How do you take field notes at below zero temperatures, without freezing fingers?

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up vote
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I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.

I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.

How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?

Edit: Additional information.

The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.

The problem is fingers being too cold to function.

Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Clipboard and pencil

Issues:

• While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.

Approach: Used my iphone with dictation enabled.

Issues:

* Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.

* Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently.
* Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)

Approach: Just make an audio recording.

Issues:

• Hard to review.


• Phone still has cold problem.

Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.

Issues:

• Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers.

cold-weather temperature journal-keeping

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

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Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

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  To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


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  Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
  – JonasCz
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
  – Nic Hartley
  19 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

up vote
27
down vote

favorite

2

I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.

I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.

How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?

Edit: Additional information.

The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.

The problem is fingers being too cold to function.

Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Clipboard and pencil

Issues:

• While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.

Approach: Used my iphone with dictation enabled.

Issues:

* Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.

* Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently.
* Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)

Approach: Just make an audio recording.

Issues:

• Hard to review.


• Phone still has cold problem.

Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.

Issues:

• Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers.

cold-weather temperature journal-keeping

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
  – JonasCz
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
  – Nic Hartley
  19 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

up vote
27
down vote

favorite

2

up vote
27
down vote

favorite

2

2

I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.

I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.

How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?

Edit: Additional information.

The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.

The problem is fingers being too cold to function.

Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Clipboard and pencil

Issues:

• While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.

Approach: Used my iphone with dictation enabled.

Issues:

* Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.

* Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently.
* Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)

Approach: Just make an audio recording.

Issues:

• Hard to review.


• Phone still has cold problem.

Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.

Issues:

• Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers.

cold-weather temperature journal-keeping

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. Temp today is -7 C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 C.

I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations and so on.

How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes, or write things down?

Edit: Additional information.

The problem is NOT the writing implement -- at least so far.

The problem is fingers being too cold to function.

Here's what I've done so far:
Approach: Clipboard and pencil

Issues:

• While I can wear a mitt on the clipboard hand, bare fingers quickly go numb writing.

Approach: Used my iphone with dictation enabled.

Issues:

* Only will record 30 seconds at a time, then you have to touch the mic button again.

* Transcription is ragged: Count becomes account 4 becomes for 2
becomes 2. But not consistently.
* Phone shuts down when battery gets cold. (About 20 minutes at -7 C)

Approach: Just make an audio recording.

Issues:

• Hard to review.


• Phone still has cold problem.

Approach: Partial protection for writing hand. I've found I can wear a fleece mitt liner and still write.

Issues:

• Fingers still get cold, but I have about 15 minutes per session between times I have to thaw out fingers.

cold-weather temperature journal-keeping

cold-weather temperature journal-keeping

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

edited 9 mins ago

Community♦

1

1

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

asked yesterday

Sherwood Botsford

5,9711639

5,9711639

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
  – JonasCz
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
  – Nic Hartley
  19 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 2 more comments

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
  – JonasCz
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
  – Charlie Brumbaugh
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
  – Nic Hartley
  19 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
yesterday

To answerers - remember that product recommendations are not on-topic (see help center, which says Recommendations for what item to purchase are off-topic; questions about what features one should look for are on-topic.), so we're looking for techniques, or the qualities of equipment rather than particular brands. Thanks!
– Toby Speight
yesterday

4

4

Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
yesterday

Everyone else already answered with the gear suggestion for recording, you probably want to revert your edits and ask "How to keep finger from freezing while writing" as a related question cause I don't see people adjusting their answers
– Charlie Brumbaugh
yesterday

If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
23 hours ago

If you still want to try recording, you can try putting your phone in your shirt pocket. It should still pick up useable sound (from the vibrations from your chest). Then the only problem becomes how to start and stop recording. Also, you can get yourself a power bank, which should give you more battery time, especially if it's in a warm pocket. (Good quality / new batteries don't loose as much performance from cold)
– JonasCz
23 hours ago

Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
– Charlie Brumbaugh
20 hours ago

Protecting because the later answers are just repeats of earlier ones
– Charlie Brumbaugh
20 hours ago

I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
19 hours ago

I don't have a proper answer, but I've had to do this (ski patrol). I normally wear mittens with removable finger-covers, which reveal gloves underneath, and pair that with hand-warmers. That and an oversized grease pencil (sometimes I have to write on non-paper stuff) gets me through just about everything.
– Nic Hartley
19 hours ago

 | 
show 2 more comments

18 Answers
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up vote
32
down vote

Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

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  You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


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  You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
  – Thomas Moors
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
24
down vote

I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.

