Dress according to the weather - this is an important point when dealing with the bitter cold of winter. But how to do it? Read on to find out!
Steps
Step 1. Dress in layers
Use a lot of thin, warm layers, rather than a few thick layers. They will insulate you better and allow you to strip off layers if the temperature rises.
Step 2. Dress appropriately for the activity to be performed
Getting dressed for a busy day of skiing isn't the same as dressing up for a sedentary day of ice fishing.
Step 3. Buy or find a well insulated pair of boots
Ideally, the padding should be made of wool or synthetic material - not cotton. The padding can be purchased separately. You can buy boots already with padding, or use boots with two sizes larger than usual, and put padding on them.
Step 4. Put on winter socks
Warm winter socks are important for keeping your feet dry and warm. Wool is better, although "wooly" synthetic socks are often quite good. You can put socks in layers, but be careful that your feet are comfortable and that circulation is not impeded.
Step 5. Use a good quality overcoat, parka or jacket
Generally speaking, it is best to be thick, whether it be a synthetic ski jacket, a woolen sailor jacket or a down jacket.
Step 6. Put on a base layer
A "base layer" consists of knickers, underwear, long knickers, or anything that can provide a warm, lightweight base for your winter outfit. Merino wool products are recognized for being among the best base layers available.
Step 7. Put on a headdress
While one shouldn't exaggerate that most of the body heat escapes from the head, covering up any exposed parts helps retain body heat.
Step 8. Put on gloves and mittens
Fingers and hands are very vulnerable to cold, so keep them indoors. Very thin gloves (like the "magic gloves" useful for touch devices) are better than nothing, but comfortable, warm gloves are important.
Step 9. Hand warmers can be useful, especially if you don't have shelter
They can be purchased at any outdoor or hunting store. Never use them as a substitute for a warm garment, however.
Step 10. Wear more than one layer on your legs
Oddly, some wear five layers for the torso and only one layer for the legs. At a minimum, wear a base layer such as long underwear and an outer layer, such as snowboard pants.
Step 11. Keep dry
Being wet makes you feel cold more quickly than when you are dry. Wear waterproof or at least water resistant outer layers.
Advice
- Do not overdo it with clothing. Being sweaty is dangerous.
- Dress practically regardless of fashion. Of course, you don't have to dress up in the cold. But in really bitter cold, dress to stay warm regardless of how you look. You might look weird, but you'll be hot weird!
- You should be warm - not very hot - and always dry.
- When dressing, consider whether you will be exposed to humidity (sleet, snow, rain and / or wind). Humidity and wind will cool you down faster than when the weather is dry and windless.
- Mittens insulate better than ordinary gloves because the fingers remain more protected when they are in contact. However, the main drawback is that they make it difficult to do some things with your hands, for example turning the page of a newspaper.
- Appropriate winter clothing can often be purchased through military surplus websites and catalogs. They are often as good as designer clothes and cost a lot less.
- In an emergency, you can further insulate the jacket, shirt or similar, with newspapers, dry leaves and the like inside the clothes.
Warnings
- Avoid cotton for outdoor activities. Among people engaged in outdoor activities it is known as "the fabric of death" because it does not insulate well and, when wet, causes a rapid loss of body heat. Choose wool, performance fabrics and silk instead.
- Down is an excellent insulator when dry, but practically useless if it gets wet.
