Walking in winter time can have its own magic and wonder. The frosty mornings or hazy twilight hours can give the landscape a special energy and there can be a poetic charm to snow covered fields and hills that should not be missed simply because it is wet or cold outside. With the right outdoor clothing you can equip yourself for a comfortable and wonderful winter walk whatever the weather.
There are many high tech synthetic fabrics on the market today that are designed to be lightweight and yet effective in colder temperatures. They therefore help to regulate the body's temperature as they are breathable and are designed to avoid holding on to moisture from the body or weather. These fabric brands include Goretex, Thinsulate and a number of leading fleece brands. You should actually avoid wool and cotton fabric garments as a general rule as they can tend to retain moisture, not be very breathable and so can lead to temperature fluctuations which is not a good idea when walking in winter.
The more layers you wear the better in winter so you can remove and add to your outdoor clothing as required and appropriate. You can often afford to be a little optimistic on the layers front as even if you are cool when starting out on your winter walk, you will invariably warm up once you have been walking for twenty minutes or so. Do remember to take into wind chill factor in winter climes. It is advised that temperatures can drop considerably once there are winds up to 20 miles per hour which is not unusual in the winter months.
Footwear may have to adjusted for winter walks. You may have to wear more than one pair of socks or you will at least have to invest in some thicker winter socks. Which will require more room for your feet in your walking shoes or boots. You may also want to consider sporting reflective clothing or tape if visibility is poor or you are heading off on a mountain hike where weather conditions can be very changeable with sometimes risk of storms or snowfall.
So, walking in winter can be a rewarding and revitalising experience. You do however have to be more sensible and prepare your outdoor clothing and equipment properly. Keeping extremities warm and comfortable is also of vital importance. Breathable gloves, scarves, hats and buff headwear are invaluable accessories to fully enjoy our winter wonderland walks.
There are many high tech synthetic fabrics on the market today that are designed to be lightweight and yet effective in colder temperatures. They therefore help to regulate the body's temperature as they are breathable and are designed to avoid holding on to moisture from the body or weather. These fabric brands include Goretex, Thinsulate and a number of leading fleece brands. You should actually avoid wool and cotton fabric garments as a general rule as they can tend to retain moisture, not be very breathable and so can lead to temperature fluctuations which is not a good idea when walking in winter.
The more layers you wear the better in winter so you can remove and add to your outdoor clothing as required and appropriate. You can often afford to be a little optimistic on the layers front as even if you are cool when starting out on your winter walk, you will invariably warm up once you have been walking for twenty minutes or so. Do remember to take into wind chill factor in winter climes. It is advised that temperatures can drop considerably once there are winds up to 20 miles per hour which is not unusual in the winter months.
Footwear may have to adjusted for winter walks. You may have to wear more than one pair of socks or you will at least have to invest in some thicker winter socks. Which will require more room for your feet in your walking shoes or boots. You may also want to consider sporting reflective clothing or tape if visibility is poor or you are heading off on a mountain hike where weather conditions can be very changeable with sometimes risk of storms or snowfall.
So, walking in winter can be a rewarding and revitalising experience. You do however have to be more sensible and prepare your outdoor clothing and equipment properly. Keeping extremities warm and comfortable is also of vital importance. Breathable gloves, scarves, hats and buff headwear are invaluable accessories to fully enjoy our winter wonderland walks.
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