What not to wear in winter

Dressing warmly in winter is a good idea; over-dressing in cotton isn’t, says the owner of a local winter apparel shop.

Sunshine and Ski’s Brian Sampson says the most common misconception he and his staff encounter during cold spells is “more is better. They all over-dress.”

That’s especially true for outdoor enthusiasts who might be cross country skiing, going for a quick jog or doing some snow-shoeing.

Sampson said sweating when it is this cold out will only make you colder and it can happen while doing something as simple as shoveling the driveway.

That’s due in part to over-dressing and in part to wearing cotton, which simply absorbs sweat moisture and remains wet.

Sampson instead suggested starting with a synthetic base layer and then adding a warm, fleece-type layer on top. “Then you’re gonna have a shell, or the next layer being wind-proof. I don’t think we need anything that’s water-proof here (given the province’s dry air).”

He said it’s better to try out an activity for about 10 to 15 minutes first, see how the layers feel, and then to add more if needed, once one’s body generates some heat.

“If you over-dress, that gets you into trouble, because the cold air hits that material and chills you back to the bone,” he said.

Another important item that gets missed during cold spells is all of that unused winter gear in drawer bottoms and closet shelves; Sampson urged people to donate it to less-fortunate people in need.

“They don’t have as many choices as some of us have.”