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Snowshoeing

  • Winter Running

    Posted on October 25, 2013 by olinselot

    As the air becomes chilly, and the leaves begin to change, so must our activewear. Winter running can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be! Outersports.com reached out to a seasoned runner in South Eastern Idaho in hopes of discovering some tips for running during the winter months.

    Brett BawdenBrett Bawden and is his lovely wife Josie train year round, and the cold weather doesn't slow them down one bit. Brett and Josie train to qualify for the Boston Marathon and other races all year, and they take their training seriously. Brett and Josie are well known in their community for their personal training tips, and starting the "Just Cuz Half Marathon" in Pocatello, ID.  Brett was kind enough to give our readers some guidelines on running in the cold. He makes it clear that by using the proper activewear you can avoid feeling uncomfortable when running outside.

    Brett changes his activewear depending on the temperature. When the weather is nice and anything above 40 degrees he wears basic running shorts and a light tee shirt. Once the temperature drops below 40 degrees, he throws on a wind breaker and some running pants.

    coldpruf premium performance topHowever, when the temperature drops below twenty five degrees, it is time to break out the big guns! Running tights and a top are essential for staying warm and dry.
    The Coldpruf premium performance thermals are a great option if you don't want the cold to slow you down from your active life. This product stands up to other leading brands but is half the price. The polyester / spandex blend gives protection against high winds while the trim fit keeps the material from bunching during high activity.
    coldpruf premium performance bottom

    These thermals are great for that cold weather run, and a cross-country ski workout, or on the ski slope. They are designed for maximum dryness and antimicrobial odor-control. This is perfect for any distant runner who is training this winter season. We also have Coldpruf Premium Performance Thermals for women as well!

    Be sure and check out our new products for hiking and camping at www.outersports.com

     

     


    This post was posted in Athletic Wear, Base Layer, Cross Country Skiing, Running, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Thermal Underwear, Winter Blizzard, Winter Sports and was tagged with black running tights, black tights, performace thermals, run, running, running gear, running in the cold, running thermals, running tights, winter running, womens running tights

  • Layering Is Key To Staying Warm This Winter

    Posted on November 12, 2012 by

    Layering - How Does It Work

    Layering to keep warm in cold weather is really a matter of insulating your body so that you retain your body heat. Layering typically consists of two to four thermal layers depending on the temperatures you'll be exposed to. Each layer is designed to trap air. The more air that is trapped inside a material or fabric, the better it will insulate. The two most common layers are a base layer or thermal underwear layer and an outer layer. Then, depending on your level of comfort and how cold the temperature is, you can add middle layers for extra warmth.

    The great thing about layering is that it allows you to adjust your comfort level as temperatures change or as your activity level increases or decreases. As you get hotter, you can remove a layer. As you get colder, you can add a layer. Once you understand how layering works, you can adjust your own layering system based on your own comfort requirements and the weather conditions you'll be experiencing.

    Layering - Types of Material To Wear For Each Layer

    Now that you have an idea of how layering works, let's go over the different types of layers that will insulate you most effectively. Your first layer is your base layer or long underwear layer. Depending on the temperatures you're expecting to face, this layer can either be a thin single layer garment, a midweight two layer garment or a heavyweight two layer garment. As mentioned earlier, as you come to understand how layering works, you will know what weight or thickness you will need as a next-to-skin base layer. The type of fabric you wear is important. You need a material that will wick sweat, retain heat, and dry quickly. Some examples of the most commonly used materials are merino wool, polyester , and polypropylene. Each of these fabrics retain heat even when wet. Cotton thermals do not. The only time you'd consider using cotton is if you were not going to be very active.

    Now, let's skip to the outer layer. The outer layer's job is to block wind, snow, or rain from penetrating your inner layers and robbing you of heat needed to keep you warm. Your outer layer would be a coat, jacket, or parka that is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Many coats will have built in insulation while jackets and parkas may just be a shell with the option to zip in an insulating liner.

