On any outdoor activity, it’s essential to wear the proper clothing for the route you have planned while factoring in the potential weather conditions you may face. Preparing the right clothing for climbing can be especially tricky as you may start off in warm conditions, but with every degree of elevation, temperatures can drop significantly.
Not just that, the approach hike itself may be physically challenging, increasing your body temperature as you ascend, but once you reach the site or get ready to climb or belay, accumulated sweat and harsher wind speeds can cause your body to cool down quickly. Without the right clothing, back chills can kick in and quickly become a problem, even for experienced climbers. A good layering system is therefore critical to your comfort and safety, and arguably the most essential part of that system is the base layer.
Staying Dry and Warm on Your Climb
Against the elements, especially in cold climates or high elevations, any moisture that accumulates on your skin can draw much needed heat away from your body. This is why dry skin means warm skin. Base layers are made to be moisture-wicking and to provide warmth and thermoregulation. When you sweat, the base layer absorbs moisture off your skin and diffuses it away, keeping you dry, warm and comfortable.
With years of research, real-world testing in the elements and continuous refinement of its textile technology, Finetrack has developed a line of base layers that perfectly balance comfort, warmth, moisture-wicking and drying properties. Finetrack’s base layers combine natural Merino wool with synthetic fibers in a unique knitting structure, resulting in fast-wick, quick-drying performance that consistently outperforms ordinary base layers.
However, even the best base layers take a good amount of time to completely dry. During this time, your body remains in contact with the wet base layer, causing discomfort and back chills, potentially leading to hypothermia in extreme conditions. Changing into a spare base layer is one solution for this problem, but getting undressed outside in the cold wind can itself be an additional risk factor. How do we solve this issue? Enter an innovative solution: Finetrack’s Elemental Layer®
Gear Spotlight: Finetrack’s Elemental Layer®
With years of experience navigating the outdoors, the team at Finetrack was long familiar with the problem of back chills caused by your body being in contact with a wet base layer. This practical knowledge led to the development of their unique and innovative Elemental Layer®.
Finetrack’s Elemental Layer® is a series of foundational layers made to be worn directly on your skin, underneath the usual sweat-wicking, quick-drying base layer. Made of a water-repellent, fine mesh material, the Elemental Layer transmits sweat away from your skin through its fine mesh, towards your moisture-wicking base layer. The Elemental Layer then acts as a dry shield between your skin and the damp base layer during the time your base layer dries off, providing a layer of protection to help you avoid unnecessary heat loss and potential hypothermia. With this innovation in the layering system, gone are the days of lugging around extra base layers and changing your base layers in frigid conditions.
As you gear up for your next climbing expedition, remember that the mastery of base layers is your secret weapon against the elements. Understanding layering strategies and incorporating innovative gear like Finetrack's Elemental Layer® will elevate your climbing experience to new heights of warmth, comfort, and success. Stay warm, stay safe, and may your winter climbs be as exhilarating as they are challenging. Happy adventuring!