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  Phil Voice November 4, 2008 at 10:42am

  I remember when I started (19 years of age) I would go to work in a T shirt whatever the weather and even if it was raining, I would prefer not to wear a coat.
  
  I took the view that you could only get wet once and I would try to stay warm through activity.
  
  I am still very much the same but I avoid starting if it is too wet but I will continue if it rains when I am out.
  
  I remember plastering what is now my bedroom after Christmas in minus five degrees. Although it was indoors and dry, I could not escape the wind chill factor. However, I could not work with gloves or a coat either and I still remember the pain as I dipped my hand in the icy water to damp my plastering sponge down.
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  Bird Garden Design November 4, 2008 at 1:26pm

  I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
  
  We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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  Classic Gardens November 4, 2008 at 1:40pm

  I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
  
  Bird said:

  I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
  
  We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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  Bird Garden Design November 4, 2008 at 1:46pm

  Well, we stopped due to the site becoming a hazard as it's on a steepish gradient. We're also having to take the spoil through the utility room of the house and the mud is a problem, so best to call it a day really... the additional work created by 'toughing' it out makes no sense to me - what you gain by carrying on, you lose by the additional clean-up.
  
  martin said:

  I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
  
  Bird said:

  I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
  
  We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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  steve loftus November 4, 2008 at 2:58pm

  general winter attire would consist of long-johns,work trousers(strauss direct),t shirt,shirt,fleece(craghopper/berghaus), in extreme rain i have a regatta jacket and trousers(£70),but would rather work without the restriction of the jacket,as the rain never really gets through all the layers,more often meets with the sweat going outwards.
  top tip,wear layers in winter,and keep a set of dry trousers/jumper in a bin bag in the van......and drive home smugly from site while your workmates shiver and cower by the heater vents in the van.
  peter storm and craghopper do quick dry trousers,peter storm are cheaper(£29),they work,but the crutch seam tends to go,whereas craghoppers will cost an extra tenner(£39),with a 3 year warranty i think,both available at millets
  our work uniform trousers come from strauss-direct.co.uk at around £30
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  Vanessa Langford November 4, 2008 at 3:13pm

  I wear lots of layers in the winter and remove them as I get warmer.
  In the wet...wellies are a must...I've got a thin waterproof and windproof jacket that I chuck on if it gets too wet...but I generally wimp out if it's more than drizzle...
  In super cold weather I take a flask or 2 with me with hot soup and coffee and add a pair of long socks to my attire...then I can hardly move!!! It doesn't take too long to warm up.
  I also,like Steve L,take spare dry clothes with me in my work vehicle...just in case...you never know,that pond your clearing out may just jump over the top of your wellies/waders and then you've got wet feet all day :o(
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  Classic Gardens November 4, 2008 at 3:56pm

  I wish i could take the time off when it rains! We dont do landscaping only garden contracts so mud and mess isnt really an issue.
  
  Bird said:

  Well, we stopped due to the site becoming a hazard as it's on a steepish gradient. We're also having to take the spoil through the utility room of the house and the mud is a problem, so best to call it a day really... the additional work created by 'toughing' it out makes no sense to me - what you gain by carrying on, you lose by the additional clean-up.
  
  martin said:

  I wear very thin cheap waterproofs from dickies. They have been the best investment i have made this year we have not lost a days work with all the rain we have had.
  
  Bird said:

  I usually wear a fleece as it breathes and resists the wet for quite a long time - also, wearing a mid-layer fleece and a wicking t-shirt helps to reduce dampness. If it's heavy rain, I usually just sit in the van until it eases off. I've just bought a cheap soft shell fleece, which should be better still.
  
  We've just called it off for today due to heavy and persistant drizzle - after 4 hours of it, I'd say I was no more than damp... The mess we were creating though was the clincher for today.... ah well, it's a good excuse to catch up with some paperwork!
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  Bird Garden Design November 4, 2008 at 6:38pm

  Gah! I'm beginning to feel like a wimp here lol
  
  If we put the tools down it's invariably due to conditions underfoot and the problems and hazards it creates on site. From painful experience, slippery clay can be a death trap when you're lugging materials around by hand. I always look at downtime caused by weather as a good opportunity to work on quotes, garden designs, accounts etc. Also, customers appreciate you not turning their property into a quagmire by driving heavy plant over the garden... we get quite a lot of recommendations due to site tidiness and minimal making good. It certainly works for me!
  
  Anyway - back on topic, I'd wholeheartedly recommend a softshell fleece... they are surprisingly waterproof and breathable.
• PRO

  Phil Voice November 9, 2008 at 12:38pm

  "I am about to dive into a wildlife pond!"
  
  A wetsuit probably :)
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  James Hall November 9, 2008 at 10:10pm

  I normally wear a cheap fleece from decathlon, I bought 3 for £20 and had them embroidered up with my logo, only cost a few pence each so really look the part.
  They tend to keep off a small shower or drizzle.
  
  
  Any general jobs i need to do in the rain, i invested in a Timberland Pro Gore Tex jacket, absoultly brilliant but cost me a small fortune!! £130!! Well worth it. Also has a fleece collar and waterproof pockets and a great storm hood. I really couldn`t recomend it highly enough. I got mine in the sale at Arco, should have been nearly double that!! Think its the 901 model.
  
  
  I`ve been a greenkeeper for 10 years, so over time i`ve tried almost everything on the market to keep me warm and dry whilst sat on a mower in the wet for 8-12 hours.
  
  If you really have to work in the rain doing hard landscaping, try a product called grundins(??) They are a thick, very hard wearing waterproof, but don`t give great comfort or flexability, but they wont let a drop through. If you get covered in mud, you can hose down or jet wash down and they will be dry by morning if hung in your garage or van.