How to choose the right protective clothing against the cold?

As soon as you work in the cold, it is necessary to wear clothing selected according to the temperature, weather conditions (wind speed, rain), duration of the activity and the nature of the work, with the aim of regulating the amount of heat and perspiration that will be created during the work.Indeed, if the pace of work is too fast and the equipment against the cold is poorly adapted, there is a risk of excessive sweating which will lead to a feeling of humidity on the body, reducing the insulating power of the clothes.

It's better to wear multiple layers of clothing than one thick garment, as the air between the layers provides excellent insulation. In addition, wearing several pieces of clothing allows you to open or take off a garment when you are too hot and to put it back on when you take a break. We generally recommend wearing three layers: 

• The Bottom Layer applies to anything that is in direct contact with the skin: socks or undersocks, underwear, gloves and hats.
  Its role is to keep the skin dry and for this we prefer polyester or polypropylene materials which are the most suitable to avoid the accumulation of moisture.
  The clothing in the bottom layer should be worn very tightly to avoid the unpleasant feeling of friction and to optimize dry keeping : We advise you to Choose them on size smaller  than your usual size.

• The middle layer such as pants or sweatshirt will provide additional insulation by bringing air between each layer. The clothing in this mid-layer should be breathable to help regulate perspiration.Choose these clothes in your usual size.

• Finally, the outer layer is the  one in contact with the cold: parka, overalls, or jumpsuit, for example, which should, in this case, be chosen one size larger than your usual size to allow air to pass through.

It is important to know that 30% of body heat is lost through the head: a technical fiber hat - made of acrylic with a Polartec™ lining , for example - helps to evavporate sweat; similarly, a wool and acrylic hat wor under a helmet help to reduce excessive heat loss.

Furthemore, clothing  must be kept clean as dirt fills the air cells in the fabric fibers and destriys their insulating capabilities. They should also be kept dry by removing snow before entering heated shelters. Duringrest periods, consider allowing sweat to evaporate by opening the garment or removing the outer layer.

Regarding hand protection: if fine dexterity is not required, gloves should be worn below 4°C for light work and below -7°C for moderate work. For tasks below -17°C, when activity allows, it is ideal to use mittens. Cotton is not recommended as it tends to become damp or wet quickly, losing its insulating properties. On the other hand, wool and synthetic fibers retain heat even when wet.