HOW TO CREATE A LAYERING SYSTEM
One of the most efficient ways to warm up after a swim is to layer two or three insulating garments, rather than throwing on a big jumper. That’s because layers help to move moisture away from your skin and trap heat close to the body. Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Legg, head of clothing design at Alpkit, explains the benefits of a basic layering system: “The base layer moves moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry from the inside out. A mid-layer (something with a little extra bulk such as recycled fleece, heavier-weight merino wool or an insulating body warmer) traps warm air near your body, keeping you warm from the outside in. Lastly, the outer layer prevents wind and rain stealing that warm air from you.” Lastly, don’t neglect your extremities! Add extra warmth with thick socks, a woolly bobble hat, scarf and gloves. And bear in mind that when you exit the water, your core continues to cool down for the next 10 to 40 minutes so you need to get those layers on quickly to help raise and regulate your core temperature.
WHY MATERIAL MATTERS