For those of you who hadn’t noticed, winter is officially here. I say this because one of my ears cracked and fell off a minute ago when I came inside from getting firewood. If I hadn’t been quicker, the dog would have eaten it just like everything else that falls on the floor, regardless if it is food or broken glass.

Today we will conduct our bi-annual review of tips for staying warm outdoors during the harsh winter months. Though the dead of winter is often regarded as a time to lay curled by the fire with a hot toddy in hand, the outdoors still offers a wide range of activities for those who don’t mind a little companionship from Mr. Jack Frost.
In fact, I prefer hiking during the winter months to trips during warmer weather. With no vermin, vegetation or other people to spoil view, winter hiking is wonderful. It can also kill you but there is a price to pay for everything.

Most outdoor enthusiasts understand that the key to staying warm is layering. Using various layers of lighter-weight clothing allows you to add or remove garments to suit your activity level in order to reduce sweating because sweat is one of the biggest villains when it comes to heat theft.

While layering is such a well-known idea, most people don’t practice the technique to its fullest extent. Let’s examine the system more closely.

The first layer for any cold-weather outdoor activity should be polypro underwear. These are not the popular cotton “long-johns” that are sold in every clothing store. While cotton long-underwear can be warm when dry, when it is dampened by sweat the fabric becomes a giant wick pulling away heat from the skin. Get rid of all your cotton underwear.

Polypro underwear is most often blue or tan and can be found in any outdoor store, catalog outlet and some general merchandise retailers. The material is obviously synthetic, somewhat uncomfortable against the skin (in cheaper versions) and picks up lint and hair like a magnet. However, it is the only thing that should be worn next to the skin when outdoors in cold weather. Silk underwear does the same thing, feels great and costs more than a platinum bass boat.

Next is the insulation layer. For high-tech fans this usually means a synthetic fleece jacket and/or pants. Synthetic fleece is perhaps the ultimate outdoor insulation because it is very light and holds little water even if accidentally dunked. In fact, if you fall into the creek while wearing a fleece jacket, the accepted practice is to whirl it rapidly over your head like the spin cycle of a washing machine. In a minute most of the water will be gone.

If you want to go the “natural” route, wool is a perfectly acceptable substitute in the insulation layer. The only difference between wool and fleece is the fact that wool will hold water when wet, even though you will remain warm. Your clothes will be heavy and soaking wet but warm.

The outer layer should repel wind and moisture and provide an attached hood for protection of your head, the single greatest source of lost body heat. If you venture outdoors for more than one hour during weather colder than 50 degrees, you should wear something that will shed wind and water even though the conditions seem perfectly benign the moment you walk out the door.

The most common outer shell are coats and pants made of either coated nylon or breathable fabric laminates such as Gore-Tex. Both do an admirable job of protecting you from everything from howling wind to driving rain but Gore-Tex and its myriad of knock-offs also allow a little bit of sweat to dissipate without opening zippers or vents. I say a little because none of the versions I have ever tested really “breathe” well when you are briskly walking, let alone hiking steep trails or carrying a pack. They do work as advertised when walking slowly or sitting.

One of our favorite pieces of outdoor gear is a pair of waterproof breathable pants. Not only do they serve, minus insulating layer, as rain pants during mild weather they also are superb for retaining heat by cutting the wind. Regardless of the pants you are wearing, putting on the shell pants over them will add another 30 degrees of comfort range to your outfit with the added benefit of no wet knees or fanny when you sit down.

Don’t let the cold keep you inside. Dress properly, get outdoors and enjoy the frosty majesty of a winter’s morning or the intimate feeling of hiking through a snowy woodland.

Make sure you tell me about it when you get back. I’ll be curled up next to the fire for the next four months.

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