If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.

This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.

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edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

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  Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
  – Lightness Races in Orbit
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote

When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.

Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.

You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.

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answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

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  The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
14
down vote

To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)

If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.

However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.

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answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

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  I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
  – Ruadhan2300
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.

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answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

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  Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


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  Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


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  I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:

Source: OfficeSupplyGeek

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answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

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  This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).

I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).

Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.

Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).

Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.

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edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

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  There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
  – pipe
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


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  Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
  – Brad
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

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up vote
6
down vote

-10C (14F) is not that cold.

If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.

You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?

You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?

Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx

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answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

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  The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  -10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


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  We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
  – Kimball
  25 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

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up vote
5
down vote

Prepare a form for the information you collect.

Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.

Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.

You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.

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answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

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up vote
5
down vote

When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.

The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.

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answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

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• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.

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answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

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up vote
2
down vote

Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)

https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx

(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software

Issues:

• Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures


• Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software


• Transcribed notes must be reviewed

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answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

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• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
  – Weckar E.
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.

If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.

If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.

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answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
  – William - Rem
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica

The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.

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answered yesterday

guest

271

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• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
  – guest
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
  – Adonalsium
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.

This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.

Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.

The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)

History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:

On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)

The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:

the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]".

Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.

Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
  – Ricketyship
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

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protected by Charlie Brumbaugh 20 hours ago

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up vote
32
down vote

Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

• 
  
  
  

  
  17
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
  – Thomas Moors
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
32
down vote

Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

• 
  
  
  

  
  17
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
  – Thomas Moors
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
32
down vote

up vote
32
down vote

Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

Use a pencil. They do not freeze and can be easily sharpened. You might also use a grease pencil; they can write on metal, plastic, wet, oily, or waxy surfaces as well. These don't always afford the finest points, so if this is a concern, consider a fine-tipped sharpie, but, Sharpies are still susceptible to cold and wet weather.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

answered yesterday

Wigwam

1,446211

1,446211

• 
  
  
  

  
  17
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
  – Thomas Moors
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  17
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
  – Thomas Moors
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

17

17

You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
yesterday

You can get fatter pencils if you want to hold them in gloved hands, as well
– Chris H
yesterday

You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
yesterday

You could consider one designed like this: bol.com/nl/p/…
– Thomas Moors
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
24
down vote

I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.

If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.

This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
  – Lightness Races in Orbit
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
24
down vote

I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.

If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.

This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
  – Lightness Races in Orbit
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
24
down vote

up vote
24
down vote

I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.

If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.

This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I have previously used a tape recorder and nowadays, a smartphone or tiny handheld microphone. Then I simply speak my observations and findings in a way I know I will be able to easily tabulate when I am inside once again.

If it is too windy to use an outer microphone, usually putting it below clothing layers will do fine. If it's muffled, I later boost the audio in Audacity -- it doesn't need to be production-quality.

This is also useful when it is too windy to write on paper, or too snowy + windy to see what you are writing.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

cat

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered yesterday

cat

34315

answered yesterday

cat

34315

34315

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

cat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
  – Lightness Races in Orbit
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
  – Lightness Races in Orbit
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
4 hours ago

Horrid if you don't like hearing recordings of yourself though!
– Lightness Races in Orbit
4 hours ago

If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

If it's windy, a spoffle should help.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote

When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.

Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.

You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote

When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.

Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.

You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
15
down vote

up vote
15
down vote

When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.

Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.

You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

When I worked at a salebarn in the winter we had this problem and the solution was multiple pens inside your shirt pocket under your coat.

