Let’s talk about the principle of layered clothing. What is the best way to dress for a winter hike so that you don’t freeze, but at the same time, you don’t get too warm and maintain a comfortable temperature.
We all know the use of multiple layers of clothing from childhood. Remember how mothers usually dress their children so that they can't move. But the principle of putting on everything warm that you have at home is not a good idea. And now we will understand why.
The concept of layering clothes is that each layer has its own specific purpose. And it is the right combination of them that allows you to achieve the best result. This means that you can maintain your comfortable body temperature in all weather conditions and conveniently regulate heat dissipation depending on changes in the environment.
There are three basic layers of clothing:
The task of the first layer is to remove moisture as efficiently as possible. Thermal underwear is best suited for this task. It can be synthetic, woolen, or made of combined materials. But in no case should it be cotton, because this material does not wick away moisture - and this is a very big disadvantage. When you are actively moving, your clothes will quickly become wet from your body's evaporation (sweat), and you will immediately freeze. Staying dry is one of the basic rules to keep you warm while hiking.
When choosing thermal underwear for everyday use, also pay attention to its style. It should be non-compressive, not tighten your muscles and not hinder your movements for proper blood circulation. This will ensure that you have an even distribution of heat throughout your body.
Over the thermal underwear, we put on a second layer of clothing, the main task of which is to keep your body warm. After all, no amount of expensive, technologically advanced clothing will keep you warm - it only retains the heat your body generates. Another equally important function of the middle layer is to remove moisture that is transmitted by thermal underwear and needs to be released to the outside.
The second layer is usually a fleece or a thin down sweater. It can also be a woolen-knitted sweater. However, the most common and versatile option is a fleece jacket. Fleece is warm and lightweight, warms even when wet and dries very quickly, and is simple and unpretentious in care. This gives it significant advantages over downy sweaters, which should be protected from getting wet and washed only with special products. Woolen products warm very well, but have significant disadvantages for tourists: they are heavy, bulky, and take too long to dry. Therefore, this option is best used for city walks in the park.
And now we have reached the last, outer layer. Its task is to protect against external factors such as rain, wind, snow, and also to let the steam pass through, which has already been removed from the body by thermal underwear and fleece. Typically, membrane jackets with high waterproof and breathability characteristics are used as the top protective layer. In the cold season, instead of a membrane down or synthetic jackets are used. Down is much lighter, warms better, but is more expensive than synthetic insulation. Sometimes there are situations when you have to wear a membrane jacket over a down jacket.
Many tourists who are going to the mountains for the first time and are choosing clothes for the layering principle consider a ski jacket as an outer layer. It is a membrane jacket. But we want to warn against this mistake. Such a jacket is usually heavy and bulky, has additional insulation, which makes it difficult for you to adjust the temperature for comfortable movement. Therefore, it is not suitable for multi-day hikes. But for day hikes without large backpacks, or if you are hiking with daily radials and accommodation in a lodge - you can take it if there is no more acceptable option.
Also, don't forget about headwear. After all, we lose about 25% of heat through our heads. There are no strict criteria here. It can be a knitted woolen or synthetic hat, or a fleece warm buff. The main thing is that you should be warm and comfortable.
The main advantage of the layering principle is that you can combine your clothes in any way you want. For example, when it's not too cold, but windy or raining, you can put on thermal underwear and a membrane jacket over it, hiding the fleece in your backpack. Or vice versa, when it's cold, you can wear two insulating layers of clothing.
So, friends, dress properly and feel comfortable in any weather conditions. Go to the mountains with Kuluar, and come to the X-Zone store for quality clothes, where experienced consultants will always help you with the selection of the necessary equipment.