It may not be winter yet, but with daylight hours dwindling and temperatures beginning to drop, it’s certainly on the way. We’ve partnered with our friends at NZ Mountain Safety Council to share some top tips for how to dress in the great outdoors as we transition to the colder months.
When heading into the great outdoors for a walk or tramp, the right clothing will not only ensure you have a more comfortable and enjoyable trip but could literally save your life. The key to success is careful planning – so you have what you need on hand for the changing conditions. The same general principles apply all year round, but with winter looming, there are a few extra things to add to your pack.
First, give some thought to fabrics
For all clothing in your tramping arsenal, choose the fabrics carefully. They need to be breathable, lightweight and, ideally, quick drying. Synthetics (like fleece and polypropylene) or wool (such as merino) are perfect for the ngahere. These fabrics will stay warm when they get wet and won’t absorb moisture as much as other materials. Synthetics have the added benefit of drying quickly.
Leave your cotton and denim clothing at home! When wet, these fabrics suck heat from your body. At the very least, they’ll make you cold and miserable. At worst, you could get hypothermia Heavy cotton and denim are also next to impossible to dry, even in a hut with a fire.
📷: DOC
Layer up
Wearing multiple layers of clothing will keep you warm when the weather turns and allow you to take layers off as you warm up, so you maintain an optimal temperature.
For a tried and tested layering system, we recommend:
1/ Base layer – tramping shirt or short-sleeved top. No matter what the season, being able to strip down to a shirt or t-shirt in warmer weather will mean you won’t overheat on the track. Opting for a collared shirt will have the added benefit of providing sun protection for your neck. At this time of year, add a long-sleeved thermal to this layer for extra warmth.
2/ Mid layer – fleece or long-sleeved woollen top. This layer provides a warmer layer that, as part of the layering system, will help see you right through all the seasons.
3/ Insulation layer – a synthetic or down jacket. Now’s the time to add this to your gear list. You’ll need this when you stop for a break or if it’s really chilly on the track – or in the hut! It’s good to note that down loses its insulating properties when it’s wet, so synthetic may be the best option if you plan to wear it in the rain.
4/ Water and wind proof layer – raincoat or quality rain jacket. This will keep you dry and protect you against wind.
For your bottom half, whether you’re sticking with shorts or making the switch to long pants, include a pair of long thermals in your pack for layering when it’s really cold. If your rain jacket is short, consider waterproof trousers for added rain and wind protection.
📷: New Zealand Mountain Safety Council
Add a hat and gloves
Now more than ever, a warm hat and gloves are vital. They stop body heat from escaping. In the New Zealand outdoors, where four seasons in one day is commonplace, you should never leave home without these – even in summer!
It’s also wise to keep a sun hat on hand at this time of year, especially if you’ll be walking on exposed ridges or in valleys where you won’t have tree cover. Ideally, choose a wide brim hat to protect your neck, head and face from the harsh New Zealand sun.
Be proactive not reactive
To stay warm and dry throughout your trip, monitor and manage your temperature pre-emptively.
Stopping for a break? Put on warm clothing (including your warm hat) immediately, rather than when you start to cool down. Once you stop moving, you’ll begin to lose heat quickly, and it will be hard to get warm again.
If rain looks likely, put on your rain gear before it starts. To avoid overheating, you may need to take off some warm layers first, depending on the temperature.
Keep warm clothes and rain gear in a dry bag near the top of your pack so they’re easy to access when you need them.
Don’t forget your feet
Thick, long socks made from a synthetic-wool mix will keep your feet warm and comfortable, and they’ll dry relatively quickly if they get wet.
Waterproof tramping boots, even for day walks at this time of year, will keep out the elements and help keep your socks dry. As an optional extra, think about gaiters to stop rain from getting into your boots. They’ll also keep out those pesky stones and grass seeds.
For the hut or campsite
Pack a spare set of clothing for when you arrive (possibly wet!) at the hut. Dry clothes, including socks, after a day in the rain will not only keep you toasty and comfortable but will boast your morale. Where possible, dry out any damp clothing by the fire.
Plan, plan, plan…
📷: New Zealand Mountain Safety Council
The MSC Plan My Walk app is a great way to make sure you’ve always got the clothing you need in your pack. Along with the latest weather and track updates, the app includes a customisable gear list feature so you can create lists for different types of adventures and for different times of the year.
Happy tramping!
The item sounds very sensible to me. Even after a wash and spin in a washing machine, cellulosics feel heavy and cold compared to synthetics or wool. Cotton clothing is cold and clings to the skin when wet, making it unsuitable for cold, wet weather.
This layering information is dangerous and misleading and will get people into trouble, using any natural fibre in the outdoors while you are active will lead to moisture loading your layers, condensation with rain jackets and will sap your body heat when you stop. Unfortunate that you’re promoting incorrect information that will put people in dangerous situations.
Kia ora Michael, MSC’s safety advice for dressing in the outdoors is to layer up. This allows people to regulate their temperature as they move, especially in changeable conditions. We also recommend packing spare clothing for when you get to your hut or campsite, so you always have dry options to change into and can keep yourself warm at the destination. We advise people to choose synthetics (like fleece and polypropylene) or wool (such as merino) as these will stay warm when they get wet and won’t absorb moisture as much as other materials. Synthetics have the added benefit of drying quickly.
Last winter I went up to Mataketake Hut with a tramping club party. It was chilly with a strong wind when we left the hut to descend to Maori Saddle. I noted we had 1km’s travel before we hit the sheltered bushline and accordingly layered up appropriately for me with a baselayer which included a Next to Skin layer and windblocker, a thin polarfleece layer (thermal layer) and a waterproof shell. The bully on the trip asked how many layers I was wearing and I told him, explaining that my baselayer was a technical layer, unaware that his intent was to sneer at how much clothing I was wearing. The joys of tramping with a club, folks. A more sensitive soul may have decided to fall in and conform to what they observed the majority was wearing. But we’re all individuals and I’m lean and in my 60’s ii.e. have some degree of sarcopenia. So beware of bullies and group think and do what’s appropriate for your individual needs or you could end up hypothermic.
Excellent. Beware of synthetic thermal underwear that contains Rayon. Rayon is regenerated cellulose, with similar problems to cotton when it gets wet. I have suffered a hypothermia incident where wet Rayon was a significant part of the problem.
Also while I am not 100% certain…I think “Bamboo” fibre is also basically Rayon. Plant fibres are all cellulose, and therefore all useless when wet. If it is not primarily made of polypropylene, polyester or wool, it will be dangerous in wet cold conditions.