Pens will work for a while then get too cold at which point you switch it out for a new warm one.

You might also look into the mittens that have gloved fingers inside, you can pull just the top off to write while most of your fingers (all except the tips) are still covered.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

answered yesterday

Charlie Brumbaugh

43k15117245

43k15117245

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

4

4

The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

The problem isn't pens freezing. It's fingers freezing. I'm using a pencil.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
14
down vote

To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)

If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.

However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
  – Ruadhan2300
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
14
down vote

To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)

If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.

However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
  – Ruadhan2300
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
14
down vote

up vote
14
down vote

To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)

If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.

However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you should be able to record when the microphone button on the headset is pressed (but I don't know of anythign for iPhones as I've never had one.)

If you do use the phone, I suggest you keep an audio file and pass it through dictation software later, then you can refer to the audio file if there's confusion.

However a fat pencil and the minimum gloves you can get away with are pobably a more robust solution. Flip mitts over those gloves will allow you to warm back up again when you've got a longer break, but the inner gloves should be selected to be sufficient for reasonably long periods; in partiocular they should be windproof.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is the need to have a workflow such that your writing (i) is minimised, and (ii) can be big. So tick-boxes or boxes for numbers where possible -- that should get you a long way in your inventory case. A customised notebook with laser-printed (not inkjet in case of damp) pages is helpful in many situations.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

answered yesterday

Chris H

10.3k12144

10.3k12144

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
  – Ruadhan2300
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
  – Ruadhan2300
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
8 hours ago

I think your last paragraph there is my favourite part of the answer, keep the note-taking to an absolute minimum and as simple as possible, if you already know the possible cases then write them all down and tick the one that it turns out to be. By doing this, you can minimise the time your hands are exposed and keep them fully bundled up in the gloves otherwise.
– Ruadhan2300
8 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

up vote
9
down vote

One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

One time, during a winter research project, it was only after after a full-day ski to the study site that we realized that none of us had a pen or pencil. So we wrote the numbers in the snow with a twig and took a picture.

I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but it made for an entertaining story.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

answered yesterday

Matt Tyers

2294

2294

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Matt Tyers is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
  – Toby Speight
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

4

4

Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
yesterday

Actually, photography can be a useful technique (take spare batteries in a warm pocket). Images can be geotagged to indicate where they were taken, which can be useful (though GPS-enabled cameras seem poor at this - I use a dedicated GPS receiver and gpscorrelate), and you could use pebbles, pine cones, sticks etc. to indicate numbers. I make many photographic notes of geographical features whilst out in "weather", and successfully use them for updating OpenStreetMap.
– Toby Speight
yesterday

1

1

Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

Good comment. Change into an answer. It doesn't work in my situation, as the locations are separated by a much smaller difference than the error of the GPS. (I typically move about a meter between notes.)
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
22 hours ago

I fail to see how this does not answer the question. You can write in the snow with a fully gloved and mitted hand, and you need only remove the glove long enough to take the picture, which should be less than 1 minute. The only problems I foresee are 1) having enough space to write and 2) having the writing show clearly enough on the image to read easily since it is all white.
– Aaron
22 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:

Source: OfficeSupplyGeek

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:

Source: OfficeSupplyGeek

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
9
down vote

up vote
9
down vote

There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:

Source: OfficeSupplyGeek

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

There are some pens that are made for extreme conditions such as the uni-ball PowerTank Retractable Ballpoint pen. I've never personally used one of these but it has many positive reviews on Amazon. There is also a freezer test performed on this pen with the following results:

Source: OfficeSupplyGeek

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

answered yesterday

wanderweeer

1,6351519

1,6351519

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

This is a good answer for the writing instrument. But check how it does on wet paper. It's not always freezing.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).

I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).

Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.

Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).

Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
  – pipe
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
  – Brad
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).

I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).

Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.

Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).

Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
  – pipe
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
  – Brad
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
7
down vote

up vote
7
down vote

Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).

I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).

Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.

Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).

Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Pencils. Pencils are also approved by the Bundesmarine (German Navy).

