Dress Properly for the Occasion

People usually wear clothing which suits the activities they’re involved in. Scuba diving requires specialized gear to make it safe and fun, and so does motorcycle riding and rock climbing and other specific sports. Camping, hiking and mountain biking also require some protective and comfortable clothing which will make your time in the Colorado mountains more enjoyable. Colorado natives talk about “layering” and “wicking away moisture”. Find out why …

Wearing two layers of light clothing can be warmer and better insulated than one heavy layer. When the body starts to perspire, the moisture needs to be taken away from the body to keep an even temperature. Being sweaty and overheated in one moment and then cold and wet in the next is not only uncomfortable, but can be dangerous in the high windy mountains – leading to hypothermia. Layering clothing is a protective measure in both cold and hot weather. In cold weather the insulation in between clothing layers will block wind and rain, keep the skin dry and retain body heat. In hot weather, the layers protect the skin from the direct sun exposure and ventilate the body moisture, cooling the skin to keep the body from overheating.

Clothing manufacturers make specific garments which will “wick away moisture” to keep the body comfortable. This action refers to the drawing of moisture away from the source as a wick draws oil up from an oil lamp. Usually there are at least three types of layers which make up the entire outfit.

• The base layer is the one closest to the skin, should be good at drawing moisture away from the body and will provide the “wicking” action. Good choices are polyester, a synthetic fiber which evaporates moisture quickly and not cotton or silk as these tend to hold moisture and will remain damp for some time.

• The mid layer is used for the insulating factor and can be comprised of more than one actual garment. This layer helps to make proper adjustment to the body heat. Good choices for the mid layer might be wool, fleece, synthetic fiber fill or possibly cotton if the weather is not too cold.

• Finally, the outer most layer, the shell layer, is designed to keep the weather out and the warmth in. In warmer weather this layer may not be needed. Depending on what activities you are engaging in, anything from a water resistant material to a breathable water proof material to a raincoat material (weather stays out but the body moisture can’t escape) may be needed. If the material is so dense that moisture can’t escape, vented areas, zippers, loose fitted tops, hemline or sleeves can aid evaporation and help to keep the body heat in check.  GoreTex is an extremely popular material.

There are many resources to help you determine which exact type of material is best for you, what price range and availability you can expect, etc. either in specialty stores or online. If you are going hiking or climbing in an unfamiliar place, it would be good to investigate ahead of time what weather conditions are likely and plan to spend some time and money preparing your equipment and clothing. If you are going on a day trip, or a family outing in any season, planning the clothing layers for your family members is important. Children may require more clothing options and extra pairs of socks, underclothes and shoes because they often get wet and muddy faster than adults. Hats are always a good choice to protect and shield the head and maintain body heat, especially for children because they have a larger head to body ratio and sustain more body heat loss as a result.

There appears to be an ongoing controversy about whether placing plastic bags over your socks before putting on boots will keep feet warm and dry. In the experience of our staff, the addition of plastic serves only to increase the moisture content of the sock and makes your feet more prone to become and remain cold. Wicking away moisture is impossible inside of a plastic bag, and transferring cold to damp feet can create frostbite or worse. Wool blend socks are designed to keep feet dry and warm, and even if they do get damp, the properties of wool continue to keep them warm.

Good footwear is important for a variety of reasons. Being far away from a well-populated area, the last thing you want is an injury to the foot which will make it difficult to get treatment. Even in the summertime, a sturdy hiking boot will protect both the foot and ankle while hiking on uneven terrain and will prevent injury from unseen sticks, rocks, undergrowth or even contact with insects or snakes, etc. Sometimes city dwellers who enjoy summer sandals and flip flops may try to utilize this type of footwear in the mountains, but find out quickly how uncomfortable and dangerous that can be. (Tip: pine needles are really slippery and sharp!) So, even if you wear your open toed sandals up to the mountains, do yourself a favor and have quality sneakers or boots to wear as well. Keep in mind too that the temperature drop from the heat of day in high altitude to the cold, damp of night can be significant. Layering will keep everyone warm, dry and much more comfortable.