Edited by Rachel Duncan 4th Edition ISBN 0-907649-91-2 London ...

26 RGS-IBG Polar Expeditions Manual
An alternative clothing system that works really well in polar conditions when it too cold
to rain is the combination of fibre pile and Pertex made together into a garment. On their
own neither fabric is exceptional but combined together they are excellent insulators and
supremely breathable. Such garments combine the mid- layer and outer layer for most
conditions. In the UK it is rarely cold enough for tops and bottoms to be worn together so
quite how good they are for colder polar environments is not widely appreciated. Brands
and models based on this principle available in Britain are: Buffalo, Montane, Patagonia
Infurno, Rab Carrington, and Trax. They are worn over a base layer but usually require no
outer or shell layer as the outer is windproof. Different manufacturers use slightly different
fabrics that have varying degrees of windproofing and water repellency. This clothing is
far more breathable than a three-layer system and so eleminates moisture much more
effectively. It is now established as the clothing of choice for polar journeys. Dark colours
absorb more solar radiation and therefore, are better for low temperatures than light
colours.
Special notes
There are few factors worthy of note peculiar to polar conditions. If rain is not going to be
a problem, then outer waterproofs would be better replaced by windproofs of Oxford
cotton Ventile. The advantage of Ventile over Goretex is that it will release moisture more
effectively, is more flexible/softer in the cold and more durable.
All garments should be simple to access with zips and fasteners that can be used
with gloves/mitts. Inevitably, nothing is perfect.
In extremely cold weather, keep a down jacket in the top of your rucksack and put
it on as soon as you stop for a drink, to pitch camp, etc. However, note that down is useless
when wet.
Sweat is your greatest enemy. Moisture will conduct heat away from your body
twenty times faster than dry air. Take off your clothes BEFORE you start sweating because
as soon as your sweat is ‘wicked’ away from you body it can freeze, encasing you in a
frozen armour. See Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s The Worst Journey in the World for graphic
descriptions of this. If your clothes do become frozen with moisture, shake or beat off the
frost before entering the tent, to avoid soggy clothes.
In some situations, where for instance, people are driving snowmobiles for long
periods of time, or tending equipment, weight may not be a problem and the priority is to
conserve heat rather than to ventilate. All-in-one insulated suits may be the best solution
for the top layer. If there is serious risk of falling into polar waters, a lightweight wet suit
might be considered.
In very cold weather, the areas most difficult to keep warm are the head, hands, and
feet. Always carry spares (even on short excursions from camp). Check your companion
for exposed parts of the face or wrists. Frostnip does not take long to take hold.