Getting your winter FR clothing ready comes down to five quick checks. Look over every piece for wear, confirm your ratings still fit the job, restock your base layers, sort out your head, hands, and feet, and make sure your outer layer is still bright and flame resistant. A free evening in October is all it takes, and you'll start the cold season knowing your gear is ready.
The first frost is already touching the prairies, so now is the sweet spot. There's still time to order what you need and break it in before the deep cold settles in.
MWG FLEXSAFE™ Men's FR Long John, an easy first item on your winter restock list
Jump to a check: wear and damage, ratings, base layers, head, hands, and feet, your outer layer.
1. Look over every piece for wear and damage
Lay your FR gear out on the floor and go through it one piece at a time. Look for holes, rips, frayed cuffs, broken zippers, and worn spots at the knees and elbows. Check for grease, oil, or fuel stains that didn't come out in the wash, since flammable contaminants can work against the fabric's protection.
FR clothing does its best work when it's in good shape. Anything that's damaged should be repaired the right way or retired. Everything else gets a proper wash before it goes back into rotation, and our washing and care guide shows you how. If something wore out sooner than it should have, our warranty page explains what's covered.
2. Does your winter FR clothing still match the job?
Check the label on each garment and compare its arc rating and category with what your employer's hazard assessment calls for. If you've changed roles, moved to a new site, or picked up new tasks this year, the rating you need may have changed too.
Winter adds a twist because you'll be wearing more layers. If you're counting on a combination of layers to reach a certain rating, stick with combinations that have been tested together. Our layering calculator shows tested combinations, and our safety and compliance guide covers the standards behind them.
3. Restock your FR base layers
Base layers take the most wear of anything in your winter setup, and they're often the first thing to stretch out or wear at the seams. Count what you have and plan for enough to rotate through a full work week, plus a spare for long days.
A good place to start is the MWG FLEXSAFE™ Men's FR Long John. It's made with inherently flame resistant FLEXSAFE™ fabric, so the protection is built into the fibre and won't wash out. The fabric pulls sweat away from your skin, resists odours, and has 4-way stretch with flat lock seams, so it moves with you under your work pants all shift. It's lightweight, rated CAT 1, and soft next to skin.
Women can shop the FLEXSAFE™ Women's FR Long John, and you'll find tops and more in our FR base layer collection. Curious why this layer matters so much? Our post on FR base layers walks through it.
4. Get your head, hands, and feet ready
Fingers, toes, ears, and your face are the first places to feel the cold. Check that your FR liner or balaclava still fits under your hard hat, and that your gloves still have grip and warmth left in them. Our guide to winter FR accessories covers headwear and hand protection, and you can browse FR gloves here.
Toss a couple of extra pairs of socks in your bag too. Damp feet get cold fast, and a dry pair at lunch makes the afternoon a lot more comfortable.
5. Make sure your outer layer is still bright and FR
Your outer layer takes the most weather, so give it a close look. Reflective striping should be intact, not cracked or peeling, and the fabric shouldn't be badly faded. Bright, visible gear matters even more once mornings stay dark. Our post on CSA Z96 high visibility explains what to look for.
Try it on over your full winter setup, too. It should feel a little roomy, because a tight outer layer squeezes out the trapped air that keeps you warm. Your jacket or parka needs to be FR, just like everything under it. If yours is ready for retirement, our guide to choosing a warm FR jacket is a helpful next read, and our sizing guide helps you land the right fit.
Once you've worked through the list, you'll know exactly what to replace and what's good for another season. For ideas on where to start, take a look at our team's three winter favourites. Getting a whole crew ready? Our MWG+ program makes ordering for a team simple.