Kick out the cold
David Cowardin
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Outdoors
Winter has put its stranglehold on our cars, streets, rivers and lakes, but it doesn't need to suppress your warmth and safety.
I'm sure we can all remember being dressed by our mothers, getting rolled into snowballs of clothing until resembling very small Michelin men waddling through snow like penguins. While we hated being smothered by our mother's apprehension, we stayed warm and safe.
Sophomore Tom Pocrnich has noticed the difference between dressing himself and getting dressed by his mother as a child.
"I do the basics when dressing for the cold," Pocrnich said, "but I never wear long underwear or wool socks like my parents used to make me."
Now that we are able to dress ourselves without the attentive watch of an adult, we bear the responsibility to clothe ourselves well.
Pocrnich has noticed people on campus who are not properly dressed for the elements.
"Most people dress for the weather, but it seems like some people don't see winter clothing as fashionable," Pocrnich said.
Luckily, today's advanced winter clothing can keep us warm while we retain a sense of fashion. Modern clothing is warm but not as bulky, so when we enter the chilling outdoors we no longer have to waddle like penguins.
According to W. L. Gore and Company, there are three main layers to keep in mind before braving the numbing winter weather: the wicking layer, insulation layer and the shell. All layers have their unique importance and should not be ignored.
The wicking layer is one of the most important; it is a breathable layer that wicks sweat away from the body. Keeping sweat away from the skin is vital for retaining heat. When sweat lingers on the skin, it absorbs more body heat. The idea is to keep heat inside, so the wicking layer plays a huge roll in staying warm, even though it is the thinnest and seemingly most unimportant layer.
When searching for a wicking layer, stay away from wool. Wool is not a very breathable fabric and it can irritate the skin. Instead, look for a polypropylene or Gore-Tex under-layer. Polypropylene and Gore-Tex are breathable fabrics that wick sweat away very well.
I'm sure we can all remember being dressed by our mothers, getting rolled into snowballs of clothing until resembling very small Michelin men waddling through snow like penguins. While we hated being smothered by our mother's apprehension, we stayed warm and safe.
Sophomore Tom Pocrnich has noticed the difference between dressing himself and getting dressed by his mother as a child.
"I do the basics when dressing for the cold," Pocrnich said, "but I never wear long underwear or wool socks like my parents used to make me."
Now that we are able to dress ourselves without the attentive watch of an adult, we bear the responsibility to clothe ourselves well.
Pocrnich has noticed people on campus who are not properly dressed for the elements.
"Most people dress for the weather, but it seems like some people don't see winter clothing as fashionable," Pocrnich said.
Luckily, today's advanced winter clothing can keep us warm while we retain a sense of fashion. Modern clothing is warm but not as bulky, so when we enter the chilling outdoors we no longer have to waddle like penguins.
According to W. L. Gore and Company, there are three main layers to keep in mind before braving the numbing winter weather: the wicking layer, insulation layer and the shell. All layers have their unique importance and should not be ignored.
The wicking layer is one of the most important; it is a breathable layer that wicks sweat away from the body. Keeping sweat away from the skin is vital for retaining heat. When sweat lingers on the skin, it absorbs more body heat. The idea is to keep heat inside, so the wicking layer plays a huge roll in staying warm, even though it is the thinnest and seemingly most unimportant layer.
When searching for a wicking layer, stay away from wool. Wool is not a very breathable fabric and it can irritate the skin. Instead, look for a polypropylene or Gore-Tex under-layer. Polypropylene and Gore-Tex are breathable fabrics that wick sweat away very well.
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