Dressing for “Cool”.101
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:06 am
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Dressing for “Cool”.101
We would estimate, based on nothing more than many seasons of observation,
that 60% or more, of recreational Skiers/Boarders do not take advantage of the
warmth capabilities of the exterior garments they already own. This is largely due to a
lack of either attention or correct knowledge applied to details, particularly around
the 4 perimeter seals of Neck, Waist, and both Wrists.
Any source of heat loss from these critical areas reduces your body’s ability
to retain or distribute core heat to all extremities. Conversely, any improvement
in insulating and/or sealing theses critical areas means everything stays warmer
and takes less energy to do so.
Chapter 1.
Of all of these, the one that stands out as most critical and sometimes least
understood, is Heat Loss and/or Cold Migration around the Neck/Head.
Total Heat Loss through the top of the human head is estimated at around 70%,
and while the exact percentage is greatly debated, it is acknowledged as the
single largest point of heat loss, so controlling insulation and cold air migration
around, and to the head through the gateway of the neck can be deduced as
an extremely important element in the equation.
What we see there as the biggest functional error is the Improper Use of Hoods
in very cold weather.
It is not uncommon to see people winging down the Mountain with Hood up and
over the head, and wind pressure puffing the Hood out to the full dimensions of
a ballon around the face of the Skier/Boarder. That retained wind pressure within
the hood has no way to go except around the head and/or down the neck and into
the interior cavity of the jacket... exactly where you don’t want cold air, but there it
goes anyway, thanks to Relative forward airspeed of the moving person and the
consequent Cold Air Entrapment of the Hood.
Example Pic: Hood Scoop Air Speed Wind Pressurized...
With all due respect to this person, who is actually an Excellent Skier...
The only place the cold air entrapped by their hood can go, is straight
down their back. There is no other way for the contained pressure to go.
Hoods are impossible to seal correctly at Speed and we recommend they never be
used when in forward motion. The head should be independently insulated and wind
protected by the proper fit of a Helmet and Goggles Interface together with a Balaclava,
and the neck should be independently sealed by either one or two overlapping neck
warmers and the Full Closure of the Jacket Collar Zipper Overlap.
Additionally, even the most basic of Helmets is vastly warmer than any Toque,
not to mention the obvious safety benefits. So, forget the hood... remove it completely
if possible, and concentrate on covering/sealing/insulating Neck/Head separately
to eliminate any possibility of cold air ingress to the Jacket.
In Our Opinion, there are only three appropriate Cold-Winter Ski/Board uses for a Hood.
1) When Stationary with Zero Facing or Cross Wind.
2) When Wind is Only at your Back.
3) When Very Tightly Drawstring Sealed around face if you have no other head covering.
Otherwise, all a hood does is trap forward moving cold air pressure around the head
where there is no other escape for it other that to be forced down into the interior
of the jacket... exactly what you don’t need.
What we see that is especially troubling is parents that bundle up Little Johnny
or Little Julie in hoods with the best of intentions, and then we see these kids
after a half hour of vigorous action, whipping down the Mountain in their
classes with the hoods all loose and puffed out like an air-bag and it’s -15C.
Additional Dressing for “Cool” to follow...
.
Dressing for “Cool”.101
We would estimate, based on nothing more than many seasons of observation,
that 60% or more, of recreational Skiers/Boarders do not take advantage of the
warmth capabilities of the exterior garments they already own. This is largely due to a
lack of either attention or correct knowledge applied to details, particularly around
the 4 perimeter seals of Neck, Waist, and both Wrists.
Any source of heat loss from these critical areas reduces your body’s ability
to retain or distribute core heat to all extremities. Conversely, any improvement
in insulating and/or sealing theses critical areas means everything stays warmer
and takes less energy to do so.
Chapter 1.
Of all of these, the one that stands out as most critical and sometimes least
understood, is Heat Loss and/or Cold Migration around the Neck/Head.
Total Heat Loss through the top of the human head is estimated at around 70%,
and while the exact percentage is greatly debated, it is acknowledged as the
single largest point of heat loss, so controlling insulation and cold air migration
around, and to the head through the gateway of the neck can be deduced as
an extremely important element in the equation.
What we see there as the biggest functional error is the Improper Use of Hoods
in very cold weather.
It is not uncommon to see people winging down the Mountain with Hood up and
over the head, and wind pressure puffing the Hood out to the full dimensions of
a ballon around the face of the Skier/Boarder. That retained wind pressure within
the hood has no way to go except around the head and/or down the neck and into
the interior cavity of the jacket... exactly where you don’t want cold air, but there it
goes anyway, thanks to Relative forward airspeed of the moving person and the
consequent Cold Air Entrapment of the Hood.
Example Pic: Hood Scoop Air Speed Wind Pressurized...
With all due respect to this person, who is actually an Excellent Skier...
The only place the cold air entrapped by their hood can go, is straight
down their back. There is no other way for the contained pressure to go.
Hoods are impossible to seal correctly at Speed and we recommend they never be
used when in forward motion. The head should be independently insulated and wind
protected by the proper fit of a Helmet and Goggles Interface together with a Balaclava,
and the neck should be independently sealed by either one or two overlapping neck
warmers and the Full Closure of the Jacket Collar Zipper Overlap.
Additionally, even the most basic of Helmets is vastly warmer than any Toque,
not to mention the obvious safety benefits. So, forget the hood... remove it completely
if possible, and concentrate on covering/sealing/insulating Neck/Head separately
to eliminate any possibility of cold air ingress to the Jacket.
In Our Opinion, there are only three appropriate Cold-Winter Ski/Board uses for a Hood.
1) When Stationary with Zero Facing or Cross Wind.
2) When Wind is Only at your Back.
3) When Very Tightly Drawstring Sealed around face if you have no other head covering.
Otherwise, all a hood does is trap forward moving cold air pressure around the head
where there is no other escape for it other that to be forced down into the interior
of the jacket... exactly what you don’t need.
What we see that is especially troubling is parents that bundle up Little Johnny
or Little Julie in hoods with the best of intentions, and then we see these kids
after a half hour of vigorous action, whipping down the Mountain in their
classes with the hoods all loose and puffed out like an air-bag and it’s -15C.
Additional Dressing for “Cool” to follow...
.