I remember how pencils just worked when we stood outside in the rain and in the snow at temperatures around 0°C, and us recruits practicing morse codes. Unfortunately I have no other quotation for this, except myself (Signalbetriebsdienst class of Winter/2004 at Bremerhaven).

Paper was the bigger problem. Once wrote down, the notes stood there. But it wasn't really easy to not rip the wet paper apart while writing. It's best if you're equipped with both hard and soft ones. Use the soft ones within bad conditions and when the paper is wet.

Baustifte/Zimmermannbleistifte/Carpenter's Pencils are usually in the HB range, though they have a big diameter core. If you want to draw on stone or other materials, use one of these, or a standard pencil with very soft core (2B or softer).

Also, especially when you sport soft pencils, it's a good idea to have multiple of them ready to use, such that you don't have to sharpen them when you can't afford it.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

edited yesterday

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

answered yesterday

phresnel

1713

1713

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

phresnel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
  – pipe
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
  – Brad
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
  – pipe
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
  – Brad
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

3

3

There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
yesterday

There's a fix to your paper problem: waterproof paper
– pipe
yesterday

Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
yesterday

Waterproof pens and paper. They go well together and don't tear or smear.
– Brad
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

-10C (14F) is not that cold.

If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.

You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?

You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?

Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  -10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
  – Kimball
  25 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

-10C (14F) is not that cold.

If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.

You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?

You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?

Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  -10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
  – Kimball
  25 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
6
down vote

up vote
6
down vote

-10C (14F) is not that cold.

If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.

You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?

You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?

Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

-10C (14F) is not that cold.

If you keep moving a thin "glove liner" or "running glove" should be warm enough for a while. The glove liners are thin enough where a regular #2 pencil will do fine. Then put on a pair of "Over Mitts" over the liners when you don't need to write.

You're using a waterproof field notes book, right?

You're using dot tally to reduce how much you have to write?

Society of American Foresters has a forum on their website for Inventory questions. Maybe ask in there? https://www.eforester.org/Main/Community/Join_a_Working_Group/Main/About/Working_Groups.aspx

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

answered 23 hours ago

Kimball

42923

42923

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  -10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
  – Kimball
  25 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
  – Aaron
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  -10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
  – Kimball
  25 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
22 hours ago

The "thin glove you can still write with" is in other answers, but this one is the only answer to mention that the temp in question is not actually very cold and moving to keep your body warm; that got my +1. This will do a lot; so much, that you might not even need gloves at this temperature if you move enough. Though it does work at OPs temp range, this alone might not be enough for temps that are very cold, so combine with other answers and take frequent breaks from writing.
– Aaron
22 hours ago

-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

-10C might be "not that cold" to you but perception of temperature depends very much on what you're used to, and it clearly is "that cold" to the asker. I have a neighbour from India who wears a hat and scarf outside any time the temperature drops below about 10C.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
25 mins ago

We are talking about working at -10C (14F). That's not so cold that you won't get use to it, unless you have a medical condition like Raynaud's. Keep moving, stay dry, use a glove liner, and streamline your process to minimize the time you have your glove off.
– Kimball
25 mins ago

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

Prepare a form for the information you collect.

Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.

Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.

You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

Prepare a form for the information you collect.

Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.

Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.

You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

up vote
5
down vote

Prepare a form for the information you collect.

Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.

Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.

You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

Prepare a form for the information you collect.

Make the blanks big. Fill in the form by grasping your "pencil" in your gloved fist. Use an over-sized writing utensil (so your fist doesn't cramp). Revert to bare fingers when necessary.

Blanks for numbers are easy. So are checkboxes. If there is text you need to write, try to create options ahead of time so you can just enter A, B, C, etc.

You might "waste"/use more paper, but that cost will be offset by the man-hours saved.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

answered yesterday

Zach Mierzejewski

20113

20113

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.

The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.

The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

up vote
5
down vote

When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.

