Everything you need to know about winter clothing systems in one place.
Most of the year wearing the right clothing on the hills is a matter of
comfort and enjoyment, but in
winter
your clothing system becomes a lot more than that, getting it right
could be the difference between a tough but enjoyable day in the
mountains and a mountain rescue call-out or worse.
So what should you be wearing when temperatures drop, the wind starts
howling and wet, cold stuff falls out of the sky. Here's our run down
of what to look for, complete with links to our Buyer's Guide sections
to help you choose the right one...
Baselayers
Don't
get confused by the idea that baselayers are 'thermals' - even in
winter their main task is to keep you comfortable by moving moisture
away from your skin. That's not to say that you can't wear a thicker
fabric in winter, but you main warmth should come from elsewhere.
Merino wool works really well for winter use, is very comfortable and
holds moisture away from the skin. It's also slightly exothermic, so
warm even when damp. Synthetics wick well and move moisture outwards.
In really cold conditions combine a long-sleeved, zip-neck top with
matching leggings.
 |
Buyers'
Guide -Baselayer Tops
Say no to damp cotton tee shirts and yes to, well, what? We help you
stay dry and comfortable on the hill. - 14/3/07 |
Active Insulation
Despite
the advent of synthetically filled insulated garments, good old fleece
still has a lot going for it as a mid-layer choice. It's light, traps
warm air well and holds it, wicks decently and dries out fast if it
does get damp.
For active use on the hill, 100-weight or microfleece is generally
enough for most people when worn under a waterproof or windproof shell,
much more and chances are that you'll be sweating hard as soon as you
hit the uphills. Powerstretch is also a good choice.
For really cold conditions or if you move slow and run on the cool
side, a 200-weight fleece should be more than enough. The really warm,
thick stuff is best saved for apres-hill wear and snuggling in front of
an open fire down the pub. Synthetics like Primaloft generally don't
breathe well enough for comfortable active use.
Finally a grown-on hood both adds and reduces versatilty - it's a great
hat substitute, but can also be a pain when worn with a shell.
 |
Buyers'
Guide - Fleece
Snuggle down in a cosy corner with a nice warm fleece thanks to our
buyers' guide to fleece jackets. Everything you need to know and some
stuff that you don't... - 17/11/04 |
Soft Shell
The whole soft shell area can be massively confusing and
covers all sorts of garments from barely wind resistant lightwieght
stuff through to fleece-backed windproof and virtually waterproof
fabrics like Windstopper Soft Shell.
The idea is that you can wear soft shell clothing 90 per-cent of the
time and resort to waterproof shells only when things really get wet
and gnarly. If you do intend to do this, a hood comes in handy and
unfortunately is rare even on technical soft shell jackets.
Which fabric makes sense for you depends on your personal metabolism
and priorities - do you need to stay warm or is your priority
breathability. Stuff like Rab's Vapour-rise is an excellent choice
combining some additional warmth with high wind resistance and good
enough breathability and wicking that it can be layered under a
waterproof like a fleece.
 |
Buyers'
Guide - Soft Shell
What is soft shell? We try valiantly to explain the most nebulous
category in outdoors clothing and help you decide what to look for if
you want one... - 24/5/06 |
Waterproof Shell Clothing
Waterproof jackets and legwear do a vital winter job by
preventing wind from stripping warm air from your insulation layers.
However they need to be not only waterproof and windproof but also
breathable enough to cope with the heat and moisture your body
generates with active use.
For specific winter use we'd be looking for a hood that offers as much
facial protection as possible when cinched down and, if you're going to
be climbing, also accommodates a helmet. You need enough space for
additional insulation underneath and if you're not going to be wearing
shell pants, a long enough cut for some crotch protection. And that's
just the start of it...
Winter Legwear
The one area that soft shell fabrics really have
revolutionised is winter legwear. No more clunky shell pants needed,
just use a windproof, water-resistant fabric that shrugs off everything
but the worst rain and copes easily with snow.
