Layering, it actually works!

I love my wool coat, it’s warm and cute and does a fairly good job at keeping cold breezes out without being too terribly bulky. However, having gone on a long walk around the neighborhood through freshly falling snow and wind, it does not work nearly as well a few thin layers topped with a thin wind and water proof shell.

After our hike in the snow, I’ve come to love my Cloudveil soft shell jacket. I had layered it over top a few layers of fleece. A short way into the hike and I almost was sweating I was so warm and well insulated. I unzipped the outer shell to allow moisture to breathe out. It also helped to take off my hat and gloves as a way to regulate and lose some of the heat. Frankly, I could have done away with one of the fleece layers and probably would still have been comfortably warm.

Not even the slightest whiff of cold air reached the core of my body. I know from past experiences, bulky, puffy, winter coats, and yes even my beloved wool coat would let the chill reach my core. A few thin layers that had no bulk and I was able to comfortably hike and maneuver off trail and over logs. This would be an ideal arrangement for skiing as well. Now I need outer shell pants to keep my legs dry. Nothing is worse than being wet out in the cold.

Mark is rarely in a traditional winter coat anymore, he is usually attired in a fleece pull over and a soft shell jacket when he leaves the house on snowy and cold days. He can more easily pull off that sport look. I like to look cute and professional on my way out the door to work or dinner in my little wool coat.