Hats and gloves, the extremities
When your
feet are cold, cover your head." - Inuit saying.
The brain is one of the most metabolically
active parts of our bodies. About 15% - 20% of body heat is lost through
the head, so wearing a hat is one of the quickest and easiest ways of
keeping warm. If you are wearing quite a lot of clothing but still feel
cold, particularly at the extremities, putting on a hat is the simplest
way to deal with it.
Many outer shell garments, and also insulating
layers have hoods built in which are exceptionally useful, particularly
in conditions of rain or snow. They are also excellent ways of keeping the
wind and precipitation of any kind out of the neck region. In less extreme
conditions however when it is cold, but there is no rain or snow a hood
can be an encumbrance, hats become much more convenient. In fact in many
situations I actually prefer an insulated and elasticized headband that
covers the ears so keeping the wind off them and gives me a little more
control over my temperature. I also tend to find traditional woolly hats
quite itchy. My personal choice is of a headband with a synthetic fleece
balaclava that can be rolled up into a hat. Along with a hood on the shell
layer this gives the maximum flexibility and the ability to deal with extremes
of cold and wind.
Lightweight Gloves
Gloves are essential in cold conditions and indispensable
unless you walk around all of the time with hands in pockets or just being
miserable. Summer conditions in much of coastal and maritime Antarctica
(where most visitors go) don't really call for much beyond light weight
gloves. If you suffer particularly from cold hands, I'd recommend a lighter
pair of gloves for use most of the time with good warm mittens that will
go over them when necessary.
If you're in the Arctic or Antarctic as a tourist, the
chances are you'll be spending a lot of time taking photographs or filming
using a video camera so good quality fairly thin gloves are the best choice.
Cheaper gloves just don't deliver the same insulation levels for thickness
as more expensive ones and extra thickness means less manual dexterity.
Fingerless gloves are available and I even once had a pair of mittens with
a slit in the palm and thumb allowing me to put my fingers out for a while
and then, back inside again to warm up. Unless you know you like them, don't
bother giving them a go, the great majority find them next to useless -
I hated them!
In selecting clothing for cold and extreme
weather the priorities are:
