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I was recently reading an article on UKClimbing by Andy Kirkpatrick about clothing in winter. It talks about vapour barriers: I’ve played around with vapour barrier socks over many years, and ...
#1: Post edited
What are the advantages of a vapour barrier?
<p>I was recently reading an article on <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=6903">UKClimbing by Andy Kirkpatrick</a> about clothing in winter. It talks about vapour barriers:</p><blockquote><p>I’ve played around with vapour barrier socks over many years, andthink just having a cheap thin shopping bag next to your skin, then agood sock over the top, is a no brainer on any super cold, or extendedroutes. Having it next to your skin means you don’t end up withstinking liner socks, and you also have a little more friction betweenthe layers when front pointing. You really get the advantages from avapour barrier system when your day becomes extended, say that 12 hourwinter route on the Tacul draws on to a 24 hour epic, where saturatedsocks suck the heat out of your feet with the combination of nighttimetemperatures and fatigue.</p></blockquote><p>I don't really get this, I would of thought that keeping moisture next to your skin would be a bad thing. </p><p>What's the thinking behind this? When should they be used?</p>
- <p>I was recently reading an article on <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=6903">UKClimbing by Andy Kirkpatrick</a> about clothing in winter. It talks about vapour barriers:</p>
- <blockquote>
- <p>I’ve played around with vapour barrier socks over many years, and
- think just having a cheap thin shopping bag next to your skin, then a
- good sock over the top, is a no brainer on any super cold, or extended
- routes. Having it next to your skin means you don’t end up with
- stinking liner socks, and you also have a little more friction between
- the layers when front pointing. You really get the advantages from a
- vapour barrier system when your day becomes extended, say that 12 hour
- winter route on the Tacul draws on to a 24 hour epic, where saturated
- socks suck the heat out of your feet with the combination of nighttime
- temperatures and fatigue.</p>
- </blockquote>
- <p>I don't really get this, I would of thought that keeping moisture next to your skin would be a bad thing. </p>
- <p>What's the thinking behind this? When should they be used?</p>