Weather & Wardrobe Glossary
A complete glossary of weather-dressing vocabulary — fabric types, layering terms, weather phenomena, and care vocabulary.
- Base Layer — The garment worn next to the skin, designed to wick sweat away from the body.
- Mid Layer — The middle insulating layer in a three-layer system, designed to trap warm air close to the body.
- Shell Layer — The outermost layer in a layering system, designed to block wind and water.
- Merino Wool — A breed of sheep producing fine wool fibers (17-24 microns) that are soft enough to wear next to skin.
- Fill Power — A measure of down quality based on the volume one ounce of down occupies when fully fluffed.
- DWR — Durable Water Repellent — a chemical finish applied to outerwear that makes water bead up and roll off.
- Gore-Tex — A waterproof, breathable membrane technology used in technical outerwear.
- Wind Chill — The felt temperature when air movement strips heat from exposed skin.
- Heat Index — The felt temperature in hot weather, accounting for humidity.
- UV Index — A 0-11+ scale measuring the strength of ultraviolet radiation from the sun at a given location and time.
- UPF — Ultraviolet Protection Factor — a rating system for the UV-blocking ability of fabric.
- SPF — Sun Protection Factor — a rating system for sunscreen's effectiveness against UVB radiation.
- Linen — Fabric made from flax fibers, known for breathability and cooling properties in hot weather.
- Fleece — A synthetic fabric (typically polyester) brushed to create a fuzzy, insulating texture.
- Moisture Wicking — The property of a fabric that pulls sweat away from the skin to its outer surface where it can evaporate.
- GSM — Grams per square meter — a measure of fabric weight.
- Softshell — A flexible, breathable jacket fabric designed to block wind without the stiffness of a hard shell.
- Hard Shell — A waterproof, breathable jacket with a membrane that fully blocks water.
- PrimaLoft — A synthetic insulation that maintains warmth when wet and dries quickly.
- Feels-Like Temperature — The temperature that the air actually feels like to the human body, accounting for wind chill or heat index.
- Balaclava — A close-fitting head covering that exposes only the eyes (or eyes and mouth).
- Neck Gaiter — A tube of fabric worn around the neck that can be pulled up over the lower face.
- Pit Zips — Vertical zippers under the arms of a jacket that allow venting without exposing the body to weather.
- Wicking Fabric — Fabric engineered to move moisture from the skin's surface to the outer face of the garment.
- Puffer Jacket — An insulated jacket with quilted compartments holding down or synthetic insulation.
- Parka — A long, insulated, hooded coat designed for severe cold.
- Trench Coat — A water-resistant, knee-length coat originally designed for British soldiers in WWI trenches.
- Peacoat — A short, double-breasted wool coat originally designed for sailors.
- Chelsea Boot — An ankle-high leather boot with elastic side panels and no laces.
- Chukka Boot — An ankle-high leather or suede boot with two or three pairs of eyelets.
- Oxford Shoe — A formal lace-up shoe with closed lacing.
- Derby Shoe — A lace-up shoe with open lacing.
- Loafer — A slip-on dress shoe without laces.
- Cold Snap — A sudden, sharp drop in temperature, usually paired with significant wind.
- Heat Wave — A sustained period of unusually high temperatures, often paired with humidity.
- Ten Essentials — A standard list of items every hiker should carry on every trip, regardless of length.
- Thru-Hiking — Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end in a single continuous trip.
- Polartec — A brand of synthetic fleece and technical fabrics widely used in outdoor and military clothing.
- Synthetic Down — Insulation made of polyester fibers engineered to mimic down's warmth and compressibility.
- Seam Tape — Heat-bonded tape applied over stitched seams on waterproof garments to prevent leakage.
- Layering — The practice of wearing multiple thin garments rather than a single thick one for temperature management.
- Convertible Pants — Hiking pants with zip-off legs that convert to shorts.
- Wadding — Soft fibrous material used to add bulk and insulation to quilted garments.
- Selvedge Denim — Denim woven on traditional shuttle looms, producing a self-finished edge.
- Raw Denim — Denim that has not been pre-washed, pre-faded, or treated.
- Twill — A weave pattern producing diagonal lines, used in denim, chinos, and many wool fabrics.
- Chambray — A lightweight cotton fabric resembling denim, often used for casual shirts.
- Seersucker — A puckered cotton fabric with alternating smooth and crinkled stripes, used in warm-weather clothing.
- Gabardine — A tightly woven twill fabric, often used in trench coats and dressy trousers.
- Cashmere — Soft, lightweight wool from cashmere goats, prized for warmth and softness.
- Shetland Wool — Wool from Shetland sheep, used in characteristically textured British sweaters.
- Lambswool — Wool from a lamb's first shearing, prized for softness.
- Weft and Warp — The two perpendicular sets of threads that compose a woven fabric.
- Thinsulate — A synthetic insulation made by 3M, used in gloves, boots, and outerwear.
- Vibram — An Italian brand of rubber outsoles used widely in hiking boots and dress shoes.
- