Winter Dressing - What to Wear to Keep Your Butt Warm!

It's that time of year again when it gets cold, damp, and dark in northeastern Poland. Morale plummets, walking the dog can be a chore, and the rotation, the opportunity to guard tracks or borders, or a simple night out in the woods makes you look in the closet.

In this episode, I'll explain why your grandmother was right when she said you should dress in layers. This post should explain why a jacket from Temu with a "silver lining" isn't the best option.

For years, two armies have been leaders in layered clothing: the British and the American. We'll be basing our equipment on theirs. Where do these layers come from? Imagine that layers provide year-round regulation. With one thick winter jacket, even the warmest in the world, imagine the situation: chopping wood for a fire. You have two options: take off your jacket and freeze, or chop in your jacket and overheat. Layers will help regulate your temperature.

So let's start one by one: how many layers? The US Army assumes 7, but recently they've even started talking about 9 (including snow mask).

However, let's assume for the purposes of this post that there will be 7 of them, just like in the US Army, I will try to present various solutions from the army and the civilian market.

LEVEL 1 – a layer that provides light insulation, but its main purpose is to wick away sweat. It's no wonder that mountain hiking enthusiasts call cotton "the rag that kills." Cotton underwear accumulates sweat in the groin and back, causing rapid cooling during the first stop after prior exertion. Look for synthetic materials with appropriate fabrics like Polatrec or Coolmax. It's important that the fabric is lightweight and breathable. It's worth mentioning US Army contracts (LVL 1), Aclima mesh (which, despite its incredible usefulness, is best worn in the dark – Google it and see why), DWS underwear, and British Army T-shirts made with Coolmax. Among civilian companies, local brands like Brubeck and Spaio stand out.

LEVEL 2 - An insulating layer that fits further under the uniform. Its purpose is to keep us warm in cold weather. It is designed to retain heat. It must be more spacious than the tight-fitting LVL1 and small enough to fit under the uniform. The Polish Army unfortunately failed in its underwear design, making it difficult to wear a winter suit over a summer suit, so the final solution was to issue the 546/MON insulating garm. Unfortunately, this design is not very successful, as the garm's construction is comparable to the more built-up LVL 1, so it consistently provides no insulation. Our colleagues with black berets from the armored forces had slightly better luck, as the 635/MON insulating underwear is closest to our requirements. Among the solutions available on the market from other armies, we recommend the LVL 2 US Army, the British Polar pully PCS, and  Aclima from the Scandinavian forces in a thicker wool version. Similarly, Brubeck is once again a good product. You can also find NFM products like HSO, but they're a rarity on the market. Also, beware of unhelpful product names that draw "inspiration" from original military items; buying this product from Mil-Tec or Helikon will quickly alienate you from the original LVL 2. Once again, you can't "cheat" on fabric. You can also check out M-tac—some of their products are also made with Polartec.

LEVEL 3 - We'll skip the uniform here and move on to sub-zero weather, thus reaching the main warming layer: fleece or another thin synthetic layer. This is something you'll wear over your uniform, but also underneath a softshell or raincoat. What this means is that insulation will be just as important as breathability. From the military, it's worth taking a look at the fantastic American LVL 3 fleeces (they look like a teddy bear, keep you warm, and let air through – WIND TOO – remember, this isn't a jacket). Similarly, fleeces from the Austrian Bundesheer, the British Army, and finally the French zip-up versions will meet our requirements. The Ministry of National Defense (MON) used to issue a very nice fleece with camouflage inserts with its protective clothing, but unfortunately, this has been replaced by an unfortunate softshell whose thermal properties are mediocre at best. Civilian versions? Here, I'd focus on synthetics in an era of expensive fleeces. We can recommend Helikon - Wolfhound or light insulation from Arcteryx or Outdoor Research if someone wants to spend more money.

LEVEL 4 and 5 – I decided to add them together. In the US Army, they are divided into windshirts and softshells, but in this post, and for the purposes of discussing layers, we'll treat them as one – windproof and quick-drying. Wind is another element that can be a real pain, even in summer. Anyone who hasn't suddenly gotten cold on a sailboat, in the middle of a field, or climbing a mountain in above-freezing temperatures doesn't know how crucial this element is, even in summer, when the weather can suddenly change. It's important that it blocks the wind, dries quickly, and accommodates previous layers. It's not so much essential in winter as from spring to autumn. It's important that it can be quickly compressed and stowed in a cargo pocket. The US Army's LVL 4 and 5, the British MVP lightweight, and... that's all for the popular military items. Unfortunately, the rest are transplants from tourism and will mainly be Helikon products (Windrunner or Trooper) or lightweight softshells from Outdoor Research, such as the Stealth Hoody. Beware of fleece-lined softshell jackets. They absorb sweat and dry slowly. They're fine for the shooting range or car trips. They won't be of use in a layering system.

LEVEL 6 – what we love, a raincoat. Popular Polish Ceratex products, i.e., Protective Clothing of the Ministry of National Defense, Goretex jackets, and other clothing that will protect against heavy rain, snow, and other weather conditions. Their purpose is to protect against wind and water, as well as wick away moisture. Military surplus fans are certainly familiar with French CCE camouflage jackets, American Goretex jackets, and Austrian Goretex jackets, as well as DWS sets from Arlen. Danish M84 sets and British MVP are also good options. Unfortunately, the civilian market won't be easy on your wallet. Any clothing that doesn't retain sweat but also blocks rain costs a fortune :) Carinthia, Arcteryx Leaf, Outdoor Research, Outrider. See for yourself and judge.

LEVEL 7 – an increasingly popular resting jacket in the Polish Army since the days of border crisis. Issued in England in the 1990s, polish issued versions have been in use here for about a year (and only for personnel on the Border). Its primary purpose is to retain all escaping heat without taking up three-quarters of a 100-liter backpack. Down jackets made from Pertex, Climashield, Apex, G-loft, and Primaloft are the best. Ultimately, they are designed to provide warmth in extremely low temperatures and after strenuous physical activity. Popular military surplus jackets include: softie jackets, US Army LVL 7 jackets, Dutch down jackets, and DWS jackets manufactured by Arlen, Drwal, and Callida (and once by Pajak, using natural down, but these are now a thing of the past). The civilian market is trying to keep up, and it's worth mentioning the LVL 7 from Helikon (unfortunately, it's poorly breathable), jackets from Snugpack, and most recently, from Blochl (the same problem as Helikon). For the first time, I won't recommend  Carinthia because, unfortunately, the jacket's durability is too low for its price. 
When choosing jackets, it's important that the seventh layer accommodates everything else, plus, if possible, covers the tactical vest. Jackets made of natural feathers are warmer, but they quickly lose their effectiveness when wet (including from sweat).

A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL – for extended activities in temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius, anorak jackets (pulled over the head) are also worth considering, specifically from Buffalo as well as British Army's PCS Lightweight Thermal Jacket. These jackets provide good ventilation while moving and combine layers 4 and 5. Unfortunately, their usefulness diminishes outside of British weather (wet, cold, and windy, but not freezing).