To keep your body warm and comfortable in any weather conditions, the best thing that you can do is wear multiple layers.
This is a far more effective way of staying warm than wearing one very thick layer, because not only does the air trapped between each layer help provide insulation, but multiple layers will also wick sweat away from your body.
Choosing the right winter clothing
Obviously, it is also important to choose the right types of materials to use for these layers – for instance, if you choose clothing that isn’t breathable, then it will quickly become damp with sweat and you will start to feel cold.
The use of multiple layers also works very well with any outdoor activity that involves moving around/exercise in colder temperatures – such as pushing your barrow to your swim, or even just walking.
It enables you to easily remove top layers to ensure that you don’t overheat when exercising, and so they don’t become soaked in sweat, and then when you stop moving around, can simply be put on again to make sure you stay warm.
This of course is in addition to the heat regulating properties that many items of clothing naturally provide anyway.
How do we get cold
Whatever you choose to wear, you need to bear in mind that you still need to have the freedom of movement that is required to be able to do whatever outdoor activity you are taking part in effectively.
Radiation
There are several different ways in which body heat can be lost, and probably the most obvious is the heat that radiates from our bodies and is lost to the air. The simplest way to prevent that is to cover as much of our body as possible, and is why it is important to wear a hat – it’s not that we lose more heat through that part of our body (most is lost via our chest/torso), but that it tends to be an area that isn’t always covered and comes into direct contact with the air around us.
Evaporation
We also lose heat via evaporation, which happens when we sweat and is part of the way our bodies naturally cool down and regulate temperature. Sweat is produced when we get too warm – such as moving around with lots of clothes on – and when it evaporates it cools our skin.
Whilst that is great in the warmer months, it isn’t something you want to happen in the winter as you will quickly feel cold, so it is much better to wear clothing that wicks any sweat away from your skin before it can evaporate.
Conduction
Conduction also plays a part in heat loss, and anything (including rain and snow directly on your skin) that you come into contact with, that is colder than you, will draw heat away from your body – this can occur even through clothing. The better insulated items of clothing are – such as socks when your footwear is in constant contact with the cold ground – the less heat you will lose via conduction.
Convection
Last, but by no means least, is convection, and heat loss via this occurs when our body comes into contact with cold air, and especially so when that cold air is constantly circulating and being replaced each time our body warms it up. This is why it is essential that winter clothing is as windproof as possible – not only the material used, but also the way that it fits, so there are as few areas as possible where cold can enter, such as snug fitting sleeve cuffs.
If you can remove or reduce as many of these heat loss factors as possible, then you will feel warm and comfortable for longer, and will be able to concentrate fully on whatever outdoor activity you are doing, rather than focussing on the fact that you feel cold.
Base layers
This is the layer closest to your skin and it is important that you choose it carefully, otherwise all the other layers you wear on top will be less effective than they could otherwise be.
The Korda Base Layer Thermal LS Shirt and Korda Base Layer Thermal Leggings are specifically designed for this purpose, and whilst you won’t win any fashion prizes whilst wearing them, nobody else will even see them and both are incredibly effective at keeping you warm.
Both the Shirt and the Leggings are designed to fit closely to your skin and are made from a 225gsm quick-dry brushed back material, using 92% polyester and 8% spandex, that not only feels nice against your skin, but is also highly effective at insulating your body against the cold.
They have great thermal properties and are lightweight enough that you’ll hardly even notice you have them on, and at the same time this material is also incredibly effective at wicking moisture away from your skin and keeping you dry.
Both are also designed to stay in place whilst you move around, or pull other layers on other the top, and the shirt is long enough that it won’t come untucked if you bend over, plus the sleeves have thumb holes to stop them riding up when pulling another item of clothing, such as a hoodie, on over the top.
Many people would view a t-shirt or polo shirt as a good base layer, but for really cold weather neither are anywhere near as effective as these thermal shirts, both in terms of warmth and also moisture wicking properties.
They can of course be worn over the top though as an extra layer in really cold conditions, and any of the Korda range of t-shirts or polos is suitable for this.
