Your cotton shirt is sweat-soaked, sending ice-cold rivulets trickling down your back. The howling wind is stealing every last remnant of your body heat. And your lips are so cold that you can't form a word. Then you take a look at your hiking companion, cheeks flushed with warmth.taking off a layer of clothing!
The great outdoors is a wonderful thing. But freezing temperatures, staggering winds and unpredictable weather can cause a misery so deep that, once you've experienced it, you'll never want to leave the comfort of the indoors again.
So what did your partner have right that you had so very wrong? He mastered the art of layering! With the right materials used in the right conditions, you can enjoy many outdoor activities despite the weather.
Don't let your clothes get outclassed by the cold. Learn how to withstand all that Mother Nature throws at you by investing in the proper layers.
Layering is all about versatility and efficiency. Instead of dressing in one or two heavy items, layering involves dressing in a number of lightweight clothes that you can add or remove in response to changing conditions.
No matter what you're doing-skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, climbing-you need clothing that adapts to changing levels of activity.
As a rule of thumb, you should expect to be a little chilled when you start out the day and after each break in activity. During the first few minutes of movement, you will warm up. If you're wearing too many layers, you'll start out warm, but end up uncomfortable as your body temperature rises and you begin to sweat. When in doubt, wear your heaviest layer when you start your activity, but remove it at the first sign of overheating or perspiration.
Don't forget your precious extremities! Always pack a hat and insulated gloves if there's even a remote possibility of bad weather.
Building layers is like building a sports team. Each player (in this case, each layer) performs a specific task. Circumstances-like weather and activity-will determine whether you need to use all the players on your team or sideline one or more of them around your waist or in your backpack.
Bad analogies aside, there are four layers you need to consider when embarking on an outdoor adventure.
As the next-to-skin layer, the base layer is extremely important. Base layers transfer sweat away from your skin, and send moisture, in a process known as "wicking", to outer layers where it can evaporate. Consider your level of activity and the temperatures you expect, and choose your base layer accordingly. The bullets below offer general guidelines, but you should always consider your own tolerance of cold when choosing a base layer. Generally, it is better to be too warm than too cold.
The base layer, as the name implies, will be the first layer of clothing you put on. For outdoor activities, it's likely that you'll be perspiring and cooling down repeatedly, so you need items that will cool you down quickly, but also prevent after-exercise chill. The base layer should never retain moisture, but should wick it away. It should also:
Base layer clothing is worn right next to your skin. on the top, bottom, or both. The purpose of this first layer is to wick moisture away from your body during high intensity activities and to provide some insulation in cold weather conditions. Base layers are available in varying degrees of warmth.
Some clothing layers pull sweat away from the surface of your skin (wicking). The moisture then quickly dries or is transferred to other clothing layers. Clothes that wick away moisture keep you cool and dry in warm conditions and reduce conductive heat loss in colder weather. Wicking garments are made to be worn close to your skin as a base or a mid layer.
Often you will see garments referred to simply as moisture wicking. These garments are usually made of one or a combination of high-tech fabrics. Look for blends of:
If you need minimal protection outdoors, layer lightweight, functional pieces over your base layer. The mid layer:
The mid layer consists of the lightweight, comfortable, and durable clothing you wear every day. This layer provides some protection in warm conditions.
As with base layer garments, mid layer clothing can be made of high tech fabrics like spandex, polyester, or Lycra®.
The purpose of the insulating layer is to retain your body heat by creating a pocket of warm air around your body. The insulating layer:
Insulating garments, both tops and bottoms, are usually made of polyester fabrics that are treated in a way that makes the fibers stand up and trap air. This trapped air then forms a protective insulating layer. Look for products featuring Gore-Tex® Windstopper®, Polartecr WindPro®, or Polartecr Classics® technologies. The most popular insulating fabrics are:
The outer layer is your final layer. Outerwear pieces vary in weight, water resistance, and breathability so make sure to buy the appropriate garment for your activity level. The outer layer:
The purpose of the outer or shell layer is to protect your whole body from wind and precipitation. (The outerwear layer includes both tops and bottoms.) When properly designed, the shell layer holds in your body heat while allowing moisture to escape. If wind or water is allowed to penetrate your inner layers, they will be ineffective. And without proper ventilation, inside moisture can't evaporate and, instead, will condense inside your shell. That said, picking the right outerwear for the weather and your activity level can be tricky. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind.
Remember that for anything more than low-intensity activity, your outerwear needs to be breathable and well ventilated. This layer should also comfortably fit over the rest of your layers without being so bulky that it restricts your movement.
Outerwear is generally made of tightly woven fabrics which are coated or laminated to be waterproof. Many outerwear pieces feature technical panels that act as barriers against wind and moisture. Other details, such as stretch fabrics, vents, and zippers, add to a garment's overall functionality. Look for outerwear in the following constructions:
Water-resistant breathable outerwear tends to be less expensive than fully waterproof pieces. However, water resistant outerwear is not waterproof so if you plan to be outside during harsh weather or extended periods of rain, you'll need something that will offer more protection. Water-resistant breathable outerwear is appropriate for use in warmer conditions where breathability is essential and the possibility of heavy precipitation is low.
Waterproof, breathable fabrics perform well in a wide range of weather conditions and new high tech materials are being introduced all the time. However, even these materials can heat up and trap moisture during very strenuous activities. A garment's performance depends on the specific fabric used in the construction, the temperature outside, and the intensity of your activity.
Waterproof non-breathable outerwear pieces are, as the name implies, completely waterproof, and are generally less expensive than waterproof, breathable garments. However, because they provide very little breathability, they are uncomfortable in the heat or for use during high-intensity activities. Waterproof, non-breathable materials are usually used in the construction of inexpensive rain pants or emergency ponchos.
Once you've decided on fabric, there are a few other factors to consider when purchasing outerwear. Compare the included design features of tops and bottom in a few different models. Look for the following:
For many years, hard shell garments were your only outerwear option. These pieces are completely waterproof. Gore-Tex is the classic, most ubiquitous hard shell material. When the weather is truly foul, nothing else will keep you as dry. However, they can be noisy and slightly rigid.
The new category of outerwear-soft shells-is based on soft, stretchy fabrics that are water resistant. Soft shell outerwear breathes much better than hard shell garments allowing water vapor to escape during exercise. However, soft shell pieces aren't meant to be worn in extreme moisture. They can fend off a mild spring shower, but they're no match for a downpour.
