If you search for 鈥渉ow to layer鈥 on 国产吃瓜黑料, you鈥檒l get back nearly 20 articles plus a handful of videos that cover everything from layering while backcountry skiing to layering in a sleeping bag. We take the art of layering seriously when it comes to playing outside.
But what about layering for the everyday? Does layering only matter if we鈥檙e trying to climb a mountain or camp in the snow? Most of us spend the vast majority of our time going to work, walking the dogs, picking kids up from school, and cleaning up around our houses鈥攁nd I鈥檝e found that smart layering helps immensely in these situations, too.
The absence of info on layers for quotidian tasks got me thinking about what the ideal everyday layering kit might be. I live in New Mexico where we have wild temperature swings through fall and winter鈥攆rom 20 degrees in the morning to 60 degrees in the afternoon鈥攎aking my home an excellent spot to test how layers can keep us regulated and happy as we get through our normal routine.
Here鈥檚 my suggested list.
Baselayers
By baselayers I don鈥檛 mean long underwear. Unless you live in a truly cold spot and spend a big chunk of your time working outside, long underwear will be too hot. But it is important to think about your underwear, socks, and first layer up top.
Merino wool is the obvious choice for both underwear and socks. These days sock manufacturers like Smartwool make blended with a little nylon (to make them tough as nails) and lycra (so they鈥檙e easy to get on). They鈥檙e tailored perfectly so they don鈥檛 take up too much room in your shoe and keep your feet warm but not too hot. One pair will run you $20 or $30, but I wear my merino socks at least a couple days in a row so I only need two or three pairs. is also becoming more popular, and I鈥檝e found it to be even softer, and maybe warmer, than merino.
I suggest because if you鈥檙e active at all during your day, your underwear is going to get sweaty, and you don鈥檛 want sweaty underwear when it鈥檚 cold. When I bike commute to work, as an example, my bottom is damp by the end of the commute but the wool still provides a touch of warmth so that my nether regions are not freezing when I walk into the office. That, and the merino dries super quickly so I don鈥檛 have to sit in my sweat for several hours.
In terms of a base layer shirt, my suggestion is to wear a short-sleeved shirt, no matter the material. It鈥檚 important to wear a short-sleeved shirt instead of a long-sleeved shirt, even if it鈥檚 brutally cold outside, because as you move between heated and outdoor spaces, you have more options. There鈥檚 nothing worse than being too hot in an overheated room, and you can strip down to a simple t-shirt, which is never a burden to wear. If you鈥檙e bike commuting or moving around, then go with merino. Everyone else can stick with cotton.
Midlayers
Midlayers are often the most used and abused layers when you鈥檙e out adventuring because you need some kind of warmth but nothing too thick. The same is true for everyday midlayers because they can stay on all throughout the day鈥攗nder a heavier coat in the morning while you鈥檙e walking the dogs, on their own over the aforementioned t-shirt at your home office to fight off the money-saving thermostat setting, or when you need a little warmth to dash out for lunch.
My go-to’s are a button-down or a tailored sweatshirt. A thick cotton button-down pulls double duty because it鈥檚 the right amount of warmth but also looks plenty professional. Instead of dressing in the 鈥渋nvestment banker bro鈥 uniform of a thin button-down and vest, you just need this one layer to feel comfortable and look good.
The same goes for the tailored . Something that fits well and is medium thick will keep you perfectly regulated and get you through any Zoom or in-person meeting. I sometimes like to go with a synthetic sweatshirt, instead of cotton, if I鈥檓 going to be active any time during the day鈥攍ike taking a longer walk to lunch, a stroll with my dogs, or a quick bike trip to get my kids from school.
Outer Layers
Waxed cotton, which is making a strong resurgence, is the perfect everyday outer layer. are stylish, waterproof (thanks to the wax), and insulated for warmth. If I layer an insulated waxed jacket over a thick cotton shirt and t-shirt base, I鈥檓 comfy all the way down to about freezing. Bonus: The more you wear your waxed jacket, the sharper it looks as you add a patina that鈥檚 uniquely yours.
On days below freezing, I鈥檒l wear a down jacket. I have two versions that I rotate between, depending on the day. As the temps drop, I鈥檒l start with a straightforward down jacket that I can layer over my waxed cotton. On days when I鈥檓 standing around and it鈥檚 truly bitter鈥攍ike 20 degrees or below鈥擨 grab a midlayer and a that鈥檚 poofy and as warm as it gets.
I always have a in my bag as well. A good wind layer packs up to the size of an orange so I just stuff it away until it’s needed. I won鈥檛 use a wind layer on deep winter days, but I find them perfect in the fall when the breeze kicks up and tears right through my sweatshirt. By cutting the wind I can immediately feel 10 degrees warmer but don鈥檛 have to deal with the bulk of a big jacket.
For pants, I usually prefer something that has a reinforcement because the extra material adds a little warmth and because these pants look okay even when they鈥檙e dirty. I find it鈥檚 much harder to stay clean in the winter with snow and mud around constantly.
Shoes
Unless you live in a really rainy place like the Pacific Northwest, I usually suggest most people avoid shoes with a waterproof membrane during the summer. The liner doesn’t breathe well enough to vent the sweat off your feet and can make your feet clammy and potentially cause blisters.
But during the winter I love shoes with for several reasons. Most importantly, it鈥檚 cold outside so the likelihood of your feet overheating is diminished. Second, unlike rain that comes and goes during the summer, winter snow will stick around and pile up, so you have many more opportunities to get your feet wet. That, and when the snow does melt, the ground turns to mud, which can also wet out your shoes.
I like a low-cut hiker or running shoe because it鈥檚 a one-and-done option. These shoes look fine at work, are great for when you have to stand at a desk for hours, easily slip on for early-morning dog walks, and are comfy for an after-work walk or run.
Hat and Gloves
Your hands and ears are often the most sensitive, so it鈥檚 worth investing in a quality beanie and pair of gloves. For a beanie, always choose something simple in terms of design. I love a that never clashes and can hold its shape even after hundreds of uses. For , I suggest you invest in a thin pair made of merino. You want something thin so you have as much dexterity as possible and don鈥檛 have to constantly pull the gloves off to get anything done. You鈥檇 also be surprised at how well a thin pair of wool gloves can fight off the worst of the cold and keep your finger temp nicely regulated.