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Walking outdoors and Clothing Advice - Choosing and Using Al Aire Libre!

Walking and Outerwear Advice: The stratification system

When walking, hiking, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking, etc, is very important to wear clothing designed for protection from the elements. Not only the right clothes make sure you feel comfortable and enjoy your activity, which could, in extreme conditions to save his life.

The stratification system is an effective way to ensure that it maintains a comfortable body temperature during and after exercise, regardless of the weather. The stratification system used are three basic layers: Outer layer - waterproof to protect you in the form of wind, rain and snow, the middle layer - to provide insulation and keep warm, and Base Layer - to provide insulation and sweat away from the skin.

Not only does each layer has its own function within the system of layers, but the air is also trapped between each layer. The air between the layers keeps you warmer than if I had to wear a heavy coat. The layer system is very flexible. If it is hot you can remove a layer. If you're cold you can add a layer. For example, could use more of an intermediate layer to keep warm.

For the comfort to all layers should be breathable and wicking capabilities. If a layer is not breathable / breathable then the wick / wicking properties of the layers of other not so effective.

Before going on a walk, issue or physical activity is important to consider the type of clothing you need to take with you. Some things to consider are: How much long you will be out for? The longer going to leave, the less likely you will be able to predict what the weather will be. You must be prepared to good weather and bad.

When and where are you going walking? During the winter in Scotland will need a pair of shorts walking, but definitely will have good quality waterproofs. When hiking on a hot summer day in Spain is unlikely to require five-lined jackets polar.

How much are you going? It can be hot and sunny in the valley, but as soon begin to rise over time can be cold and unpredictable. Arriba mountain wind, rain and snow can appear suddenly out of nowhere.

What will you do after your exercise / where you stay? It is possible many hot enough, while you're doing your outdoor activity, but as soon as you stop can be very cold. This is especially true if after a hard day of hiking you have to wait around for a train home, or if you are camping overnight.

You may also need extra clothing, technical or specialist for their activity, for example, if you raise the clothing should not restrict your movement, or if you bike is advantagous have lids with extra sleeves long and back. It is always advisable to wear appropriate clothing for protection from the elements, but keep in mind that you need to wear these clothes when not in use. A good advice is always take one more layer than you need. This general rule ensures that you will be well protected and warm enough, but do not stop carrying around clothing is not necessary.

Do not forget your extremities. In cold, windy, wet conditions or snow, you'll be glad you mentioned the gloves and hat!

Waterproof jackets and pants

jackets waterproof pants and form the top layer of your clothing system. The function of a raincoat is to avoid getting wet and cold when it rains or snows, or when it is windy.

Ideally should also breathable waterproof fabrics. Breathable waterproof fabrics allow your sweat to be transferred from inside your waterproof jacket or pants outside where it can evaporate. Thus, breathable waterproof fabrics prevent warm and humid when active. When you take a break from walking cool quickly. If your are not breathable waterproof, sweat trapped in your clothes can make you very cold indeed. The fabrics are breathable by incorporating small pores in the material. The pores in the fabric resistant to water are much smaller than raindrops, but they are much larger than the vapor molecules of water.

waterproof clothing are also windproof, which helps to keep warm. A layer of warm air, heated by the body, is trapped in clothing. If his clothes are not windproof this warm layer of air blown away and you will become cold. Rainwear not have much heat and so a fleece and / or base layer used under his raincoat to keep warm. Note: To get the best out of a waterproof breathable base layer and intermediate layers must also be breathable and has good moisture transport properties.

There are many breathable waterproof fabrics available, one of the most famous is the Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex fabric is used by Sprayway, The North Face and Berghaus. Other waterproof, windproof and breathable fabrics include: Nikwax analogy used by Páramo, Triple Point Ceramic by Lowe used Alpine; Hydro / dry P2 and Hydro / dry P3 used by Sprayway, dry and Aqua Aqua Pro Craghoppers dry and used by Aqua foil used by Berghaus. There are many different types of Gore-Tex fabric, including: Taslan Gore-Tex is hard for rough use. Kinetics of Gore-Tex is a 3-layer construction is soft with very high tear strength and resistance to abrasion.

