Clothing Layering Guide

You may have often heard people mention the 'layering system' when it comes to anyone who wants to GO Outdoors in various conditions. But what does it mean? Well basically it's a system which enables you to keep your body suitably warm and dry whatever the conditions. Below is a simple guide to the '3 layer system'

1st Layer - Baselayer
The base layer is the layer worn next to the skin which in general has a good wicking system (limits sweat) to keep your overall body temperature as regulated as possible. This layers must be kept protected from the cold and rain as it can get damp and responsible for causing colds.

See a Range of our Baselayers


2nd Layer - Insulating Layer
Worn on top of the base layer this traps the heat in and keeps you warm and insulated. These layers work best when quite fitted to your body so there is minimal air movement for maximum heat retention. Fabrics such as Synthetic fleece excel at this and can keep you warm in the coldest conditions or just on those blustery days in town.

See a Range of our Insulating Fleeces and Mid Layers


3rd Layer - Weather Protection Layer
The outermost layer is designed to keep the bad weather out. These layers are there to keep you comfortable while they tackle the job of keeping the wind, water and snow away from your body. Going out without an outer layer could result in the damp reaching your skin and causing a cold or worse hypothermia.

Outer layers are entirely dependant on the activity you plan to do. So shop around and make sure that the layer you choose is wind proof, waterproof and breathable enough so that you effectively don't 'steam up' inside your jacket.

See a Range of our Outer Weather proof and waterproof Layers


A Little diagram to demonstrate:


So if you're heading outdoors this winter then make sure you are kitted safely and comfortably for the conditions you may face. Safety is key in outdoor pursuits and as the scouts say 'Be prepared'

That's all for now

Brandon

Winter Jacket Buying Guide Part 2

Hello everyone,

One thing i have noticed over the last few weeks is that my blog on a guide to buying a winter jacket or waterproof coat was quite popular among visitors. This to me tells me that people are in fact looking for a little guidance when buying something to keep them warm and dry this winter.

In my last blog (which you can find here) I went over the different types of jackets that are available and for whom they may be best suited as well as covering some of the terms you may have needed explaining.

Now this time i aim to get a little more geeky on the subject. Waterproof Jackets can come with a variety of nice little names from their manufacturers. Overall there are three different types of water protection for jackets: 'Coated', 'Membrane' and 'Moisture Management'. Ive read a lot of forum topics stating that people want to know which is better? Coated or Gore-Tex? Gore-Tex or Paramo?

Now there is no simple yes or no answer because each coat comes with a range of properties depending on the user.

Coated:
This includes fabric names like: Isotex, AquaFoil, HydroDry, HyVent, Triple Point, AquaDry and Dry light.

These fabrics are sprayed with a Polyurethane coating before they are even made into a jacket. The seams of the jacket are sealed after having waterproofing sprayed over the inside of the jacket. Water repellency (Durable Water Repellent) is on the outside of the jacket to form an impenetrable seal from the elements.

A few examples of Coated jackets are:
Regatta Redwald
Regatta Bridgette
Berghaus Calisto Jacket
The North Face Resolve Jacket


Membrane:
This includes fabric names like: Gore-Tex Pro Shell, eVent, Gore-Tex Performance Shell, Gore-Tex Paclite, Conduit and AquaDry membrane.

A plastic based PTFE (or Polytetralfluoroethylene for fans of big words) layer is laminated to the outer fabric and then the jacket is cut to shape and ready to be made. The seams are then fully sealed and the jacket is fully waterproofed.

These jackets have good breathability and tend to be a little more pricey because they are of high standard and are used for sports like mountaineering

A few examples of Membrane Jackets include:
Berghaus Mera Peak
Berghaus Cornice Jacket
Sprayway Jura Jacket
Marmot Minimalist Jacket


Advanced Moisture Management:
This is a fabric specially designed by Paramo and is one of the better ones on the market.

The outer layer deflects most of the water which falls on it, the water that does manage to get through comes into contact with the 'pump liner' which forces any moisture back out of the jacket. The pump liner effectively dries faster than you can get it wet. Paramo has been compared to the same sort of properties as the fur of an animal while conventional waterproofs are more like sheets of plastic to deflect water.

A few examples of advanced moisture management jackets:
Paramo Clothing


So hopefully now you know a little more and with the weather like it is at the moment, it can't come at a better time right? So stay warm and dry this winter and pick the right Jacket for you.

That's all for now

Brandon