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Winter Clothing.

The most delicate equipment we take on any expedition is a collection of human bodies.

The human body has an optimum operating temperature of 37°c +/- 0.5°c.

Above or below this very narrow range it starts to malfunction. Push it more than a few degrees and it stops working quite quickly and is not covered by the manufacturers warranty.

Taking your body into environments outside this operating range therefore requires special considerations, the first of which is clothing.

Outdoor clothing manufactures spent decades trying to develop the latest miracle fabric that traps air, moves moisture but does not harbour the common bacteria that create unpleasant smells.

Nature on the other hand has been doing it for millions of years...         Wool

Wayland on the Arctic Trail - Ice Raven - Sub Zero Adventure - Copyright Gary Waidson, All rights reserved.

Although it is more absorbent than most synthetics, it transports most of that moisture away from the body.

It traps air well and it has natural antibacterial properties that resist odours better than anything else I have found.

Believe me, when you have to board a plane in your last set of clothes that you have worn for a week in the wilds, not only you but your fellow passengers will be very grateful that evolution created wool for us to wear.

In these pages you will find that I have a bias towards natural materials like wool that is based upon long experience. I do not dismiss synthetic materials as they definitely have a place and are often cheaper but price is not my first consideration when taking my body into the Arctic.

I need my clothing system to perform first time, last time and every time and so far natural materials have never let me down .

 

Sub Zero Crew - Bushcraft UK

Unless noted otherwise, all photography, artwork and content on this site is copyrighted. © Gary Waidson 2020 All rights reserved

The Ice Raven Project promotes sustainable and low impact bushcraft and wilderness skills in Arctic and winter conditions. This includes the use of  tents, tarps  and snow shelters where possible. Fires are only used where safe and where use and collection of firewood will not damage the natural environment. We often travel to locations by public transport and then use snowshoes, sleds, toboggans and pulks to transport our equipment into the wilderness.