Outdoor travel requires following dressing principles
When winter hiking, climbing, orskiing, does your body heat up and keep you warm, making you fearless of the cold? In reality, if you dress improperly, you can easily experience “hypothermia,” which may start with shivering and escalate to full-body trembling, with severe discomfort even posing life-threatening risks.
Hypothermia mainly occurs due to prolonged exposure to cold environments, where the body loses too much heat and core temperature gradually drops, weakening physiological functions. Leng Hui says hypothermia isn’t just caused by wearing too little, but also by staying in the cold for too long. If your base layer fails to wick sweat and your outerwear lacks breathability, leading to dehydration, insulation will be compromised. Therefore, he advises everyone to dress properly during outdoor trips to stay warm.
Typically, whether hiking, climbing, or skiing, the “layered dressing method” should be used. Layered dressing, simply put, means wearing clothes in layers, but not just mindlessly piling them on—the more layers, the better. Leng Hui explains that generally, three layers are sufficient for warmth.
The first layer should be form-fitting moisture-wicking underwear, underpants, and socks, which absorb sweat, prevent moisture loss, and help maintain body temperature; the middle layer is the insulation layer—any full-body garment or vest works, though material selection matters; the outermost layer,a windproof and waterproofjacket and pants, primarily serve to block wind and rain, provide insulation, allow breathability, and offer durability.
Choosing the right fabric is key
For winter outdoor travel, don’t simply opt for thick clothing that feels warm. Leng Hui says it’s also essential to choose effective attire based on different environments such as mountains and snowy areas.
Generally, the primary role of underwear is to wick sweat, breathe, and provide warmth, but in winter, it’s mainly about moisture-wicking and insulation. Many assume natural fibers like cotton, wool, or silk have good sweat-wicking and warming properties, but that’s not the case—cotton absorbs moisture quickly but dries slowly, wool has poor moisture absorption and lower comfort when worn next to skin, and silk is simply unsuitable foroutdoor activities.
Therefore, when selecting underwear, it’s best to choose fabrics blended from cotton, wool, or other materials, or those primarily made from specialty polyester fibers, such asAmerica’sCoolmax,South Korea’sCoolever, China’sTaiwansuch as Coolplus, which are made from synthetic thermal insulation fibers and offer excellent moisture-wicking and warmth retention.
In addition to choosing the right base layer, the mid-layer should consist of fleece clothing—either a type called “Mohair Fleece” or fleece garments containing the professional windproof WINDSTOPPER fabric. Of course, a down vest with good insulation is also an option. For the outermost layer of shell jackets and pants, Lenghui recommends outerwear made from the Calisto fabric by the American company Gore (GORE-TEX), which is not only waterproof and breathable but also provides good warmth. Alternatively, you can choose high-waterproofdown jackets.Shell pantsshould have a fleece lining and a waterproof outer layer, or you can opt for double-layer shell pants made with Calisto fabric. For winter activities such as walking in snow or skiing, you can choose either separate or one-piece suits, with the latter offering better warmth.
For hiking boots, it’s best to choose high-top ankle-supporting boots with deep lug soles and GORE-TEX uppers; for walking in snowy conditions, opt for gaiters with waterproof fabric, as well as shoes with suede uppers and slip-resistant rubber soles. Socks should be made of moisture-wicking Coolmax material, or wool socks can also work, but they should generally be high-rise socks to protect the ankles and provide effective warmth.
Since the human body loses about 80% of its heat through the head, wearing a fleece hat with ear protection and windproof, water-resistant features can help retain body heat effectively. Full-finger gloves or mittens can be chosen based on your activity level.
Emergency use insulation gear
In addition to proper layered clothing, Lenghui also recommends two types of emergency insulation gear for unexpected situations: the SPACE space metal emergency blanket and the Grabber warm patches.
This SPACE emergency blanket, produced in the United States, is a byproduct of research into aerospace super-insulation materials. It is made from precision polyester materials and the highest purity vacuum-deposited aluminum, making it both durable and abrasion-resistant.
The SPACE emergency blanket comes in a package the size of a cigarette box, but when fully unfolded, it measures 214 cm in length and 142 cm in width. It provides essential protection for the human body, especially in sub-zero temperatures, retaining over 80% of radiated body heat. It can offer critical emergency warmth to outdoor enthusiasts suffering from sudden hypothermia in cold weather.
The other option, Grabber warm patches, come in several types including hand warmers, foot warmers, and body warmers. However, unlike everyday “heat pads,” these warm patches not only provide 8–10 hours of warmth and are portable and long-lasting, but they also function effectively in low-oxygen environments such as inside closed clothing or shoes. They are very effective against travel-related symptoms like colds, joint pain, dryness, as well as poor muscle or blood circulation.