How do you stay warm in winter?

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Its going to be really cold in a large part of North America this week. How do you guys/gals dress to stay warm? My problem is I not only work outside, I also spend a good amount of time driving, in peoples houses/basements of buildings, etc. So I start to sweat when I go from a pole in the wind to a terminal in the boiler room of a large building. I have a method, but it has its limitations. What gets me is I have to be flexible enough to climb poles and fences, crawl through and under/over obstacles, so not too puffy, and like I said above, easily removable layers.

Lets start with the feet. I have insulated New Balance hiking boots, and they do the trick somewhat. My feet are really wide, so I have trouble wearing thick socks in the boots with the insulation. I have larger/wider un-insulated Red Wing boots, that I can wear thick socks, but I dont know what combo is better. I am supposed to wear steel toe, but my fat feet wont allow this.

For pants, once the high temp stays below freezing, I wear flannel lined jeans from Eddie Bauer, or fleece lined jeans from Duluth. If its really cold, or I know in advance I know I am going to be outside all day, I have some long underwear.

I start off my torso wrapping with a short sleeve t-shirt, followed by a long sleeve t-shirt. Then a sweat shirt. Then a vest, then an outer layer. My vests are from Duluth, one firehose one which is thick and warm, but too loose and lets wind up my back.. The nylon fleece lined one is very snug and fitted with all the under layers. The shell is usually a Carhartt work coat, or sometimes I will wear a fleece/ waterproof Carhartt combo if the weather calls for it. I hate going into a nasty basement, and having to take off my coats and vests and sometimes sweatshirts to run wire without sweating… I think the waterbugs are making a new home in my pockets!

The last trick I have up my sleeve is a Zippo handwarmer that I hang around my neck. It rides above the t-shirts but under the sweatshirt. It works well enough. I also tuck in my t-shirts deeply. I find that no matter how many layers I have on, wind up my back makes me cold.

So… What methods/products do you guys/gals use to stay warm and dry?

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