Gore-Tex XCR can be added to all the Gore-Tex fabric for extra breathability. Jackets or pants made of waterproof material should be recorded seems to make the garment to be completely waterproof. If the tape does not seem, water is filtered through them.

Windproofs

Windproofs help maintain the heat. A layer of warm air, heated by the body, is trapped in clothing. If clothes are not windproof this warm layer of air blown away and you will become cold. Windproof clothes are not waterproof, however, may be water repellent. This means that they only protect you from rain, if there is a light shower. You will need a raincoat to protect against rain, even moderate. Hydro / dry P1 used by Sprayway is a windproof fabric. Some wool fabrics are also windproof, for more information on these see below.

Polar

Fleece is a pile fabric that is designed to keep you warm. The wool is usually polyester. It is breathable, wicks water away from the body and provides isolation. fleece is not waterproof, but may be water repellent. Some types of fleece material are also windproof.

clothing fleece made of light, or hair, of average weight are ideal for use as base-and mid-layers. Thicker fleece wind can be used as middle or upper layers, depending weather conditions.

The following are woolen Windproof: Polartec Polartec WindPro Windbloc Windstopper Gore-Tex Windstopper Craghoppers windshield when the material is washed wool can suffer from pilling. Pilling is the formation of small balls of fleece material on the surface of the fleece. fleece material Pila resistant does not suffer from pilling.

Polartec Polar

Polartec Wind Pro is the state of the art light and warm fleece fabric. It has a compact design, coupled with high wind resistance and fast drying. It is water repellent, breathable, tough and has anti-microbial finish. It can be machine washed.

Polartec Windbloc is completely windproof, breathable and water repellent. Polartec 200 is a series of fine and medium, thick fleece fabric heat. Provides excellent wicking, quick drying and has anti-bacterial finish that can be used next to the skin without getting too smelly. Polartec 300 series fleece is a large thermal with the transfer of body moisture and excellent quick-drying properties.

Polar Aleutian

The name of the Aleutians describes a series developed especially insulating fabrics that are made from wool or hair. These technical fabrics are the culmination of many years of joint development between Lowe Alpine and Mills Malden, makers of Polartec. Aleutian Waffle network has a coarse texture that not only looks good but also increases their isolation value when used within a system layers - ideal for variable weather when walking. Aleutian Cord shows great style in its use as midweight outerwear. It also provides valuable insulation within a three-layer system in spring or autumn. Marl Aleutian face combines dense, low external battery - the more wind resistance - with a deep velvet inner - For maximum insulation.

Baselayers

Ideally base layers (or baselayers) must keep the sweat away from your skin, keep your head cool and dry. One way to achieve ownership of the wick material is through the construction of 100% knit polyester incorporating Denier Gradient Technology (DGT). thick wire are woven into the inside of the fabric knitted with fine threads on the outside of the fabric. This combination of coarse and fine yarns creates a denier gradient, which exerts a capillary moisture from the inside to the outside of the fabric. The DGT also vastly increases the surface of the cloth wick and accelerates evaporation to dry clothes very quickly. The DGT is a physical property of the fabric so that will not wash over time.

Some fabrics are impregnated with a base layer anti-bacterial treatment. This prevents the bacteria that cause body odor from developing countries in the fabric when the clothes are used for prolonged periods.

Polartec 100 is the lightest Polartec fleece. It can be used only on an excursion during hot weather or as a base or intermediate layer in any season.

Polartec Powerstretch is ideal for use next to the skin and as an intermediate layer. The outer face is a low battery jersey nylon and internal is a pile of low Polyester Velour. Provides 60% Lycra stretch far and wide for a better fit. The internal battery is treated with a wicking anti-microbial finish to move moisture from the body and prevent the buildup of odors. Powerstretch is easy care, machine washable and quick drying.

