Cold temperatures and snowy weather don’t mean that you have to head inside and spend all of your free time sipping hot toddies, playing board games, and reading by fire (though that does sound like a good way to spend your evening after a long day of ice climbing, winter hiking or skiing). With proper layering and a thermos of hot tea, you can get outside and enjoy the beauty of winter!
Factors to consider when choosing a layering system
Type of activity:
Your winter activity of choice should be your initial consideration when curating your layering system. Most activities can be combined into two categories: high-intensity activities; like ski touring, Nordic skiing, and trail running; or low-intensity activities; like resort skiing, winter hiking, ice climbing, and casual snowshoeing. High-intensity winter activities generate body heat and sweat, so it is necessary to wear clothing that is breathable, moisture, and has good temperature regulation properties. Softshell outerwear, light baselayers, and versatile mid-layers are ideal parts of a layering system for high-intensity activity. Low-intensity winter activities require clothing that provides weather protection, insulation, and core warmth. Heavier baselayers, heavier down or synthetic fill mid-layers, and waterproof shell outerwear are great for lower-intensity activities or for wearing around your campsite at the end of the day.
Weather and temperature:
While your activity of choice can determine a good starting point when choosing your layers for a given activity, weather conditions, and temperature are very important factors to note as well. If it is very cold outside you may need to choose a thicker baselayer or warmer midlayer, even if you are participating in a high-intensity activity. Additionally, if the weather is nasty, you may need to wear a hardshell on your trail run or ensure that you have windproof layers. The great part about layering is that you can remove or swap out pieces to change the dynamic of your layering system. You can always bring along an extra layer or two to account for weather and temperature variations.
Personal preference
No two people react to cold weather the same way. Some people run hot and still feel warm in a blizzard, while others start to get chilled when the temperature drops below 5o. You know your body, so make decisions in your layering to account for your unique preferences. If you are always cold, choose thicker baselayers or warmer mid-layers. If you are always warm, choose fleece mid-layers or layers with great venting, as well as lightweight baselayers.
Baselayers
Some of the most integral pieces of your winter layering system are your baselayers. Baselayers form the foundation of your entire layering system and are the key to staying warm and dry. Winter base layers have insulating and wicking properties and are key to proper temperature regulation. The primary differences between baselayers to examine when selecting the right piece for your layering system are weight and material.
Material:
When selecting your baselayers, you can go in one of two directions: wool or synthetic. Each material has distinct benefits as well as a few key detriments. Wool is a natural, renewable fabric that performs well. Wool baselayers are comfortable, naturally antimicrobial (so they won’t stink), have excellent wicking properties, a wide warmth range, and great temperature regulation. Wool is warmer for its weight than synthetics as well as more comfortable, but does not dry as quickly, is less durable, and is more expensive. Synthetics wick very well, dry quickly, and are very durable, however, they tend to smell bad after long days outside and have narrower temperature levels depending on the weight of the piece. Select wool baselayers for all-around use and extreme cold conditions, since the wide temperature range will keep you comfortable in a variety of conditions. Go with synthetics for high-intensity activities or wet weather where you need a fast-drying piece, or if you are concerned with durability.
Weight:
Baselayers, both wool and synthetic, come in multiple weights, which correspond with how warm a piece is. Synthetics, like those from Helly Hansen or Terramar, have specific warmth levels, which make choosing a layer easy. Choose a lightweight set for high-intensity activities, a heavy-weight set for low-intensity activities, or a mid-weight set if you can only buy one for everything. Wool baselayers are slightly different, as the temperature range for a wool baselayer is wider, but you can still choose between a lighter or heavier weight wool piece depending on your activity. The difference is, that wool baselayers are more versatile, so you can usually use one set for everything you do, except activities in extreme temperatures.
Midlayers
Your mid layer is the meat of your layering system regarding warmth and insulation. Midlayers are intended to insulate and provide heat-trapping loft beneath your outer layer. Midlayers are also versatile pieces that can serve as outer layers in the ski lodge or on a warmer day, or as pillows in your tent at night. Depending on weather conditions and your activity of choice, you may opt for anything from a super-warm-down sweater to eschewing a mid-layer altogether. Midlayers are typically only worn on the top.
Down fill:
Down mid-layers are the warmest insulated midlayers available. Many down sweaters that are intended for use as a mid-layer feature 700-850 fill down that is extremely warm and compressible, as well as a lightweight face fabric. Down layers will keep you warm when skiing or climbing, and can be packed away in your bag when you don’t need them. The downside to down is that it is not as durable as synthetic fill and moisture may hinder performance. However, many elite outerwear brands make down sweaters with hydrophobic down, which will resist moisture and retain warmth and performance longer. Down mid layers are perfect for dry and cold conditions when Alpine skiing, Alpine climbing, or mountaineering, or as an additional layer to throw on after skinning up a peak to keep you warm on the ski down.
Synthetic fill:
Synthetic mid layers are not as warm or compressible as down layers, but they make up for what they lack with superior durability and resilience. Synthetic mid-layers will not lose warmth or loft when wet and are significantly cheaper than down layers. While many companies have their proprietary synthetic insulations, most high-end synthetics are comparable in warmth, weight, and loft. Synthetic midlayers are excellent for wet conditions or long trips into the backcountry where your layers could get wet over time, or if you are concerned about the level of care involved with down layers.
Fleece:
Fleece mid-layers are the perfect choice for high-intensity active winter pursuits. Fleece is snug fitting, quick-drying, warm when wet, and heat retaining by construction, while also breathing extremely well and allowing for excellent temperature regulation. A technical fleece mid-layer can often be used as an outer layer when trail running or skinning, then covered with a shell or even an insulated fill mid-layer when you stop moving or bad weather hits. A fleece midlayer can also be used in conjunction with another mid layer for extremely cold days to add another level of warmth.
