We all probably have days during the cold season when we don't feel like spending time outside. However, it's not the winter that's to blame, but the wrong clothing. How and what to wear so that the cold doesn't prevent you from enjoying the pleasures of winter?
You don't need a hundred layers: three is enough. To dress properly in cold weather, three, but well-thought-out layers are enough.
Ignas Meldaikis, the owner of the Ress.lt workwear online store, explains that the whole secret lies in the thoughtful layering of different clothes – he names what you should pay the most attention to when choosing each of the three layers correctly. Base layer. Underwear should wick away all sweat and keep the body dry. For less active use, we recommend merino wool or natural fabric underwear. For more active use, synthetic underwear is recommended.
Middle layer (insulating). Usually a layer of fleece fabric, which retains body temperature and keeps the cold out. This layer should not be very thick. Recommended sweaters or pants with a grammage of 200-280 g/m2, 100 percent. Polyester. It is suggested because it evaporates sweat much better and prevents the body from getting cold.
Outer layerThis is your outer line of defense. This layer is designed to protect the layers underneath from snow, rain and wind. Jackets, pants – windproof and waterproof are the most important. Clothing can be thin enough, but it is important that it protects against various natural elements, such as rain or wind.
"In summary, there is no bad choice of clothing if a person layers it properly," emphasizes I. Meldaikis.
New technology prevents freezing Work and leisure clothing stores „Darbo rūbai“ representative Goda Koriznaitė claims that recently new clothing production technologies have been emerging that prevent freezing. For example, when choosing outerwear, these are covered with a special PU membrane that does not let moisture in. Since this technology allows water vapor to pass through, the body is not only protected from external moisture, but also "breathes".
If you are really afraid of the cold, clothes can be impregnated with the help of nanotechnology - there are various nano-sprays for this, used for both casual clothes and shoes. G. Koriznaitė laughs that with such protection you can even stand calmly in a puddle without fear that moisture will get inside.
"When choosing outerwear – a jacket or overalls – it is important that they have welded seams. Most often, leisure clothes do not have this. There are waterproof zippers, and if they do not, outerwear must have flaps on the zippers. Rain and snow usually hit the shoulders and zippers – that's where people get wet most often," explains G. Koriznaitė.
Sometimes we probably feel that we have dressed warmly, the sub-zero temperature is not scary, but we feel constrained - it seems that several layers of clothing not only warm, but also restrict movement. Therefore, the representative of „Darbo rūbai“ advises to pay attention to the cut of clothes. "The good thing is that current outerwear is sewn with a cut that does not restrict movement. It is best when the sleeves are sewn into the armpit and have a wider inseam. If it is diagonal, we do not feel any restriction at all," she says.
G. Koriznaitė also advises paying attention to whether the jacket has additional wind protection inside. On a windy day, you can fasten an inner lining with rubber, which tightens the body - then the cold no longer gets inside. It is also useful to have a knitted sleeve inside the sleeves, which can be put on over the finger - this provides even better protection from the wind.
"These days, you no longer need to wear 50 layers when it's cold. There are various types of thermal clothing for that. You need to choose them based on what you do outdoors: if you run or play a lot, you need to think about thermal clothing that contains polyester, nylon or spandex. Spandex provides elasticity, and nylon and polyester of different densities evaporate the moisture much faster. It can be noticed that in the areas that sweat the most, the fabrics of thermal clothing are thinner," says G. Koriznaitė. According to the interviewee, thermal clothing that contains wool or merino wool is more pleasant to the body and is considered the warmest. Merino wool has antibacterial and heat-evaporating properties. Thermal clothing that contains more wool is suitable for those who spend their time outdoors more leisurely. However, thermal clothing must be worn correctly - it must fit snugly to the body. "They retain heat just like a diving suit. It heats all the sweat a person generates, prevents it from cooling down, but at the same time evaporates it through ventilation. Since sweat is allowed to escape, it does not irritate the skin, so thermal clothing can be worn for longer periods of time without fear," she explains.
You need to choose clothes based on your activity level. So how do you choose the most suitable thermal clothes for you?
Indrė Žilinskaitė, clothing manager of the Sportland chain of stores, tells us more about their differences. Traditional thermal clothing. If you just want a light warm feeling and can't even think about merino wool thermal underwear, then traditional clothing would be right for you, which is suitable for all your activities. Made of 100 percent. synthetic fiber, which is used by professionals in various fields around the world to achieve excellent thermal insulation. This fabric reveals its best properties when worn under other layers and is in direct contact with the skin. It perfectly absorbs and expels moisture from the skin to other layers of clothing, thus allowing you to feel dry heat and guaranteeing comfort. Clothing suitable for medium or high intensity activities. They remove moisture from the skin surface especially quickly and effectively, because they are made of double layers - in contact with the skin and soft polyester on the outside, which accelerates moisture removal even more. This clothing can be worn as the closest layer to the body in the coldest season, or as the only layer suitable for warmer seasons. This thermal underwear is suitable for running, skiing, or any other winter sport. Suitable clothing for low-intensity activities.
However, there are also thermal underwear that are suitable for low-intensity activities that require a high sense of warmth, such as fishing, hunting, etc. These are 100 percent merino wool underwear, they are extremely soft, naturally having excellent thermal insulation properties, because wool ensures special comfort and warmth on the coldest days.
According to I. Žilinskaitė, the most important thing is to find out what a person will do outdoors. This determines what they should wear. According to her, the most important thing that people who are afraid of the cold should take care of is that their jackets, pants, and shoes should be waterproof and provide warmth. “You should also choose the right thermal underwear and fleece (the second layer), which increases the feeling of warmth, and you should have gloves and hats, respectively. In harsh conditions, if there is a slight intense heat, natural fibers are best suited: cotton, wool, because they retain heat longer,” explains I. Žilinskaitė. Since most of the heat comes out through our limbs, the clothing manager at “Sportland” advises always having quality, waterproof shoes, as well as a warm hat, gloves, a reliable jacket that is resistant to moisture, and, of course, quality thermal underwear.
Brigita Ragickaitė Special Content Projects Journalist February 4, 2019, 6:10 PM
