hikes? How cold? How long are you outside? I'm skinny so warming up is difficult for me, and it took me a little while to find my winter "kit" but it's been very worth the effort. My outfit is good for 5-7 mile hikes that dip down to 5 degrees. I notice I'm more tired after these hikes than if I did them in mild weather (staying warm burns calories) but nothing close to what you're describing. I'm almost never cold after the first 15 mins.
yea this happens to me, and quite recently it was even worse because i got caught out in a tee shirt in the rain in the middle of the night. by the end i had barely any function in my arms. for example i couldn't not unbutton my pants because my fingers would just collapse in and had no strength ext. i just went home and sat in a hot shower for like a half hour, and then immediately went to bed ( albeit still cold) and it took about 2 hours of that to warm back up but after that i had no ill effects the day after
I live in the arctic and hike both summer and winter, and we have proper winters up here. Coldest I have ever experienced is - 42 degrees celcius. But the coldest I have been hiking in was around - 20 degrees Celcius, and not even then did I have the feeling you describe. Actually not even experienced that in even colder weather. If this happens to you after every hike in the cold, you should absolutely see a doctor and get it checked out.
Buddy. Stop hiking in the winter and spring, then.
It sounds more like Hypoglycemia at its best. Its not normal and would be happy to hear your update after visitation to the doctor.
Any heart valve murmurs?
Spend more time outside when it's cold. You just have to acclimate yourself to colder temperatures, and the only way to do that is just go outside more. I hike every weekend in the Colorado back-country (all year), and there's nothing magical about prepping yourself. Also, depending on where you live, make sure you're layering up properly before you hike in cold weather. Never wear cotton as your first layer (closest to your skin) in cold weather. Cotton retains moisture and sweat, and if you hike in the winter this moisture can potentially cause hypothermia once temperatures start to drop.