The archives:
http://www.uqac.uquebec.ca/PleinAir/clothin1.htm
http://www.uqac.uquebec.ca/PleinAir/cold1.htm
Most list-members favor wool over synthetic fleece, due to its greater
durability and ability to keep you warm even when wet.
In general there is a hesitancy on many members side to depend on
modern clothing solutions (Velcro, Gore Tex, etc), the opinion being
that they are less robust under the conditions that many of us are out
under.
When selecting your clothes think about what would be the worst
conditions you could be exposed to.
In cold climates you need not only to keep warm, but you need also to
keep from getting wet. This is much more difficult than it appears at
first. You normally perspire over 1 liter (1 qt) of water each day,
and if this isn't allowed to ventilate out is will freeze inside your
clothes, destroying their insulative value. Regardless of how good you
are there will nevertheless be some water left, and the big quandary
is how to deal with it. There are several commonly used solutions to
this problem.
- Never letting it melt.
-
This is the method advocated by e.g. the early arctic explorer
Vilhjalmur Stefansson, and supposedly is based on Inuit
practice. This method recognizes that the water will during the
day settle as hoarfrost at some point inside your clothing. By
taking every effort to prevent this hoarfrost from melting, and
regular-illy beating it out with a stick he was able to keep it
from becoming chilling ice.
Modern clothes are not well adapted to this regimen, e.g. will
most down parkas be rather quickly destroyed if you beat them
with a stick. What can be dome is to keep all -- or as many as
possible -- of your outer clothes from ever becoming warm
unless you can at the same time dry them.
- Regular drying.
-
This is the method advocated by many experienced northern
wilderness travelers. It simply means that you as often as
needed, generally at least once every other night, spend some
time in a heated shelter where the frozen condensation can dry
out. Most often this is a canvas tent with a wood-stove inside,
but may also be a shelter with an open fire.
- Vapor-barrier.
-
This system is based on the principle that one wears, close to
the body, a layer of waterproof material that keeps all the
condensation from penetrating to the outer layers. The
qualities of this method is debated, with he proponents
claiming that it does work, and the detractors that it doesn't.
There is some different opinions regarding the ideal rainwear for
winderness usage. Some prefer the poncho (due to its flexibility --
shelter, vater-carrier, etc -- and ventilation), while others prefer a
real rain-suit (better protection, better in high wind, etc). The
general advice is to spend the money on quality rather than cheep
stuff that will break down and need replacment. In particular remember
that every seam is a potential leak, and garments with a large number
of seams will have a greater chance of leaking than those with fewer
seams.
If you want to save money you can waterproof cotton fabric yourself by
coating with linseed oil. Please note that linseed oil (get the boiled
kind) will generate heat when it oxidizes (to linoxylene), and thus
for an initial period should be stored non-folded in a well ventilated
area to minimize the danger of it igniting.
Back to the index.