HINTS FOR WINTER DRESSING
Cold winter weather doesn't mean you have to stay indoors. You can enjoy outdoor activities even in January with a little knowledge on how to dress. Whether you're shoveling snow, going for a run, building a snowman or sledding with your kids, it's important to dress in a way that maximizes warmth.
Lower Body
Your legs generate a lot of heat so you don't need as many layers on your lower body. A pair of tights or running pants underneath ski pants or track pants can usually keep you warm through most activities. Look for synthetic materials such as Thermion, Thinsulate, Coolmax or Polypropolene.
Upper Body
The key to winter dressing, especially with your upper body, is layering. The layer closest to your body should be made from a synthetic wicking material, such as thinsulate, polypropolene or silk to wick the sweat away from your body, keeping you dry and warm. Don't wear cotton for this layer because once it gets wet you'll stay wet. Next layer should be fleece; it traps some air, yet releases enough heat to avoid over heating.
Your outer layer should protect you against wind and moisture but at the same time allow both heat and moisture to escape to prevent both overheating and chilling. It's a good idea to wear a jacket with a zipper for this layer, so that you can regulate your temperature by zipping it up and down
Head and Neck
On cold days you'll lose a reported 40 percent of your heat from your head, so it's important to keep it covered. Try a fleece or wool hat.
Often worn by skiers, a neck gaiter can be very valuable on a frigid, windy day to protect your neck and face. You can pull it up over your mouth to warm the air you're breathing.
You can lose as much as 30 percent of your body heat through your extremities, it's important to cover your hands. When it's extremely cold, mittens are a better choice because your fingers will share their body heat.
Health Admin.