Coolmax Alta is made by DuPont and used by The North Face. It is resistant to the pill (bobble resistant) and designed to combine with excellent moisture management comfort of long endurance. It is natural feeling fabric, dries faster than tissues available, provides a unique absorbing moisture, and does not swallow the pill after washing. Very light weight

Aleutian Micro Grid is a double velvet with a design small mesh face and a lightly brushed back. The open structure and light weight make Micro Grid very breathable. Wicking performance allows these garments to be worn next to the skin.

Dryflo is made by Lowe Alpine. It is made of 100% polyester fibers are hydrophobic, resulting in capillarity process that does not absorb moisture (unlike cotton), but uses a unique denier gradient mechanically transports moisture from the body. Dryflo ® 's open point construction offers high breathability making it the ultimate choice for wearing under waterproof / breathable garments. Dryflo ® is fast drying, which together with the convenience of the skin. Dryflo ® 's wicking and breathable properties also make Dryflo ® top of the ideal shirt summer. Thermal properties are often a consideration for consumers. All Dryflo ® garments offer optimal heat without any adverse effect on the wick or perspiration. There are several types of Dryflo, for example Dryflo light Dryflo Fullweight, Dryflo seamless.

Paramo reversible shirts are built with S. Parameter Parameter S is an asymmetrical repellent fabric that directs water to one side and traps still air in the other. If you are active or hot water is needed near the skin to evaporate and Cooling: Use the non-fleecy, water attracting face next to your skin to keep you cool. If you are resting or cold, you need a layer of still air next to your skin to keep warm: Use the fluffy, air-containing face next to your skin to keep warm. Cotton is a lightweight fabric that will keep you warm and comfortable without But no wick properties and are saturated with sweat. This is undesirable, especially when you stop walking and cooling.

Clothing Fabric

Breathable Membranes

All breathable microporous membranes comprise a thin film made by the man, whose physical structure containing microscopic pores that are large enough for water vapor (perspiration) to pass through but small enough to allow the drops of water through. Thus, membrane is breathable, waterproof and windproof. Modern microporous membranes usually laminated to a fabric face and available in two versions and three layers.

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is a unique wafer thin microporous membrane containing more than 9 billion pores per square inch. Each pore is 20,000 times smaller a drop of water, however, sometimes larger than a 700 of moisture vapor molecule. This gives the fabric the excellent levels of waterproofness and breathability that makes so famous by walkers and others outdoors. Gore-Tex membrane is a bi-component, ie, composed of two parts. The main part (shown) is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE for short). This is combined with a hatred Oleophobic oil () membrane layer that protects the natural oils emitted by the human body insect repellents, cosmetics, etc.

The outer face of the Gore-Tex fabric is coated with a hydrophobic DWR (Durable water resistance) the process encourages to surface water bead up and run-off, improved wet weather performance of the garment and the promotion of perspiration by preventing wetting-out of the outer surface. There are a number of different constructions of Gore-Tex used within the industry:

Classic 2-layer Gore-Tex

Provides smooth, versatile weather protection and good for end uses such as walking, clothes, golf and skiing. Made by a sheet of nylon or polyester face fabric Gore-Tex membrane and then hang a mesh lining just inside the laminate.

Classic 3-layer Gore-Tex

Designed for maximum durability in heavy duty applications in tough weather conditions like high mountain. Made by the new laminated fabric of the face (usually nylon) to the Gore-Tex membrane, an inner protective mesh scrim is then laminated to the other side of the membrane, giving extra durability.

Gore-Tex Paclite

Lightweight and low volume of more than two or three pieces of layer, designed for ultra light mountain sports or fast moving. As with two items layers, the fabric face joins the Gore-Tex membrane, but unlike any other construction, resistant to abrasion grooves in relief (or points) protection the membrane. This means there is less between you and the membrane is increased breathability.

Gore-Tex XCR

Permanent extensible Comfort Range, XCR is the new Gore-Tex product, which by using membrane technology and new lamination techniques offers 25% more breathability of Gore-Tex clothing classic. Designed for mountaineering, backpacking, snowboarding, ski mountaineering and other outdoor enthusiasts who value performance and demand the most from your equipment. Available in two and three layers.

