The 5 layers of the outdoorsman

When spending an extended period of time outdoors, whether it's a day trip or overnight camping, it is imperative to dress appropriately. The proper way to dress is in layers. This allows you to regulate your body temperature throughout the day and night so you do not overheat nor do you freeze. So what are the layers?

First, a few rules for being outdoors.

1. Avoid cotton. Cotton, when wet, stays wet a very long time. If you are in a wet situation and stay wet, you can develop hypothermia.
2. Over prepare. It doesn't matter if the weather forecast says it will be bright and sunny, prepare for weather changes. You can keep the extra layers in your backpack.
3. Don't over do it. Being too warm is just as bad as being too cool.

Base layer
Your base layer is the layer that touches your skin. Its purpose is to wick away moisture and regulate your body heat. It keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Look for long sleeves and legs made of merino wool or synthetic materials specifically made to wick away moisture. I prefer wool as it is comfortable and is naturally odor resistant.

SmartWool makes great base layers.


Mid layer
The middle layer provides your first layer of insulation. It is what consists of normal casual wear, though it should be functional for outdoor use. Again, stick to wool or synthetic materials. Flannel wool is a good shirt. Find one with chest pockets, as they will get used. Pants are meant to get beat up, so a synthetic material may last longer than wool in this case. I like the convertible pants which allow for even more layering options as the heat rises.

I could do a whole article on socks. Again, wool or synthetic socks. The thickness of your socks will be determined by the season, and how much weigh you will carry in your backpack. SmartWool is the go-to for many adventurous types.


Outer layer
The outer layer provides the greatest amount of insulation, for the coldest times of the day. This will adjust with the seasons. For the warmer months, it can be as little as a thick sweater. As it gets colder, you will add a thick jacket. I like the idea of having a two part outer layer, with a down vest and a jacket. The down vest will keep your core warm, and when the cold begins to bite, add the extra layer provided by the jacket.



Shell layer
The shell layer provides protection from the wind, rain and snow. Some people will combine the outer and shell layers, and that's fine. But for more flexibility throughout the year, adding a poncho and snow pants is a good idea. This will keep you dry, and keep the bitter wind from penetrating your layers.


Boots and head coverings
Finally, you will need boots that will keep your feet comfortable, dry and provide support for climbing up and down hills with weight on your back. This can take a whole article in itself, so I will simply refer you to your local outdoors specialist (like REI or Bass Pro Shop) to get yourself fitted. You will need to wear socks of the appropriate thickness while trying on boots. Consider how much weight you will be carrying, and what kind of terrain you will meet.

They say your head lets the most body heat escape. Whether that's true or not, it is important to keep your head warm. A simple wool cap can keep your head and ears warm, or opt for a balaclava which you can wear as a wool cap, and then pull down to keep your nose and face warm too. In the summer months, a wide-brimmed hat is ideal to keep the sun off.

Have a smaller wardrobe

What do you do when you open your closet and think to yourself, I have nothing to wear? Is it because you can't think of an outfit to put together, or are you just bored with the clothes you have? In either situation, it might help to have a smaller wardrobe.

Why should I have a smaller wardrobe?
A smaller wardrobe will allow you to put together outfits easier, saving you time every day. Sure, every once in a while you might just be bored with it and give up, but if you stick with it, you can be stylish every day, develop your own look without it growing boring, and save time and money in the long run.

Having too many garments in your closet or drawers means you have a lot more clutter, and so many options it's difficult to make decisions. When I go to The Cheesecake Factory, their menu is so big it could take an hour to read through it all, and I would still have no idea what to order. At Chipotle, everything on the menu is built to go together, so you start with a form, add the base, accessorize, and enjoy. It's the same with a purposeful wardrobe.

Building a structured wardrobe also saves you money. Only buy items that will supplement your wardrobe, and only buy it if you love it. Of course not everything in the wardrobe has to match, but you should have an idea of what you're looking for before you get to the mall where you may buy something that is cute but ends up in your closet for three years before it goes to Goodwill.

How to build a smaller wardrobe
A smaller wardrobe doesn't have to mean less options to wear, it just means your wardrobe has to be thought out in advance. You won't look like you belong in an animated cartoon where everyone is always wearing the same outfit, but you will develop your own unique style.

I've already hinted at how to build a wardrobe, and I'll just call it a "structured wardrobe." This means everything in the wardrobe has a purpose. You've put your creative juices to work when you researched new styles, when you tried on different garments in different arrays, and then when you decided on what to ultimately purchase. Using my silly Chipotle example above, you will pair down your wardrobe to a few different basics, and then build on each of those with different options.

Dress for the occasion
This is where you start. What occasions will you find yourself in over the next six months to a year? Make a list if it helps. What is appropriate for these occasions? Start with a base for each.

Give yourself options
From your starting basics, find a few garments that all coordinate with each of your bases. With separates, you can have 9 outfits with 3 bottoms and 3 tops. Add 2 sweaters, and you now have 18 outfits. How many outfits you need should be determined by what type of occasion.

Add flair
Accessories provide depth and  life to any outfit. Belts, hats, necklaces, bracelets, watches, shoes, etc. These are things you can add to most any outfit at any time to dress up any outfit not called "yoga pants."

Dress for the season
We don't all experience drastically different seasons, but even if you live down south where the summers are hot and so are the winters, you can still change your wardrobe up for the seasons. In some parts of the world, you may have 3 or 4 wardrobes, and in others, 2 will suffice. At the beginning of each season, go through your wardrobe and take out what won't work in the season and put it in storage. Take out of storage what you have put away for this upcoming season. This will clean out your closet, making dressing less daunting, and it will also provide variety in life. By the time you're bored with your summer wardrobe, you are now entering your autumn wardrobe.

