Winter Weather Wardrobe Guide -

Whether you live in an area barraged by constant arctic temperatures or are just dealing with an especially harsh cold front, dressing warm for winter weather is important for your health
and comfort. Weather is about as fickle as they come, but new research suggests that the past year has had more daily record lows than record highs. From January 1 through December 1, the United States had 9,932 new record lows and 9,023 record highs in 2013, suggesting temperatures that are well below the national average.1

That could spell trouble for those living in North Dakota, the coldest state in the U.S. excluding Alaska, but even if you live in regions with normally temperate, comfortable conditions, like Southern California, you can still expect to feel some abnormal chilliness.

What else is there to do but bundle up? Let’s take a look at why you should and how to do it properly.

Materials for Warmth

What your clothes are made of have a big impact on how well they can combat cold temperatures. But first, some notes on insulation and moisture control.

Insulation. On one hand, you have to consider insulation. Naturally, heat transfers to cooler areas in its effort to achieve thermal equilibrium. Without insulation to trap it in, your body heat escapes into the cold air around you.
Moisture Control. On the other hand, you have to control moisture. Everyone has to deal with sweat, even when it’s cold out. You have over 2.5 million sweat glands all over your body, and they all work in conjunction to keep your body working normally.

And even though you sweat when you’re warm, sweating is your body’s natural means of cooling off. As sweat evaporates from your exposed skin, it chills you, which can be dangerous. Aside from the dangers of getting too sweaty in the cold, it’s simply uncomfortable to feel moisture under all those layers. That’s why it’s important to also wear breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics along with your insulating layer (more on that later).

Wool

By far the best material for cold weather is wool. Wool naturally wicks away moisture and traps warm air around you. Wool can also absorb about 30 percent of its weight in water and not feel wet. The one downside is that wool may be a little too absorbent, making it significantly heavy for those in more precipitous regions.

Synthetic Fabrics

In lieu of wool, you may also want to choose from certain synthetics. Polypropylene is the thinnest and lightest wicking synthetic. As effective as they are, polypropylene fabrics require a lot of regular maintenance. Polypropylene won’t function properly if it’s not washed every few days, and it tends to develop an odor.

Polyester has become the synthetic of choice, effectively drawing moisture away from the skin without the odor or maintenance needs of polypropylene.

Beware Cotton

The worst material for cold weather is cotton. Cotton acts like a sponge, absorbing your sweat and keeping it right up against your skin instead of wicking it away.

The Art of Layering

Layers are the key to surviving cold weather. Each layer has a specific purpose, and there’s a wrong way to do it. Wearing a dozen layers may keep you warm, but you won’t be particularly comfortable or mobile. When done right, layers give you warmth, style, comfort, and adaptability.

You can break things down into three layers:

Base: The base is what sits directly on your skin and should focus almost exclusively on moisture control. This layer often comprises athletic or specialty garments designed for cold weather, which are perfectly thin and lightweight.
Insulating layer: The insulating layer is responsible for trapping heat. This is where the wool sweaters and goose down jackets come into play. For your general night on the town, a dress shirt and a sweater combine for an excellent insulating layer. Jeans don’t offer much insulation for your legs, so if you’re in particularly chilly conditions, you may want to wear wool or fleece pants.
Outer protection: Your outermost layer, or shell, protects the rest of the layers from wind and rain. This layer doesn’t necessarily have to insulate as its main purpose is to act as a shell that keeps water out while simultaneously giving sweat somewhere to go. The protective layer is usually just one parka or jacket, though many cultures are fond of using animal skins for their outermost layers.

One of the most important factors of layering is fit. Good fit ensures flexibility and freedom of movement. Just one ill-fitting layer means bulkiness and restricted motion. Your base layer should have a close fit, conforming to your body to properly absorb moisture from your skin. Wear your insulating layers, if you have more than one, in order from thin to thick, tight to loose. For example, you wouldn’t wear a puffy vest under a wool sweater. Your outermost layer should be the loosest of the layers, allowing for little pockets of airflow.

Getting Cold Feet

Considering the way your vessels restrict blood flow from the extremities, feet tend to have an exceptionally hard time in cold weather. What makes things even worse is that your feet tend to sweat a lot. In an average day, your feet can produce up to a pint of sweat. Imagine pouring a pint of water onto the socks you’re wearing. Not pleasant.

