news.library.ualberta.ca
  • BLOG HOME
  • About
    • Author Profiles
    • Five Things You Need to Know About the Library
    • Cinq choses à savoir sur la bibliothèque
  • Collections
  • Community
  • Wellness
  • Français
    • Cinq choses à savoir sur la bibliothèque
news.library.ualberta.ca
  • BLOG HOME
  • About
    • Author Profiles
    • Five Things You Need to Know About the Library
    • Cinq choses à savoir sur la bibliothèque
  • Collections
  • Community
  • Wellness
  • Français
    • Cinq choses à savoir sur la bibliothèque

Wellness

    Making the Most of Canadian Winters | Part I

    by Junelle Mah January 6, 2022
    written by Junelle Mah

    Ahhh, Canadian winter! There is nothing like that quiet, surreal, peaceful vibe that settles all around as snow falls around you…until the wind rolls through, destroys your tranquility and forces you inside. It’s not just the discomfort of winter conditions that keep us from exploring the outdoors. Dressing inappropriately for the cold can lead to serious illness, frostbite and hypothermia. With so much beauty and potential for enjoyment in winter activities, you can make the most of your Canadian winters with the proper clothing. Like any foe, one of the best ways to battle against the elements is with the proper armour.

    Sonya without proper layers…
    Sonya with proper layers!

    Creating a layering system with your clothes will not only help protect you from the elements (low temperatures, snow and wind), but also ensure that you stay comfortable in the process. To ‘lay this all out’, I draw on my previous role as a staff trainer with a Canadian outdoor retailer and my time in the University of Alberta’s Human Ecology Clothing & Textiles program (my C&T time was short-lived, thanks to my discovery of their Family Ecology program). And because we at the library love our research, I will reference a few items from our library collection, courtesy of our subject guide for Human Ecology: Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture.

    Part I of this series includes information about what our bodies need to be comfortable outdoors; the basics of layers and what your garments should be made of. Part II focuses on accessorizing for winter.

    The Science of Comfort
    Before we get to the concepts of layering, it is important to understand some of the yummy science involved. In their study on the predictors of human thermophysiological comfort, Awais et al. (2020) simulated how the body regulates heat in order to consider the thermal comfort and characteristics of the garments folks would wear in cold environments.

    Awais et al. noted that the human body thermoregulates itself to stay around 37 degrees Celsius (give or take 0.5 degrees) and clothing acts to balance out that heat with the various environmental factors you encounter; the most decisive of these include air permeability, thermal insulation and water vapour resistance (2020).

    Think of maintaining the perfect temperature through a pocket of air that roams around the surface of your skin; this is called a microclimate. As Awais et al. explain,  the quality of your microclimate is a strong determinant of your comfort; it is influenced by your body’s metabolism, (again) the environment in which you are in and the type, design and drape of your garments (2020). So, in other words, to keep your microclimate happy and satisfied while outdoors, you must pay attention to the finer details of what you put on your body!

    Layering: The Basics
    Layering is the careful consideration of what kind of garments you put on, what they are made of and in which order they are worn. Outdoor enthusiasts rely on three kinds of layers: base, mid and outer. These layers are made of specific fibres that are uniquely constructed.

    Base layers (commonly referred to as long underwear) are applied directly to the skin and are responsible for pulling moisture (sweat) away from the body and pushing it towards the fabric’s surface for evaporation. These garments are usually made of polyester or wool. Polyester fibres are smooth and allow moisture to spread across the fabric’s surface and evaporate, while wool’s fibres are hollow and barbed which allow it to pull in moisture and retain heat.

    Mid layers are applied next; they are your insulator. They keep all that amazing warm air your body has generated nice and close. They are generally made of polyester and some can utilize two layers with an insulating material sandwiched between. Examples of the insulating material could be synthetic batting or down.

    The final and outermost layers will repel external precipitation and wind, and will also allow moisture from the inner layers to escape and retain heat. These layers are synthetic, usually nylon and/or polyester, with an undetectable durable water repellent (outdoor enthusiasts know this as DWR) layer applied to the face of the fabric; this helps the garment shed precipitation.

    Getting our layers right will take a bit of practice, especially as the season begins to get chillier. Everyone’s tolerance, needs and preferences can be different. For example, I have friends who are walking furnaces; they can cruise around in just a light insulated jacket and jeans at -10 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile I’m rocking a 500-fill down jacket, insulated skirt and three pairs of leg-warmers over my leggings. And because I’m a bit of a wuss, I tend to over-do it. I wear too many layers until I get a handle on what my body needs. I usually carry a small daypack on my excursions which will allow me to stow my additional layers and a snack (or five). 

    Thanks for joining us on Part I of this cozy adventure! Part II includes: how those layers can be applied to cold weather activities, the necessity of accessories for your extremities and a few other juicy tidbits that I’ve got hidden up my thoroughly insulated sleeve.

    Love us on the blog? Then you’ll love us on social media! Check us out at @uofalibrary on Instagram & Twitter!

