Winter Clothing Basics

Everyone else already said layering, so I'll focus on key ingredient #2:

Venting!

The reason you need to layer is that you need to regulate temperature so you don't get sweaty and wet and freeze when you stop being active.

There are two components to this: not being over insulated, and not being water-vapour tight.

So when I am out doing stuff in the cold, I always make sure to wear whatever polypro or merino base layer, with pants with big zip vents overtop. That way, I can take off the jacket, open the vents on the pants, and work hard. Then, when I stop moving, I can zip back up and be dry, insulated and wind and waterproof again.

Not so critical when it's 40 below and calm - then the wool dress pants are awesome. But if you are getting wet you are getting screwed!

So two things you will always need in the cold: layers - including a wind/waterproof shell, and a pack to put all your layers in while you're working hard.
 
Coldwood said:
I recently posted a note about an early-winter day hike in the Adirondacks. I'm well covered for extremeties, head, hands and feet cold-weather gear, but found myself relying on basic cottons for pants and t-shirt. Not good. I couldn't sit down on a log without getting my butt wet :eek:

What do you guys recommend for next-to-body clothing? Stuff that wicks away moisture but keeps you warm? References to on-line sources will be welcome.

I know about wool, I'm thinking about lighter stuff.

Thanks, Don
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Cotton sucks at keeping you warm, new man made fibers are ideal to prevent you from getting wet and protect you from wind. If you are on a budget may I suggest light wool, and thermal with nylon type jacket with choice of insulation. One of the things I have found to be pretty effective is scotch guarding your clothes to help it resist getting wetting. Only downside with scotch guarding is that, it can change the color of fabric, though this has never happen to me before
 
smartwool!!!!

They make under/outer garments, socks, etc. out of merino wool. Smartwool can't be beat IMO. I just got 4 or 5 liners for the torso and 1 for the lower body/legs. You can wear them in the winter and keep your heat on low. I like them much better than silk. Easy to wash durable and won't generate an odor.

The smartwool socks are also terrific, all thicknesses and styles, even good in the summer.

Smartwool may seem expensive but they wear much longer than a typical garment.
 
annr said:
smartwool!!!!

They make under/outer garments, socks, etc. out of merino wool. Smartwool can't be beat IMO. I just got 4 or 5 liners for the torso and 1 for the lower body/legs. You can wear them in the winter and keep your heat on low. I like them much better than silk. Easy to wash durable and won't generate an odor.

The smartwool socks are also terrific, all thicknesses and styles, even good in the summer.

Smartwool may seem expensive but they wear much longer than a typical garment.
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+1 on the Smartwool. The socks are warm, comfortable, and wear like iron! The Merino blend is much softer than normal wool... if you didn't know what it was, you probably wouldn't guess it was any kind of wool at all. Great stuff.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Classic 3 layer system:
Against skin: some layer that will take sweat away.
Some insulation (Wool, Polartech...)
A windproof outer shell.

You may also use 3+1 system:
same as 3 layer system when active
add a thick parka/down jacket you put on when static, this simplifies layers management.


Tight cotton is OK for outer shell but should be absolutly avoided for underwear. Against skin: synthetics or wool: synthetics are good are getting sweat away, but tend to stink after prolonged use. Wool is heavier and not as effective but is more thermal, more hardwearing and doesn't stink much even after several days

Goretex (&al) doesn't breath enough when active.

Keep loose clothing (traps air layers, doesn't constrain blood flow).

Footware: large shoes, plenty of insultation around foot, no cotton. Not too tight.

Lot of heat is lost through head: always have head gear and scarf.

Depends if dry or wet cold: if wet cold you'll probably need some waterproofness, notably in footwear.If dry cold, focus on ventilation.

Try to avoid sweating: if sweating too much remove layers or reduce activity.

You may get wet while active but have some dry cloting for when you stop.

Rotate clothes. Catch any occasion to dry wet clothes. Rotate socks.

Good idea to carry a piece of foam mat to sit on when pausing.
 
annr said:
smartwool!!!!

They make under/outer garments, socks, etc. out of merino wool. Smartwool can't be beat IMO. I just got 4 or 5 liners for the torso and 1 for the lower body/legs. You can wear them in the winter and keep your heat on low. I like them much better than silk. Easy to wash durable and won't generate an odor.

The smartwool socks are also terrific, all thicknesses and styles, even good in the summer.

Smartwool may seem expensive but they wear much longer than a typical garment.
Click to expand...


Does smart wool protect against moths and are they machine washable? I've been thinking of buying some LL bean sweaters etc.. that are machine washable. Dry cleaning is expensive, and moths tend to eat up my nice wool stuff, I don't like using moth balls since they toxic.
 
hannibal lecter spyderco said:
Does smart wool protect against moths and are they machine washable? I've been thinking of buying some LL bean sweaters etc.. that are machine washable. Dry cleaning is expensive, and moths tend to eat up my nice wool stuff, I don't like using moth balls since they toxic.
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Yes, they are machine washable, and I've never had any problems with moths either. My smartwool socks usually last 2-3 years of daily wearing, including inside steel toe boots. They are the best I've EVER worn!!
 
quietmike said:
Yes, they are machine washable, and I've never had any problems with moths either. My smartwool socks usually last 2-3 years of daily wearing, including inside steel toe boots. They are the best I've EVER worn!!
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AGREED!!!! I wear smartwool socks everyday: expedition, adrenaline, black dress socks, running---and in all kinds of shoes and weather conditions.

You can wash them by hand and put them in the window sill to dry, put them in the machine (on cold I think) and then in the dryer. They are tough, soft on the skin, have a great cushion if you have a sore spot on your foot.

