You only need a handful of garments to stay warm, dry and comfortable in rain, wind or
snow so that you can enjoy views like this. Hi I'm Jonathan Simons and I'm a
wildlife tracker and bushcraft instructor and in my spare time a keen
bird watcher and hill walker. So I spend a lot of my time outdoors. Every time I
do go out I use the same versatile clothing system known as the layering
system to keep me warm, dry and comfortable and today I'm going to show
you how it works. I'm working with my friends at Go Outdoors who have all the
know-how on outdoor kit at their fingertips. The light and packable
clothing that forms the layering system is designed to be kept in your rucksack
so that it can be pulled out at a moment's notice. To see how it works we
need to rewind to the start of the day.
The first part of the layering system is the base layer. It's designed to trap a
thin layer of warm air against my body and pulls or wicks sweat vapor away from
the skin. It also keeps me very warm and dry. I'm wearing a base layer made of
merino wool. Its fibers are so fine it doesn't itch or scratch. Merino also
helps neutralize body odour and it's an environmentally friendly renewable
fabric. There are alternatives to merino wool and Go Outdoors have all the
information. Thanks John. Hi I'm Jenny and speaking as someone who does a lot of
walking and camping I find that synthetic base layers like this one here
are a great alternative to merino garments as they dry even faster. They
also cost less so typically you can buy two synthetic garments for the price of
one merino garment. Now there's one base layer fabric that you need to avoid and
that's cotton. Cotton soaks up sweat like a sponge and this is bad news
because when cotton gets wet it draws heat away from your body and this can
lead to hypothermia. Hypothermia is a potentially lethal condition and can be
contracted in surprisingly mild weather so unless you're in a hot climate avoid
wearing cotton clothing and of course avoid wearing cotton underwear and socks
too. Well it's getting cooler so it's time to throw on the next part of my
layering system which is the mid layer. Now the mid layer is designed to trap
body heat and to allow sweat vapour to carry on moving through the layering
system. The most popular mid layer fabric is fleece as it's affordable, durable
and quick drying. The thicker the fleece the more heat it traps so you want a
mid weight fleece for colder weather and a thin or micro fleece like this one for
milder conditions. There are many alternatives available for mid layers
so it's over to go outdoors for all the details. Many mid layers are designed
for specific outdoor uses but broadly speaking all can be divided into either
active or passive garment categories. Fleece garments like this one here
designed for active use are warm whilst on the move as they allow sweat and excess
heat to escape. Some mid layers are made from a material that repels wind, rain
and snow. Known as softshell these garments leave you comfortable in poor
weather and work especially well on blustery days in spring and autumn.
Mid layers designed to trap loads of body heat are ideal for passive
activities filled with either a synthetic insulation or a natural down
insulation. They're like mini sleeping bags with arms and a great in cold
weather. These jackets are great in winter if you're having a break on the
hillside or walking to the pub. As you gain altitude the temperature drops so
remember on the summit it could be quite cold even though it was really warm
down in the car park. But ambient temperature is only part of the story.
Wind and rain can have a big impact on just how cold and uncomfortable it can
feel. Which is where the next part of a layering system comes in. This outer layer
known as the shell blocks wind and rain. It also allows my sweat vapour to leave
the layering system. Now I'm wearing a waterproof Paramore shell and I'm feeling
very comfortable indeed. Lovely. There are three types of shell. Paramore,
membrane and coated nylon. They all do a great job in keeping out the elements
but they vary in how quickly they allow sweat vapour to move from the inside to
the outside of the garment. Paramore's nyquax analogy fabric which is what John
is wearing and membranes are the two types of waterproof and breathable
materials that are best suited for active use. Paramore is very breathable
and great at keeping you comfortable in many weather conditions but the
material is heavier than some membranes and coated nylons. Membranes such as
Gortex, Event and Dewpoint are lighter and more packable than Paramore but they
don't breathe quite as effectively. The third type of outer layer is a coated
nylon. These shells are designed for passive activities such as walking the
dog, short rambles with a day sack or hiking to the pub. Coated nylons are
less expensive and less breathable than Paramore or membranes and will feel
sweaty during arduous activities. All of these base, mid and outer layers are
available in women's specific designs. You can use the layering system on your
legs too. You can layer a pair of merino or synthetic leggings underneath your
wind resistant summer trekking trousers and you can pull on a pair of
breathable and waterproof over trousers should the weather come in. An
alternative to the legwear layering system is a pair of softshell trousers
like these. Softshell is a popular legwear material as it's time-consuming to
adjust multiple layers on the move. Well, the summits in sight. There's a definite
chill in the air so I think it must be time for my hasn't grasped.
Protecting and exposing your extremities is an easy way to fine tune your
temperature without having to stop to add or remove extra layers. I keep a hat
and gloves in the pockets of my jacket so I can easily put them on. It seems like
John has reached the summit so thanks for watching and remember with dozens of
stalls nationwide and an information-packed website we got you covered
more about the weather. See ya!