The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

When I was hunting, I found that the best way to keep my fingers warm, while still allowing me to free them for delicate manipulation (loading a magazine, etc) was to wear "convertible gloves" - that is, fingerless gloves with a mitten pouch that could be slipped over your fingers when not writing. Additionally, adding a chemical hand-warmer to the mitten section makes warming your fingers back up relatively quick. You'll have to shop around for a pair that is quick to convert to finger-less and back to mitten, so you can cover up between turns.

The other option is to keep your pen and clipboard on a lanyard so you can pocket your hands with handwarmers between notes.

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

answered 23 hours ago

Adonalsium

2245

2245

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

up vote
4
down vote

I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I write software for a company that supplies an application for field engineers to use to collect field data with a hardened android tablet. I expect you could use a text editor in a hardened android tablet to take notes. The value of this is that the notes can then be exported to a desktop (our software transmits it to a cloud server) and you won't have to worry about transcription errors, losing the paper, or having the paper become unreadable. There are gloves with wire embedded in the fingers to allow you to work on touch screens with them on. Or you could look for a tablet with a stylus, though a stylus typically needs electrical contact with the skin (mentioned as the gloves may have a broad contact area. But a stylus can be used with gloves like that). Sure it is a lot more expensive than paper and pen but the cost of losing a piece of paper and having to do the work over is high also and you only have to enter the data once. Paper leads to transcription errors, values in wrong fields, etc. Not saying you should look for something like we produce but you might look into a .pdf form you can fill in and then store and print.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

answered yesterday

Charles Jacks

411

411

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Charles Jacks is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

Interesting idea. But to operate a text editor requires a bare finger, and is painfully slow. Also: MOst places I take field notes do not have cellular coverage.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

4

4

@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
yesterday

@SherwoodBotsford some touchscreen gloves work well, and plenty of text editors work offline
– Chris H
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

up vote
4
down vote

Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Depending on the complexity of the notes, you may not have to sightwrite them. So, wear a warm but roomy coat, pull in your arms, and take your paper and pencil notes that way.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

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Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

answered yesterday

Weckar E.

1412

1412

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Weckar E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)

https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx

(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)

https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx

(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)

https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx

(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

Fisher Space Pen. Writes down to -30F and won't leak no matter what (say, from altitude changes going up a mountain.)

https://www.spacepen.com/about-us.aspx

(And I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied user. At a desk I consider gel ink pens to be superior, but nothing beats a space pen for reliability--if I'm carrying a pen it's a space pen.)

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

answered yesterday

Loren Pechtel

25917

25917

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
  – Chris H
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  

My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

My experience with gel pens is that they run if the paper gets wet after.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
yesterday

@SherwoodBotsford space pens aren't the same as normal gel pens, and space pens are what this answer recommends you use
– Chris H
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software

Issues:

• Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures


• Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software


• Transcribed notes must be reviewed

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
  – Weckar E.
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software

Issues:

• Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures


• Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software


• Transcribed notes must be reviewed

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
  – Weckar E.
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software

Issues:

• Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures


• Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software


• Transcribed notes must be reviewed

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Approach: Audio recorder with speech-to-text software

Issues:

• Audio recorder must work at freezing-cold temperatures


• Recordings must be processed afterwards by speech-to-text software


• Transcribed notes must be reviewed

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

answered yesterday

Bernat

1211

1211

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Bernat is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
  – Weckar E.
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
  – Weckar E.
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
yesterday

All of these would be quite easily solved if using analogue recording media.
– Weckar E.
yesterday

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.

If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.

If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
  – William - Rem
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.

If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.

If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
  – William - Rem
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.

If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.

If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

Most answers seem to assume the writing implement is the problem, but the asker specifically states that his comfort is the problem. I can think of two solutions.

If possible, figure out how to simplify your inventory. Consider writing in ways that don't require a large amount of dexterity -- I would consider tally marks.

