Adventure Tips
Every season we get asked many of the same questions from our customers. In this section we will share answers to these questions in the form of general tips on how to make your adventure more enjoyable. From packing light for continental globe trotting to keeping warm on your winter trip to the mountains, we will share some of our insight into making the most of your trip. We will also be sharing new product info that we have tested and found if not indispensable, gear we really like having in our packs.
1. Tips for a better Ski Trip
2. Layering Part 1 – The Basics
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
3. Layering Part 2- System Creation
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
Layering Part 1 – The Basics:
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
“You have to layer to stay warm.” We’ve all heard it, but how does it apply to you being comfortable on your next cold weather adventure? Layering allows you to control the amount of insulation and protection from inclement weather you have on, so that you can stay comfortable regardless of changing conditions. So how do we figure out how much stuff to wear? Read on and I will explain a way of categorizing different types of layers and their functions and a way of figuring out how to combine them so that you can create a layering system to suit your needs.
We categorize different components of any layering system into three basic categories. Starting with the layers next to your skin and working outward they are as follows; Base Layers, Mid Layers and Shells. How you combine these different components together will determine how warm you will be. One general rule of thumb to follow is to avoid cotton in any of your layers. The cotton fibers attract water and hold onto it, preventing moisture from escaping making you colder. Cotton also looses its ability to insulate once it is wet because it looses its loft. Stick with synthetics like fleece (polyester) and wool and you will be warmer. Below are the functions and some examples of each category of layers.
Base Layers- The base layer is the first thing that you put on next to your skin. The base layer’s most important function is to wick away the moisture that your body gives off, creating a dry environment near the skin. Your body will lose heat at a much faster rate if the area adjacent to the skin is damp. Base layers are available in different fabric weights and styles to meet the demands of different situations. Lighter layers may offer just moisture wicking capabilities and heavier layers combine moisture wicking with insulation. Some examples of Base Layers would be Patagonia’s Capilene tops and bottoms or Smartwool Next to Skin garments. Both of these products are designed to be worn next to the skin and transport moisture out away from your body into the mid layers.
Mid Layers- This is the most variable of the categories of a layering system. Mid layers are the “meat” of the layering sandwich. Mid layers have two functions, to insulate and handle the moisture (moisture transportation) that the Base Layers have wicked off the skin. Mid Layers can range from thin fabrics to heavy weight fleece or wool products. While you will wear only one Base Layer and one Shell, then number of Mid Layers can vary depending on conditions (see below). Generally speaking the most popular Mid Layer pieces are light to mid-weight pieces of fleece. Fleece insulates well, even when wet, and helps with moisture transportation making it a great all around choice for Mid Layer pieces. One situation we want to avoid in choosing Mid Layers wearing so much that we feel like the Michelin Man. Slimmer fitting garments are better for layering because of the resulting reduction of bulk.
Shells- Just as the name implies the Shell layer is the outside of the system. Like the shell of an egg, the shell garment encompasses and protects the inner layers. Other than being the outer layer of defense against the cold, Shells must also deal with the moisture created within the system. Shells are generally broken into two categories, Hard Shells and Soft Shells. Hard Shells are completely waterproof from the outside allowing no water to penetrate the garment when functioning properly. Soft Shells are very water resistant, but not completely waterproof. Both types of shells are breathable, allowing for moisture to escape, but Soft Shells allow a significantly greater amount of moisture to escape through the fabric. Both Hard and Soft Shells are windproof. Soft Shells are a great choice for skiers or winter backcountry travelers, allowing for maximum moisture escape under aerobic conditions in cold snowy conditions, but not as versatile as Hard Shells because of their inability to handle rain in warmer situations. Both Patagonia and The North Face make a variety of Hard and Soft Shells to meet seasonal conditions.
Back to Top
Layering Part 2- System Creation:
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
Now that we have an understanding of the basic types of layering we must address the basic question, “How much will I need to stay warm?” I wish I had the magic answer for you, but I don’t. I can lay out for you the thought process I go through when trying to figure out what to wear when heading into the cold. I ask myself two questions.
1. What is the environment that I am going be in? What is the temperature? Is there going to be wind rain or snow falling?
