It’s hard to be creative when your freezing as you think of nothing other than how you’re feeling. Landscape photography is by it’s very nature you against the environment and what works for home and the office doesn’t work outside. You need to completely revamp your wardrobe.
Begin by eliminating cotton – down to your skivvies. Regardless of weather conditions, physical exertion results on moisture, which cotton, instead of breathing, clings to the body and in certain instances reduces body temperature resulting potentially in deadly hypothermia. As a best case you’ll feel clammy and uncomfortable. And yes, jeans and the typical underwear are cotton.
Dressing in layers can be really comfortable if done correctly. First of all layers are now being offered in polyester (also known as Capilene by Patagonia) and good old fashioned wool (the non itch kind to which I’m not fully convinced).
Patagonia ziptop layer
The secret to layering is to go as light as possible. A really thin top and light light down jacket (aka sweater) will keep you comfortable down to below freezing. A few tricks on the top – consider a zip mock turtle neck. This really helps in regulating you body temperature in any number of weather conditions. Additionally, ensure the cuffs are tight around the wrists. If they’re loose, cool breezes will quickly lower you body temperature. (Patagonia has a light weight layer which meets all the criteria and works well.)
The same thing goes for bottoms – a light, relatively tight fitting poly work extremely well. I’ll write later on other layers but this really covers the first layer.
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