Everything here is from my own research, experience and opinion. Others may have different experiences and opinions. All text and photographs Copyright Marc Walton.
Where does the warmth come from?
Let’s start by asking where does the warmth come from?
The warmth comes from you!
The warmth comes from our bodies and not our clothing. Energy we consume through food and drink keeps us warm, about 75% is converted into keeping us warm. Our food & drink is only part of it. We must move so we can distribute warm energy around our bodies. The combination of food and drink, and activity is what keeps us warm. The more you move the warmer you will be. Food and drink are the fuel, the body is the boiler, the heart and the veins of our body is the pump and pipes of a heating system around your home. If the boiler or pump isn’t working the house will be cold. Eat well, be active and enjoy the warmth.
Have you every experienced being on your sofa in your lounge during winter, perhaps siting under a blanket wishing someone would light the fire, why, because you are feeling chili. Half an hour later your partner comes in from walking the dog. Your partner comes into the lounge and sits down next you. You offer some blanket and suggest that fire should be lit. You partner protests that it is far too warm for blankets and fires, they are roasting.
If you think of a hot water cylinder (tank) in a home central heating system. The tank water is heated by warm pipes or electric elements inside the tank. When the water heats up the tank gets hot. To stop the heat escaping an insulated jacket is put around the tank.
We are very similar, are blood warms are bodies and we put clothes on to stop the heat escaping.
What keeps us warm?
Now we know what makes us warm, what helps us stay warm?
Insulation!
So, what is the best insulation I hear you ask? Down, fleece, wool or your duvet? The best insulator is air. All insulation is designed to hold air because air keeps us warm.
So, what is the best way to trap air and keep us warm? We will come back to this, but we use our layers to trap air and there are many choices out there, each will have its own ‘Pros’ and ‘Cons’. Synthetic and natural materials are used to trap air but currently the best is down feathers, if they don’t get wet.
What you use depends on where you are, the conditions, how active you are and how your body runs in terms of running hot or cold. When active I like to trap air between windproofs. I find it extremely effective and there is no weight or bulk. When stationary, I use a synthetic insulated jacket that can perform well if it gets wet.
It is important to note that not all air is equal. Too little air and there will be little benefit. Too much air and the air won’t warm up. Just the right amount of air inside your clothing will help you get the balance right and the right amount of trapped air can be different for many people, it is a personal choice to make.
If you think of a house and how each room is heated. If you took a 4ft radiator and put it into a large 20ft by 20ft lounge, you would probably find a little warmth around the radiator and the rest will most likely be quite cold. If you took the same radiator and popped it into an 8ft by 6ft study, you would hopefully find the temperature just about right, with no cold spots.
Fine Adjustments
Ok, so you have eaten, your active and you have your active layers on. It is important not to get too warm when it is cold, more about that later. What fine adjustments can you make to keep comfortable.
Fine adjustments –
Roll your sleeves up
Good fitted garments should allow you to pull your sleeves up comfortably. This is very effective and allows convection heat loss against your arms, more on than later. I do this all the time whilst walking, my sleeves are constantly being adjusted to regulate my temperature.
Remove your hat and gloves
As you generate warmth and that circulates around your body while you are active, your extremities will get warmer. So, releasing some heat from these areas when needed is also very effective. Again, I do this all the time to regulate.
Opening your jacket, pocket and vents
It is good practice to feel the heat building inside your clothing and ventilate before you get too hot. Opening jackets zips may be a little obvious, but also unlined and mesh lined pockets and be opened to vent you jacket. Some jackets come with vents, very little helps!
Patting
Most active layers will be close fitting to trap air. However, if there is enough loose material then patting (or smacking) your jacket can push some of the hot air out and allow cooler air in. I don’t find this the most effective method, but I do use it.
Clothing considerations to help keep warm
Clothing next to the skin should be able to trap some air so to help you keep warm. So base layers that are mesh, wool, grids and pile. Any garment that is not flat next to the skin - more on base layers later.
Windproofs can trap a layer of air over a base layer or another windproof. If fact if you are using any of the open base layer materials to trap air, you will need a windproof to keep the air in. So, after your base layer you can have a windproof and then all you need to do is adjust the layer underneath (Midlayer) to your comfort level. Midlayers can be fleece, wool and light synthetic insulated jackets.