If you need more detailed notes, consider how you can heat your hands with thinner gloves. You could do fingerless heated gloves, or shove a handwarmer in the palm of the glove.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

answered yesterday

Sidney

20912

20912

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
  – William - Rem
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
  – William - Rem
  54 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
54 mins ago

Battery-powered heated gloves seem like a great solution here, since they help in a variety of ways. I can't find one available, but I think you could make a heated pen without too much difficulty, especially if you don't mind some additional bulk that would probably just make it easier to hold with gloves.
– William - Rem
54 mins ago

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica

The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

guest

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
  – guest
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
  – Adonalsium
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica

The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

guest

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
  – guest
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
  – Adonalsium
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica

The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

guest

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Use Noodlers Polar Ink. It is specifically designed to work down to very low temperatures and has been tested in Antarctica.

https://blog.gouletpens.com/2017/01/noodlers-polar-ink-goes-to-antartica

The inks are also "bulletproof", that means they are very permanent and don't fade or wash out.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

guest

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

guest

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

guest

271

answered yesterday

guest

271

271

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
  – guest
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
  – Adonalsium
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
  – Sherwood Botsford
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
  – guest
  20 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
  – David Richerby
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
  – Adonalsium
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

I do NOT want to use a fountain pen.
– Sherwood Botsford
yesterday

2

2

@SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
– guest
20 hours ago

@SherwoodBotsford: why should I care what you want? The answer can still benefit someone else with less entitlement.
– guest
20 hours ago

1

1

@guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

@guest Please, there's no need to insult people. Fountain pens do seem very badly suited to this kind of environment.
– David Richerby
3 hours ago

2

2

This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
3 hours ago

This is just a bad answer in general. A fountain pen is a horrible, impractical implement for taking notes on a clipboard while walking around outside in the cold. I don't think anyone will benefit from this answer as anything but a novelty.
– Adonalsium
3 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.

This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.

Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.

The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)

History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:

On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)

The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:

the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]".

Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.

Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
  – Ricketyship
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.

This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.

Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.

The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)

History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:

On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)

The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:

the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]".

Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.

Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
  – Ricketyship
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.

This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.

Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.

The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)

History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:

On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)

The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:

the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]".

Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.

Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

Your question made me wonder how Robert Falcon Scott wrote his final diary entries on his trip to the South Pole in 1912.

This article, from The Guardian, Scott of the Antartic's final diary published online says with certainty that Scott's diary entries on the journey to the South Pole were written in pencil.

Readers can, from today, pore over the pages of faded pencil
handwriting that make up one of the most famous diaries in the world –
Captain Robert Scott's journal of the final months, days and hours of
his doomed 1911-1912 expedition to the South Pole.

The British Library has launched an online facsimile of the complete
last diary alongside extensive extracts from the two earlier volumes. (emphasis added)

History Channel on Foxtel describes Scott's final entry:

On 29 March 1912, in a weary pencil script, Scott wrote the final
entry in his diary: “Last entry. It seems a pity, but I do not think I
can write more–R. Scott–For God’s sake look after our people.”
(emphasis added)

The interior of Scott's tent was undoubtedly below zero C. This was Antarctica in March, and one of the colder Marches. Nature News, in its article Scott's Icy Death says:

the last entry in Edward Wilson's diary is a poignant: "Turned in at
-37° [F]".

Wilson and Scott, with Bowers, were in the same tent. Wilson's final entry was a day or so before Scott's.

Another source from the British Library mentions Scott picking up a pen, but the reference to a pen was probably a literary expression, not a factual description of what Scott used.

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

answered 17 hours ago

ab2

11.9k340103

11.9k340103

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
  – Ricketyship
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
  – Ricketyship
  11 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

3

3

I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
11 hours ago

I think the OP has already mentioned that the issue is not the equipment he uses (which is a pencil). It's the cold fingers that are the issue. And this answer doesn't really add anything more than what others have already covered. Except for the historical references (which do not answer the original question either).
– Ricketyship
11 hours ago

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

I would suggest a pair of good waterproof winter gloves instead of mittens. These will keep your hands warm and protected from wind and still allow for enough dexterity for writing with a pencil.

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

answered 20 mins ago

JIMMYPlay

32111

32111

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

protected by Charlie Brumbaugh 20 hours ago

Thank you for your interest in this question.
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