Proper layering when going for a hike

October 30th, 2008 Tushar Mathur
In bitterly cold weather I wear several layers for going out hiking; I also cycle a lot and find that several thin layers are far more practical than one or two thicker ones. Generally, I will wear a lightweight sleeveless or short-sleeved thermal vest. Next to that I’ll wear a thin short-sleeved cotton t-shirt with a long-sleeved t-shirt on top of that. A jumper – preferably one made of real wool – will form the top layer with an outdoor Berghaus jacket on top, so, with the jacket, I wear five layers. In milder weather I’ll do without the first t-shirt but would never leave out the thermal vest because you never know when the temperature will drop.

For the lower half, in really cold weather, I’ll wear a pair of thick knitted tights with jeans or jogging bottoms on top, plus a pair of thick boot socks. Worn with proper leather hiking boots, they ensure that my legs and feet stay warm. I would never wear Wellington boots in such weather. Years ago, I assumed that, because Wellington boots were waterproof and ideal for wet weather, they would work in cold weather too. I found out the hard way one Guy Fawkes night when I attended a firework display that lasted for a few hours in freezing conditions and my feet just got colder and colder as the evening wore on. I now know that Wellingtons are only for keeping the rain off your feet.

It is very important to keep your head covered in very cold weather – we lose a great deal of body heat through our heads and wearing a hat is essential. These days you can buy thin cotton liners to wear inside a knitted of fleece hat. I wear a hat that also covers my ears because cold ears can be very painful, especially in windy weather. Ear warmers are available as well and these are very useful if your hat does not cover your ears. Similarly, gloves are also important and, again, you can buy thin cotton liners for these.

Wearing several thin layers rather than one or two thicker ones ensures that you remain comfortable and not restricted by heavy clothing. Body heat gets trapped between the layers which helps to keep you warm and ensures that perspiration does not get trapped. It is also easier to remove one layer if the temperature rises and not risk getting too cold. If you are only wearing two layers and you remove one of them, you will soon feel cold. It is also advisable to wear clothing made of natural materials rather than man-made; natural fibres have greater heat-preserving qualities and fit the body very well whereas man-made fibres can increase perspiration and are not always comfortable.

Another point to remember is to wear clothes that are long enough to be able to tuck in; if, say, you wear a vest that is too short to tuck into your trousers, this will create a gap where the cold will be able to seep in. In very cold weather, it is difficult to feel warm without adequate clothing and, if you do a lot of walking, cycling or similar activities, I would thoroughly recommend buying the best quality clothing you can afford.

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