Outdoor Gear

Question
Hi! We live in Florida. My question may be a bit odd, but my 8 yr old daugher is traveling to Maine, New York and Canada over the Christmas holiday. Seeing that we live in Florida you may know my question already...what do I get for her to wear? I'm sure she'll be in the snow quite a bit but at the same time I don't want to load her down with too many things to wear. Any web sites or advice on places to shop will be so greatly appreciated!

Answer
Hello and Thanx for the question...

the best thing to do in cold weather is to layer clothing to ensure the body heat is contained.

Start with a natural fibre like cotton, wool or silk next to the body - or get hold of some thermal underwear designed to do the same thing[these are usually synthetic and have properties designed to keep you warm].

Then you want to go with a  long sleeve top, again if you can use natural fibres, but ensure it is comfortable. I high neck is also a good idea. Sometimes its a good idea to put a t-shirt under or over this layer - for no other reason than extra warmth over the organs.

Then you're up to the jumper [you'd be more familiar with a sweater]. It needs to be functional moreso than fashionable - especially if its really cold. Needs to be big enough for movement, but not too bulky ar the body heat will be lost. Look into a fleece type sweater. I find a jacket os better as its easier to get on/off with all those clothes and when your cold its hard to get your arms up over your head! But make sure the zipper is of decent condition otherwise it may fail you.

From there you add the jacket. In snowy conditions, it's best to have the outer layer waterproof to some degree to avoid it getting saturated [ this will ruin it as well as lose heat].  Hoods are optional, but they can mean a dry head. The jacket may also be a shell, rather than fully lined, but you will lose some warmth. There are also jackets available that have a zip in/out warm liners. These can be useful for varying conditions.

The bottom half covers the same principles - layers. Avoid denim jeans, these are cold and hold a lot of moisture. And when wet are very heavy as well.

Then you need a beanie [touk? woolen hat] for the head, some like ear muffs in the very cold and of course gloves. Avoid knitted ones - they have lots of stitching holes and get wet very quickly.
Choose gloves that have some level of waterproofing, make sure they fit well too[can you make a fist without them hurting your fingers?]

Glasses or some fashion can be a good idea in very cold wether - avoid metal frames. The eyes can get very dry or cold from the wind.

On the feet - boots of some sort in snowy or wet conditions, with some waterproof capabilities - remember when snow melts its just very cold water. Socks are a personal preference, but again go with a natural fibre or look into hiking socks.

And remember because you have layers, you can add or minus an item to suit the varying conditions.  Best thing would be to have a small pack that she can put in an extra layer to carry in case it gets colder than planned. I dont go anywhere without an extra layer when i'm in cold climates, even if its just another shirt. Its a good idea to have a spare pair of gloves and hat too, just in case the first get wet - nothing worse than putting on wet gloves or a hat [well maybe putting on wet swimmers is worse?]

I hope your daughter enjoys her trip. If you have any other questions, dont hesitate to ask.

lisa

ps: some websites to look at for ideas on what to wear:
www.mountaindesign.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_111793_buy-clothes-cold.html
www.columbia.com