What is the layered clothing system?
Layering clothing is a strategy to neutralize weather events that might otherwise affect your enjoyment of a place or activity. In other words, it gives you the freedom to do what you want, when you want! It’s the difference between being cooped up, teeth chattering, runny nose, in a cold hotel room; or gaze in awe at the magical Christmas decorations sparkling in Nuremberg’s main market square.
How does it work?
The system recognizes that temperature or weather conditions vary throughout the day and from place to place. From an early morning rain shower, to an indoor, air-conditioned restaurant for lunch, to an icy ride down the Seine at sunset, the layering system lets you peel or add layers as your body temperature rises. or go down This empowers you to control the way you experience weather conditions.
What are layers?
Generally speaking, the layer system contains four layers, each uniquely designed to achieve very specific results. This is what they do:
The base (or inner) layer
The base layer is the layer next to the skin. The most important function of this layer is to move sweat away from the skin and to the outer surface of non-absorbent clothing, where it can quickly evaporate. This is absorption, a capillary action that allows moisture to flow into tight spaces despite, or without, external forces such as gravity. At the same time, base layers should feel comfortable, even luxurious, against the skin and provide a level of insulation. Look for flat seams to avoid irritation.
The best base layers are synthetic, wool, or silk. Although they are classified as “underwear,” select appropriate items as separate garments so you can undress if the need arises. Depending on your travel itinerary, choose from microweight (for mild to cold conditions), light (cool to moderately cold), medium (moderately cold to cold) and heavy (cold, icy or windy conditions).
Major synthetic brands, such as Ex Officio, CoolMax, Capilene, Marmot, and others, use primarily polyester or options blended with nylon, spandex, or elastin. This fabric is very good at wicking away moisture and dries faster than wool or silk. Although it lags behind wool and silk in terms of temperature regulation and odor resistance, it retails for a good price.
Wool, represented by brands like Patagonia, SmartWool, Ibex and Icebreaker, also has excellent moisture wicking capabilities and is best in class for temperature regulation and odor resistance, but it is more expensive. Natural merino wool fiber is soft on the skin and wrinkle resistant. Fans of these garments believe that wool is a better insulator than synthetics when it is cold and also more comfortable in a wider temperature range when it is hot.
REI’s silk fabric has the most luxurious feel and is more compact than the other materials. Its wicking capacity (often chemically enhanced) is not as good as synthetics or wool, but silk is a very good insulator in cold conditions.
TIPS: Temperature control is very important when performing demanding aerobic activities. If this is on the agenda, it might be preferable to use a thinner base layer to maximize moisture wicking and prevent overheating. Let the outer layers, discussed below, take over the insulation.
The intermediate (or insulating) layer
The most important job of the middle layer is to keep you warm by trapping air close to the body. This is the insulation layer. They should be a bit roomier than the base layer, but not baggy.
INSERT: In temperate climates, the middle layer may consist of nothing more than a favorite cotton t-shirt. This guide is geared towards maximum comfort in deep winter.
The best insulation is usually a choice between down, synthetic or fleece that breathes well (to allow moisture absorption), is light and compact.
Goose down provides the best warmth-to-weight ratio, the natural fluffiness of the fluffy filaments traps air and preserves warmth. Down’s ability to capture air is measured by its filling power. Higher fill power means less weight and superior warmth. A fill power ranging from 400 to 550 is of medium to good quality and is harvested from immature geese raised for human consumption. Garments with a fill power of 600 to 900 are excellent, but are more expensive as the down comes from mature geese bred specifically for this purpose, which drives up supply costs.
Goose down is the best option for very cold but dry conditions. One major drawback is that down loses its insulating ability when wet. It also dries very slowly and an 800 down jacket is expensive!
NEWS: Great progress is being made in the development of treatments to retain the fluffiness of down when wet.
Synthetic fibers, predominantly polyester, may be a better insulation option in wet conditions. With advances in weight, compressibility and breathability, they are getting closer to down. PrimaLoft leads the pack in producing high-quality synthetics, while respected clothing manufacturers like Patagonia, Arc’Teryx and Marmot market polyester under trade names like Thermogreen, ThermaTek or Thermal R. Cheaper than goose down , they still can’t match it in minimum volume and weight.
Fleece is a good choice when you’re worried about overheating during aerobic activities. Polartec offers the choice between light (100), medium (200) and heavy (300) weights. However, fleece is probably not suitable for prolonged exposure in very cold conditions. Try fleece layers made from 100% wool, which are very comfortable over a wider temperature range in milder conditions. Fans also love the odor-free nature of natural wool.
The outer layer (or shell)
This is the buffer between you and what Mother Nature throws at you. Provides protection against rain, wind and snow. The main considerations when deciding on an outer shell should be fit, it should be roomy enough to allow the layers underneath; breathability, to facilitate the evacuation of moisture towards the outer surface from where it can evaporate; and how efficiently it resists water and wind.
The best technical layers for sedentary comfort, like Gore-Tex, will offer wind resistance and waterproofing with sealed seams and waterproof zippers. These are called hard shells, and while they are great for shelter from the rain, they do vary in breathability. Soft shell packable jackets are usually water repellent but are not waterproof. They are typically worn during more strenuous activities where breathability, to prevent overheating, and freedom of movement are desirable.
The beauty of the layered clothing system is that the traveler can adapt the layers to existing temperatures and weather conditions, and do so in real time. Warming up, peel off the layers; chilling, add layers!