Outdoor Clothing - Layering system
How not to overheat or freeze, by adjusting your layers of clothing.
The layering system
- Dress for the weather, not the season.
- Before you start walking, if you have been standing around and you have put on an insulated jacket or waterproof jacket as you have been feeling the cold, take off some clothing. As soon as you start walking, especially if you are going to be walking up hill, you will sweat. That sweat will condense on the outer layers of your clothing, especially if it isn’t breathable, which will quickly make the inner layers damp. You stop, as by now (very quickly) you are overheating. You take off your outer layer & you feel chilly, because your clothing is soaked in perspiration.
- Start off feeling cool, and as soon as you exercise, you will quickly warm up.
- The layering system of clothing allows you to quickly and efficiently adjust the amount of insulation, so that you neither overheat nor get cold.
- The cooling effect of the wind is a killer. Try and find a breathable but windproof outer layer, to allow the perspiration to escape, but stop wind chill.
- Do not wear cotton (especially jeans and t-shirts); wear materials made of either merino wool or synthetic cloth. Cotton absorbs a lot of water and takes ages to dry. Merino wool tops & synthetic materials are quick to dry and help keep their insulation properties. As a bonus, they tend to smell less than cotton, too.
When buying clothing, buy for the practicality, not the designer label. The clothing without the label can be a lot cheaper, and just as functional, if not more so. After you have tripped over and fallen in a cow pat or muddy puddle, people will not be able to see the designer label anyway.
Underwear
Synthetic or Merino wool, underwear next to the skin to wick away perspiration. Quick drying. They do not retain odour as much either.
Base layer
 Merino wool or synthetic base layer – to wick away moisture. This layer helps keep you dry.
- Â Thermal top
- Thermal trousers
- socks
Mid layer
The insulating layer, by adding to or removing this layer, helps to regulate your temperature. They may be windproof.
- Â Hat
- Gloves
- Fleece – half or full zip
- Trousers
- Thin gloves
Windproof
Windproof Jacket – lightweight, showerproof, breathable but windproof.
Made of treated synthetic material, lighter & more breathable than a fully waterproof jacket. They normally have many zipped openings to allow maximum ventilation.
[Insulated jacket – down/synthetic – use at lunch stops or when camping, once you have stopped exercising. Insufficient heat control.]
Outer layer
Waterproof & windproof layer,
made from breathable material. Stops the ingress of rain, but allows perspiration to escape.
- Jacket
- Over trousers
- Gaiters
- Thicker gloves/mittens
Footwear
Whether fabric or leather, your footwear needs to have a good grip and protect your feet.
Your footwear needs to be suitable for the terrain you will be walking on. The sole needs to be sufficiently thick to cushion your feet from stones underfoot. The fit, should support your feet, preventing foot roll. Not too tight at the toe box, to prevent bruising of your toenails when walking downhill, where your toes ram against the front of the boot.
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