The layering principle will help you design an outdoor clothes system for hiking and other adventure activities.
Your daily choice of what clothes to wear may sometimes seem tricky, but when it comes to the outdoors your choice of layers becomes a safety issue. When deciding what to wear for hiking, for example, your clothing choice should take into account things like weather, route and storage, rather than just looks and feel. These decisions become even harder when the weather and activity levels vary a lot. However, by following the layering principle, you will make your outdoor clothing choices a bit easier, and certainly safer. Read on to learn more.
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How the layering principle works
Poor clothing is often stated by rescue teams as a contributory factor in accidents. In many cases, the amount or type of clothing worn by victims isn’t right for the activity and weather conditions. The layering principle involves wearing thinner, specialised clothing layers, instead of basic or thick ‘fashion’ garments. The right fabrics and features will help us be more comfortable, and therefore safer, during our outdoor adventures.
The layering principle helps by:
- maintaining a steady body temperature
- screening UV rays
- allowing unrestricted movement
- offering enough storage
- giving physical protection
Because everyone’s body is different, it can take some time and experience to work out what clothing layers work for you in different outdoor situations. But when you do, you will have an effective ‘outdoor layering system’ that will help you keep warm, keep cool, offer UV protection and avoid dehydration.
What clothing do I need for the layering principle?
The layering principle traditionally involves a base layer, mid layer and shell layer. Each performs a specific role in the clothing system and gives flexibility in dealing with different weather and activity levels. With the invention of synthetic materials, outdoor clothing has mostly been made from nylon and polyester, but there is growing interest in recycled and sustainable natural fibres. Below, we will begin with the baselayer.
Base layer
The base layer is fundamental to the layering principle because it lies next to your skin. These thin top and bottom garments are designed to transport sweat away from your skin, which helps regulate your temperature (a process called ‘wicking’). To improve the fit, manufacturers offer different cuts, thicknesses, sleeve lengths, zip necks and even ‘body mapped’ fabrics (woven to suit different parts of the torso).
Base layer fabrics:
- Nylon
- Polyester microfleece
- Merino wool
- Bamboo
- Cotton (in hot climates)
Hiking base layer clothes aren’t the best choice for all activities, however. Non-wicking rash vests and wetsuits work much better in watersports environments. Baggy quick-drying ‘jerseys’ are a great thing to wear for mountain biking because they offer protection without overheating. And loose-fitting cotton clothes keep you nice and cool in hot, dry regions. After sorting your baselayer, you will need to decide on your midlayer, which we will look at next.
Insulation/midlayer
According to the layering principle, the main job of your insulation layer is to provide warmth. This is mostly achieved by trapping air, which is then warmed by your body heat. Therefore, good midlayer fabrics are those which are fluffy or have a degree of ‘loft’. The challenge is working out how much insulation you need: too much and you overheat, too little and you become cold. One solution to this is to wear a couple of thinner pieces, which you can then adjust or remove depending on effort and temperature.
Another approach is to put on a heavy insulating garment when you stop, and then remove it when you start moving again. Down-filled jackets are excellent insulators, although very expensive and badly affected by water. ‘Belay jackets’, on the other hand, are nearly as warm as down, but almost unaffected by water due to their synthetic insulation. These particular clothes layers are in fact vital ski touring and winter hiking wear. Now that you have a good base layer and a warm midlayer or two, you will lastly need a protective shell layer.
Insulation layer materials include:
- Nylon or polyester fleece
- Wool
- Primaloft or similar
- Down
Down remains one of the best insulating materials on earth
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing
Norwegian saying
Shell layer
Your shell layer is the final component, according to the layering principle. The job of the shell is mainly to provide protection from wind and liquid water (rain, splashes, snowmelt, etc). However, this has traditionally involved a tradeoff: by keeping liquid water out, water vapour is prevented from escaping, leading to condensation and dampness for the wearer. Thankfully, most modern shell jackets and trousers use some form of breathable fabric – meaning they don’t let liquid water in, but do let smaller water vapour molecules out.
Examples of shell layer fabrics:
- Proofed (PU) nylon
- Paramo
- Goretex
- Futurelight (click to visit The North Face)
- Ventile cotton
For centuries, sheeps wool was the staple outdoor fabric. It was warm, breathable and, when woven tightly, weather resistant. Wool is a very sustainable fabric, with Harris Tweed being one of the most famous wool brands in the world. (Did you know? When wool fibres get wet, they actually generate a small amount of heat!)
Clever engineering goes into shell layers, from seam tape, leak-proof sleeves and adjustable hoods to secure pockets, hydrophobic coatings and pit-zips. Furthermore, garment designs are activity-specific. For example, outer birdwatching clothing uses soft, quiet fabrics in subdued colours, whereas outer canoeing wear features heavy reinforcement, waterproof seals and a very high hydrostatic head. ‘Softshell’ fabrics work for many high-energy land-based activities. These act as a combined mid and shell layer, provides some warmth and a little protection from light rain. If you want to keep warm when biking, then a shell jacket with a cycling-specific cut will eliminate draughts.
Layering principle for head, hands and feet
Our relatively exposed head, hands and feet also need protection, so apply the layering principle to these areas too. Hats and gloves can massively help regulate your body temperature throughout the day, and can also protect you from the elements. However, choosing gloves for mountaineering and ski touring is tricky because of the need balance warmth and dexterity. Paddlers, on the other hand (!) have the luxury of ‘pogies’, which provide protection without losing paddle feel. When it comes to feet, sock choice is critical for avoiding blisters without sacrificing warmth or sensitivity. Indeed, high-altitude mountaineers often wear inner vapour barrier socks to prevent sweat soaking their main socks and innerboots.
Whether you ‘run hot’ or ‘run cold’, you will probably need to experiment to get your clothes layers right for hiking and other activities. It is important, though, because your safety depends on it. There is a massive variety of good quality outdoor garments to choose from nowadays, so persevere, do your research and you will soon have your ideal outdoor layering system.
The layering principle is the basis for an outdoor clothing system that can be easily adapted to conditions. It consists of a base layer, insulation layer and shell layer.
A belay jacket is any highly insulated (usually synthetic) , lightweight jacket large enough to go on top of ALL your layers at once (ie: on top of your waterproof shell layer). Originally used by climbers while stationary at a ‘belay’ ledge.
Outdoor activities in Scotland with Arc Guiding
