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- GEAR UP, FLEX ON: MEET THE FROSTFLEX™ SYSTEM FROM REFRIGIWEAR
- TOP 5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN THE WARMEST JACKETS
- WHY DO YOU NEED COLD WEATHER BIB OVERALLS?
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- HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS
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- BEST INSULATED GEAR FOR WOMEN
- OUTWORK ANY WEATHER WITH PREMIUM JACKETS
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- TOP 7 FEATURES OF A SUBZERO SWEATSHIRT
- WHAT ARE THE BEST SWEATSHIRTS TO WEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOWN JACKET AND A PUFFER JACKET?
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- 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIVIS WORKWEAR
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- WHY DO YOU NEED A FREEZER SUIT IN THE GROCERY BUSINESS?
- WHY YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR BREATHABILITY AND WICKABILITY IN COLD WEATHER WORKWEAR
- CUSTOMER STORIES: BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS FOR WOMEN
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Footwear
- 6 MOST DURABLE COLD WEATHER WORK BOOTS FOR MEN
- CASE STUDY: KEEPING CREWS ON THEIR FEET WITH PROPER FOOTWEAR
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- TOP 5 WATERPROOF WORK GLOVES
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RefrigiWear Knowledge
- 10 ESSENTIAL PIECES OF COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR FARMERS
- 10 TIPS FOR WORKING SAFELY IN COLD WEATHER
- 3 REASONS WHY FREEZER SUITS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WORKING IN THE COLD
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WORKING OUTSIDE
- ADVANTAGES OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION
- COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- HOW TO AVOID DRAFTS IN COLD WEATHER WORK CLOTHES
- HOW TO STAY WARM FROM HEAD TO TOE IN COLD WEATHER
- HOW TO STAY WARM ON THE JOB SITE
- HOW TO STORE WINTER WORKWEAR FOR THE SUMMER
- HOW TO USE REFRIGIWEAR COMFORT RATINGS TO CHOOSE INSULATED GEAR
- THE HEALTH RISKS OF WEARING TOO MUCH COLD WEATHER GEAR
- THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FOOT CARE WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
- THE ULTIMATE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN COLD CONDITIONS
- WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR SNOWMOBILING?
- WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST GEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHICH TYPE OF SLEEVE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR WINTER ACTIVITY?
- TOP 5 COLDEST AMERICAN CITIES AND HOW TO STAY WARM
- TOP 4 TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE RAIN
- 5 TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLING IN WINTER
- HOW TO DRESS FOR THE COLD IN 4 EASY STEPS
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO STAYING WARM WHILE WORKING IN THE COLD
- HOW TO STAY WARM WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
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THE HEALTH RISKS OF WEARING TOO MUCH COLD WEATHER GEAR
You have a long day of outdoor work ahead and Old Man Winter is doing his worst with below-freezing temps and a windchill to boot. The more cold weather gear you layer on, the better to make sure you stay warm, right? No!
Surprisingly, it’s possible to wear too much insulated gear or too many layers, and it can actually put your health at risk. What happens when you go overboard and how can you be sure you choose the right gear? Read on to find out!
Why Is Dressing Too Warmly Harmful?
There are a few potential problems that can come from too much insulated clothing. If you’re moving around a lot and your body temperature goes up, wearing too much gear can make you start to sweat. That sweat has nowhere to go and will soak into your base layer. Damp fabric against your skin? That makes us cold just thinking about it!
Overheating can also cause more serious problems like dehydration, heat rash, fatigue and exhaustion, muscle cramps and low blood pressure.
All of these symptoms can hurt your health and productivity, so if you think you’re overheating, try taking a layer off or going inside to rest for a while—and make sure to drink some liquids.
Who’s at Risk?
When your daily routines involve multiple temperature changes—like commercial delivery drivers switching between their vehicles, the outdoors and indoor areas of businesses. Over-bundling is also common during those times of year between seasons when the weather can’t make up its mind between balmy and freezing.
People who do a lot of physical activity in the cold are usually at the highest risk of over-bundling because their bodies generate the most natural heat. That includes construction workers, landscapers, refrigerated warehouse workers, forestry workers, transportation workers and any other active workers in the cold.
How to Choose the Right Cold Weather Gear
There are some basic techniques that anyone going outside in the cold should use to make sure you're not bundled up too much:
Choose Layers Carefully
Dress in layers but consider carefully which ones you actually need. As a general rule, go for a lightweight base layer, insulating middle layer, weatherproof outer layer. However, people spending lots of time indoors (or somewhere that rain and snow aren’t a concern) might be better off choosing a warmer insulating layer and skipping the weatherproof outer.
Mix and Match Insulated Gear
Try experimenting with different types of insulated clothing that suit your specific needs. For example, if you struggle with keeping your upper body cool, try a lighter top paired with a pair of insulated pants or insulated bib overalls.
Choose Breathable Fabrics
More breathable gear can also help improve air circulation without sacrificing warmth. The RefrigiWear Extreme Softshell Jacket is a great example of RefrigiWear clothing built to breathe—the softshell fabric is lighter and gives you more ventilation, but the jacket is still rated to keep you warm all the way down to -60°F. The Extreme Softshell Jacket also includes a dual front zipper system so you can regulate your warmth level without taking the jacket off.
Maximize Adjustable Multi-Layer Garments
Some cold weather gear combines two or even three of the basic layer types into one garment. While this can be an efficient way to bundle up, it’s also less flexible—you can’t just shed layers until you get to the right level. So, if you’re looking at a multi-layer garment, look for one that has zip-out linings or other removable and adjustable features.
Too Much of a Good Thing
When it comes to warmth, make sure you don’t have too much of a good thing! By layering the right way and regularly checking in on how your body is responding to the temperature, you can avoid dressing too warmly and set yourself up to perform at your best.