    The reason I skipped to the outer layeris because what you wear in between the base

    Layering for winter temperatures Pick The Correct Layer According To Temperature

    layer and the outer layer all depends on your level of activity as well as how cold the temperature will be. A good base layer and outer layer is often sufficient for most winter weather conditions. During an average winter season, a good base layer and outer layer would be sufficient for skiing and snowboarding. However, if your combined base layer and outer layer are not warm enough, then you'll need to add an additional middle layer. This layer is typically a thicker layer of fleece. A merino wool, polyester or polypropylene fleece jacket and pants are recommended. A fourth layer is only needed in extreme cold weather conditions such as winter snow camping or summitting a high mountain peak. A fourth layer would be a heavyweight baselayer over a lightweight or medium weight base layer.

    Layering - Thermal Base Layer Is Critical

    Your next-to-skin thermal base layer is key to your comfort in cold weather. You want something warm, soft and dry against your skin.  Not just any fabric can give you this. Cotton is still a very popular as a base layer because it is so soft. The problem with cotton is that if you begin to sweat, it absorbs all of that moisture holding it next to your skin. Cotton does not dry very quickly. When it gets wet, cotton loses it's ability to retain heat. This condition can lead to hypothermia if exposed long enough.

    You need a performance fabric like merino wool, polyester, or polypropylene. Merino wool thermal underwear is super soft and 100% natural. It does a great job of managing moisture and keeping you dry. It also retains heat even when wet. It costs more than other thermals, but is well worth the price. Polyester and polypropylene are very similar. Both can be spun into a very fine thread making it extra soft and comfortable. Both of them are hydrophobic which means they repel water and dry quickly. Polypropylene retains more heat than any other fabric and it dries much quicker too. Polypropylene is probably the least expensive of these performance layering fabrics.

    Layering - It's Never Too Cold With The Right Layers
    Now that you know how to layer properly in cold weather, you can go out and enjoy the winter season. Don't be like so many others that sit inside depressed all winter long because they hate the cold. There is plenty of fun to be had throughout winter. All you need is the right layers!


    This post was posted in Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Thermal Underwear, Winter Sports and was tagged with base layer, cold weather, layering, merino wool, polyester, polypropylene, thermal underear

  • Long Underwear For Snowshoeing That Provides The Best Performance

    Posted on October 25, 2012 by

    Long Underwear - Snowshoeing Requires Excellent Moisture Management

    Are you new to winter sports like snowshoeing? If so, you may not know much about proper long underwear. The first rule of thumb for high endurance winter sports is no 100% cotton. Cotton absorbs too much moisture. Cotton also does not retain heat when wet. That moisture next to your skin reduces your body temperature. Prolonged exposure can lower your body temperature to the point of hypothermia. There are much better materials for managing moisture during high endurance winter activities like snowshoeing. Merino wool, polypropylene, and polyester long underwear all do an excellent job managing moisture. They also have the ability to retain your body's natural warmth even if you sweat a lot or happen to get wet. With snowshoeing being such a high endurance activity, you're going to sweat.

    Long Underwear - Weather Conditions A Factor In What To Wear

    Enjoy your snowshoeing experience more with performance long underwear Performance Long Underwear for Snowshoeing

    This may seem like a no brainer, but if the sun is out and the temperatures are just above the freezing range, you wouldn't need to wear the warmest long underwear available. Long underwear is typically made in three different different weights so that you can choose the appropriate weight for the weather conditions of the day. On those super cold days, you would want to choose long underwear in the heavy weight range. It is also sometimes referred to as expedition weight. For warmer sunny winter days, lightweight long underwear would be ideal. Anything in between you would want to go with a mid weight long underwear base layer. I would say that midweight is probably the most commonly worn thermal underwear just because it is more versatile in the world of winter activities. For most climates it performs really well. For colder climates, you may not be as comfortable in midweight long underwear, but comfortable enough. In warmer temperatures, most people can stand to be a little warmer. Make sense?

