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Dressing for the Cold
By: Kodiak Survival

Over the years I have tried just about every type of clothing and in every combination.

I don’t plan on going over the joy of wool or the problem with down, it is too obvious; however, there are some other great products out there and it is my intent to educate folks who maybe are not aware of them. The clothing system listed below is for an estimated range of 45 to minus 45. Each person is unique so it is hard to say hands down the temps will be the same for all, but it is pretty close. I’ll try to avoid pushing one brand over the other. If you have specific questions feel free to pm, but I don’t want to bash one company over the other. One last thought before I dive in; these ideas are in no way my original thoughts. Much has been learned by many folks. Mark Twight has had a big impact on our community as have many men on the staff in Kodiak. There are also many tips covered in the Hood’s videos to keep your rear warm With that said, let’s talk about clothing choices from the skin out.

First up is the lightweight layer. These are great choices when there is a lot of activity. Most companies make them w/o seams which help avoid the chafe. They also have anti-microbial properties, which keep the funk down on longer trips. The layers come w/ chest zippers and regular crew neck. I prefer ones w/ zippers as it let’s the user vent while staying active.

On colder days, say around zero it is nice to have a mid-weight layer. Trial and error will tell you what you need. A good rule of thumb when active is to start out cold and warm up. Otherwise you’ll sweat your clothing out. You’ll notice this layer w/ the chest zipper.

On really windy days it is nice to have a nylon wind shirt. I prefer them w/o hoods, but they come in both or you could cut it off like I did mine. The closer you wear this layer to your skin the better it works on moving moisture away from your skin. Another side note is making sure your zippers have loops to grab. It sucks when your freezing and you can’t manipulate those little zippers. Most of these garments are hydrophobic and work just fine on those misty days instead of a full on shell.

Speaking of shells, the industry has come along ways lately. The soft shells are the way to go for those moving fast in the backcountry and going light. Just remember that they are not designed to keep you bone dry, but to allow you to get dry as you move. The soft shells are quiet and worth checking out. They also excel in keeping you from over heating. I prefer these shells over Gore-Tex as they dry quicker and breathe much better. Gore doesn’t allow you to move moisture away from your skin as quick as the soft shells. I still own some great jackets, pants and bibs in Gore, but only use them on very static days. Try to get these fitting w/ just a little room. If they are real loose you can run into problems like catching crampons on baggy pants or even snowshoes can get hung up. That in turn can lead to a nasty fall. If you spend time in a harness you’ll want your stuff fitting snug too, otherwise you’ll have clothing sticking out everywhere. Another thought is going w/ suspenders over a belt. I know some of you will have a cow, but you can always wear a neck knife. There is a great joy in wearing a winter backpack w/o a belt. Don’t forget the value in gaiters for the pants. The soft shells also come in bibs for those of you that need a little extra protection from snow and such. I know I like them when I’m performing cartwheels on skis.

All the above is great when your active and getting things done. There are times when you need to park it, maybe to glass that perfect bull, maybe to watch your 6. When those times come it is best to have some raingear and some warmer insulation. I like raingear I can put on over my boots and other clothing. That is why mine is fitted loose. If you spend time on cliffs make sure you can wear a climbing helmet under the hood. Make no mistake about good raingear; you will sweat to death if you move quickly in it. It is designed to keep you dry while you’re static.

Then there is the mighty puff layer. Every time I go out in Alaska I have at least my puff jacket in my backpack. The wind is always kicking and it is mighty fine to pull out and warm up when you’re up high. Even on short ten minute breaks take the time to put the jacket on. It will help move moisture away from your skin and to the outer layer. This in turn keeps your feeling toasty the whole trip. Make sure you size this layer up loose too. I use mine to extend the range of my lightweight sleeping bag. It’s the deal when walking around base camp or just hanging out in cold weather. They also make socks in this material and that helps my toes big time.

Don’t forget the advantages of fleece. It is warm when wet and handles the wind like no other. A puffy vest or fleece layer can help you in the coldest of days. When the core is happy, everybody is happy.

As for hats, man do they come in handy. Don’t go into the bush w/o one. If you’re going up high and there is wind involved get one with a strap for the chin or you’ll be sorry. A balaclava will save your skin every time and a silk one weighs so little that there is no excuse to leave it behind. There are some cool neck gaiters that work as a balaclava, hat and just about any other combo. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention bug net hats. There are times even in the winter where bugs can drive you insane. Know the area you’re going and prepare for the worst. Last but not least are the hats for rain. I prefer the type that snaps on the side vice Velcro. It never fails that the wind blows up the side of my hat and sticks to the Velcro when I don’t want it to. I know Dude has covered it well, but get a hat that covers your skin on the neck and ears. The ball cap looks cool, but offers very little protection.

Let’s talk about gloves. For all you survival types I know I don’t need to tell you how flammable all these nylon products are. I prefer wool gloves when messing around the campfire. On cold rainy days I go with liners inside a shell I know will dry quickly. Bottom line, gloves are not waterproof, not in Kodiak at least. Have some dry liners to put on while you dry the other ones out. As for keeping your hands warm, go with mittens. They don’t make a warm glove; you need those digits next to each other. I always have a pair in the pack for myself and a student. You will notice many mitts and gloves have a lanyard. It is there for a reason. When you’re going up high you can’t afford to lose a glove. It may make the difference between life and death. You only have to see it happen once to become a believer. That is another reason you keep your stuff organized. If you place things down, know where they are and make sure the wind doesn’t take it from you or that it rolls away. A tip for keeping the hands warm is to have them lower than your heart. On long side hill movements it is easy to have a ski pole to high in the uphill hand. Place some tape on the pole around the middle so you can choke down on it. If your hands get real cold start swinging your arms around in circles and after about 50 times you will have some warmth back.

Don’t forget the importance of socks. Spend some money on good fitting ones and you will be glad you did. I already stated how nice the puff socks are for over night stays. Another great product is vapor barrier socks. It’s true that bread bags will get you by, but if you need them on a regular basis it is nice to have a more durable option. Some of the guys even made ones that go up their entire leg, mighty nice for multiple river crossings. Try not to skimp on the padding, as the miles add up they will help you along the way. Avoid the mistake of wearing too many layers on your feet. It will only restrict blood flow and put your toes in danger. Also avoid tying your laces to tight or clamping down on straps like your crampons, skis or snowshoes might have. Another problem for the feet is the conduction from the ground and even the steel shank in the boot. Boots are a whole other topic, just beware. I find swinging my legs helps get the blood flowing and in turn warms up my feet.

This isn’t everything out there, but it should help you make some good choices before this winter season gets going.

[Kodiak Survival is the pseudonym for a good friend of ours. Because he is active military, assigned to a an elite unit, we chose to use this name instead of his real name. The name itself is an indication of what he teaches and where.]