I thought this might add to the discussion. It is from a posting I had made before. I focus more on the techniques and principles for cold weather walking, which is a separate issue from discussions about specific articles of clothing (Base layer, thermal/insulative layer, and outer/weather layer).
Cold Weather Clothing and Walking
The first thing I ask folks to do is to keep in mind the guidelines of when to wear an insulative layer, be it down, fleece, or synthetics, in a puffy-style jacket or vest.
Layering is a biggie in cool and cold weather, as is controlling exertion levels to minimize perspiration.
An important principle is: You never dress with the amount of clothing needed to keep you warm at the start of walking or hiking... you wear the amount of clothing needed to keep you warm 10 minutes after you start walking.
In cold weather, or even cool weather, one needs to do what is necessary to prevent overheating and sweat. That includes how fast a pace one is moving as part of one's total level of exertion, as well as how much clothing one is wearing, and how much air circulation one is able to maintain.
It does not take long, with any layering amount, to saturate clothing with sweat. THAT is when the danger of hypothermia, and at the very least a chilly discomfort will begin to take its toll. If saturation or wetness happens, the only recourse is to change into dry clothing. Since there is usually a limited amount of clothing carried in a backpack, it is essential to adopt strategies to control sweating. Keep in mind that the material of your layers will also determine the effect to you from the above scenario. Focus on clothing made from merino wool or specialized synthetics. These will allow the garment to remain somewhat insulative even though saturated with sweat. Cottons and cotton blends are a menace and can accelerate a hypothermic condition.
Strategies include those mentioned above:
Limit layers of clothing to only that which is needed when full exertion is achieved. For those who just can't suck it up for a few minutes when first starting to walk, wear only layers which can be quickly and easily removed. For instance, adding a poncho will add about a 15 degree F advantage to existing layers. It allows for good air circulation. As you warm up during the first 10 minutes of your walk, the poncho is easily removed and stashed into a side pocket of your pack.
Move as slow as you need to, within reason, to keep perspiration to a minimum. This may also mean stopping to allow your body to cool down. Even with a single, lightweight layer, some folks walking under load will tend to overheat. Keep monitoring yourself.
Keep an insulative layer, like a puffy down jacket or vest, near at hand so that if you are wetting-out while walking, you can put it on quickly when you stop for a break. Keep it in an outside pocket or on top of the other contents in your pack. A light puffy jacket or mid-weight fleece or a down vest works well here. The key is to keep this layer dry and to use it as a last resort when at rest. If this strategy is needed, do not continue walking until you have been able to stop sweating and you can achieve some level of dryness to your clothes.
In the above scenario, you actually become warmer by removing your saturated layers so that you only have on your dry insulative layer. Dig out a towel and dry off excess sweat as best you can. Wring out your other layers and let them start to dry. If you have a second shirt, put it on. Hang your wet things from your pack so that they can dry. After you have cooled down, and with your dry layer and your insulative layer on, walk slowly to avoid re-heating. You will make progress down the path, stay warm, while letting your wet layers become dry. The real goal at this point is to dry your layers, not achieve distance.
Do not discount the amount of added warmth a light scarf or bandanna or a buff will bring as it insulates your neck. Wearing one can make wearing less layers very comfortable. It will also be a good first line of defense against overheating and excess sweating by the ability to remove it, thus allowing the neck to act as a radiator in helping to shed body heat.
The type of headgear worn makes a big difference to one's heat loss or retention. A hat that works well for sun is not going to be the best choice for cold weather. In my view, even as good as synthetic fabrics are, wool (especially Merino wool) is king, as it is far less impacted by sweat affecting its insulative properties than most other materials. Some synthetic content will help the cap/beanie maintain its shape.
Even though wool weighs more than other types of insulation, you do not need a thick, heavy cap of wool to keep you warm. Wool is also far more breathable than many materials, which aids in heat control and regulation.
As with neck wear, a wool cap/beanie can be easily removed to assist with cooling the body to prevent overheating.
Much of the above is what I have used when mountain climbing at high altitudes. Patience and light, multiple layers are the key to preventing hypothermia when being active outdoors.
blog.gaiagps.com
temperature on the camino Francés is +9 in winter. this is not that cold.
Take it from an Arctic winter soldier.