    Long Underwear - High End And Low End Options

    When it comes to price comparison, the fabrics used to make mens and womens long underwear can vary greatly. This is based on the availability and cost to produce the fabric. Please keep in mind that the cost does not reflect the performance or quality of the garment. In fact all of the fabrics I mention here are excellent performance fabrics. The difference is as I mentioned before. Availability and cost to produce the material. On the high end of the spectrum you have merino wool long underwear. 100% merino wool is the perfect natural fabric for long thermal underwear. It is super soft unlike traditional wool. It insulates very well and it wicks sweat and keeps you dry when wet.

    On the lower end you have polymers or plastics like polypropylene and polyester. Polyester and polypropylene long underwear are both very inexpensive but, they both are high performance materials. Polypropylene absorbs less water than any other fabric and it retains more heat than any other fabric. Polyester is similar, but doesn't perform quite as well in the areas mentioned.

    With your new knowledge of the best materials for performance long underwear, you can get the right long underwear and enjoy your time outdoors this winter.


    This post was posted in Snowshoeing, Thermal Underwear, Winter Sports

  • Polypropylene Sock Liners

    Posted on March 9, 2009 by Justin

    Do your feet stay wet, cold and clammy when you're hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, exercising, etc? You might want to try some thin polypropylene sock liners by Fox River Mills (children sizes). Polypropylene sock liners are great for warm or cold weather. The polypropylene fabric is designed to keep your feet nice and dry helping your feet to regulate their temperature better. Polypro sock liners are especially nice in the winter time because they add a layer of warmth to your feet while keeping them dry. Polypropylene retains more heat than any other fabric and it also absorbs less water than any other fabric. If you have trouble with smelly feet, you'll want the Fox River Polypro socks with x-static. X-static is an anti-bacteria fabric that prevents odor causing bacteria from developing in your socks.


    This post was posted in Clothing Layers, Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Running, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Socks

  • What Is "Soft Shell" And How Does It Work?

    Posted on December 22, 2006 by Justin

    What can you wear that will keep you dry, block wind, provide warmth, and allow you plenty of flexibility? The answer? Soft Shells. The latest craze in outerwear that promises to answer the problems that skiers, snowshoers, runners and other winter or otherwise cold weather sports enthusiasts have complained about since winter sporting was invented.

    Traditionally, an outer shell is made of tough nylon that has a waterproof membrane laminated to it to add many of the qualities desired by winter athletes. However, the nylon restricted flexibility and the waterproof membrane caused excessive sweating and a lack of water vapor release from the garment.

    So what is a Soft Shell? Well, most Soft Shells are a mixture of fabric technologies. The core of the fabric is typically a soft, warm, wind resistant polyester fleece that retains body heat well, yet has exceptional breathability. The manufacturer then coates the fleece with DWR© (Durable Water Restistant). DWR makes the garment very water resistant and the garment can endure multiple washings and still retain its water resistancy. Finally, many manufacturers will also laminate a WindStopper© membrane to the fabric to eliminate the penetration of wind through the garment. Windstopper© completely blocks wind, yet it still allows the garment to breathe.

    Soft Shells are great for most any winter sport, especially high endurance sports. The only thing to worry about is the fact that that they are not completely waterproof. If you are going to be exposed to wet conditions for an extended period of time, water will start to soak through you soft shell.


    This post was posted in Clothing Layers, Cross Country Skiing, Running, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Stay Dry, Winter Sports

  • Snowshoeing - What Should I Wear?

    Posted on May 25, 2006 by Justin

    I'm slowly going down my list of outdoor activities and posting what to wear. Until I get to this one, feel free to add your own comment if you have an expertise in this area.


    This post was posted in Clothing Layers, Snowshoeing, Winter Sports

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