Physical Education
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Clothing is one of the most important gear components for any hiker because it is what we depend on to keep our bodies within survival and comfort temperature ranges while outdoors. For day hikes it is generally not to hard to anticipate needs and to carry adequate clothing options, but for multiple day trips selecting the right combination of clothing for adequate protection without overloading can be quite a challenge.
Most hikers use a layering system for clothing because it is the more flexible and lighter than trying to carry a separate piece for each contingency, and usually works better than trying to make one piece meet every need. The hiker’s layering system consists of:
Base Layer — The innermost layer next to the skin.
Insulation Layer — The middle layer that provides warmth when needed.
Outer Layer — The layer that protects the other layers against wind, rain, snow, and so forth.
In addition to the layering system used to protect the torso from the elements hikers must carefully select the clothing they will use to protect their extremities. These can be divided into the following groups:
Footwear — The most important gear for hiking comfort – shoes, boots, or sandals and socks to protect your feet. Online sources for footwear
Handware — Gloves or mitts to protect the hands.
Headware — Hats, scarves, and related items to protect the head.
When temperatures plummet and snow starts to fly theres no reason to shiver and shake. Whether youre blazing along an alpine trail on cross-country skis or walking the woods on a moonlit night, you can keep dry and warm by dressing properly and adjusting to changing conditions. Comfort in the cold requires attention to details, and more than anything that means layering your clothing from the inside out.
What is the key to a proper layering system? The answer lies in the subtle dynamics of heat and moisture against your skin. The traditional garb for combating cold was a bulky parka and lots of wool undergarments. While this combination might work for someone standing still, they are impractical for the active outdoor enthusiast. Parkas are heavy, wool is itchy, and, most importantly, both garments trap moisture, which leads to damp discomfort when someone wearing them works up a sweat and then cools down. Layering, on the other hand, allows for a variety of conditions using lightweight and comfortable fabrics.
The trick to layering is to combine the right clothing in the proper order, trapping the air warmed by your body heat while letting moisture vapor from your bodys perspiration be conducted away from your skin. The choice of garments must be versatile enough to adapt to your activity level and variations in weather conditions—maintaining the delicate balance of staying cool when active and warm when at rest.
The first layer for cold-weather exposure should keep you warm and dry on the inside. Since its what touches your skin, it also makes sense to wear something soft, lightweight and pliable (those who have been chaffed by wool underwear will attest to this). This layer, the underclothing, will work with your outer layer to keep you dry. The best material for long underwear are those that “wick” wetness away from your skin quickly and effectively.
If youre thinking about wool or cotton underwear for cold weather, you might think again. Both fabrics dry slowly, holding heat-draining moisture against your skin. Weve all done it — worn cotton socks on a cold, damp day and lived to regret it — but there are a wide range of superior fabrics available now which can wean us from our past mistakes.
Todays synthetic fibers, polypropylene and the like, work much better. (Silk is nice too, but difficult to care for.) Not only do they feel comfortable against the skin, they dry quickly and actually pull perspiration vapor away from the skin towards the next layer of clothing, the insulation layer, where it can evaporate.
layer 1: wicking
The secret to staying warm and dry when temperatures dip — or when youre activity level tapers off — is to make sure youre well insulated against the cold. The moisture thats moving away from your skin has to keep moving. The best insulators will trap warm air, but offer necessary ventilation when you start too overheat. Clothing that gives you the best insulation should be comfortable and lightweight — durably windproof and adaptably breathable. GORE WindStopperЮ fleece is such a fabric commonly used by leading manufacturers.
Heres another tip on insulating: Incorporate as many layers as necessary to stay ahead of the cold, and control your heat retention by adding or removing layers as needed. It therefore makes sense to buy garments that are easy to put on and take off.
Versatility of the layering system is key. For example: When skiing, you can expect to be active for