Clothing

On a tur it can turn colder and wetter than we are used to at home. Missing or unsuitable clothes turn the trip into a poor experience — at worst a dangerous one. Dressing properly is not a matter of complicated solutions, but of a few principles you can learn once.

The layering principle

The simple, dependable method:

Layer 1 — base layer against the skin. Should move moisture away and keep the skin dry. Wool (Merino) or synthetic fibre. Never cotton — it soaks up moisture and holds it.

Layer 2 — insulation. Keeps in the heat the body produces. Fleece, a thin down jacket, Primaloft. A thicker layer in the cold, thinner when you are sweating a lot.

Layer 3 — windproof and waterproof outer layer. Should stop wind and rain from drawing the heat out. A shell (Gore-Tex or equivalent), ideally with ventilation zips under the arms.

More on the layering principle →

Why layering?

• Easier to regulate your warmth by taking garments off or putting them on
• Insulating air spaces between the layers hold heat better than one thick garment
• You sweat less when you can fine-tune

When you stop for a break: put a layer on straight away — the body produces less heat at rest, and you cool down quickly. Many people carry a spare warm jacket in the pack just for breaks.

Why wool?

Wool (Merino wool in particular) is the first choice of Norwegian tur-goers for a reason:

• Keeps you warm even when wet — unlike cotton
• Smells less — antibacterial properties, can be worn for several days before washing
• Thermoregulates — cool when it is warm, warm when it is cold
• Flammable and does not melt — important near a campfire
• Naturally biodegradable

Common Norwegian makers: Aclima, Devold, Brynje, Ulvang, Janus. International ones: Icebreaker, Smartwool, Woolpower.

Synthetics (polyester, polypropylene) are cheaper, lighter and dry faster — but smell more and can melt in heat. Often used in a blend with wool.

Outer clothing — quality counts

Outer clothing should be waterproof and breathable. That is a contradiction that was solved with membrane technology (Gore-Tex, eVent, NeoShell) — breathably fine pores that let water molecules out but not water in.

Waterproofing is measured as hydrostatic head, in millimetres (mm H₂O):

• 5,000 mm — light rain
• 10,000 mm — moderate rain, short trips
• 15,000–20,000 mm — the standard for mountain hiking in Norway
• 28,000+ mm — expedition, long trip

Breathability is measured in grams of vapour per m² per day (g/m²/24h):

• 5,000 — not very breathable, not ideal for a warm trip
• 10,000–15,000 — typical
• 20,000+ — for running and high activity

Norwegian makers: Bergans, Helly Hansen, Norrøna, Helsport. International ones: Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Mountain Equipment.

The small things that go first

The hands, feet, head and neck have blood vessels lying close to the skin — they lose heat fastest. Treat them accordingly:

• A hat — warm air rises; a lot of heat is lost from the head
• Buff/neck gaiter — protects the neck and can be pulled up as a face cover
• Mittens — better than fingered gloves in the cold (the fingers warm one another)
• Wool socks — two pairs are often better than one thick pair
• Windproof over-mittens for cold wind

How to dress for cold from head to toe →

Winter clothing

A winter tur places harder demands: a combination of cold, wind, snow and varying exertion. The main strategies:

• Thicker base layer (Merino 200+ g/m²)
• Thinner mid-layers that can be combined — fleece plus down
• Windproof outer clothing with good ventilation
• Winter boots/shoes with good insulation
• A spare warm jacket in the pack for breaks

Winter clothing →

Where you lose heat

Four mechanisms:

1. Evaporation — sweat dries, and that costs heat. The body can lose up to 600 kcal per litre of sweat that evaporates.
2. Radiation — a warm body radiates out to colder surroundings
3. Conduction — heat conducts through contact: cold rock, snow, water-soaked clothes. Water conducts heat 25 times faster than air (Hauge 2018) — which is why wet clothes are so bad.
4. Convection — wind or running water carries your heat away continuously

For tur practice this means: stay dry, use windproof outer clothing, and insulate yourself from cold ground when you sit (a sit pad).

Clothing and sustainability

The textile industry is a major environmental burden. As tur-goers we can:

• Repair before we replace — sew up holes, glue a new rubber rand onto a shoe. The repair category
• Borrow, rent or buy used — especially for costly winter gear used only a few times a year. Borrow, rent or buy used →
• Choose durable — one Bergans jacket lasting 15 years beats three throwaway jackets
• Avoid microplastic shedding — wash less often, use a wash bag for synthetics

Sustainability and leave-no-trace travel →

Learn more

• The layering principle
• Winter clothing
• Choice of materials
• How to dress for cold from head to toe
• Clothing calculator
• More on clothing
• Tasks — clothing

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Text: Gina Wigestrand, Snuitide (2021), revised 2026.

Key resources: Norske bekledningsprodusenter (Bergans, Helly Hansen, Norrøna, Helsport)

Sources: Hauge, A. (2018). Friluftsliv: utstyr og teknikker. · Pettersen, M.N. (2020). Sove ute. Gyldendal.