Layers and Winter Sports

In the previous post, we discussed how to choose your winter coat and the accessories to keep your children warm in the winter. We talked about dressing in layers, but what do those layers need to be when kids are playing hockey or doing other activities outside in the cold winter? We will provide the answer to these questions.

When playing outside your kid needs at least two layers of clothing underneath their winter suit. The first one is the wicking layer; it means you need a fabric that pulls moisture away from skin and moves through the fabric quickly. This is how your body stays warm and dry when sweating during winter activities. The most popular is polypropylene which is used by some weather gear like Under Armour clothing. You can also use polyester directly on the skin since that will also do the trick. You must stay away from cotton clothing when it is directly in contact with your child’s skin.

The second layer is the insulating layer. Fleece and wool are ideal but you can have polyester or even cotton. This is the extra layer that will need to be loose so that that air can be trapped in the insulation and keep your kid’s body warm. With extreme temperature, you put an extra layer of polypropylene or polyester under the insulating layer.

The principle is the same for your feet, if you are playing hockey outside, you cannot really wear thick socks because you feet won’t fit in your skates. You should consider wearing a thin polypropylene sock liner that will absorb the moisture from your feet while you are playing. The use a regular sock over it and your feet will stay warm. In the illustration you will find an example of how to dress in layers.