LESSON NO. 1
You should’ve gone to the Summer Olympics.
Let’s see how rah-rah you are after eyeing the tag on Marmot’s 8000 Meter Parka, a mere $575 at one sporting goods store. (Potential sponsors: I’m not in the Olympics, but I’m near them.) Gear is expensive, so get the most for your money. Think about a layering system, one that will warm you or cool you without much hassle.
First step is to …
LESSON NO. 2
… Establish “Base” Camp.
John Kim, Patagonia manager, has a cold-conquering plan: work inside out. Start with long underwear–your base layer–with a “wicking element.” This won’t absorb moisture; it’ll disperse it. That’s important: the more spread out moisture is, the more air can get to it. The more air can get to it, the quicker it dries. “Cotton kills,” says Kirk Stephens, manager of Salt Lake City’s REI store. “It’s a mantra in the outdoor industry.” With good reason. Cotton absorbs sweat. When you’re sweaty, you’re wet, and heat drains about 10 percent faster from your body. Cost of a midweight set: $65 to $80, and make sure it’s snug.
LESSON NO. 3
You Ain’t Amundsen.
The average high temperature at outdoor venues will be between 33 and 37 degrees during the day, says Mark Eubank, chief meteorologist for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. “It’s cold,” he says. “But you don’t have to dress in Arctic wear.” What you’ll want on top of the base layer is an insulating layer. Wool works, but fleece dries faster–and is warmer for its weight. Fleece’s bulk works much like that pink stuff does in your house: it traps warm air (but it’s much less itchy). Make sure this layer fits over the base layer: your heating system won’t work if the parts don’t mingle well. Pullover fleece: about $50 to $200 (the pricier stuff is “pile” fleece, which mimics animal fur).
LESSON NO. 4
Learn the Gore-y Details.
Your outer shell is your first line of defense; it’s also where things get high tech. Shells are nylon, but outfitters treat the fabric so that it’s windproof, waterproof (or water resistant) and breathable. Then they call the treated material Elements," “Omni-tech,” “Membrane”-or one you probably know, “Gore-tex.” Gore-tex adds about 30 percent to your price, however. Is it worth it? “I don’t think it is,” says Kim. His explanation: Gore-tex does have a better waterproofing ability. But it’s only substantial enough to be measured in a lab, not felt. Says Stephens, “There are other waterproof breathables”–like the ones mentioned above–“that are effective.” Patagonia’s shells go for between $180 to $460; for $10 you can buy some DWR, or Durable Water Repellent, a wash-in waterproofer.
LESSON NO. 5
Accessorize.
Your legs, since they’re constantly in use, stay warmer than your torso does–unless you’re standing around, which there could be a lot of at the park-and-rides. Consider a shell over your jeans; REI’s basic version starts at $60. Boots–Stephens likes Sorel and Kamik brands–should be waterproof, insulated and have soles an inch to two inches thick. They’ll cost around $75 to $100. Salt Lake gets about 10 inches of snow in February–but it’s a dry snow. Eubank expects six snowstorms during the Games, a “normal pattern.” (The season didn’t start normally. No snow fell until Thanksgiving, and then there was no snow the first half of January. Around Jan. 20 snow returned. “The ground is well covered,” Eubank says.) Your head should be, too. Stephens says the Balaclava-style hat–it covers the head and neck–is selling well, as are $1.50 disposable handwarmers to tuck inside ski gloves (or mittens). “It’s been busy,” he says. “We’re getting a fair number of the media coming in.” If they’re anything like me, they’ll need the help.
