Different Layers of Outdoor Wear

Outdoor wear or sports wear is the crucial part of any adventure activity. This apparel not only makes one look stylish, but also provides the much needed protection and care for the body. The right wear can make your trip a delightful experience to be cherished or the wrong one can dampen your spirits and make it a disaster. And an informed sports enthusiast definitely realizes the significance of making the correct choice.

To elaborate further on what needs to be done and what not, let us consider the example of ‘Skiwear’. This sport which is loved by people of all ages, asks for a lot of preparation when it comes to getting ready for it. By that we mean, men, women, children ought to keep in mind a few things when buying, wearing and using the clothes meant for skiing. The fact that ski clothing is not so easily rented out, needs one to spend considerable amount of time while buying them.

The thumb rule in ski dressing is following the layered way. This means that one dresses in layers of clothes instead of wearing just one VERY thick layer. This approach ensures that, if one feels uneasy or too hot, one can remove the upper layers without much fuss. All the three layers together form an atmosphere of their own around the body-one that of warmth and comfort. These clothes have to be light as no one wants the extra burden of this layered clothing to hamper their movements on an adventure sport. The fit of the clothes is equally important for the fashion-conscious consumer. There is a reason for each layer to be and a lot of thought goes into making such clothes.

The base layer is called the wick layer. This is the most important of all the layers. The common problem with cotton wear is that, they tend to retain moisture and hence after the rigorous sporting adventure give you an uneasy cool feeling normally called as the after–exercise chill. It is thus necessary to have clothes, which do not absorb moisture but let it evaporate easily from the body. The base layer needs to absorb not more than 1% of the water. The material used should not be heavy, must be strong and should dry quickly so as to not emit unpleasant odors or itch due to wetness or cause any kind of skin infections. The normally used materials for this layer are polypropylene, nylon, synthetic silk, wool or a blend of a few of these. All of them have all the features needed for a good first layer. They are woven with very fine fibers. This makes them water and wind-resistant as also breathable at the same time. These materials are smooth and thus do not cause irritation due to roughness .To name a few styles in this layer would be-tops with short sleeves, tights, thermals, etc.

The second layer is basically meant to retain the body heat and this is achieved by creating still air around the body. Due to this, there is minimal exchange of heat between the body and the surrounding. This layer is commonly made up of treated polyesters which catch the air between the fibers and thus allowing the air layer to form insulation. The moisture transport properties of the base layer need to be incorporated here too. This layer materials include fleece which is a napped fabric with a deep, soft, woolly-style surface, bunting-a fleece that is plain weft-knitted fabric which has been brushed or raised on one or both sides as also pile- raised loops or other yarns or fibers deliberately emplaced to stand away from the surface of the fabric. Wool can be used too, at this layer. The styles here include sweaters, vests, fleece-tops, pullover- style tops, etc.

The third and final layer-called the outer shell, is special as it is this layer that comes in direct contact with the harsh weather outside. This layer needs to be waterproof and should be able to withstand any wear and tear and other damages. It should be able to withstand 40 psi (pounds per square inch) of water pressure.PSI is the measure of how water-proof a material is. It should not have many seams especially in places where water may seep in, like shoulders and upper back. Preferably should have few zippers and if any, they should be well guarded.

For further information about the outdoor clothing company 66°NORTH visit the company's international website, www.66north.com.

About 66°North
66°North Ltd. is among Iceland’s oldest manufacturing companies. It was established in the year 1926 and has throughout the decades been a leading producer and innovator in the making of working clothes used on sea and land, made for the toughest outdoors working conditions on the planet. In the past decade, 66°North has leveraged its expertise into a wide selection of outdoor clothing for sports and leisure. It has received numerous awards for its designs and marketing campaigns. The company’s staff today numbers more than 300 people. It operates 10 shops in Iceland under the names of 66°North and Iceland Gift Store, as well as the four shops in Lativa. Furthermore the 66°North brand is sold in retail stores in Northern Europe and USA.