Base layer
Water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air so a quality base layer is vital. The fabric used generally is ‘hydrophillic’ which wicks away moisture from your skin to be picked up by the next layer or taken away by the wind. Of the various fabrics, polyester, polypropylene, polymide or merino wool are used in base layer construction.

Polypropylene is thin and a can really smell after a day on the trail, polyester has a low wicking ability and doesn’t feel good on the skin, merino wool is natural, absorbs 35% of its weight in water before it gets overloaded, doesn’t smell but can be too warm and polymide, although the most expensive, is light, stretches to conform with the skin which helps wicking, doesn’t smell and feels great on. Certain materials also have UV benefits and close reading of the technical details of each garment is important.

Various thickness are available to suit your activities. They can be round necked or have a neck zip. During cooler weather the latter is good for venting. Usually with long or short sleeves some have longer lengths than others, which help the comfort when backpacking, running or cycling.

Mid layer
The middle layer of clothing is designed to keep you warm when on the trail. This layer has to deal with the moisture transferred from the base layer, so it needs to wick that moisture away or absorb it without losing much of its insulation properties.

Traditionally this has been the thicker standard fleece based garments. However there are now a number of newer products which share the safe efficient properties and open up various options to users, depending on their intended use.

Fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles, insulates well, wicks moisture away efficiently, is lightweight, hard wearing, non-absorbent, warm when wet and dries quickly.

Pertex stretch equilibrium shares all of the same properties, but has directional stretch and more wind resistant. Thermaskin also shares wind resistance, is light, stretchy and dries very quickly.

Insulation layer
Unlike a mid layer, which you use when active, the insulation layer is more ‘camp wear’ or ‘warm wear’ in low activity times. Time waiting at the crag, watching a clear starry night in Glen Feshie, or hoping for a bus in Cusco, is greatly improved when the wind is kept out and the warmth kept in.

Without question ‘down’ is the most efficient warmth per weight material you can get for insulation purposes, however it has one drawback. Once wet, is loses its fabulous properties and takes a while to dry. However these products all have excellent DWR skins these days and will take a reasonable amount of damp weather before the water penetrates.

Primaloft is the synthetic alternative. Although heavier than down it is comparable to a 300 fleece and even if wet will still have insulation properties. If wet it will still take time to dry, however you can use it during this time. It is bulkier than down to pack, but has other advantages as generally the insulation is put within more ‘active’ clothing. Whereas ‘down’ is more campwear or high altitude, ‘Primaloft’ is generally found in hardwearing outdoor clothing.

Both ‘down’ and Primaloft are warmer than a standard 300 fleece, without the packing bulk. Generally they are used in garments which are highly wind resistant too!

Look after any of these products by airing them and storing them ‘un-stuffed’ and they will last you for years.

Windproof smocks and jackets
For 90% of the time in the UK weather, most active outdoor people prefer just a windshirt and a base layer. These tiny seemingly flimsy products have changed the lives of everyone we know. Gone is the stuffy high humidity building up around your body under your waterproof. Once one of these is in your sack, you won’t know how you managed without it!

They make a terrific difference to our outdoor experience. Basically, wind makes it feel colder than the air temperature around us and putting on a windshirt establishes the equilibrium once more. Of course it needs to be windproof but also breathable. Many today are also water resistant but not waterproof. Basically windshirts are lightweight (often smocks rather than jackets for that reason) if they were waterproof they would be heavyweight! Don’t be fooled by the flimsy nature of the fabric. It is designed to do the job and they are ideal for backpacking, hill walking, cycling and travelling etc. Some have a very thin lining which adds comfort and more warmth.

A smock style windshirt will be a more generous wider fit as they have to be pulled over the shoulders of the wearer. Certain activities demand a slim tailored fit and others more lose or baggy. For example you may want to wear it over a fleece or under a rucksack, so you won’t want it too tailored. Although windproof jackets are generally very breathable, extra ventilation is still an important consideration if the wind suddenly drops to save taking it off. Front zips are essential for this and pockets are often of mesh, which of course is lightweight, but again helps with core venting.

The great benefit of a windshirt is the weight and lack of bulk when packed, just in case. Once this little baby is in your sack it will never leave. Everyone we know who has one, swears by them. For the general UK climate they are perfect 90% of the time, as we get too hot inside a 100% waterproof and too cold with just a mid/base layer. Generally they all pack away into a small stuff sack and are kept in the rucksack side pocket. Some have hoods which are useful and additional adjustments, but on the whole the simplest shirts are the best. Less weight and easiest to stash.

Waterproofs
This is the one occasion when you want to choose wisely and get the best value for money result. There is nothing worse than being caught in foul weather and for the first line of defence to let in water, either by bad design or poor features.

The main question you have to ask yourself is how and where will you be using the jacket? Do you need heavy duty performance, stiff wire hoods and long length if you are just walking across the moors during summer? The fabrics used reflect the price and all perform with excellence. If your budget will allow it, you will find eVent is a sensation fabric and performs fantastically when you are working hard and need the moisture to pass through the outer later.

All pockets have waterproof zips, fastenings that can be operated easily, even with cold or gloved fingers and wired hoods. Without exception all the jackets we recommend are light and pack down small.

The good news is that although these jackets tend to be expensive they wear incredibly well and technology is more likely to make your jacket redundant, than it failing to perform!

The all in one approach!
Various manufacturers claim they have an all-in-one product which will do it all for you without having to carry the layering system. As good as these products are, everyone I know who uses them, seems to suffers a lack of comfort at some stage or other, when I would put on or take off a layer!

For this reason they usually have countless vent zips, as the user tends to overheat in normal surroundings, even before you get on the hill and work hard. Once active they seem to work well with their ‘push – pull’ approach to removing sweat away from the body.

However, many users seem to have one single concern. If the DWR is in good condition, they will keep you dry and warm, however you never know if it is or not, 'until' it rains! Recently I was on a trip whenre three people had this sytem and not 'proofed' their jacket prior to the walk in the rain. They were all soaked to the skin. Thankfully, they were all able to do a DWR wash at the next hostel before continuing. As much as I like them for cooler days and country walks, I still prefer the 3 layer system for anything more remote.

Headwear
Warm hats are great, some keep the weather out and have ear muffs to keep your neck warm and dry too but, they can be too warm! A chilly day walking and all of a sudden you find your head sweating and cold water running down your neck. So what do you do?

The newest item to catch on is the polyester neck tube, commonly known by their manufacturers name ‘Buff’, which do a variety of things. They are made from high wicking technical fabric, so wick moisture away very well. They can be made into hats, scarves, hair bands, face mask, balaclava and more.

Some people use them as towels, as a quick shake in the air virtually dries them out. They are colourful, fun, light, small and cheap. Very much like the windshirt, once you use one, you will wonder how you managed before! Although not a replacement for a warm hat when you need it, they provide the perfect head companion for 90% of the time.