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C.O.L.D | Winter Layering Guide Made Simple

October 30, 2024

C.O.L.D | Winter Layering Guide Made Simple

Setting up a proper layering system for cold weather and properly caring for the correct next-to-skin, insulating, and outer layers can make the difference between life and death when working outside in the extreme cold. 

Massif’s Field-Testing Manager, Chris Rogers, is a true expert in how to safely layer in high-stakes cold environments. He spends hundreds of days a year personally testing Massif garments in the most rugged conditions. In a recent conversation about dressing for cold weather, he shared with us a distillation of his years of experience in layering. Like most experts in their field he is able to distill complex ideas into clear and straightforward concepts that are easy to remember. 

Rogers uses the helpful acronym, C.O.L.D, as one of his many tools to teach people some of his best layering practices to use in the field. This article introduces that acronym and dives into the parts that make up an effective cold-weather clothing system.

The Best Way to Layer Up For Cold Weather

Rogers uses the acronym, “C.O.L.D.” to explain what he has found to be the best practices for layering in cold conditions. Putting together the right set of layers to remain comfortable while moving or working in the cold can be an intimidating subject and this is one of the reasons we appreciate the straightforward nature of his system. They are as follows:

  • Clean: Always keep clothing clean
  • Overheating: Avoid getting too hot
  • Loose: Wear clothing loose and in layers
  • Dry: Keep clothing as dry as possible

Cleanliness

Cleanliness and hygiene is key in a cold-weather layering system. On top of potentially creating a personal hygiene problem, dirty layers simply do not perform as well as clean ones. The performance of every layer in a system can be compromised by dirt as well as the oils from your skin and sweat. 

One clear example of this is that dirt and oil clog up the tiny pores built into breathable clothing which will cause it to hold on to moisture and make a cold weather kit dangerously wet. A properly maintained technical garment should be able to wick sweat and move moisture from the skin and towards the outside of a layering system.

Overheating

Overheating is one of the most common mistakes that people make when working in extreme cold. If you wear too many layers, or layers that are too thick for your activity, you will overheat. That overheating will likely lead to sweat. 

Sweat can make a person hypothermic very quickly when they spend an extended period in cold environments. Overheating looks different to each individual, but a good rule of thumb is to dress in such a way that you start on the cold side for an activity in which you will be on the move a lot and where you will be warming up through movement. Because your body will heat you up as you move, if you start out warm you are likely to overheat.

Loose

Proper fit is important in any layering system. Looser clothing can deliver a double bonus of helping maintain both dryness and warmth as loose base layers allow airflow to help move potentially dangerous moisture off the skin, and allow air warmed by your body heat to remain trapped inside the system. The space between base layers and skin, as well as between the layers themselves, can create dead space which can catch and hold on to heat, adding valuable degrees of warmth in the cold. 

Dry

Dry clothes are integral to a warm layering system. Keeping clothing dry should be top of mind when spending time in the cold because moisture kills in the extreme conditions. Challenges to maintaining dry layers lie both outside a system –  from rain, snow, or the need to cross a body of water – or inside from a user’s own sweat. 

Wearing high-quality waterproof or water-resistant outer layers and remaining vigilant against water entering the system is as important as making sure you don’t generate sweat from overheating. A key component of remaining waterproof is to wear only quick drying materials throughout your layering system. The old adage “Cotton Kills” comes to mind and is based on the fact that unlike technical synthetics and wool, cotton fibers absorb and hold onto moisture from both internal and external sources and will not dry quickly in the field.

Cold Weather Layering FAQ

How many layers do you need for cold weather?

When it comes to layering clothing for cold weather, there are three primary layers. A base layer for absorption and wicking away body sweat, a middle layer for insulation, and an outer layer for protection against the elements.

Does wearing more layers keep you warmer?

Wearing multiple layers does keep you warmer than wearing a single heavy layer. By wearing multiple layers, air is trapped between each layer acting as an insulator. As you shed layers, you reduce the amount of trapped warm air against your body.

What’s the difference between base layers and thermals?

Although both base layers and thermals give you similar results, there are subtle differences between them. The primary difference is that base layers are meant to wick away moisture and aid in keeping you dry. Thermals are primarily meant to retain heat and keep your body warm.

Wrapping It Up (or) Putting it all Together

The science and experience behind these tips could create at least four individual articles for each component of a proper layering system. The utility of the C.O.L.D acronym lies in its simplicity. Follow each one of Chris’ tips and you will hedge your bets against getting dangerously cold while working in the field. While his system reads simply on the page, ultimately staying warm and dry in the cold could end up saving your life.


We invite you to explore the line of Massif Women’s fit garments and find out how comfort, functionality, and inclusivity are shaping the future of flight operations with Blackcomb Helicopters and Massif.

Check out Massif women’s fit garments today, and support a movement that’s making a read difference in the lives of those who put their lives on the line for others.