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• Practice the W4 Warmth Management System: Wear loose layers of clothing that serve warmth management by Wicking perspiration moisture away from your body, trapping Warmth in loft and layers, stopping Windchill, and resisting environmental Water penetration while allowing perspiration moisture to escape. Don’t forget layering head, hands, and feet.
• Actively adjust clothing layers to release excess warmth and perspiration moisture. Outer layers should allow easy torso ventilation.
• Actively adjust clothing layers to retain needed warmth before feeling chilled.
• Moderate your activity to avoid cycles of sweating followed by chilling.
• When your feet are cold, put on your warm hat and warm scarf! Net thermal loss may lead to cold appendages first.
• Your outer layers should fit loosely allowing movement, they should not squeeze the loft (insulating thickness) out of your inner layers.
• Outer layer fabrics should breath allowing water vapor escape.
• Outermost shell layers should resist moisture absorption from dewy vegetation, melting snow, and steady rain.
• Wear synthetic or woolen clothing when exposed to cold and moisture rather than cotton, avoid cotton. Cotton holds dampness against your skin chilling you.
• Warm your cold hands using glove liner changes, dry mittens and whole body warmth management, not chemical hand-warmers. Retail hand warmers are for comfort, not survival.
• Blazing campfires are not a suitable substitute for thermoregulation readiness in remote areas. If you need a giant fire to stay warm, you are under prepared for the conditions.
• Warm yourself from within for survival–warm yourself from the outside for comfort. Activity and warm sweet drinks warm you from within. Fuel your internal furnace with good fuel.
• Stay dry—stay alive.