2. How physically active am I going to be?
The first questions is basically asking how cold it will it be. Adding wind or precipitation makes any given temperature feel colder. How physically active you are will determine how much heat you will be generating through your own actions. When I put together a layering system I prefer to stay with multiple, lighter Mid Layers to allow for a range of activities and temperature conditions that I might encounter through out a given day. Air temperature throughout the course of a day will rise and fall and the amount of heat my body will generate also will increase and decrease as I go through different types of activity. Let’s look at a couple scenarios and the layers that create a system to keep you comfortable.
Scenario 1 Skiing in Vail, CO in December- This scenario gives us great extremes of climatic conditions that show the versatility of layering. Temperatures can range from well below zero to the mid 40’s in any given week. Snow can dump, the wind can howl or the sun can shine. So after we have checked the day’s weather forecast (high of 20 and low of -3) and are getting ready to head out for the slopes we will choose our layers. We also know that in a day of skiing, we will go through periods of high aerobic activity, hiking or sidestepping uphill to find some fresh powder, and low activity, sitting on the chair lift exposed to the wind on all sides. Carrying a small daypack like a Camelbak will give you a place to stash layers when you don’t need them.
Base Layer - Midweight Capilene by Patagonia. This weight of long underwear (tops and bottoms) does a good job of wicking moisture and is heavy enough to add some insulation. I almost always prefer some sort of mock collar Zip-t to allow for adjustable ventilation and insulation.
Mid Layers – On the top half, I would first layer a thin fleece layer like a Patagonia R1 pullover or North Face Aurora Zip. Outside of the thin fleece I would wear medium fleece jacket like a North Face Pumori or a Patagonia R3 or Radiant Jacket. On my bottom half, I would wear Patagonia R1 or North Face TKA 100 fleece pants.
Shell- On the top I would round out the system with a Hard Shell like a Powderkeg Jacket from Patagonia or Varius Guide Jacket by North Face. Both of the shell pieces I wear on top are also available as bottoms.
This system is allows be to subtract one of two different weight Mid Layers and stay comfortable as the day warms and then cools as well as when I am working hard or taking it easy.
Scenario 2 Hiking in Montana in September. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 20’s wind rain and snow possible (maybe all in the same day). Generally, I will be exerting a good deal of energy with some short periods of inactivity.
Base Layer- Patagonia Silkweight Capilene Crew on top, a great moisture wicker and fast drier is cool when I strip all of my layers off in the middle of a warm day but insulates some in colder conditions. I don’t wear a technical base layer on my legs for hiking because my legs are doing the majority of the work and generating internal heat. I usually wear convertible pants or lightweight pants both made out of fast drying/ moisture wicking synthetic fabrics.
Mid Layer- Light fleece like a R1 pullover by Patagonia or Aurora Zip by North Face. Adds just enough warmth for the colder conditions, but doesn’t overheat you and is not bulky.
Shell- Lightweight Hard Shell like a Rainshadow or Grade 6 Jacket by Patagonia. This piece can be worn to shed the wind, rain and/or snow, is easy to pack and adds a little warmth to the overall system. On my lower half, Rainshadow Pants by Patagonia are fully waterproof and windproof but most of all don’t take up a lot of space in my pack.
Scenario 3- Flats fishing in Tampa Bay in January- I would wear the same system as Scenario2. The Base and Mid Layers keep me warm with the cool conditions and the shell can be added when running from flat to flat or if the wind picks up. Layering isn’t just for the mountains.
Lastly you will have to ask yourself a question, “How cold tolerant am I?” This last question is what prevents there being any magic answer to the layering question. You will want to adjust any of these types of layering systems to your own needs depending on how the cold affects you. Some people are much more susceptible to feeling cold.
Good luck with layering for your adventures winter and if there is anything we can help with, let us know.
Back to Top
1. Tips for a better Ski Trip
2. Layering Part 1 – The Basics
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
3. Layering Part 2- System Creation
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
5 ski tips to help you and your family have an experience worth repeating
- Travel with a club
- The Largest Ski Club in America is in Tampa check them out at www.tampabaysnowskiers.com/.
- You’ll get the best deals without having to shop for them.
- It’s a vacation; let someone else figure out the logistics.
- You’re likely to have at least one person with insider info on your destination like, who has the best breakfast or where the best place to rent your equipment may be.
- Rent your equipment in advance
- Once you’ve booked your trip, you’ve still got some work to do. Book your rentals early to get a better deal.
- Many rental places deliver. Have the rentals dropped off and fitted at your condo to eliminate rental line hassles.
- Rent at least a performance package. The lowest cost package is built for durability not skiabilty. They are built like, and interestingly enough ski like, tanks. It’s only a little more money but you get much more user friendly gear.
- If you rent your ski boots, read this! If you own ski boots, read this too!
- Ski boots come with a foot-bed that is not arch specific, resulting in a fit that initially feels fine but often can lead to discomfort and/or poor skiing.
- Having your own foot-bed that matches your arch will not only help you feel better, but you’ll ski better too!
- Once you are done skiing you can slip the ultra supportive foot-bed into your favorite shoes or sneakers to really get your money’s worth.
- Keep your fingers warm!
- Nothing can ruin your ski day faster than freezing digits. Get Hot Hands™ warming inserts for your trip.
- Wear Hot Hands™ with a liner or glove insert, never direct to your skin.
- Wear them just below your knuckles on the outside of your hand and not against your palm. The veins that control the flow of blood to the tips of your fingers are there so keep them warm and blood will continue to flow to the tips of your finger making both them and you happy!
- Don’t forget your toes!
- Cold feet can come from many things, boots to big or too small, circulation stricture from equipment or clothing, or something as simple as the wrong socks.
- I’ve been skiing for 34 years and I’ve tried everything from high tech socks to electronic boot warmers and nothing has worked better than a really good pair of wool socks, period.
- For the chilliest of days try Toasty Toes™ on top of your sock, just behind your toes to keep the blood flowing.
Layering Part 1 – The Basics:
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
“You have to layer to stay warm.” We’ve all heard it, but how does it apply to you being comfortable on your next cold weather adventure? Layering allows you to control the amount of insulation and protection from inclement weather you have on, so that you can stay comfortable regardless of changing conditions. So how do we figure out how much stuff to wear? Read on and I will explain a way of categorizing different types of layers and their functions and a way of figuring out how to combine them so that you can create a layering system to suit your needs.
We categorize different components of any layering system into three basic categories. Starting with the layers next to your skin and working outward they are as follows; Base Layers, Mid Layers and Shells. How you combine these different components together will determine how warm you will be. One general rule of thumb to follow is to avoid cotton in any of your layers. The cotton fibers attract water and hold onto it, preventing moisture from escaping making you colder. Cotton also looses its ability to insulate once it is wet because it looses its loft. Stick with synthetics like fleece (polyester) and wool and you will be warmer. Below are the functions and some examples of each category of layers.
Base Layers- The base layer is the first thing that you put on next to your skin. The base layer’s most important function is to wick away the moisture that your body gives off, creating a dry environment near the skin. Your body will lose heat at a much faster rate if the area adjacent to the skin is damp. Base layers are available in different fabric weights and styles to meet the demands of different situations. Lighter layers may offer just moisture wicking capabilities and heavier layers combine moisture wicking with insulation. Some examples of Base Layers would be Patagonia’s Capilene tops and bottoms or Smartwool Next to Skin garments. Both of these products are designed to be worn next to the skin and transport moisture out away from your body into the mid layers.Mid Layers- This is the most variable of the categories of a layering system. Mid layers are the “meat” of the layering sandwich. Mid layers have two functions, to insulate and handle the moisture (moisture transportation) that the Base Layers have wicked off the skin. Mid Layers can range from thin fabrics to heavy weight fleece or wool products. While you will wear only one Base Layer and one Shell, then number of Mid Layers can vary depending on conditions (see below). Generally speaking the most popular Mid Layer pieces are light to mid-weight pieces of fleece. Fleece insulates well, even when wet, and helps with moisture transportation making it a great all around choice for Mid Layer pieces. One situation we want to avoid in choosing Mid Layers wearing so much that we feel like the Michelin Man. Slimmer fitting garments are better for layering because of the resulting reduction of bulk. Shells- Just as the name implies the Shell layer is the outside of the system. Like the shell of an egg, the shell garment encompasses and protects the inner layers. Other than being the outer layer of defense against the cold, Shells must also deal with the moisture created within the system. Shells are generally broken into two categories, Hard Shells and Soft Shells. Hard Shells are completely waterproof from the outside allowing no water to penetrate the garment when functioning properly. Soft Shells are very water resistant, but not completely waterproof. Both types of shells are breathable, allowing for moisture to escape, but Soft Shells allow a significantly greater amount of moisture to escape through the fabric. Both Hard and Soft Shells are windproof. Soft Shells are a great choice for skiers or winter backcountry travelers, allowing for maximum moisture escape under aerobic conditions in cold snowy conditions, but not as versatile as Hard Shells because of their inability to handle rain in warmer situations. Both Patagonia and The North Face make a variety of Hard and Soft Shells to meet seasonal conditions. Back to Top
Layering Part 2- System Creation:
How to stay warm outside in the cold.
