High-performance outer and underwear it\'s easier than ever before to stay warm and dry--without excessive bulk that might restrict your movement and casting--in the worst wet or cold weather. If you can dress to survive bad weather, you can often have a much greater degree of solitude and sometimes the best fishing and rafting of the year.

Never wear blue jeans, sweatpants, or any cotton material under your breathable garments if you expect to stay warm. Cotton soaks up moisture, has very little or no insulation value when wet, and if it is next to your skin, the dampness will chill you to the bone. Also it can be difficult to dry. Neoprene is designed to lay next to the skin by adding a layer underneath you retard the insulating ability.
The clothing layers should consist of several different types of fabrics. Polypropylene or other hydrophobic synthetic fabrics move the moisture (sweat) away from your body to the outside of the layer, reducing evaporative cooling and keeping you dry and comfortable. Wool or synthetic pile/fleece fabrics don\'t absorb water so they keep you warm even if they get wet. Pile also dries very quickly. A wool sweater or pile jacket provides warmth on a chilly evening. Nylon Windshells reduce convective heat loss. For raingear, coated nylon is lightweight and works well. Waterproof-breathable fabrics are also possible but are expensive.
Combinations of these types of fabrics creates a good layering system. The purpose of a layering system is to be able to mix and match the layers of insulation to match the weather conditions and your activity level to maintain a comfortable body temperature without excess sweating (which can lead to heat loss). ). Throughout the day you will need to layer up and layer down as conditions and activity levels change. Typically in the morning and evening when it is colder, you will need many layers on.

Base Layer: Next to the skin your base layer should wick sweat away from your body to keep your skin dry. Cotton should not be used - save your t-shirts for other purposes. Good long underwear pieces are appropriate made from fabrics such as Thermion, polypropylene, Thermax, Thinsulate, and silk. The inner layer keeps the skin dry and comfortable.

Insulating layer: This layer will keep you warm and can be shed once you warm up. Wool, fleece, pile, down in a jacket, shirt or vest Over the base layer you want one or more garments to hold in your body heat. These can be synthetic or wool fabric pieces of varying weight and thickness or a neoprene garment, or any combination of.

• Wool: Absorbs up to 30% of the weight in water while still maintaining its insulating value. Wool is also breathable, light-weight and gives good freedom of movement. Wool is a natural fiber that is renewable.

• Synthetic: The synthetic fibers won’t absorb moisture, but rather allow the water to radiate away from your body, keeping you more comfortable as you generate heat while paddling, rowing, fishing.
   
• Neoprene: Neoprene is a closed cell rubber material that is an excellent insulator. It also offers impact protection as well as extra body flotation. Thicker neoprene will be warmer but more restrictive to your body movements. Remember putting a layer under your neoprene may retard it\'s ability to insulate. Always add a layer on the top not under.

Outer layer: The Outer Layer provides some insulation and protection. To protect you from the elements, a windproof and water resistant jacket it should be worn loosely, and is essential in case of bad weather. Outer layers come in many shapes and sizes, but there are three main types: splash wear, dry wear and semi-dry wear. Dry Suits for rafting and waders for fishing should be of breathable material allowing the moisture to escape.

Head layer: More than 30 percent of your body heat is lost from the head. Keep your head warm in even the most severe conditions by using the same layering system you would with the rest of your body. A polypropylene balaclava as a first layer, covering your head, neck and face. Cover with a wool, fleece or polypropylene ski hat or cap. Gortex or like product added protection from wind and wetness. Sleep with your head covered. Carry an extra hat with you just in case a layer gets wet or what you are wearing still isn\'t warm enough.

Layering your Feet: You should wear a lightweight synthetic liner sock against your foot which helps pass moisture away from your foot. On top of this you wear a wool/nylon blend hiking sock. Having two sock layers means that your socks will slide against each other so that the friction from your boots is between the sock layers rather than against your skin (friction against the skin leads to blisters). People wonder why you should wear two socks. Since wool does not absorb water it passes the moisture from your foot outwards, keeping your foot dryer. If your feet stay damp, they get wrinkled and are more prone to blisters.

Questions to ask yourself before boating in cold water:

1. What are the air temperatures and how cold is the water?
   a. Add the water temperature to the air temperature, you need a total of 120 degrees to shed your layers.
   b. Cold water is estimated to be around and under the temperature of 70 degrees.  However, this will vary in each case due to the specific circumstances and physical condition of the person involved.
2. How comfortable have you been at those temperatures?
   a. Cold water robs the body\'s heat 32 times faster than cold air.
   b. Normal body temperature of course, is 98.6.  Shivering and the sensation of cold can begin when the body temperature lowers to approximately 96.5.  Amnesia can begin to set in at approximately 89.9°F (32.2°C), unconsciousness at 82.4°F (28°C) and death at approximately 79 degrees.
3. Be sure to check the weather forecast?
   a. Streams and rivers can rise rapidly with large amounts of rain or snow melt.
4. How experienced are your boating buddies?
   a. Always keep one boat in sight in front and back, unless you are the last boat.
   b. Knowledge of Swiftwater rescue, z-drag, hypothermia, good scene.
   c. Carry a whistle, make sure everyone has one, Carabineers and Prusik rope, Throw Bag, Flip Lines, Knowledge of Knots.
   d. Always wear your life jacket.
5. How are your self-rescue skills?
   a. Stay calm remember, you\'re number one, so if the gear, is taking you somewhere where you don\'t want to be, let it go. You can replace the gear; but can\'t replace you. Make sure you keep your feet up. If you keep your feet and point to downstream, you\'re less likely to get a foot entrapment. Your feet wards off rocks much better than your head.
   b. Make sure you get proper river rescue training, have some people give you some instructions so you know how to self-rescue.
6. How easily can you get to land and warm up, and change to dry clothing?
   a. Dress for the worst-case scenario you may face, usually a long swim.
   b. Have apparel that you can layer together to adjust to changing conditions.
   c. Bring high-energy snacks and lots of liquids. A thermos of something hot is good thing.

This is article is intended as suggestions not as a manual there are may more subjects that need to be addressed. With that I will leave you with two words Layer, Layer, and Breathable.