Photo U.S. Forest Service Southwest, Public domain
Layering for cold
Three layers, staying dry, and what to do the minute you stop moving.
What you need
- A wicking base layer, wool or synthetic, never cotton
- A fleece or wool mid layer
- A wind and water shell
- A spare dry base layer in a dry bag
- Hat, mitts and a neck gaiter
How
- Start out cold. If you are warm at the truck you will be soaked in twenty minutes.
- Vent before you sweat. Open the pits, drop the hood, pull the hat off, and put it back on the second you stop.
- Change into the dry base layer the moment you make camp. Wet clothing pulls heat out of you many times faster than dry.
- Cover head, neck and hands first when the cold bites. That is the cheapest heat you will ever buy.
- Eat and drink. A cold body with no fuel in it cannot make heat.
Watch for
Danger
- Cotton holds water and holds it against your skin.
- Boots laced tight cut the circulation and freeze your toes.
- Shivering that stops while the person is still cold is a bad sign. Shelter and heat, now.
Notes
Carry the spare base layer in a dry bag even on a day trip. It is the lightest insurance in the pack.
Updated 2026-09-04
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