Alternatively, use waterproof trousers or bibs / salopettes layered
over lightweight fleece or PowerStretch leggings to cope with really
wet conditons. In either case, look for side-zips which will allow you
to pull them on over boots, possibly vents if you run warm and
reinforcement at knees and the insides of the ankles to cope with
crampon scuffs.
 |
Buyers'
Guide - Shell Pants
Salopettes, bibs, high-waisted pants or just simple waterproof
overtrousers - we unravel the mysteries of the weather-proof world of
legwear just in time for winter as well... - 14/11/05
|
Socks
Winter boots tend to be stiffened and are less forgiving
on your feet with less flex meaning more blister potential. Your socks
are doing a triple job here - cushioning, look for loopstitch in
stressed areas; insulation, thicker is better though not so thick that
circulation is compromised. And finally, they need to wick moisture
away from your skin - wet skin loses elasticity and blisters easily.
Traditonally double sock systems ruled in winter, but modern, cushioned
socks are so well designed that a single pair of technical winter socks
should be enough for most people, though a thin, high-wicking,
synthetic inner sock works for some.
|
Buyers'
Guide - Socks
You simply won't notice the right pair, but the wrong choice can ruin a
great day in the hills. We check out the humble walking sock and tell
you what to watch out for when buying. - 16/9/05 |
Hats and Gloves
Whatever the scientific specifics, a
warm hat is
essential in winter. Fleece is a good option and for ultimate warmth, a
mountain cap with a wind or waterproof outer and a fleece lining that
also covers the ears is hard to beat. Be warned though, they can be too
warm for active use and also make it hard to hear what anyone says to
you. Top tip is to carry a spare hat in your pack, just in case.
On the gloves front, you're looking for a compromise between protection
and dexterity. A big waterproof mitt lined with fleece will be the
warmest option, but also the clumsiest. Fleece or pile-lined gloves are
a good compromise. Beware non-modular gloves which can take ages to dry
out if the liners get wet.
|
Buyers'
Guide - Gloves
The long and the short of it, mitts or glove, sticky or leather, suede
or fleece - we take a look at what you need to know about keeping your
hands warm and functional. - 30/11/05 |
Belay Jackets And More
Insulation
Synthetically insulated belay jackets have migrated over
from climbing use but are also brilliant for general winter mountain
wear. The idea is that while you're moving and generating heat, you
wear your normal clothing system and stay comfortable. Then, as soon as
you stop moving and start to cool down, you simply throw on an
over-sized insulated jacket over the rest of your clothing. Once you
start moving again, stow the belay jacket in your pack and avoid
overheating.
Synthetic fillings like Primaloft tend to work best in UK conditions
because they're resistant to damp and easy to care for. Down is
brilliant in cold, dry climates where it has a superb warmth to weight
ratio, but less happy when it might get wet.
In really ridiculously cold conditons, you can use a belay jacket
actively, but it will have to be preposterously cold for that to make
sense. They're also great emergency garments if you get caught out.
|
Buyers'
Guide - Insulated Clothing
When the going gets gnarly, the gnarly get insulated, but should you be
going for down or synthetic fillings and what other features should you
be looking at come buying time? - 2/11/06 |
Odds And Sods
In full-on winter conditions, with spindrift being blown
into your face by a howling wind, there are are a couple of other items
we'd definitely consider. One is some form of
facial protection in
the form of a fleece backed, neoprene face mash that covers the lower
part of the face and the nose - alternatively a buff or a balaclava
will give some additional coverage.
The other is eye protection in the form of ski goggles with low light
lenses, preferably efficient venting to minimise misting and double
lenses for the same reason. Mostly you won't need them, but every so
often, they're worth their weight in gold.
More Useful Stuff
You can find lots more
winter
articles on the site.
There's a full range of
Buyers'
Guides covering most clothing and equipment
you're likely to need.
See our
Reviews
Section for both site and user reviews of
outdoors clothing and kit.
Finally, the
OUTDOORSmagic
forum is a great place to chat with and get the
opinions of other OM members.