Dry Hydro P3 (Sprayway)

The fabric top of the range of HydroDry Sprayway, P3 has a hydrostatic head of 10,000 mm. It is waterproof and has a good level of breathability. Again developed from a laminate hydrophilic HydroDry P3 is available in 2 layers, and constructions 3 layers. HydroDry P3 provides customers with an alternative technique Sprayway Gore-Tex in the same way that extreme Drilite ago by Mountain Equipment.

Extreme Drilite or DLE (Mountain Equipment)

A new development of Mountain Equipment, Drilite Extreme is a laminate monolithic, hydrophilic, with a hydrostatic load more than 20,000 mm. DLE (Drilite Extreme) is totally waterproof and exceptionally breathable, guaranteed. An added benefit is the elasticity hydrophilic laminate Drilite Extreme, so it is especially ideal for stretch panels in knees and security zones, ensuring the highest freedom of movement and comfort. Available 2 and 3 layer constructions.

HyVent (The North Face)

Designed as an innovative option for complete weather protection, HyVent membrane is waterproof and breathable polyurethane-based. While it is slightly less breathable than Gore-Tex ® laminate is extremely water resistant, and can be considered as a reliable protective outer layer. This combination of high waterproofness and breathability makes it ideal to keep the elements out. To increase the comfort and breathability level layer, TNF have developed precise coating options, both in office for 2 - and 3-layer versions of the HyVent technology.

EVENT (Pearl / Izumi / Rab / Montane)

EVENT ™ Barrier Fabric is a Direct Vent ™ waterproof. Using a patent-pending property and Dry System ™, material event has set a new standard for comfort by allowing perspiration to dissipate and vent before it saturates the inside of the fabric. In the center EVENT fabric is hydrophobic ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) film has been done Oleophobic, and free of contamination in the body oil through a method that retains the inherent open-pore structure of the membrane.

Breathable Coatings

breathable coatings often apply to the use walkers jackets because it means they're more comfortable throughout your walk by decreasing the accumulation of moisture (vital to maintaining optimal body temperature). All the layers are created by spreading a thin layer of resin directly onto the inside of the fabric chosen. There are two different types breathable coating exist: microporous and hydrophilic.

A microporous coating works on the same principle as a microporous membrane, the pores in the coating be large enough to allow water vapor to pass through but small enough to keep the water droplets.

Hydrophilic coatings are based on chemical and molecular properties of water molecules. The body heat generated inside the garment steam units (perspiration) down the polymer chains are in the coating on the outside, the water vapor moving from one molecule to molecule rather than freedom from physical hole or pore. As the body produces more moisture and the fabric is wet, the chains increase in size, allowing movement even more moisture. In use, both types of coatings are effective, with the overall performance of any pledge, determined by a combination of factors such as choice of fabric face, the use of a cover separately and the overall design, cutting and finishing of the garment.

Triple Point Ceramic (Lowe Alpine)

Triplepoint Pottery is a unique multi-layer microporous coating which is waterproof, windproof and breathable. It differs from other treatments in the manufacturing process involves multiple layers and the introduction of ceramic particles, which are impregnated in the coating at high pressure. This has the effect of creating microscopic holes around of each particle. These cavities are large enough to allow passage of water vapor to the outside, but small enough to prevent liquid water move away. Since the ceramic coating Triplepoint is physically anchored to the structure is not de-laminate or damaged. This construction is what makes tissue inherently windproof and highly breathable and waterproof. A special dry yarn technology and DWR also applied to the face coated tissue external to significantly improve wet weather performance and beads, (this can be re-generated simply by exposing the garment to a direct heat medium heat iron or dryer). There are two ceramic Triplepoint constructions used in clothing production:

Direct Rule and scratched.

Standard Triple Point Ceramic fabric is constructed and covered as described above and a free hanging mesh lining Dryflo is added to protect the ozone layer and to help disperse any condensed water droplets on the inner surface of the garment.

Triple Point Ceramic Lined Direct is a combination of new material for Pro Alpine range for winter 2000. Unlike standard construction, a fixed coating is applied directly onto the ceramic coating Triplepoint. This provides best performance when combined with a high specification. front of the canvas.

