Three ways to bundle up for the cold

Brenda Shen|March 3, 2014

The polar vortex is an area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere. The vortex is strongest in winter due to increased temperature contrast between the polar regions and the mid-latitudes, including the United States. This winter a large piece of the vortex broke off and was forced well to the south over Ontario and the northern Great Lakes.
The polar vortex is an area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere. The vortex is strongest in winter due to increased temperature contrast between the polar regions and the mid-latitudes, including the United States. This winter a large piece of the vortex broke off and was forced well to the south over Ontario and the northern Great Lakes. Photo courtesy of Sneha Rajagopal.

Beyond the obvious method of wearing more, thicker clothes, staying warm can be a challenge.

1. Coat material- outer layer of nylon and synthetic down or goose feathers

Nylon is a synthetic fabric, made from petroleum products, and due to the dense structure of this material, nylon acts as a windbreaker against the cold winter air as well as rain and snow. When paired with down, either natural goose feathers or a synthetic down, nylon becomes an effective barrier against the cold. It also stands up well to rain, but if the downy fill gets wet, the down jacket is not as warm.

2. Scarf- thick wool infinity scarf

A thick scarf will always be helpful in keeping your neck warm, but an infinity scarf will assure that the scarf will never be blown off and it will cover the bottom half of the face to protect against the chill.

3. Gloves- down insulated

Best for dry conditions, down is nature’s best insulator and makes an excellent choice for very cold conditions with moderate activity. Made up of a combination of down plumules and feathers, this material traps air, which helps keep your hands insulated. Higher rated down garments will have greater insulating ability for their weight. Down’s insulating qualities are hard to beat in cold and dry conditions, but its advantages are reduced when wet and it can be slow to dry.