GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
The main concept to remember when considering outdoor clothing is layering. Layering offers the hiker with various options of clothing combinations depending on the current weather conditions which, in the high country, can change dramatically in just a few minutes. There are three primary layers of outdoor clothing: 1.) the outer layer or shell, 2.) the middle layer, and 3.) the base layer. All three are interdependent on each other and while you may not wear all three layers at one time you must pack all layers (even in summer) to ensure a warm, dry and comfortable time in the backcountry.
Note: there exists many different fabrics and material that would require many pages to list and describe concerning outdoor clothing. In this brief summary only the most popular kinds of fabrics and material will be named. I urge anyone about to buy outdoor clothing to do their own research and reach their own conclusions as to what fabrics would suit their needs.
Base Layer
The purpose of the base layer is simply to keep your skin dry. This base layer “wicks” moisture away from your skin. If this moisture (a nice word for sweat) is not removed from your skin it begins to evaporate due to the body’s high temperature. Evaporation is a cooling process thus leaving the hiker wet and cold, which could lead to a dangerous situation. The most common fabrics used for this layer are: Polypropylene, Thermax, Capilene.
Middle layer
The middle layer acts as an insulator providing warmth to the hiker. This layer, primarliy wool, fleece or down, offers warmth while being relatively light in weight and maintains its insulating characteristics even if wet (except down which loses in warming capabilities when wet).
Outer Layer
This layer provides a water barrier to the hiker from external sources (ie-rain, snow, etc…). The outer layer should also be “breatheable” with ventilation being a major consideration. Material such as GoreTex and others provide this “breatheability”. Breatheable rain gear contains very, very small holes in it’s fabric. What? Holes in your rain gear? That’s ridiculous. Ahh, but there’s logic to this concept. The holes are big enough to allow water vapor (a single water molecule), originating from moisture being “wicked” away from your skin, to pass through, but not big enough to allow passage of a water droplet (a group of water molecules), originating from that blasted dark cloud above your head. Make sense? Also, make sure any rain coat purchased has underarm zip vents for extra ventilation.
Other Items to Consider
Others items of importance to consider are gloves, hats, socks, sock liners and gaiters. At this time these items will not be discussed.
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