That’s the key to keeping your feet warm in cold weather. Dry feet are warm feet. Remember trench foot? Not switching out your sweaty socks on a cold night could lead to problems. If you
deal with harsh winters and have to engage in strenuous activities, stay away from cotton socks. Instead go for a sock made of wool, fleece, or shearling.

Along with socks, outfit yourself with a sturdy pair of winter shoes or boots. Warmth is obviously an important
factor, but many footwear brands have gone an extra step to provide you with a temperature
rating. For boots without a rating, check the lining material. You want boots
with wool, shearling, or polypropylene lining.

Breathability is also a big factor for the shoes you wear. Aside from preventing ungodly stinks, good ventilation allows your sweat to pass out and away from your foot, preventing trench foot and fungus growth.

When shopping for winter footwear, also be sure to look for a sturdy waterproof design and good traction such as the Merrell Bergenz winter boots pictured—winter is wet and slippery!

Hat Hair

People commonly believe that you lose anywhere from 40 to 50 percent of your body heat through your head. In reality, the heat you lose from the top of your head is normal, about 7 to 10
percent at most.2 Still, considering the type of work you’re doing
and the environment you’re in, keeping your head warm is a good idea, and you have plenty of hats to choose from:

The toque goes by many names (beanie, skull cap, watch cap) but is generally defined by its round shape, knit material, and folded brim. These are warm and versatile with almost any outfit.
The ushanka (which later became known as the aviator cap) is a Russian hat made of fur or wool characterized by a thick lining and ear flaps that can be tied up, let down, or tied around the chin.
The Stormy Kromer came from semi-pro baseball player and railroad engineer George “Stormy” Kromer. As the story goes, Kromer often lost his hats to the wind as an engineer and needed a warm cap that could stay on his head. His wife modified a basic ball cap into a snug six-panel hat.
Flat or newsboy caps can be worn all year round. For colder months, choose one made of a thicker wool material. Remember, however, that newsboys don’t protect the ears or cheeks. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, you’re better off with either a toque or aviator cap.

Concluding Thoughts

Many of us dread cold weather because it makes us uncomfortable and makes it way harder to be outside. But by knowing the right materials to wear, how to properly layer those materials, what to look for in a solid and long-lasting pair of winter boots, and how to

cap it off with a warm hat, you’ll find what a difference it makes in staying warm and productive in the cold weather.

Remember, during extreme cold fronts, listen
to the weatherman and stay safe by staying indoors.

Stay dry, stay warm, and never underestimate
a steaming mug of cocoa. Cheers!

References:

http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/cold-records-beat-warm-records-first-time-1993-20131203
http://www.livescience.com/34411-body-heat-loss-head.html

Images:

“Snow in West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon” by Coconino National Forest is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“245/365 the warmth of the season” by rennes.i is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Merrell Bergenz sold at www.walkingonacloud.ca

Sources:

http://www.dw.de/what-explains-humans-reactions-to-the-cold/a-16553208
http://www.manfredkaiser.com/cold_and_body.html
http://news.discovery.com/adventure/survival/cold-weather-prince-harry-130918.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/coldstress/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182197.php
http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/understanding-frostbite-basics
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chilblains/DS01091
http://www.thesurvivaldoctor.com/2012/02/02/trench-foot/
http://www.cracked.com/article_20176_5-old-wives-tales-about-health-confirmed-by-science_p2.html
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-moisture-wicking-fabric.htm
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/men/sweating-odor/clothing-materials-reduce-sweating.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/chemistry-terms/insulation-info.htm
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/underwear.html
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http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/12/21/cold-weather-dressing/
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/underwear.html
http://www.bigskyfishing.com/snow-boots/keep-feet-warm.shtm
http://www.bigskyfishing.com/snow-boots/winter-sock.shtm
http://www.ebay.com/gds/7-Important-Features-to-Look-for-in-Winter-Boots-/10000000177629803/g.html
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/01/22/men-winter-hat-guide/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-ushanka.htm
http://www.stormykromer.com/history

Winter Weather Wardrobe Guide