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How to Dress for Zero-Degree Temperatures

When the temperature falls, keep yourself comfortable and safe by dressing properly. Exposed skin can become numb, and after prolonged exposure to the cold you are at risk for developing frostbite. Your fingers, toes, nose and ears are particularly susceptible to numbness and frostbite. If you stay outside long enough or if your clothing becomes wet, your body temperature can drop significantly, leading to hypothermia. With proper attire, you can keep yourself protected from both hypothermia and frostbite.

  1. Head Coverings

    • One of the most important components of cold weather attire is a head covering. Because your head is sensitive to temperature changes, keeping your head covered will help you stay comfortable when the temperature drops. Hats that are windproof and that have ear flaps offer the best protection for these conditions. If you are going to be spending a significant amount of time in extremely cold temperatures, a balaclava or facemask provides extra protection. To make breathing the cold air less painful, you can cover your mouth with a bandana or scarf.

    Layers

    • Layering your clothing is essential when you are dressing for zero-degree temperatures. These layers trap the heat from your body to keep you warm. For your base layer, choose regular underwear or long underwear made from synthetic materials. These fabrics can wick the moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry and protecting you from becoming cold when the moisture evaporates. For additional layers, choose thick, warm clothes made from fleece or wool.

    Coat

    • A high-quality coat will help keep you warm. Choose a coat that is water repellent, so that your clothing does not become wet if there is snow or ice. A tightly woven fabric will help keep the chill out, and a coat with a hood will provide an extra layer of protection for your head. If you spend a lot of time in cold temperatures, consider investing in a down-filled coat. When cold weather adventurer Mark Jenkins evaluated winter coats for "Backpacker," five of the six warmest coats he found were filled with down.

    Hands and Feet

    • Keep your hands warm with gloves or mittens. If it is snowing, mittens made of synthetic fabrics offer the most warmth and will keep your hands dry. If you are planning on spending a considerable amount of time outside, layer your mittens. A thin synthetic liner with a thicker wool mitten will keep your hands warm. For your feet, choose thick socks make of synthetic materials. A high-quality winter boot that is insulated also helps. As you are choosing your boots, look at the thickness of the sole. A thick sole will keep the cold of the ground from seeping into your feet.

    Considerations

    • While you are choosing your clothing, you need to consider the amount of physical activity you will be performing while out in the cold. If you sweat, the moisture will cool you off when it evaporates. To protect yourself from hypothermia, you must keep the sweat away from your body. Synthetic fabrics are the ideal choice for physical exertion. According to Dr. Brian Sharkey and Dr. Steven Gaskill, if you are going to be highly active, you need only .35 inches of insulating layers at zero degrees Fahrenheit, but if you are engaging in light activity in this temperature, you will need layers that are at least 1.3 inches thick.

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