Dressing for Winter

2015-12-01

I actually started learning about properly dressing for winter recently myself. Here’s what I think I’ve learned:

Layers are far more important during extended periods outside, when you might work up a sweat or the weather could change. A big all around parka is fine for the daily commute.

Layering helps compensate for our material’s weaknesses. Fleece is light and relatively cheap, and it’s very breathable so we won’t overheat. Being so breathable it does nothing when the wind comes, and it also won’t insulate nearly as well if it gets wet. So you stick to fleece on a calm dry day, but put a wind/waterproof shell layer on when the weather’s bad.

Goretex is very expensive because it is thin and light, and has some breathability. Cheaper materials will cause you to sweat more, and won’t compact as easily into a backpack, say.

Goretex is a company with a few products branded as Goretex, varying in strength, weight, thickness, breathability, and price. Some competing materials exist but they are the market leader and competition of similar quality isn’t much cheaper.

Aside from material, expensive jackets differentiate themselves with things like: reinforced shoulders to survive backpack wear and tear, ventilating zippers in the armpits, larger hoods designed to fit a helmet, chest pockets, which can be more easily accessed while wearing a backpack, ice climbing, etc.

I actually found Arc’teryx’s website very helpful myself in breaking down the basic tradeoffs in various layers and materials. A couple in particular that were good: Hardshell vs Softshell, Midlayer Insulation.

Personally, I’m not hardcore enough to justify spending on Goretex materials, but I bought this fleece full-zip hoodie this fall and I love it! I’ve actually gotten multiple compliments on it.

I also bought this jacket, which has been alright.

Pairing the two of them up with a tshirt underneath, I had to unzip both layers by the end of a 6 km hike around some lakes this weekend on a calm -5 Celsius day. Had I worn a real base layer and zipped up it would have been an ugly day before I got cold.

Original thread: LPT: Staying warm and safe this winter. Related: the 2015 Tough Mudder hypothermia post and the first lifting meet.