After my first 2 pair I bought about $200 of smartwool socks and disposed of every other pair in the drawer.

I would suggest that a person try a few pair and then decide. REI often has them 'on sale'. I have given them as gifts and people were very pleased. Socks seem like a crummy present, but not these socks.

I'm wearing 4 smartwool items right now: long underwear, micro crew top, turtle neck and socks!!!! It's snowing, my heat is on 63deg. ,and I'm toasty warm!! (I'd rather spend on nice clothes than more on heat!)
 
Coldwood said:
What do you guys recommend for next-to-body clothing? Stuff that wicks away moisture but keeps you warm? References to on-line sources will be welcome.
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I'm used to hike in a cold and rainy area (French and Belgian Ardennes) where moisture is an issue. Here's what i have found to be the best for me:

Odlo underlayers (t-shirt, pants, undersocks, undergloves)
http://www.odlo.com/custom/product/index.php3?div=3&seg=5

Haglofs pants, light, tough, windproof, water-repelent, breathable. Very well made pants.
http://www.haglofs.se/prd/visaprod.asp?id=1534&CatNr=600&CatNr2=&xCatNr=&nid=780&lang=en&Q=2&Str=&show=&ak=832&iac=6426&EB=&nid2=832#prd

Arcteryx sweater. A lot of heat in a thin and lightweight sweater.
http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?Delta-LT-Zip#

dantzk.
 
I made the mistake of posting this in the wrong thread. Here is where it was supposed to go!
--------------------------
Only one person has touched on the concept of using a 'vapor barrier.' Has this gone out of fashion for extreme cold weather? We used to use this method all the time for sub-zero backpacking trips. Vapor barrier socks and long johns kept our clothing and sleeping bags from getting wet from body moisture. We could use thinner outer layers as we didn't have to worry about 'wicking' or transporting sweat. We also didn't lose as much body fluid through sweat. Several companies made special vapor barrier liner socks and underwear for winter high altitude climbing. For emergency cold weather survival, we were taught to put plastic bags inside our socks, and plastic garbage bags under our clothes next to our skin with another layer of non absorbent wind-proof nylon or plastic over our insulating layer. We could stay warm as toast at -40. We just didn't smell real good...

Stitchawl
 
I hate to say it, but I have been wearing cotton for about 30 years when I winter camp... just didnt know any better til i started reading survival/wilderness information and found out it was bad.... one of the things I carry either rolled up in my cargo pocket or in an outside pocket of my pack is a 1' square mouse pad. TADA! Instant seat! well.. helps keep my butt dry anyways... and makes a nice place to put the boots on inside the tent.
 
I found lots of useful information here, a nice thread. Thanks.

I have not much to add but I want to say one thing.
In my experience, physical condition has certain significance in low temperature resistance.

Well, what I wanted to say is that I went out for the first time in this winter and found that I became seriously weaker to the cold :(
I could stand still for hours in -20C a few years ago wearing the same cloths those I wore last week; this time, only a few minutes was my limit... sigh.
 
shangchi108 said:
Anyone know of any GORTEX garments that might fit the bill?
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In really cold weather you don't need goretex as there is little liquid water anyway.

Also goretex is generally not breathable enough for any serious activity.

Goretex is generally pretty fragile.

It doesn't breathe so well when dirty.

Still there are situation were you do need some waterproof clothing where goretex is still better than non-breathable fabric.

Another problem is that Goretex clothing is generally meant for mountaineering which means "close to body" cut... quick in-and-out "peak bagging".

Apart from that, well, there are plenty of goretex brands around there. The newest versions are supposed to overcome most limitations but they are generally expensive so I was never able to try.
 
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misanthropist said:
Everyone else already said layering, so I'll focus on key ingredient #2:

Venting!

The reason you need to layer is that you need to regulate temperature so you don't get sweaty and wet and freeze when you stop being active.

There are two components to this: not being over insulated, and not being water-vapour tight.

So when I am out doing stuff in the cold, I always make sure to wear whatever polypro or merino base layer, with pants with big zip vents overtop. That way, I can take off the jacket, open the vents on the pants, and work hard. Then, when I stop moving, I can zip back up and be dry, insulated and wind and waterproof again.

Not so critical when it's 40 below and calm - then the wool dress pants are awesome. But if you are getting wet you are getting screwed!

So two things you will always need in the cold: layers - including a wind/waterproof shell, and a pack to put all your layers in while you're working hard.
Click to expand...

Merino wool is amazing........but holy crap is it expensive.

Does anyone know of a good waterproof material that is quiet? The thing that drives me nuts about all the outer shells is the way they swoosh when you move.
 
Sorry for replying so late bro I had missed this thread completely somehow !!!

I have tried numerous base layers over the years and have found that good old Helly Hansen is still the best, they just last forever and dry in a flash ! It is well known that they can become smelly on multiple day hikes but that is a small price to pay and only really bothers your tent mates !!!!

http://www.hellyhansen.com/
 
jlouis976 said:
Merino wool is amazing........but holy crap is it expensive.

Does anyone know of a good waterproof material that is quiet? The thing that drives me nuts about all the outer shells is the way they swoosh when you move.
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Bro what you are looking for are Paramo waterproofs, soft as silk, totally quiet,100% more breathable than Goretex etc. They use a totally different approach than conventional waterproofs, you can actually fill their jackets with pins, take them back out and it will still be waterproof !!!!

The only downside for you is that they are sold in the UK although I believe they do have a North American division and I'm sure the on-line sites would send them to ya.....you won't regret it and will never go back to conventional waterpoofs !!!;):thumbup:

http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/index.php
 
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