Lou McLeod: What to Wear for Extreme Weather

Wednesday 24 February 2016

What to Wear for Extreme Weather

The following post What to Wear for Extreme Weather was first published to Total Survival

Once again, I’m honored to be writing for The Allstate Blog this month!

Dressing for Extreme Weather – Winter

Whether Jack Frost is bringing subzero temperatures or a blizzard, dressing in loose-fitting layers can be the trick to helping keep you warm and dry if you find yourself outside during extreme winter weather. Think of dressing yourself like an onion — layer upon layer of thin clothing wrapped with a protective layer to help maintain your body temperature. Here are some basics on layering:

Base layer: Thermal underwear or clothing like runner’s tights can help give you a good base to help your body retain heat. Make sure this layer is made of wicking fabric, which pulls moisture away from your body. This can help you maintain your body heat instead of being cooled off by trapped moisture.
Warming layer: Consider wearing multiple thin layers of T-shirts, flannel shirts, wool sweaters, fleece pullovers, jeans or other heavy pants to help keep warm, says Ready.gov. Clothing made of cotton or down can be a great option for warmth. But, if you know you’ll be exerting yourself or near snow or water, cotton or down may do a poor job of insulating your body if it becomes wet. Strive to wear water repellent layers when possible.
Protective layer: Winter coats, down vests, insulated gloves and boots, as well as scarves, balaclavas, hats and ear muffs make a good final layer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These items help provide protection not only from the cold itself, but also from the effects of wind chill. Wind blowing across your skin may evaporate the water molecules that collect there, known as convective heat loss, causing your body to potentially lose even more heat, says the CDC. While your body loses heat evenly, according to WebMD, it begins to protect itself by keeping your core warm for survival, restricting blood flow to your hands and feet, which means they may feel even colder and be more at risk for frostbite if you’re not careful.