Triple Point

By Lowe Alpine Triple Point is a multi-layer coating Ceramic is lighter than the Triple Point Ceramic and therefore better suited to general walking / outdoor activities rather than the most demanding outdoor sports. The outer face of the fabric has a DWR treatment standard applied to improve the performance of rain.

HydroDry P2 (Sprayway)

A more basic Sprayway version of HydroDry P3, P2 HydroDry is a mixture of hydrophilic coatings and laminates instead of a flat rolling. With a lower hydrostatic head (5,000 mm) to P3 and a slightly lower level of perspiration, HydroDry P2 was launched in the market for walk more general. Available only in the equivalent of a construction two layer HydroDry P2 is a good competitor for standard and Triplepoint Aquadry.

Participant II

A microporous layer with a multilayer structure. Applied to a suitable face fabric has good waterproof and breathability characteristics. Participant II is used in some fruits and nylon fabrics T order to improve performance and durability.

Aquadry

Aquadry is Craghoppers' own hydrophilic coating. Built and work much like a HydroDry Sprayway P2, Aquadry is a good fabric choice for half of the range of waterproof clothing that is resistant to water (at least 7.000 mm), windproof and breathable. The label has a hydrostatic head Aquadry measure (in meters) and transpiration rate (age%) on each item is, "Aquadry 7-82" to watch out.

Windproofs

Windproofs help keep warm. A layer of warm air, heated by the body, is trapped in clothing. If your clothes are not windproof this warm layer of air blown away and you will become cold. Windproof clothes are not waterproof, however, may be water repellent. This means that only protect you from rain, if there is a light shower. You will need a raincoat to protect against rain, even moderate. Hydro / dry P1 used by Sprayway is a Windproof fabric. Some wool fabrics are also windproof, for more information on these see below.

Taking Care of Your Jacket waterproof gear

Most of us now use what is called 'breathable' waterproof jackets, and like our skin that allow moisture to escape but prevent moisture from penetrating inside! Similarly, a waterproof jacket needs a little TLC on a regular basis to get the best of it. If you notice that his coat seems to be the absorption of water instead of repelling then it is time to act and avoid uncomfortable one days with a jacket that does not breathe.

Step One: Wash the jacket! This can be done in the washer with a cleaning product such as extreme Granger. Make sure you put the cleaner on the dust bin and not in the machine drum with the jacket, as most are concentrated and will not help the fabric. Wash in cool (40 degrees) and the cycle to ensure the jacket is well understood. Can use a household detergent, but it must be a non-bio Important Note: The chemicals in household detergents interfere with the DWR (Durable repellent water) treatment to the outside of your water test - the scents used in particular, as well as those who combine a fabric softener. For this reason we recommend that use a product like gear tester Granger, which is a pure soap with no additives.

Step two: The "secret" of success. Now you have a jacket very clean and free of debris and impeding the surface of the canvas for what is coming ... Its coat needs a session in the dryer! All are waterproof finish DWR to them, the dirt that has been removed to stop taking this job, and the heat of a dryer restore their properties. About 35-40 minutes on low to medium heat will the trick. Basically what you should expect is that the buttons to be hot to the touch (if you have the skin of the fingers, you've gone too far!) If you should happen to notice that the color of the jacket has changed a fraction - Do not Panic - this is just the DWR chemical cooling and adjustment of the fabric fibers. (The process Tumble blending it.)

You can use a hot iron to rejuvenate layer DWR after washing, but the dryer works best.

This information guidance is provided, and so if you are looking for specific and possibly more to-date advice on a subject or a range of walking or clothing outdoors, please do not hesitate to walk and CIS online Ramble Walking Shop Equipment . We will be happy to help.

About the Author

Ben McKay - Walk and Ramble: www.walkandramble.co.uk
Online Walking Shop, selling walking and outdooor clothes, walking boots, rucksacks, walking poles and other equipment, whilst providing excellent advice and customer service for almost 20 years.

UK Tel: 01925 244 434