Winter for the most part is twenty to sixty degrees cooler than summertime. If you are planning to purchase clothing for the wintertime, there are several things to consider. First, ask yourself if you are going to be active and participating in a sport. You may be simply walking from your car to where you are shopping. In both instances, there are certain kinds of clothing and accessories you should consider for the winter.
Cotton Thermal Undergarments
Many people who are going to be in cold winter temperatures like to wear thermal underwear. Generally, thermal underwear is made of a thin layer of cotton. This added layer can help you stay outside a bit longer by trapping a layer of warm air between your skin and the thermal underwear. Thermal underwear is made out of different kinds of materials like merino, silk and polypropylene.
Polypropylene Thermal Undergarments
Polypropylene or polyester thermal underwear retains more heat than most other thermal underwear. This type of fabric is designed for wicking away moisture from your body. Polypropylene may be the perfect choice of underwear to wear if you are planning on outdoor winter activities like skiing, ice skating or jogging in freezing temperatures.
Merino Thermal Undergarments
Merino wool undergarments can be perfect for the person who will be in subzero temperatures while performing physical tasks. Merino is known to be a great moisture-managing fiber and will wick away any extra moisture from your skin. Merino is bulkier than cotton or polyester, but most people who need maximum warmth choose merino.
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Waterproof Winter Boots
Consider buying waterproof winter boots with a removable shearling or cotton felt liner. These boots can be constructed of rubber or treated leather and lined with a warm shearling that keeps toes toasty warm on the coldest winter days. A removable liner is a benefit just in case your liner gets wet and you need to dry the liner to use the boots again. Retailers like Cabela's (see Resources) specialize in rugged boots meant for cold winters.
Sweaters
Wearing wool or layers of cotton sweaters can help keep you warm during winter. Merino or cashmere wool is usually a fine weave of wool for dressier sweaters. If you dress in layers, you can remove or add layers as the temperature and conditions change. One of the most overlooked wools is alpaca. Alpaca most often comes from the alpacas of Peru. Although alpaca can be a very thick weave, it is extremely breathable and wicks away moisture impressively.
Socks
Socks for winter can be constructed of cotton, silk or wool. Cotton socks will absorb water but may not be the warmest for winter. Consider wool or layers of silk socks under wool socks to wick away any moisture. Layers of socks are not only important for creating layers of warm air between your skin and your socks, but it is helpful if one layer gets wet to be able to remove that layer. Wet toes are more susceptible to frostbite.
Winter Parkas
A winter parka or jacket is crucial for winter weather. A winter parka can be waterproofed with Gore-Tex so snow, sleet, hail or rain beads off the jacket. Many parkas have other features like down liners that zip out when the weather calls for a lighter jacket.
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