Layering is key to staying warm in cold weather. The base layer is important for regulating moisture, and polypropylene is a common material for this layer. The number of layers worn depends on the temperature, and the layering system allows for adjusting warmth as needed.
Any seasoned camper will tell you that the key to staying warm in cold weather isn’t a big coat or thick socks, but rather a series of thinner layers built on top of each other to trap warm air. But layering isn’t just for campers; Anyone who can withstand the cold temperatures of winter around the world will benefit from a layering system. If you’re one of those people, start with the most important layer, the base layer.
As the closest layer of clothing to your body, the base layer is less about warmth and more about regulating moisture. During outdoor activity, even walking around town, the body sweats the same as in warmer climates. However, we are less likely to realize that we are in hot weather, so it is much easier to forget that moisture against the skin in cold weather will make it colder. Therefore, the base layer is designed to wick moisture away from the skin, keeping the skin drier and warmer.
A base layer can be made from many different materials, but the most common is polypropylene. Also known as polypropylene, this base layer is a synthetic material that is extremely effective at wicking moisture away from the skin. Polypro can come in the form of shirts and pants and does the job well, but is generally thin and therefore not very warm itself. Heat created by the body can escape the base layer, but an effective layering method includes a second layer to trap that warm air.
The number of layers you should wear depends on how cold it is outside. The next layer of clothing will keep the heat escaping through the base layer close to the body. The second layer keeps the trapped air warm, which in turn keeps your body warm. You can wear as many layers as you need to keep warm, and you can complete your layers with a thick, waterproof coat.
One of the most useful aspects of the layering system is the ability to take off or add layers as the temperature fluctuates. Wearing a big, bulky coat limits you to being extremely hot or extremely cold, while many layers allow you to adjust how warm or cold you are at any given time. As you become more active during exercise, your body will heat up and it may be necessary to take off a layer. Conversely, when you’re done working out or if you’re just standing on your feet—as a spectator at a sporting event, for example—you may need to add layers to further insulate your body. The layering system is much more adaptable than a bulky layer, allowing you maximum comfort in a variety of cold-weather situations.
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