Staying Warm and Comfortable this Winter
ARA

People dread the coming of winter, not only because it means beautiful backyards will soon turn into barren landscapes, but because to stay warm, they’ll have to sacrifice comfort. Instead of shorts, t-shirts and sandals, those who live in cooler climates will soon be dressing in layers before venturing outside.

The typical winter ensemble includes a wicking layer to keep moisture away from the skin, an insulating layer to keep heat in and cold out, and an exterior or protection layer to serve as your guard against the elements of winter -- rain, snow, sleet and wind.

Sounds bulky, but when you first step outside, you’ll be glad you put all those layers on. They protect you from what would otherwise be bone-chilling cold.

The wicking layer typically consists of long underwear which provides your skin with a protective layer that keeps body heat in and the cold out. That mechanism is critical if you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, but according to experts from the Cuddl Duds clothing company, can backfire on you when you step inside -- unless you’re wearing long underwear made of Comfortech, a new lightweight stretch material made of polyester and Spandex that, unlike chemically treated fabrics, provides moisture management inherently.

When you begin sweating -- which you will definitely do with all the extra layers on -- instead of getting absorbed back into the fabric next to your skin, moisture actually moves through the hollow core, or microchannel cross-section fibers of the fabric’s yarn and evaporates into the air. The end result, the wearer’s clothes remain dry and their skin stays warm.

For the next layer -- the insulating layer -- you can use sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. If you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors when it’s cold, a good material to look for is fleece, a synthetic which maintains its insulating ability even when wet and spreads the moisture out so it dries quickly. Wool, which naturally wicks away moisture, is another good option.

The exterior layer, generally a shell and pants, serves as your guard against the elements. They will repel water from snow, sleet or rain and block wind while at the same time allowing perspiration to evaporate.

You should also take steps to protect your head, face, neck and extremities from the elements. Putting on a hat of some kind is critical because up to 60 percent of your body’s heat can escape from an uncovered head. A fleece neck gaiter (like a collar) or face mask is also a must; so are gloves and mittens and light-weight or medium-weight socks.

Now that you’ve gotten a refresher course on dressing for winter weather, it’s a good time to shop for your winter gear. You can find the Cuddl Duds Comfortech underwear for men and women in department stores across the country. For more information, log on to www.cuddlduds.com. [ARA]

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