Clothing?

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How does a mountaineer cut down his heat energy loss? How is clothing desinged to trap air? I can't believe it's just "lots of clothes" so please tell me how the clothing actually works. Thank You

-- Elina Luoma (elina_luoma@hotmail.com), May 13, 2002

Answers

Elina

The term Lots of clothing should really be replaced with the term Layering.

By layering your clothing you will trap any heat the body has produced.

The Layers are Thermal Base Layer

Generally knit stretch synthetic fabric Fast wicking and often antibacterial Blocks moisture from skin preventing chilling Typically machine washable, easy care & fast drying Also used as T-shirt in warm active conditions Anti-bacterial finishes prevent odours Common Brands: Dryflo Lowe Alpine, 100% polyester Lifa Helly Hansen 100% polypropylene Coolmax North Cape 100% Coolmax

Mid Layer

Best garment insulator is air Open weave or knit fabric e.g. fleece Numerous layers more effective than one heavy layer Typically machine washable, easy care & fast drying Anti-pill finishes maintains appearance after washing Common Brands: Polartec 100: lightweight double sided microfleece with a one way stretch. Soft, supple and fast wicking, may also be used as a base layer. Polartec 200: medium weight fleece which may have enhanced durable water repellancy. Four way stretch ideal for body hugging designs and high activity. Polartec 300: maximum insulation warmest weight of fleece. May be used in layering system or stand alone garment. Aleutian by Lowe Alpine: double faced fleece designed as mid layer. Thermal, breathable, durable and anti-pill. Polartec Regulator Technology: new concept in fleece development, unparalleled thermal performance to weight. Windproof Fleece: Quite often a windproof outer shell is required due to the open weave of fleece being vulnerable to the chilling effects of wind. However some fleeces are intrinsically windproof or nearly windproof and ideal as an outer shell where the risk of rain is minimal

Common Brands: Windstopper by Gore: fully windproof and breathable membrane Windbloc by Polartec: fully windproof and breathable membrane Polartec Windpro: blocks 95% of the wind and allows maximum breathability Karlama and Ultrafleece: not 100% windproof but tight weave fabrics that reduce wind penetration and are highly breathable

Shell Layer

Must be breathable for layering system to function If it isn't condensation will form causing chilling Must be waterproof with seams taped Most waterproof fabrics are also windproof For performance and technology of shell layers see section on waterproof fabric

-- Malcolm Oates (malcolm_oates@hotmail.com), May 21, 2002.


The above is good but if it is going to be really cold. You also need a good down jacket. Its the only thing that is light enough and warm enough for the big mountains. On a mountain like denali you would be crazy to go up there without a nice down jacket, probably pants too.

-- Jacob Chmielowiec (jcup@hotmail.com), July 07, 2002.

Patogonia's Puffball sweater and jacket is a nice alternative to down jackets. Down doesn't do shit when it's wet, and sure if your in wet conditions you'll have your shell on over it, but still it's something to consider. I was looking at buying a new 20 degree sleeping bag yesterday, and i day the Polarguard Delta bag in the North Face line (Cat's Meow) weighs LESS than their down fill line (Blue Kazoo.) Synthetics are great, and if they don't weigh more, and compress just as well, then i can't think of any good reason not to take them in place of their down counterparts. (This from a guy that just bought a down jacket.)

-- Jim Davis (jmdavis384@aol.com), March 20, 2003.

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