    References
    Awais, M., Krzywinski, S., & Wendt, E. (2020). A novel modeling and simulation approach for the prediction of human thermophysiological comfort. Textile Research Journal, 91(5/6), 691-795.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517520955227

    January 6, 2022 0 comment
    1 FacebookLinkedinRedditWhatsappEmail
  • Stress Relief Resources at the Library

    by Guest Author December 3, 2021
    by Guest Author December 3, 2021

    By Kelsey Kropiniski With final exams being right around the corner, us UAlberta Library workers wanted to drop in with a few mental health and stress relief resources that we offer here at the library!  My name is Kelsey, and I work in Rutherford library as a second-year Masters of Library and Information Studies student. I think it’s pretty safe to say that for most folks here on campus, finals season is…

  • Unwind your Mind on World Health Day

    by Guest Author April 7, 2021
    by Guest Author April 7, 2021

    Happy World Health Day! Were these normal times, everyone would be hunkering down in library spaces for that final push before end of term and our friends at the Healthy Campus Unit would have several fun and healthful diversions set up in their Wisdom Corners. Sadly, the majority of us are still working from home and we can’t take advantage of on-site Unwind Your Mind activities. In spite of this challenge, the…

  • Feel-good reads and Favourites

    by Elisabet Ingibergsson February 11, 2021
    by Elisabet Ingibergsson February 11, 2021

    Do you need a break from your studies? Why not curl up with a good book! Take a mental health break and escape into the pages of one (or more) of these suggested books from our library staff. Happy reading! Click on the “Link to catalogue” caption below the book covers to check on availability and place a hold. Some of these titles also have either e-books, or movie versions and we…

  • Introducing the IOR Colouring Book

    by Guest Author December 17, 2020
    by Guest Author December 17, 2020

    As the fall term comes to an end, and we draw closer to the end of this challenging year, everyone deserves to take a break, a breath and do something that brings us joy. For some of us that might mean an invigorating outdoor adventure, while others may prefer some cozy, quiet time with a good book, perhaps even… a colouring book. If you are amongst the artistically inclined, or long for…

  • De-Stressing Tips from Library Staff | Part II

    by Junelle Mah December 4, 2020
    by Junelle Mah December 4, 2020

    It is widely known that library staff are always willing to offer helpful tips and advice…call it an occupational hazard! Lucky for us, we received such a wealth of self-care tips from our colleagues that we had to create a second part to our Fall 2020 Staff De-stressing Tips blog! To catch up on Part I, take a peek here… otherwise sit back, relax, and enjoy Part II! Eva, Information Services Specialist…

  • De-Stressing Tips from Library Staff | Part I

    by Junelle Mah December 3, 2020
    by Junelle Mah December 3, 2020

    First, a giant shout-out to everyone for all the hard work done thus far in our Fall 2020 semester. We are truly proud of you! We invite you to take some time to rest, relax, and focus on a little self-care before you battle on to end this term on a strong note. Our lovely library staffers offer up their de-stressing tips in Part I of a two-part special! David, Academic Librarian…

  • A COLLECTION OF HOLIDAY FLOWERS: FESTIVE PLANTS TO COZY UP YOUR BOOK NOOK

    by Guest Author November 26, 2020
    by Guest Author November 26, 2020

    This post is written by a guest blogger, Hailey MacMillan. Hailey is a practicum student who comes to us from MacEwan’s Library and Information Technology program. She is currently working with us as a part of the Library Publishing and Digital Production Services team. Hailey’s favorite reading nook is her living room loveseat, which sits by a south-facing window. Hailey likes to read thrillers and suspense novels, but will occasionally throw in…

  • Happy World Hello Day!

    by Junelle Mah November 19, 2020
    by Junelle Mah November 19, 2020

    A simple greeting can open connections and communication between people. It can be a one word, a smile, a nod. Today, along with our University of Alberta community, we celebrate World Hello Day (a little early, we know). Taken from the University’s Days of Action site, “World Hello Day—is a global event with 180 countries taking part—created in 1973 to respond to the conflict between Egypt and Israel. Using communication instead of…

  • More (Virtual) Dogs in the Library sessions!

    by Guest Author November 18, 2020
    by Guest Author November 18, 2020

    Good news! We’ve added two more Dogs in the Library virtual sessions to help ease some late-fall term woes. We invite all members of the UAlberta community to take a break and visit with our four-legged pals from CAAWLS and their humans over Zoom. Bookmark this post and come back on Tuesday, November 24 between noon to 1:30pm and then again on Tuesday, December 8th, same pup time, same pup channel, to…

Newer Posts
Older Posts

Archives

  • September 2025
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018

Categories

  • Awards
  • Borrowing
  • Collection Connection
  • Collections
  • Community
  • Digital Collections
  • Digital Services
  • Dogs in the Library
  • Events
  • Exhibits
  • Français
  • News
  • Special Collections
  • Staff
  • Wellness

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

@2020- University of Alberta Library
The University of Alberta is situated on traditional Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis peoples. Amiskwaciwâskahikan / ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ / Edmonton


Back To Top