# What does very extreme cold feel like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211 "2012-02-08T17:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211/41 "2012-02-10T01:34:07Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > \ > We having a saying in my house when it gets into the teens below zero and colder. It’s not just cold, it’s “stupid” cold out. Heh - I think we use that term, too. The other thing about being outside in extreme cold is that you avoid moisture at all costs - you wipe the ice off your face, you brush the snow off before it can melt, you try not to get too sweaty, etc. Cold is bad; cold and wet is deadly. Those of us who are used to colder temperatures, I always find discussions like these interesting. Growing up in a cold place, there is so much about cold that we take for granted, like the air being so cold it hurts to breathe it - well, you don’t go outside in the cold and take a big, deep breath - why would you do that? You’ll freeze your lungs! The different levels of frostbite, too - if it’s still prickling, you’re still fine. I think most of us know how to re-heat after frostbite, too - you don’t hop in hot tub or hot shower, but re-heat slowly, with lukewarm heat. You know it’s cold out when you smile, and it takes a bit of time for the corners of your mouth to come back down. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211/42 "2012-02-10T01:46:28Z")
I’ve been in -20 F, and didn’t stay out long, but the coldest I’ve experienced overall was about -8 F with a really strong wind. The wind chill was -80F and more than 2-3 seconds outside was absolute misery. I went out in it for a few seconds just to experience it, and didn’t make it past my front porch before running back inside. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211/43 "2012-02-10T02:41:34Z")
As a high-school senior I went with three friends to a research facility that had a -50°C cold storage. We were wearing just a sweater as warming material. They offered special jackets, but “we don’t nedd no stinkin’ jackets”. Going in was a punch to the face, every breath was painful and after 10 seconds I thought I was going to pass out. But, the four of us kept looking at each other, to see who chickened out first. Luckily, after what seemed 2 hours (possibly 20 seconds) the researcher (who was of course wearing the jacket) said “let’s go out”. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211/44 "2012-02-10T03:02:10Z")
There’s a photo of me standing next to a thermometer showing -50F in Northern Minnesota. I was wearing boots and a pair of boxers. Alcohol was involved. I was in my twenties then, and I remember we were out there for quite a while. It felt like somebody had just slapped me. All over my entire body. All at once. It’s that kind of sting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-very-extreme-cold-feel-like/612211.md?page=2)