Building up layers, to keep warm is vital in the winter, these layers will help you feel more comfortable especially if you work in cold environments or have to travel a lot in cold climates. Layering will provide pockets of warmth to the body and retain this heat with the specialist fabrics used in the garment. Clothes alone will not keep your body warm and comfortable, consuming warm and hot drinks regularly will maintain good body temperature. Exercising during breaks even a quick walk will keep good blood flow circulation.
At www.happythreads.co.uk we have the some of the best thermal healthcare tops to keep you warm in these wintery conditions, giving you that extra comfort as well as warmth. The Koi Josh Thermal tee for men and the Liv Thermal Knit tee for women are the perfect options, they are made of 60% cotton and 40% polyester. As you will see later in this article these two fabrics are very effective on their own against the cold but certainly even more when combined together.
There are three types of layering, base, insulation, mid & protective outer layer. The most common types of fabric that are used are Synthetic, Wool and Cotton.
1. Synthetic Thermal Fabrics – this would be the most preferred base layer fabric that would be used by Thermal Manufacturers. Unique mixtures of Polyester, Nylon, Spandex and Lycra form excellent layers of heat retention and prevent moisture from forming and staying on the base layer. These fabrics also allow moisture to travel through to the next layer instead of lodging at the base, (called wicking) When selecting a thermal garment for the winter one keep this as a first preference as products with this fabric can be purchased for a reasonable price from any supplying retailers.
2. Wool Thermal Fabrics – another popular fabric used for base layer protection and insulation Merino Wool has the qualities many people prefer very soft and warm. Merino Wool comes from a sheep breed originating from Spain in the 12th century they have a light wool layer during the summer and grow a secondary thicker layer over the base for the winter months, they then shed during spring. This fabric is probably more suited to be an insulation layer due to its lightness and breathability.
3. Cotton thermal Fabrics – a perfect mid layer protective fabric, warm and very suitable for indoor use, not good outdoors or as a base layer. Cotton is reasonably priced by most retailers. Slow to dry and sometimes bulky as an over garment it does loose heat if wet. However, it is hard to find thermal clothing without this fabric somewhere in it so a word of advice is to find one with good mixtures in it, remember not good for outdoor use and not good as a base layer as it absorbs the moisture instead of letting it run through, more suited to warmer conditions. Try our thermal ranges at
4. Eat & Drink Healthy – eating Soups and Stews for lunch breaks will keep your body temperature constantly warm, try not to rely on tea or coffee as high concentrations of caffeine can increase blood flow to the skin which releases heat from the body. A good start to the day is eating porridge which is full of carbohydrates and will insulating your body.
5. Exercise – regular exercise is very important as it keeps circulation going especially if you are sitting at a desk, get up! and try to walk around preferably outside if weather permitting and feel the blood warm your body, it will also boost your mood if you are feeling the winter blues.
Related Links :
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/winterhealth/Pages/KeepWarmKeepWell.aspx
http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/health/healthadvice/healthcare/keepwarm.htm