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| This guy wonders what all the fuss is. |
In the olden days all you needed to survive the harsh chill of winter was a thick buffalo hide coat saturated with fish oil. The only downside was that you smelled like dead fish, an odor repulsive to humans but inviting to all the critters with big sharp teeth that have been waiting all winter for a decent meal. The trade off to being warm was that you became a moveable feast.
These days staying warm is much more scientific and a lot less tasty. Advances in modern synthetic fabrics along with the fine-tuning of tried and true natural fibers have made heat conservation extremely efficient. What to wear depends on what you are doing and how long you’ll be out braving the elements; a cross-country skier will want a different set up than a Green Bay Packer’s fan perched in the bleachers of Lambeau Field.
THE SCIENCE OF WARMTH
The first thing to understand is how our clothes keep us warm. Humans are highly sophisticated organisms but poorly suited (literally) for bad weather. Most mammals have multiple layers of fur that trap heat and repel water. Champions of cold weather endurance also have a thick layer of insulating fat, a strategy ill advised for humans even if they live in Minnesota. The art of warmth is all about trapping the heat our bodies give off. With an internal temperature of 98.6 degrees, we need to expel excess heat through our skin. Without a means to harvest that heat we get quickly chilled. Air is the optimal retainer of heat, thus the spaces between our fabrics become the first key to staying warm.
The other important aspect to warmth is staying dry. Water is a great conduit of heat and that is bad news for those of us who aren’t whales or polar bears. Even a thin layer of moisture on our skin can drain our warmth four times faster than being dry. Staying dry from the outside isn’t difficult but if the guardian fabric cannot breathe we can become soaked with our own sweat and the danger of hypothermia remains present. Ideally, a waterproof fabric needs to keep water out but vent internal moisture.
WHAT TO AVOID
“Cotton kills” has become a catchphrase in the world of outdoors gear. Cotton is actually a decent insulator, especially in densely knit forms such as flannel or denim. The problem is that cotton acts like a sponge, absorbing water and doing nothing to draw moisture away from the skin. Once cotton gets wet, its insulative properties are useless. For any activity that makes you sweat, cotton is a very bad idea. This includes cotton socks, an oft forgotten component of staying warm.
Likewise, heavy rubber, plastic, or vinyl raincoats do a great job keeping wetness out but they don’t breathe at all. They also do nothing to keep warm air next to your body and can be bulky for active endeavors. The more you’ll be moving, the more important it is you have a way to vent the steam you give off.
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| The right layers can make you feel heroic. |
THE LAYERING SYSTEM: WHAT TO WEAR
Starting from the inside out, the first layer you’ll want against your skin is long underwear with the ability to wick moisture away from your body. “Hydrophobic” materials are fabrics that do not easily absorb water and there are many hydrophobic versions of underwear to choose from. Capilene, Bergelene, Polypropylene, and similar synthetic blends are all proven performers. Silk is a good natural alternative but is more delicate and expensive than its synthetic counterparts. Remember, the classic ribbed cotton long johns are to be avoided, especially as a top layer. They will hold a lot of sweat against the skin and promote heat loss.
Your second layer is sometimes your outer layer during highly aerobic activities such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. For the upper body, synthetic fleece coats/pullovers are ideal. Fleece comes in many different styles and is rated in accordance to how densely knit the fibers are. Microfleece (usually rated 100 or below) is tightly knit and offers good wind protection and warmth. If you are looking for more insulation, fleece with a rating of 300+ offers greater density thus more air space to capture heat. Higher rated fleece is not as windproof as microfleece. Wool sweaters are another good second layer and the model for the synthetic fibers (thus the moniker “fleece”). For the lower body, you may only need a pair of synthetic fiber pants or shorts with a good pair of snowpants over them. If you get cold easy, a pair of microfleece pants is a good idea.
A third layer is usually needed for extreme cold or activities where you may be sitting around a lot. Anytime you will be stopping for an extended amount of time (such as lunch breaks) it’s a good idea to throw another layer on before you get start getting cold. Down-filled coats are like wearing puffy sleeping bags on your torso and will provide a great amount of insulation. Most down coats have a water resistant shell because down loses most of its insulative properties when wet. An alternative to down filling is synthetic fill such as Polarguard, Primaloft, or Quallofill. These fills will retain more insulative qualities than down if wet and will dry quicker. Both styles of coat emphasize maximum air space to capture as much heat as possible.
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| When you're warm, life is good |
Finally, the outer layer of a winter warrior’s outfit is focused less on warmth and more on staying dry. This is where GORE-TEX and its various incarnations come into play. GORE-TEX is a water and windproof fabric that allows for venting of internal heat. Several companies have their own version of GORE-TEX technology with names such as Triple Point and System 3. Some GORE-TEX coats come with a variety of useful features, such as full hoods to fit over helmets and pit zips to help vent heat. A GORE-TEX shell is the premium waterproof upper layer but nylon or Teflon coats offer good protection with slightly less venting ability.
GORE-TEX snowpants are great bottom layers but with the lower body, venting isn’t as much of a priority as it is around the core of the body. There are several quality snowpants on the market, such as those designed for snowboarding or downhill skiing. Teflon or nylon shell pants/coats are good alternatives to GORE-TEX and while not as breathable, still keep water out and won’t be as pricey as GORE-TEX products.
Avoid cotton socks for your feet. Wool or wool blends (such as Smartwool or Thor-lo) will keep your feet warm and dry. For your hands, gloves should employ a similar layer system, with a wool or synthetic mitt for warmth and a nylon or GORE-TEX overmitt to preserve dryness.
Finally, it is important to keep your head and neck warm. While most people know that humans lose a great of heat through their heads, people often neglect their necks. A neck gaiter is your secret weapon is staying warm. A nice wool hat atop your head not only looks jaunty but also is unrivaled at keeping your noggin warm. Make sure that it fits nicely and covers up your ears.
Layers provide the best system to stay warm and prevent overheating during winter activities. Staying warm has never been easier and remember, buffalo hide looks much more fetching on a buffalo than on you!
Last Updated: Feb 24th, 2006 - 14:18:11
© Copyright 1999-2006 by Hooked on the Outdoors
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