Outdoor winter activities can be a lot of fun. They offer both enthusiasts and amateurs the chance to enjoy the great outdoors, to be active, and to participate in activities that one couldn't do at any other time of the year.
Fun can turn to misery very quickly if you don't dress in such a way as to ensure that you stay dry, keep the wind at bay and can use your own body's heat to keep you warm. Knowing what to wear, how much to wear and how to dress so that you won't be too hot or too cold requires a bit of knowledge.
Here are some basic guidelines to help ensure that you are comfortable, dry and warm as you participate in all of those fun outdoor winter activities.
*Dress in layers -
Layering clothing will keep you much warmer than you'd be if you tried to wear one heavy layer of something. Moreover, dressing in layers gives you the opportunity to add or remove those layers when conditions dictate you do so. Layers provide greater insulation and protection against the wind. By wearing layers, you will be able to use your own body heat to keep you warmer.
The best layers are some of the new microfiber undergarments that wick body moisture away and that are light weight, comfortable and that will provide protection from the wetness of snow. Sock liners are typically made from polypropylene. They are wonderful because they hold heat in and keep excess moisture at bay.
*Wear a wicking layer -
A wicking layer is designed to draw moisture away from your body when you sweat. This is what keeps you from getting cold. A wicking layer also provides thermal protection that will help use your own body heat to keep you warm.
*Keep the head covered -
Many people don't realize that even if they think they are dressed warmly enough, all that covering won't do a heck of a lot of good if the head isn't properly covered. The body loses heat from the head, and it does so quickly. No matter how thoroughly covered the rest of the body is, you will probably get cold rather quickly without a proper head covering.
Keep your ears covered as well. By sealing off your neck from the cold, you will stay warmer. Even if you are protecting your ears and your head, if the cold air can penetrate through an opening at the neck, your torso will get cold very quickly.
*Protect yourself from wetness -
Make sure that your coat is waterproof or water repellent. The fastest way to get cold and uncomfortable is by getting wet. Gortex is a magnificent material for keeping you dry. You can get Gortex shoes or boots, and a jacket or coat that is made with Gortex.
*Protect yourself from the wind -
The biggest reason that outdoor temperatures feel as cold as they do in the winter is that the wind chill brings the temperature down significantly. By wearing a coat or jacket that has good insulation and that can break the wind adequately, you will feel far more comfortable. A coat or jacket with a good fitting hood will help greatly with this.
*Cover your hands -
Mittens generally keep the hands warmer than gloves. That is mostly because the entire hand is confined to one area where it is warmed by the body heat that circulates in the mitten. Unfortunately, mittens aren't always suitable for all winter outdoor activities.
If you are skiing, you might want to wear gloves so you have a better grip on the ski poles. Make sure that the gloves are properly insulated and water proof. A Thinsulate lining can keep you quite warm. A glove that has some padding at the palm of the hand can help you get a better grip on anything you need to hold.
Regardless of weather you wear mittens or gloves, make sure that there is plenty of room for your hand to move around inside. Make sure that the mitten or glove has a proper closure at the wrist. If there isn't a tight enough fit there, cold air and moisture will get in and make you quite uncomfortable.
*Protect your feet -
Winter weather can mean everything from frigid cold temperatures that turn the ground into a sheet of ice, heavy snow that makes it hard to walk around or melting snow that turns to slush from the warmth of roads, salt or anything else. Keeping your feet warm and dry is essential. So is ensuring that your footwear has proper traction for walking.
If you opt to wear suede or leather boots, be sure to protect them with a waterproofing and stain proofing spray. Even if you are going to wear something made out of a microfiber material, it is wise to treat the boots with a waterproof spray and one that will repel stains from salt and water.
When you go to purchase boots, buy them 1/2 size larger than the size of your street shoes. This will give your feet room to move around in the boot. It will also allow the heat that your feet naturally generate to circulate around in the boot.
To further protect your feet, consider wearing a sock liner. Polypropylene sock liners are amazing. They are soft and comfortable; they wick moisture away and help your regular socks retain more heat. Wearing sock liners as opposed to ultra heavy socks will keep your feet far warmer. A sock liner worn under a good pair of tightly knit wool socks will keep your feet nice and toasty.
Knowing what to wear for winter activities and how to properly protect yourself is a learning process. The longer you live in a climate for which the winter temperatures and conditions present a challenge in every way, the more knowledgeable you will become about what works best to keep you warm and dry. The other important thing to learn is how to keep yourself warm and still be able to move around freely. Lightweight layers that insulate and wick moisture away are the perfect answer to this dilemma, and by purchasing some long underwear, sock liners and glove or mitten liners, you will ensure that you stay plenty warm without having to feel overburdened by the weight of your outerwear.