Only buy it if you love it
You can save money by purposefully shopping for a structured wardrobe. You won't throw away money on garments you wear once or twice and then ignore because it doesn't go with anything else. But since you're not buying 12 pairs of pants, maybe use that budget to buy higher-quality garments. Instead of 6 cotton sweaters, maybe you can live with 1 cashmere sweater and 2 lambswool sweaters. If you don't absolutely love something, or if you're not 100% sure about it, just put it back on the rack and move on. If you change your mind next week, it may still be there.

By it on clearance
When you plan ahead your wardrobe, you are able to buy items on clearance to wear next year, or from a clearance store like Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, etc for wear right now. Often times I'll find something I like, and then two months later buy it half off when it goes on sale.

Dress for business
Dressing for business may be the easiest way to dress. It's easier than dressing casually even. Of course many companies have relaxed, casual dress attire which confuses everyone, but don't let that dissuade you, just dress for business and you should do OK. Business attire means neutral colors. White, gray, black, navy, brown, green, and blue. Add color with accessories. You can do with 5 shirts, most of them white, 2 pants in dark gray, and a blazer or sweater in navy. You can decide the colors, but remember that black is moribund, and provides too much contrast for most complexions - opt for gray. You will look serious, and you won't have to think about what to put on so early in the morning.

These tips work equally well for both men and women. Of course a woman's wardrobe is generally bigger because while a man can wear the same suit to work or a wedding, women have different dresses for different occasions. Like I said before, dress for the occasion.

Do you have any shopping tips that help you decide what to buy?

5 inexplicable garments

There are some items of clothing seen in the wild that are just too weird to be explained. These are the first five I could think of, in no particular order. What are some items you just don't understand?

Sleeveless hooded sweatshirt
As is vests weren't weird enough, the hooded sweatshirt without sleeves has got to be one of the weirdest garments ever devised by man.

Cargo capri
Capri pants have the great duty of making any frame appear shorter. It takes the average leg, and makes it look stubby. Cargo capris take this, and add bulk to your thighs, just what every woman wants.

Screen printed dress shirt
A favorite amongst Evangelical pastors, the screen printed dress shirt says, "I'm aware of social etiquette enough for buttons, but edgy enough for shirt tattoos." Or maybe it says, "I'd rather be wearing a T-shirt."

Overall shorts
If you're worried you might get pig slop on your shirt, but want to make sure to keep your legs cool on warm summer days, than the overall short is right for you.

Leggings as pants
Leggings are not pants. I don't think this needs an explanation.

Glamorize your life

There was a time in American history when we embraced glamor. Radio, film and television stars were real celebrities, bigger than life. People did their best to make every occasion special, a break from the ordinary.

Over time, celebrities became beach bums, strung out in rehab. Casual culture took over, and special occasions mean little more than a continuation of life.



It's about time we put glamor back into our lives.

Why should I glamorize my life?
Adding glamor to your life creates a sense of adventure. It provides greater enjoyment, and greater satisfaction.

It has been said that things anticipated are enjoyed more than thing unanticipated. I'll use an example of camping, because it is similar. When you plan a camping trip, you set the time, plan out what will happen, get your gear together, prepare yourself for what will happen, dress appropriately, and when you finally set up camp, you have a good time knowing everything is taken care of, and you're prepared. But camping wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable if you didn't prepare for it. Perhaps your car got stuck in the snow for a couple days.

But this same amount of preparation doesn't go into, let's say, a date night. No, it's not a matter of survival, but how much more would you enjoy the evening if it was prepared in advance? You set the time, plan the events, get your gear together, prepare yourself for conversation, dress appropriately, and when you arrive, you have a good time knowing everything is taken care of, and you're prepared.

Glamor is like that. It's a break from the ordinary into a romantic adventure. It's escaping the dregs of life and into a fantastic world of imagination.

How do I glamorize my life?
Adding glamor to life isn't difficult, and can be done in small measure. Here are a few things I've done to add glamor to my life:

• Have dinner at the dining room table, with glass tableware and cloth napkins.
• Dress up for date nights, and prepare the evening so half of the conversation isn't about what to do next. Even if all you're doing is going out for self-serve yogurt, put on some dressy clothes. Make the night special.
• Save up a little bit longer and purchase higher-quality items for the home. A chair that will last decades is worth far more than one that will last a few years.
• Read more books. Books stir your imagination much more than a TV program or movie because your mind has to fill in all the details the book does not provide. You become part of the story.
• Continue education constantly. Learning new things is a great endeavor that enhances the mind, and provides great opportunities for conversation always.
• Tea time. Tea is not only very tasty, it is something I've found to be very meditative. It provides a break from the day to participate in the Zen of preparing and consuming tea.
• Exercise often. The chemicals our brains release during exercise provide greater feelings throughout the day, and it's just much more healthy that living a sedentary lifestyle.
• Make plans, and show up. It is just too easy to go about life with no obligations. We don't want to commit to anything, so we tell our friends we'd like to get together but we don't make plans. When we do make plans, we show up late. Grow up, and take responsibility for your time.
• Get a hair cut. Low-maintenance hair is very easy to live with, but when you have a hair cut that takes time to put together every morning, you will look better, and will have a few minutes of your day just to yourself. I'm done with just buzzing my hair short. I still cut it short, but I get a shape to the hair to have a little style. 

From my examples, you can see that glamor doesn't take a lot of work, but the rewards are magnificent. Think up ways to make your days more elegant, think of ways to make your occasions more glamorous. You will find your life is richer.

If you have ways of glamorizing your life, post them in the comments.