Dressing right for the winter wether is essential if you want
to enjoy your outdoor activities. Winter clothing manufacturers
make sure that your day on the slopes is warm, dry and
comfortable.
You downhill escapades will require a different attire, then the
stroll in the snow covered park. The dressing decisions should
be based on the weather, the planed activity and the length of
time you plan to stay outside.
Dressing right for the Weather First thing you need to do before
you get ready, is to check the weather forecast. Do not just
assume that since it is nice and sunny, it will stay that way.
Or that it is nice where you are going, even if it is just a
short distance away. Remember, Canadian winters are quite
unpredictable, and the weather conditions change often without
warning.
You know what weather to expect. Now you need to look at your
planed activity. If your outing will include the vigorous
downhill skiing on the double diamond trails, you will probably
be much warmer then someone sitting in the horse drawn sleigh.
Dressing your Children right for the Weather The clothing types
and styles you choose for your children, will, of course be
different from the once you buy for yourself. The reasons are
quite simple.
Children, no matter what age they are, have a tendency to get
quite wet when playing outside in the snow. There is so much to
do. The sledding, sliding, snow ball fights, igloo building,
snow castle building, and the snow angels in the fresh, white,
powdery stuff. Of course they get wet! What did you expect?
Here come clothing manufacturers to the rescue! Researchers and
developers come up with new fabrics, new insulations. They are
making them warmer, greatly breathable and even waterproof. Kids
can stay outside and play in the snow longer, they come home dry
and warm. Make sure that your kids wear gloves made with water
repealing, breathable fabric. Avoid the ones made with rubber
lining, when kids play in the snow, the moisture gets inside and
stays there, having no way to escape. Even if you put them in
the dryer, most likely they will stay wet inside, they will just
smell different... and believe me, you don’t want that. Other
important piece of kids winter attire is a hat. It is well known
that body loses most of it’s heat through the head That’s why
newborn babies get those tiny, little hats to protect them form
getting cold.
You can protect your babies, big and small the same way. The hat
you choose, should be the right size. If it is too small it will
cause excessive sweating, which in a way, if persistent, may
cause damage to the hair follicle. So the hat should be loose
enough to allow good air circulation, and made of breathable
fabric that protects form wind. Another piece of important
clothing for the active enthusiast of the winter sports is some
form of neck and chest area protection. The selection of
scarves, neck-warmers and hat-scarf combination is so great and
versatile, there is no reason not to have them and use them.
Right Winter Clothing Adults will appreciate the fact that new
winter sports clothing is light weight, waterproof, warmly
insulated, and breathable. The top end designer lines offer
quality titanium fabric coating on their outerwear.
Some suggestions for dressing the right way for the outdoors
would include dressing like an onion... (not to confuse it with
Shrek philosophy) we are talking here about the onion layers.
You should opt for 3-4 layers.
The layer closest to your skin, includes the long underwear,
made of synthetic or natural fabric with the ability to absorb
and move the moisture away from your skin, so it can easily
evaporate. It should fit snugly to your body, but should not
bind or restrain you in any way. If you stay dry, you will stay
warm.
Insulating layer is next, this is what will actually keep you
warm. . This layer will keep the cold out and warm in, simply by
trapping air between the fibers. So that war sweater u got for
Christmas will come in handy right here. The insulating layer
should be loose enough to allow the air to circulate, but not so
thick and loose to be bulky and restrict your movements. The
best fabric choices here, would be wool and fleece that has the
ability to spread the moisture and allow the fabric to dry
faster. It is synthetic, soft, light weight and very
comfortable. Make sure that your insulating layer is not made of
cotton. Cotton absorbs moisture and hold it in. So if you do
choose to wear cotton while having active fun in the winter
wonderland, you may be, well... left out in the cold. For very
cold temperatures, make sure that you wear two insulating layers
to keep you warm and dry.
Final, protective layer will keep you away from the sleet and
snow. The fibers used here can not only repel water, but also
shield you from those gusting, freezing winds, that could make
you shiver. One last feature of the latest, top of the line
fabrics is the ability to let the moisture evaporate. It means
that you will stay dry and warm, even if you perspire. Again,
your outer clothing should fit well, allowing you the freedom of
movement. The more comfortable you are, the better you will fill
and the longer you will be able to enjoy your winter outing.
It is also important to protect your eyes on the snow. The
beauty of the sun swept, glistening snow, may be breathtaking,
but it’s brightness may harm your vision. Wear good quality
reflective sunglasses. Before you go outside, make sure that
your eyes get used to the brightness slowly.
Our Canadian winter, can provide the best opportunities to
discover the perfect places to escape the hectic lives of the
city. Just choose the right clothing, stay active and warm, and
your winter outing will be fun and exciting.
Polish born-Canadian, Joanna Gerber is a professional
photographer, alpine skiing enthusiast and editor of
www.winter-vacations-ontario.com comprehensive guide to
Ontario winter travel, resorts and family oriented activities in
Ontario, Canada.