Mid layers
As the name suggests, this is the clothing that is worn over something like the Korda Base Layer, and if the weather warms up, or when exercising inbetween periods of inactivity, it can also become the outer layer.
The purpose of this layer is to trap air warm air inside it, whilst helping to prevent cold air from penetrating from the outside in, and to provide insulation. It is also essential that it is breathable, so as to allow moisture to wick away from the body and the base layer – if this layer isn’t breathable then the base layer will become wet and cold.
Hoodies, jumpers and fleeces make the ideal mid layer, and there are plenty in the Korda clothing range that are perfect for the job, and whatever your taste and style preferences are, you will find one that is just right for you, and will also help keep you warm.
When it comes to hoodies, which of course also help keep your head warm via the hood, and can be worn over a cap or beanie, there is plenty of choice.
The original TK Hoodie is a popular choice as it comes in a variety of different colours, and is packed full of useful features that not only will keep you warm, but also make it very practical to wear when outside.
For those of you who prefer your mid layer to have a zip, then the Korda Zip Pro Hoodie is a great option, as is the Zip Hoodie, which also offers more different colour options. If you are wearing more than one mid layer than the Lightweight Hoodie can also be a very good option to provide another layer but without too much bulk, as you still need to be able to move freely!
If your preference is for a more traditional style of jumper, then the Korda Crew Neck, with its soft inner fleece material, plus stretchy waist, neck and cuffs to help retain body heat and keep out draughts, is a great option.
For really cold weather, and although often seen as an outer layer, the Polar Fleece Jacket and Hybrid Jacket could both be worn as an additional mid layer, with another thicker jacket over the top.
For your bottom half, during the colder months you are probably going to want to choose between the Korda Polar Kombats – which have been a popular choice with anglers for many years – or the Heavy Joggers, as when worn over the top of Base Layer Thermal Leggings, both will keep you very warm, whilst also being breathable.
Outer layers
This is the layer that comes into direct contact with the air and needs to be suitable for whatever weather you are wearing it in.
Often that will mean that not only does it need to be well insulated and windproof, but also needs to be waterproof, or if you are outside for a prolonged period of time and there is a chance of rain as well as cold, then it makes sense to have different outer layers suitable for each.
The Korda Drykore range is waterproof, as well as being breathable and made from a material that is great at stopping the wind from penetrating through it. The Drykore Jacket MK2 and Drykore Over Trousers MK2 are perfect if you are out in the rain, as well as helping to keep you warm when worn in conjunction with several layers underneath.
On those really cold days, when it isn’t raining, the Korda Thermolite Puffer Jacket is a great option, as not only does it keep out the cold and keep you out on the bank, fishing effectively whatever the weather throws at you, but it is also very comfortable and has a great fit.
For your bottom half, you can’t go far wrong with a pair of Insulated Joggers, which are not only very warm and snug, but also made from hi-tech lightweight materials, so they don’t feel in any way restrictive when you are wearing them.
Salopettes are always a great choice as well, although you argue are somewhere inbetween a mid and outer layer as you will need a jacket over the top, and offer great warmth and insulation, especially around your waist as there is no gap in your clothing there that can let in cold air when you bend over or sit down. The Korda Polar Salopettes feature a very warm fleece lining inside a lightweight, water repellent shell, which is also very hard wearing.
Headwear
Your winter clothing wouldn’t be complete without some sort of hat and warm socks, as there is little point keeping the rest of your body warm and then neglecting these key areas.
Whatever style of hat you prefer, you will find something within the Korda range of beanies and caps, or if you just prefer to wear a hood, then there is plenty of choice amongst our mid and outer layers which come with a built-in one.
Footwear
Many people suffer with cold feet, so it makes sense to wear a warm pair of socks which also wick moisture away from your skin, and you won’t find better than our Merino Wool Socks.
If your feet do get wet then they will quickly get cold, especially if you have no way of drying your shoes/boots, but that isn’t an issue when wearing the Korda Waterproof Socks, even if you come running out of your bivvy without any shoes on!
