Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 09/00) - Deciding on the most effective apparel and material is important to staying warm, dry and comfortable while outdoors in the winter.

Materials used in outdoor gear fall into two categories: natural and synthetic. Natural fibres include cotton, wool and down, while synthetic protection includes Gore-Tex, Polartek, Thermax and Coolmax to name a few.

Matty McNair, manager of Northwinds Arctic Clothing in Iqaluit, has two important ideas to live by when outdoors in winter.

"You don't want to get wet and you need good wind-proofing, good insulating value," said McNair.

"But what you use is not as important as the knowledge and skill in using it.

"For example, if you use down, it's excellent. But if you're sweating it gets wet and no longer insulates. And with caribou, it's super warm but if you sweat there's no ventilation, it gets icy inside and ends up rotting.

Natural fibres

Cotton is certainly comfortable, inexpensive and absorbent, but should be avoided for outdoor gear. When cotton is wet in cold weather, its absorbency becomes dangerous. Wet cotton does not dry as fast as synthetics and will stick to your skin and rob you of body heat.

Wool is renowned for its insulating properties, and it will still keep you warm when wet. Wool is scratchy, but there are poly-wool blends on the market which are quite comfortable.

McNair doesn't use wool at all any more.

"Why be wet?" she asks. "Wool doesn't dry out when it's wet. It gets heavy and compact and is not good for extended use."

The warmest insulator is down. Down is used mostly in sleeping bags, coats and comforters. The problem with down is that once wet, it's worthless as an insulator.

The synthetic story

A popular name in synthetic protection is Gore-Tex, a laminate that's applied to the inside of apparel to increase the resistance to water and wind. Gore-Tex is more costly than, say, vinyl, but has the ability to breathe; it keeps the water out while allowing trapped moisture to escape.

Du Pont's Thermax and Coolmax are synthetics that keep you warm and cold, respectively, and are great as underlayers.

Thermax is a hollow-core polyester that the maker says is lighter and warmer than traditional insulation.

The company Malden Mills treats its polyester with a chemical finish that alters the fibre's hydrophobic (water-fearing) qualities. This process results in Polartek. The finish on Polartek allows the surface to absorb and wick moisture while the core remains dry.

Wicking occurs when body heat pushes water down the fibre and out to where the air can whisk it away.

The most frequently used fibre in outdoor gear is polypropylene, the least absorbent of all textile fibres. Polypropylene has a moisture regain rate of .5 per cent, as compared to cotton at eight per cent and polyester at four per cent.

Polypropylene dries quickly, and many believe polypro, as it is commonly called, is the best material for keeping you dry and warm.

It's tougher than most other fibres, hydrophobic, lightweight and resistant to deterioration from perspiration, mildew, insects, chemicals and weather.

In Fort Smith, the Stormtech 5-in-1 parkas are a popular choice, according Linda Germo, owner of Northwind Sports.

"The Stormtech is a long jacket with a quilted liner that breaks down into five jackets," said Germo.

Another useful winter item is Polar Wear.

"We have fleece pants and tops that are warm and breathable," said Germo.

McNair adds that polar fleece is a good material to use, as it's light and quick-drying.

Whether you choose natural or synthetic materials, or a combination of both, remember to wear layers and keep track of how damp your clothing is and the wind conditions.