Canada Vacations - How to Dress For a Winter Holiday

Dressing appropriately is the key to enjoying your winter holiday, ski touring or tobogganing with the kids, whether you are dog sledding, when you are out and about enjoying your activities. It's nevertheless important to dress properly in order to make the most of your holiday in the snow, but while the dry air may mean that you feel the cold much less than with equivalent temperatures in the UK, winter is a wonderful time of year for a holiday.

So why not treat yourself to some new kit before you set off, though good quality outdoor clothing will almost always perform better and last longer than budget-priced gear, in this article we outline some basic advice for dressing for the cold - it is not necessary to spend a fortune on specialist equipment to keep warm?

The Layer Principle

The advantage of layering is that you can easily adjust your clothing to achieve a comfortable temperature depending on your level of activity and weather conditions.

Base layer:

Cotton absorbs sweat and chills you. One important thing to remember is not to have any cotton material next to your skin. Wicking sweat away from your body, the base layer manages moisture. ). A good-quality base layer is one of the most important parts of your outdoor wardrobe ("base layer" sounds much cooler than "thermal underwear"!

Merino underwear is also available. Your base layer should have long-sleeved top and long-johns. Ask the manufacturer or supplier of your chosen base layer, if in doubt. So it is important to ensure that your merino wool comes from an ethical source, cutting around a sheep's rear end to prevent disease, there have been some animal welfare concerns connected to the practice of "mulesing". But merino wool is one of the most popular materials, good synthetic base layers are available.

Mid-layer:

A good winter fleece or woollen sweater is ideal as a mid-layer. Trapping and heating air close to your body, the function of the mid-layer is to insulate you from the cold.

Shell layer:

A good mountaineering or ski/snowboard jacket is often ideal, for winter conditions in Sweden. Etc, mountaineering jackets, softshells, suitable shell layers include windproof fleeces. Rain and snow, an effective shell (or outer) layer should keep out the wind.

Making you damp and chilling you, preventing sweat from building up, breathability and ventilation are important considerations - a shell layer with zips under the arms and/or on the sides can make it much easier to regulate your temperature.

On Your Legs

A pair of gaiters can also be useful for this purpose. It's also good if the trousers are elasticated at the ankles or can be fastened by other means to keep out the snow. Zips down the side allowing greater ventilation can be enormously helpful, again. Including dog sledding and snowshoeing, ski pants are ideal for many winter activities. Snow/waterproof pair of trousers, windproof, you should have a good warm, on top of your (non-cotton) underwear and base layer.

An effective "budget" alternative can be to use warm tracksuit trousers (over a suitable thermal base layer) with windproof and waterproof rain trousers over the top, if you do not have or do not wish to buy dedicated winter/ski trousers for your trip.

On Your Hands And Feet

Gloves are easily lost and the consequences may be very serious. Make sure you have a spare pair of gloves with you, if out on an extended tour such as one of our dog sledding holidays or snowshoeing expeditions. Overgloves which convert standard gloves to mittens are an ideal solution and offer greater flexibility, if you don't wish to be restricted by mittens all the time. Mittens are warmer than gloves with separate fingers. Cold hands and feet can not only ruin your experience of the winter wilderness but can also be potentially dangerous. A good pair of windproof and snow/waterproof gloves is essential in cold weather. Extremities such as fingertips and toes can feel the cold very easily.

Always carry spare pairs of socks if out for more than one day. The idea is that the plastic bag will contain any moisture and keep the outer sock and boot dry. One solution recommended by an experienced expedition leader is to use a thin (non-cotton) sock next to the skin with a plastic bag over it and a warm woollen sock on the outside. Socks should be thick and woollen or synthetic (non-cotton).

You may wish to hire suitable boots for your experience, and if you are not planning to do activities regularly in winter conditions, this is one piece of equipment which many travellers may not have as standard. Your boots should be waterproof/snowproof and properly insulated (with some room to trap and warm air between the boot and your feet) with a good grip to give you stability on ice and snow. The 3-season hiking boots commonly used year-round in the UK are not really suitable for sub-zero temperatures.

On Your Head

A scarf or multi-purpose "Buff"-style headwear is a versatile piece of kit that can be used both to keep your neck warm and also to cover your face and nose. And it is useful if the hat can be adjusted to cover your ears, windproof hats can be even warmer. And a thick woollen or fleece hat is important in regulating your overall temperature, a lot of heat can be lost through the head.

Contact lenses can be a more convenient solution during your holiday - using goggles will be more comfortable and you will have fewer problems with fogging, if you wear glasses and are planning activities such as dog sledding. Ski glasses or goggles will not only keep the wind out of your eyes but also make it much easier to see where you're going, finally!

Down Jackets - ideal for breaktime

There are some ethical considerations regarding the sourcing of down for your chosen clothing, as with merino wool. Down jackets are ideal for carrying in your pack for use in the evenings or when standing still for extended periods, as down is so light and compresses very well. They are likely to be too warm when active, however. Down jackets are excellent for cold nights around the campfire and during rest breaks.