Sweat soaks your back on the approach, and it turns to ice as the howling wind steals your warmth. You’re so cold that can only talk in vowels. You’re wearing every stitch of clothing that you brought, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. You didn’t layer properly.
When it comes to skiing, mountaineering or hiking in the cold, if you know how to layer well, you can avoid being miserable. Wear the right materials in the right conditions, and even the coldest, harshest winter weather won’t get in the way of an enjoyable day in the mountains.
Baselayers
Since the baselayer sits next to your skin, it can make the difference between enjoying the mountains and freezing your tuckus off. A good baselayer retains warmth while allowing perspiration to escape. Choose weight based on your activity.
When it comes to materials, avoid cotton like the plague. Absolutely nothing on your body, not even your underwear, should be made of cotton. I’ve seen a woman become hypothermic on a rafting trip during an 85-degree day because she was wearing a cotton bra under her fleece and $200 splash jacket. After I convinced her to remove the bra (I’m a very smooth talker), she warmed up immediately.
Merino or Synthetic?
It all comes down to personal preference. Merino wool baselayers breathe well, retain heat even when wet, and don’t stink. Synthetic baselayers wick better and dry quicker. Try different materials and stick with what works for you.
Mid Layer
This isn’t rocket science. Again, avoid cotton at all costs and pick weight based on conditions / activity level.
Shell:
Should you wear a waterproof hardshell or a water-resistant, but more breathable softshell? We’ll spare you the debate, but give a few guidelines:
- When it’s going to be wet – rain or slushy snow
- For lower-aerobic activities like resort skiing
- On your lower half – your legs don’t sweat as much as your core, and are in more contact with snow/wet chairlifts
- For help choosing a hardshell jacket, have a look at this hardshell jacket guide
Go for Hardshell:
- For high-aerobic activities in drier weather
- When breathability trumps waterproofing
- Need help choosing one? Check out this softshell jacket buyers guide.
Go for Softshell:
Insulated Jacket:
The icing on the cake. Wear a puffy over all your other clothes to stay warm while standing still in freezing weather. Down jackets are lighter, more compressible, and warmer than synthetic jackets with the same amount of fill. Unfortunately, down jackets lose their insulation value when wet, and they dry very slowly. Some down jackets have a waterproof shell to keep the down protected from precipitation, but they can still get wet as your baselayers dry and transport moisture away from your skin. Synthetic jackets retain their insulating value when wet and they dry quicker.
Consider a down jacket for single-day trips when the weather is cold and dry and reserve the synthetic insulation for multi-day alpine excursions—because pretty much everything is guaranteed to get soaked at one time or another.
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Tags: backpacking, fabric tech, layering, mountaineering
[...] take a close look at what you use in the snow, and see where you can improve things. The right layers, sleeping bag, pad, and tent (and a few simple tricks) help combat these four types of cooling and [...]
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[...] Baselayers (2 or 3 pair): Merino rules here as well. You’ll be warm even when sweat-sodden and you’ll stink far less after multiple days than you would if you wore synthetics. Let one pair dry while you’re out hiking/sleeping so you’ll always have dry undies. [...]
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