Planning on doing some real back country hiking, skiing or snowboarding while it's still winter in most of the north and the high country? If you want to be sure you come back home again, without frost bite or a touch of snow blindness, dress for success - with style and function! Check the weather before you leave but make sure you're ready for sudden storms and changes in temperature.

From toe to head, it's best to dress in layers. You may want to start with a basic wool sock, since wool keeps you warm even when wet, or upgrade to a wool blend sock designed for hiking or one of the new eco-friendly poly blends. Next are your boots. You'll want sturdy hiking boots, insulated and waterproof.

Moving up a little, protect your legs with today's long underwear, a base layer with honeycomb fabric or stick with wool. Cover those up with an outdoor pant designed for comfort but with all the pockets and gaiters you'll need. If you want more coverage, try a windbreaker-type fabric over the top but bear in mind, you need to be able to move, and you want to let air out.

For your upper body, you'll need a base layer in a poly blend or a wool crewneck. Top that with your favorite sturdy shirt. If you'll be exerting yourself with climbing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, your next item should be a down vest. It will keep your torso warm, but not too warm, while allowing freedom of movement. Finish off the top with a down jacket, a lighter weight one or for a daylight-only adventure, maybe a lightweight shell. If you're at a high altitude or it's just darn cold, you may want to go for a real parka.

Don't forget the accessories. You'll need gloves, a good fleece hat or a woolen one and very good sunglasses or goggles. Along with the necessities in your pack, these should keep you warm, dry and safe in a wilderness adventure.

One of the most interesting technology advances in the realm of fabrics and textiles is Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex fabric is fairly amazing. It is meant to be breathable and waterproof at the same time. Gore-Tex is used in a variety of products - from ski gloves to waders to coats to shoes. Indeed, Gore-Tex is very popular in hiking shoes and boots. This is due to the fact that it can help keep your feet dry in a variety of situations.

The Technology Behind Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is a revolutionary fabric with proprietary technology.However, there are some basics as to how it works. Gore-Tex is comprised of three layers: an outer fabric, a Gore-Tex membrane and an inner liner. Each of these layers contributes to the qualities of a windproof and waterproof fabric that is ideal for outdoor use. The secret, as you may guess, is in the Gore-Tex membrane. Yes, the outer fabric and the inner liner are durable and breathable (they have to be in order to keep Gore-Tex from becoming unduly uncomfortable), but the
Gore-Tex membrane is made on a microscopic level.

Using technology that allows for things to be constructed on a micro level, the membrane consists of pores. The Gore-Tex Web site points out that each pore used in the membrane is 20,000 times smaller than a water drop. One thing that Gore-Tex can't save you from, though, is what happens when you get to a point where the water does get in. I learned this the hard way. When I was hiking, I had to wade into water that went half way up my calf.

Now the Gore-Tex in my hiking shoes kept my toes dry, but there wasn't a "seal" to keep the water from getting in through the tops of my shoes. And, the water did seep down from the top. The main downside is that once water gets in, it stays in for a while.

Gore-Tex Shoes vs. Non-Gore-Tex Shoes

Even with that one drawback, I still really like Gore-Tex shoes (and I got some Gore-Tex-lined snow boots recently as well). They protect my feet from most instances of getting wet, and the insulation keeps them warm. The fabric is breathable, so it doesn't trap too much sweat in my shoe. And, even when I am wading in water, my feet don't get nearly as wet as they did when I had hiking shoes without the Gore-Tex.

There are other waterproof shoes that don't use Gore-Tex. However, many of them don't have the same technology that allows for a breathable fabric. A lot of the time you either get the breathability of mesh - and wet feet - or you have to give up the breathability to keep your feet dry. And if it's hot, giving up that breathability can eventually lead to uncomfortable feet as the sweat is trapped by your waterproof hiking shoes. Gore-Tex is by no means perfect. Water can find its way in, and the fabric isn't as breathable as mesh. But Gore-Tex does combine the best of both worlds, allowing for a shoe that is reasonably comfortable.