Abstract:
The fundamental criterion for clothing comfort of cold weather garments is dictated by insulation and permeability (breathability) to maintain a warm dry skin for the active wearer. This chapter reviews water vapour and moisture transport from the skin through clothing to the environment in cold weather and its dependence on clothing thermal and evaporative resistances and layering in cold clothing designs. The chapter then describes the mechanisms and physical model of microclimate (skin-adjacent air layer) ventilation in cold weather apparel designed for active people. It emphasizes factors affecting enhanced ventilation through controllable clothing apertures, clothing physical properties, size of microclimate air layer, and human motion including frequency and swing of limbs. Finally, the chapter forwards recommendations for design of versatile-adjustable clothing for highly active people and future research trends to improve ensemble design and develop convenient tools for assessing clothing ventilation and performance. © 2009 Woodhead Publishing Limited All rights reserved.