The common confusion among people before they head out is how to layer the body according to the weather? If you are an adventure junkie or just a walker who loves outdoors, you must know the ideal way to layer up your body for the weather. Knowledge of layering is essential to keep your body comfortable and at the optimum temperature in the ever-changing weather. In this blog, we will understand the three basics of layering and learn about the way to layer your body according to activity and weather.

Layering is easy if you follow these three basic rules;

If you are going out for any activity, then you should start the day by wearing something that keeps you cool. The idea behind this is to keep your body cool from the start so that after 15-20 minutes of activity, your body temperature won’t rise too much.

You should wear clothes according to the temperature and conditions of the region you are headed to. If you are going to be in a freezing environment or wet weather, choose the layering accordingly.

Keeping the core warm is necessary but when you are in the mountains then you should keep hands and head warm too. Do not forget to wear a hat and gloves before your trip.

Now that you have the basic idea of layering, we will move on to understand the process of layering.

Base Layers

The base layer is the innermost layer of clothing that you wear before going out. The base layer should keep your skin dry. The base layer is of 3 types - heavyweight, midweight, and lightweight. If you are not going for intense activity, then choose heavyweight layer. Midweight layers should be used for short interval activities. You should wear lightweight base layers for high-intensity winter sports activities.

Mid Layers

The layer worn above the base layer is mid-layer. You can choose what kind of mid-layer you want to wear depending upon your activity. If you want warmth with high mobility or flexibility, then go with an insulated vest. For too cold temperature, wear insulated liner jacket as a mid-layer.

Outer Layer

The outer layer of clothing becomes the most important when you are in adverse weather conditions. The outer layer is responsible to protect the body from water, snow, and wind. The double or triple layer hard shells are the standard outer layers used by people. Nowadays some people prefer to wear softshell as they offer higher mobility and high weather resistance compared to a fleece. The softshell outer layer won’t provide as much protection from the weather as hard shells do and are not suitable for use in extremely cold temperatures. Improvement in fabric manufacturing technology has led to the development of hybrid jackets. The hybrid jackets use a mixture of fabrics from softshell for additional breathability with weather protection.

Choosing what kind of layer to wear should depend on your activity. Whether you are hiking in the rain or climbing a mountain, choosing the right kind of layer will give you protection in any environment. Remember, if you are dressed according to the outside weather and activity, then you can enjoy outdoor activities comfortably.