Cold Weather Kit


 The 'Sara Lee' approach.


If you're not familiar with the 'Sara Lee' aproach, this is a nod back to an old TV ad that appeared some time last century, where Sara Lee made Danish pastry - layer upon layer upon layer. That's also the best way to stay warm.

So, let's start close to the skin. My base layer comprises the Buraz thermoactive leggings from Hi-Tec combined with a Pindos 2.0 thermal shirt from Pentagon.

I've already described my T-shirt, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, but over them I could wear this Berghaus Syker fleece, which is quite light but also quite bulky. I have found it very warm in early trials, so if I have sufficient capacity in my pack, I'd like to take it along. It's a smart mid-layer jacket that (I hope) should be well-received in French bistros on cooler evenings.

I also have an old favourite, my Mountain Designs Reactor down jacket. It's a 600 loft duck down jacket that compacts into its own inside pocket. Wonderfully warm but hoodless. For that reason I have a choice of a Thinsulate beanie or a Highlander Polar Fleece balaclava, which has a reversible hi-viz lining for safety. I'll probably not wear these as I approach the restaurant door though :-). 

A pair of Sealskinz all-weather waterproof insulated gloves should do the job. If the weather gets so cold as to need these, I don't intend to stay out in it for too long. In late September, as I get closer to the Pyrenees, anything is possible, so I fall back to my old Scout motto: be prepared.


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