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Northern Wilds October - November 2012
Exercise Like an Onion:
A Layering Guide By Kate Watson
There’s nothing I hate more than being too hot. It’s a trait shared by many who live in northern climates, so we’ve chosen a compromise: ditch the heat, and say hello to the cold. The concern here 10 months out of the year is how to stay warm without looking like an abominable snow-thing. I take it as a challenge. A run in 30 below? Totally doable. The key is to make like an onion and layer up.
1. Base layer – Next to Skin First things first: underwear. Breathability is the focus — if you don’t get this one right, you’re going to feel like you’re in a sauna no matter what else you put on. You want this next-to-skin layer to move the sweat away from your body. “When you’re layering, you don’t want to wear cotton—period,” said Nancy Piragis, owner of Piragis Northwoods Outfitters in Ely. “You want to wear something that breathes and wicks and dries.” Shelve your everyday cotton underthings and try ultra-breathable, lightweight synthetics or wool. Although wool has a colored history, nowadays it’s soft and durable. Other perks? It’s naturally odor resistant, and it helps regulate temperature. “Unlike synthetics, which only transport
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moisture in its liquid state, wool is able to transport moisture when it’s still in the vapor state,” explained Eric Humphrey of Lake Superior Trading Post in Grand Marais. “Wool wicks away the sweat before you start to feel clammy.” He’s a big fan of Smartwool baselayers when he’s out in the cold. The folks at Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais agree. Heather Janes, Stone Harbor's clothing buyer, recommends Icebreaker and Ibex wool for layering up. “Icebreaker is awesome. It’s made from New Zealand merino — it’s green, breathable and antimicrobial,” she said. “And Ibex is transitioning to making all their stuff in North America. You can’t get much better.”
2. Mid-layer – Insulate! Next up: the mid-layer. This layer can vary greatly depending on the conditions—a midlayer is meant to insulate, so the colder it is out-
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