If you are a chionophile (someone who loves winter and snow), and spend most winter days outside, then this is for you. We understand that wearing materials which fail to keep you warm, can hinder the chilling ecstasy of gliding down a slope.
Tip: Winter is around the corner and you don’t want to miss out on the best slopes. Check out this article about Ski Resorts with the Most Snow.
We have included the best materials to keep you warm. The areas of your body that need the most love during winter. And an excellent new smart material that will soon be on the market.
Quick Jump
5 Best Fabrics for Winter
Not every item displayed in your favorite clothing store will benefit you during the winter months. Some of these items will stop insulating heat when wet, such as cotton. Here are our top picks for must-have winter fabrics:
Wool
Wool will never let you down in the cold. It is considered the warmest material you can wear. It is highly insulating, with a durable texture, and it’s water-resistant.
Polyester
Polyester may not keep you as warm as wool would, but it is ideal for wicking away moisture from your skin. It also has hydrophobic qualities.
Gore-Tex
Similarly to polyester, this fabric will keep you dry during winter and in the snow. Gore-Tex is highly durable, water- and wind-resistant.
Silk
Silk is fantastic for heat insulation. The heat released from the body stays trapped inside while outside cold air is blocked.
Down
Down is another material that traps heat efficiently; it is also light and breathable, making it a popular option for sportswear.
How To: Layer Warm Clothes for Winter Sports
Whether you are skiing, snowboarding or white water kayaking, staying warm is essential. If you participate in these activities and other winter sports, you may risk frostbite and hypothermia.
Layering comes in handy for precisely these reasons. Knowing which materials are best for winter is critical, but it won’t be sufficient for winter sportswear without layering. Here are some tips on what to wear snowboarding.
Inner Moisture-Wicking Layer
Moisture-wicking materials absorb moisture from the skin then allow that moisture to evaporate from the outside. This is a pretty cool trick for when you are sweating up a storm. The best fabrics to choose for your base are merino wool, blended materials or synthetic fabrics.
Middle insulating layer
You want to choose a material that retains heat for the middle layer. These can include materials made from cotton, down, fleece and spandex.
Outer shell layer
The outer layer will be your windbreaker and water repellent. The best fabrics for this purpose would be Gore-Tex, polyester and nylon.
Clothes to Keep You Warm in All the Right Places
You always want to keep your head covered in cold weather. The warmest parts of our body are our armpits, rectum and head. Our heads are the most exposed of all body parts , we should try to keep them covered at all times.
The best insulating fabrics for head accessories such as beanies and scarves will be those made from wool. Wool is breathable and wicks away moisture.
The finest wool to use for these accessories is cashmere or merino wool. Cashmere or Merino wool is a smoother texture, making it less scratchy than ordinary wool.
We suggest wearing fleece beanies or trapper hats if you will be active this winter. Fleece is a derivative of polyester, which dries quicker than wool, perfect for a sweaty winter afternoon.
You also want to keep your hands and feet warm during winter. Stock up on the thickest socks and warmest gloves.
6 Excellent Warm Fabrics That are Vegan
We are aware that plenty of you out there would not want to wear wool, down, or any other animal by-products. We’ve got you.
Here are some excellent warm vegan-friendly fabrics to choose from:
Hemp
Hemp is a versatile fabric that is suitable for winter and summer. It will keep you warm in the winter months without causing you to sweat. Hemp is also durable and mold resistant, excellent for outdoor activities.
Soybean fiber
Alternatively known as vegetable cashmere, soybean fiber is a fantastic heat insulator and alternative to silk. Soy is excellent at managing moisture, and has great antibacterial properties.
Organic cotton
Organic cotton is more sustainable and made without polluting pesticides and toxic substances. Organic cotton is weatherproof and safer for the skin than regular cotton.
Tencel
Tencel is a natural fiber produced with sustainable raw wood. Tencel Lyocell fibers are strong, gentle on the skin and it wicks away moisture. It is also an excellent choice as a base-layer for sportswear.
Bamboo
Bamboo is a soft, breathable fabric that absorbs moisture and wicks it away from the skin. It is also hypo-allergenic for those who suffer from allergies.
Linen
Linen is a strong fabric that retains bodily heat. It would be a great option to wear on top of bamboo or organic cotton layer to prevent heat from escaping while being outdoors in winter.
The Next Best Smart Material That Retains Heat
Gore-Tex is an excellent smart material. What makes it smart is that it has a waterproof sheet with tiny holes in it. These holes are big enough to let vapor from your skin escape, but also small enough to resist liquid water.
The reality is that technology will always be one step ahead of us. Chinese researchers in Wuhan have invented a new personal thermoregulation textile. The smart material will adapt to both cold and hot weather, the first of its kind.
Guangming Tao and colleagues behind the creation have mentioned that the textile can become commercialized and eventually utilized for clothing. They use micro structured fibers to create the material.
The biomaterial used for the textile are by-products of shellfish skeleton. Crazy, right? Read more about this innovation for heat retaining material.
Our Final Say on the Warmest Material for Winter
To summarize everything, we suggest that you choose the most suitable material for your environment. We highly recommend that you layer your clothing to prepare yourself for the worst weather turn out. Keep in mind, many materials can provide warmth but fail to wick away moisture. In contrast, others can wick but fail to retain heat.
Finally, with vegan fibers and environmentally friendly synthetic options, you have no reason to stay indoors this winter. Keep your body happy, while you are doing your favorite winter activities. So stay warm and cozy by following our tips and suggestions above.
