What
you choose to wear while pursuing your favorite outdoor activities
will have a great effect on how comfortable and enjoyable
your experience will be.
- Choosing
clothing that does not absorb water or perspiration dramatically
increases your comfort.
- Your
body's perspiration production along with the elements of rain,
wind, cold, and snow are the enemies of your ability to regulate
your body temperature.
- By
choosing a layered approach to clothing that offers flexibility
in a wide range of activities and weather conditions will be the
difference between enjoyable comfort or misery, personal injury
or worse.
The
Basics of Layering
Base Layer (click here to learn more)
Keep your skin dry
during activity and while at rest by wicking perspiration away from
the skin to the insulation layer.
Insulation Layer (click here to learn more)
Provides a thin, non-bulky
boundary of warm air that surrounds your body during activity and
while at rest while moving perspiration out to the shell layer.
Shell Layer (click here to learn more)
Protects and regulates
the boundary of warm air around the body by allowing your body’s
moisture vapors to escape and prevents entry of wind-chill, rain,
and snow weather elements.
Accessories (click here to learn more)
Further protects the
head, neck, hands, and feet that are sensitive to the effects of
wind and cold.
With
a basic knowledge of the characteristics of the individual layers,
you can maximize comfort and performance while minimizing bulk and
your risk of exposure.
BASE LAYER
- keep your skin dry
The Need:
Perspiration
is inevitable when you are working or playing in the cold. Your
skin needs to stay dry in order for you to remain comfortable.
The first component of layering is the long underwear base layer.
Long under wear must perform two tasks:
1.
Wick perspiration away from your skin for dryness.
2.
Trap a layer of dry air next to your skin for warmth.
The Answer:
· Treated polyester fibers absorb virtually no water.
· Stays warm next to the skin even when wet.
· Fast moisture wicking and drying characteristics.
· Several weights for any climate or activity.
· Base layer enables outer layers to perform better.
· The base layer contributes the most to your comfort.
Why
not natural fibers?
Moisture
is your enemy in cold weather; it leads to misery and hypothermia.
Hypothermia is the body's inability to produce enough heat to stay
warm and comfortable. Natural fibers possess some dangerous deficiencies
in their ability to retain the body's warmth production:
· Cotton
is a chilling fabric by nature that also has minimal
thermal efficiency especially when wet.
· Wool has better thermal efficiency, but takes hours
to dry and can be smelly and itchy.
· Natural Silk also has some thermal efficiency when
wet but is more expensive and fussy to care for.
Natural
fibers’ lack of performance as compared to synthetics is what compromises
your comfort and safety especially when the weather turns ugly.
INSULATION LAYER - warm and cozy
The Need:
Since
there is wide variety of cold weather activities to enjoy there
is also a wide variety of insulation options to choose from. This
is the layer that provides the greatest opportunity for versatility.
The insulation layer needs to do two tasks:
1. Trap a
boundary of air around the body for warmth.
2. Move perspiration
from the base layer to the shell.
The Answer:
· Polyester clothing is most efficient for its weight.
· Polyester pile garments insulate even when wet.
· This layer yields the most warmth flexibility.
· Thin wicking layers are for aerobic activities.
· Thicker, loftier layers are for bitter cold activity.
Why
synthetic fibers?
Polyester
does not absorb moisture like natural fibers do, thus leaving you
dryer and warmer in harsh wet and cold weather conditions.
The
Insulation Family
Light Weight Insulation
Light weight wicking
pile is for aerobic activities such as cold weather walking, running,
and XC skiing.
Mid Weight Insulation
For cold weather activities
such as alpine skiing, fishing, camping, hiking, and walking around
town.
Heavy Weight Insulation
For sedentary or bitter cold situations.
Stuffable
Insulation
Down or Synthetic
Filled insulation that is very warm yet stuffs very small. Best
used for hiking, backpacking and mountaineering.
SHELL LAYER
- keep the weather out
The Need:
When
it is windy, rainy, or snowing, keeping warm is a challenge without
the right shell. Shells need to do two tasks:
1.
Keep out the wind, snow, and rain.
2.
Let out your perspiration that is produced.
The Answer:
Shells
have demanding job. Keeping the outdoors outside and allowing your
perspiration to continue to escape is accomplished through a combination
of waterproof / breathable barriers and features.
· Water resistant - keeps out snow, drizzles.
· Water proof - keeps out day long down
pours.
· Wind proof - eliminate the effects of wind-chill.
· Breathable - allows perspiration to escape.
· Ventilation - openings that vent heat quickly.
Well
designed shells blend fabrics and features that provide flexibility
and durability for the activities you enjoy. There are three high
performance basics:
Light Weight Water Resistant Breathables
Great for running, cycling, warm weather day sailing,
or simply as an everyday wind breaker.
Durable Water Resistant Breathables
For Alpine skiing or situations where abrasion resistance
and breathability are of greater importance than total waterproofness.
Durable Water Proof Breathables
These shells are built to last. They are
durable for longterm outdoor excursions
as rainwear, camping, climbing, and skiing. Combine abrasion resistance
with total waterproofness and you've got versatile protection for
all seasons.
ACCESSORIES LAYER - Grandma's advice
Hats, Balaclavas, & Neck Gaiters…
· Toes cold? PUT YOUR HAT ON! Grandma was right. We loose significant
amounts of body heat through our head and neck -- up to 50% in typical
midwestern winter temperatures.
· The brain requires a lot of critical heat. Neck gaiters, hats,
and hoods all help keep the brain warm avoiding the early stages
of hypothermia and sluggish decision making while skiing.
Gloves, Mittens, Socks & Such…
· To keep your fingers nimble and preserve their ability to grip,
wear windproof gloves with thin Polyester liners.
· Toes cold? Wear polyester liner socks and a pair of Acrylic or
Wool socks.
· Toes feel squished? Try a lighter weight sock. Uninhibited circulation
is the single best source of warmth for your feet!
Tips & Tricks…
· If you feel chilled - zip up your shell to stop the wind chill
effects on your neck and chin.
· Add an additional layer of insulation to increase the heat retention
in your body's core. Your vital organs need warmth. Cold fingers
and toes are an obvious indicator that the core is not insulated
enough.
· Conversely, if you are hot and sweating try ventilating your shell,
remove your hat for a few moments, remove an insulating layer or
slow your pace. · Ventilate a little at a time so your layers have an opportunity
to move the perspiration away from your skin so you don't chill
that can cause muscle cramps.
With
a little experimentation, layering offers a flexibility in comfort
and safety that can't be beat. Your comfort is our business. At
TheYachtsman.Com we are a group of users who enjoy outdoor pursuits
and can help you with more specific advice and information for your
individual clothing and gear needs. |