Now that we have an understanding of the basic types of layering we must address the basic question, “How much will I need to stay warm?” I wish I had the magic answer for you, but I don’t. I can lay out for you the thought process I go through when trying to figure out what to wear when heading into the cold. I ask myself two questions.
1. What is the environment that I am going be in? What is the temperature? Is there going to be wind rain or snow falling?
2. How physically active am I going to be?
The first questions is basically asking how cold it will it be. Adding wind or precipitation makes any given temperature feel colder. How physically active you are will determine how much heat you will be generating through your own actions. When I put together a layering system I prefer to stay with multiple, lighter Mid Layers to allow for a range of activities and temperature conditions that I might encounter through out a given day. Air temperature throughout the course of a day will rise and fall and the amount of heat my body will generate also will increase and decrease as I go through different types of activity. Let’s look at a couple scenarios and the layers that create a system to keep you comfortable.
Scenario 1 Skiing in Vail, CO in December- This scenario gives us great extremes of climatic conditions that show the versatility of layering. Temperatures can range from well below zero to the mid 40’s in any given week. Snow can dump, the wind can howl or the sun can shine. So after we have checked the day’s weather forecast (high of 20 and low of -3) and are getting ready to head out for the slopes we will choose our layers. We also know that in a day of skiing, we will go through periods of high aerobic activity, hiking or sidestepping uphill to find some fresh powder, and low activity, sitting on the chair lift exposed to the wind on all sides. Carrying a small daypack like a Camelbak will give you a place to stash layers when you don’t need them.
Base Layer - Midweight Capilene by Patagonia. This weight of long underwear (tops and bottoms) does a good job of wicking moisture and is heavy enough to add some insulation. I almost always prefer some sort of mock collar Zip-t to allow for adjustable ventilation and insulation.
Mid Layers – On the top half, I would first layer a thin fleece layer like a Patagonia R1 pullover or North Face Aurora Zip. Outside of the thin fleece I would wear medium fleece jacket like a North Face Pumori or a Patagonia R3 or Radiant Jacket. On my bottom half, I would wear Patagonia R1 or North Face TKA 100 fleece pants.
Shell- On the top I would round out the system with a Hard Shell like a Powderkeg Jacket from Patagonia or Varius Guide Jacket by North Face. Both of the shell pieces I wear on top are also available as bottoms.
This system is allows be to subtract one of two different weight Mid Layers and stay comfortable as the day warms and then cools as well as when I am working hard or taking it easy.
Scenario 2 Hiking in Montana in September. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 20’s wind rain and snow possible (maybe all in the same day). Generally, I will be exerting a good deal of energy with some short periods of inactivity.
Base Layer- Patagonia Silkweight Capilene Crew on top, a great moisture wicker and fast drier is cool when I strip all of my layers off in the middle of a warm day but insulates some in colder conditions. I don’t wear a technical base layer on my legs for hiking because my legs are doing the majority of the work and generating internal heat. I usually wear convertible pants or lightweight pants both made out of fast drying/ moisture wicking synthetic fabrics.
Mid Layer- Light fleece like a R1 pullover by Patagonia or Aurora Zip by North Face. Adds just enough warmth for the colder conditions, but doesn’t overheat you and is not bulky.
Shell- Lightweight Hard Shell like a Rainshadow or Grade 6 Jacket by Patagonia. This piece can be worn to shed the wind, rain and/or snow, is easy to pack and adds a little warmth to the overall system. On my lower half, Rainshadow Pants by Patagonia are fully waterproof and windproof but most of all don’t take up a lot of space in my pack.
Scenario 3- Flats fishing in Tampa Bay in January- I would wear the same system as Scenario2. The Base and Mid Layers keep me warm with the cool conditions and the shell can be added when running from flat to flat or if the wind picks up. Layering isn’t just for the mountains.
Lastly you will have to ask yourself a question, “How cold tolerant am I?” This last question is what prevents there being any magic answer to the layering question. You will want to adjust any of these types of layering systems to your own needs depending on how the cold affects you. Some people are much more susceptible to feeling cold.
Good luck with layering for your adventures winter and if there is anything we can help with, let us know.
Back to Top
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