HOW TO DRESS TO ENJOY WINTER ACTIVITIES WITHOUT FREEZING
Written by Plaza de la Mauricie | January 28, 2022
Ah, winter! That season we love to hate and which comes with its share of complications… but also little joys! Winter is full of outdoor activities that will make you fall under the spell of the snowflakes. However, in order to take full advantage of the various sports and pastimes of the cold season, make sure the whole family is dressed warmly to stay warm when the mercury drops well below zero. It’s well known that dressing for winter is a real headache, we can all agree on that. Learn how to coax winter with our tips so you never have frozen fingers and toes again.
SO WHAT DO WE WEAR IN WINTER?
As you can imagine, this is not your first winter and you have already seen snow. So you already know that you should ideally dress according to the chosen physical activity and according to the cardio difficulty (read here “are we going to sweat a little or a lot?”). But the reality when you practice a sport in winter is that you get cold, then very hot, then very cold. Not easy to manage in these circumstances! Here are a few things to do and to avoid.
BASIC RULES
1. When planning a high-energy activity, avoid wearing a winter coat, the “Michelin man” type. You will avoid having a sweaty back during exercise, because it is well known that water turns to ice in winter and the same will happen to your sweat when you slow down.
2. Mittens keep you warmer than gloves. Choose a pair that is insulated and water-repellent. If it is very cold, also wear a neck warmer or scarf to cover your mouth and nose. 3. Your mother always told you: “Cover your head, you lose a lot of heat there.” Well, she was right. Cover your head and especially your ears.
SUBJECTS
Cotton clothing
We like cotton, but it becomes our worst enemy during winter sports: it doesn’t breathe, it doesn’t dry quickly and it gets cold as soon as it gets damp. In short, it’s the devil’s fabric! On the other hand, it is allowed (and even appreciated) when relaxing after sport.
Woolen clothes
Yes, wool sometimes stings, but it is in spite of itself. It is especially appreciated in winter as it provides warmth even when damp. A must-have? Merino wool, the superhero! This natural fiber is light, compact, warm and wicks away moisture and bacteria. In short, it has it all!
Synthetic fibers
Resistant, compact and light, they stay warm even when wet. Small downside: they quickly absorb odors. Nothing is perfect in this world! The ultimate secret to not getting too hot or too cold in winter: the famous technique of layering your clothes or the onion skin method.
The principle is simple: you can remove or add a layer to adjust to the temperature and the intensity of the activity.
ADOPT THE 3 LAYERS PRINCIPLE
LAYER 1: THE BASE LAYER
This layer is closest to the body, so it must have a second-skin effect in order to play its role of conserving heat. This includes long underwear such as leggings. Yes, yes, that famous and so appealing garment! Obviously, since we know we’re going to sweat, this garment must be breathable in order to wick away moisture. We then opt for a synthetic fiber or merino wool and we can provide spares if we sweat a lot.
LAYER 2: THE INSULATING LAYER
Its role is to insulate the body, that is to say, to prevent heat from dissipating while wicking away moisture. This is the layer that you take off if you get too hot during your outdoor activity. This could be a fleece or a shell jacket, ideally made of synthetic fiber or wool.
LAYER 3: THE PROTECTIVE LAYER
This layer protects from the elements and will vary depending on the activity, but in general, it should be windproof and waterproof.
Try it out and find the ideal combination for you!
WHAT TO WEAR FOR HIGH-INTENSITY CARDIO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The more intense the physical activity, the more your body heat rises. This heat must be quickly evacuated, otherwise you will sweat and then feel cold. So you dress a little less in anticipation of the heat that will be released by your body during the activity. Depending on how cold it is, you can opt for a combination of layers 1 and 3, 1 and 2, or 2 and 3 for the more sensitive among us. The aim is to stay dry without catching a cold.
Synthetic materials or merino wool are particularly favored, since this wool provides a lot of warmth while allowing moisture to escape. The best of both worlds!
If it’s very cold, we don’t hesitate to bring out our best gear and we also wear snow pants, especially for activities where there’s a risk of ending up with our buttocks in the snow (hello, cross-country skiing falls).
WHAT TO WEAR FOR LOW-INTENSITY CARDIO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The aim here is to keep the body warm for the duration of the activity. Since less heat will be released than during a high-intensity activity, we dress warmer! The ideal is a combination of layers 2 and 3, or 1, 2 and 3 in the coldest weather. Wool clothing and a warm insulating layer are preferred.
If you plan to play in the snow, snow pants are a must. We’ll pass on the look, but we say yes to warmth!
Find everything you need to dress for your winter activities:
