the transfer of heat from the body to the outside air somewhat as 

 a rubber glove prevents the jumping of electricity from a charged 

 wire to the hand. One of the best insulators is still air. It re- 

 tards the transfer of heat through it. That is why cold weather 

 clothing is designed to hold a considerable amount of air. A soft, 

 spongy material that holds thousands of little air cells between its 

 fibers is better than a tightly compressed material that holds very 

 little air. On the other hand, loose, air-holding material is not of 

 much use as long as the air is allowed to be blown through it by 

 the wind. For this reason an outer shell of tightly woven cotton 

 cloth is necessary to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. 



DESIGN 



Not only should the material used for arctic clothing be loosely 

 woven so it will hold plenty of air between its fibers, but it should 

 be resilient so that it does not pack down and become compressed. 

 Clothes must fit loosely. When they are tight, they contain little 

 air and do not insulate effectively. Use several thin layers instead 

 of one thick one ; additional insulation will be provided by the dead 

 air trapped between the layers, and clothing can then be removed 

 easily to maintain comfortable body temperature. The outer 

 layer should not only be windproof , but should also be large enough 

 to accommodate the maximum amount of clothing that may have 

 to be worn underneath it. Another important reason for wearing 

 loose clothes is that tight clothes impede the circulation of blood 

 in arms and legs. If circulation is cut off only slightly in the arms 

 or legs, they will soon grow cold and may freeze. This point is 

 especially important with footwear. When extra size shoes are 

 not available, it is much better to wear but one pair of socks if a 

 second pair means tight-fitting and uncomfortable shoes. 



UNDERCLOTHING 



Two-piece issue underwear is absorbent and light in weight and 

 permits the easy escape of perspiration. Be sure that it does not 

 bind at any point. Two-piece underwear permits the separate re- 

 moval of either drawers or shirt; if a man falls through ice or 

 wishes to strip to the waist, this is an advantage. 



FOOTWEAR 



Efficient footwear is probably the most important single item 

 of winter clothing. Except for the face, feet are the parts of 

 the body most likely to freeze. This is because shoes form a 



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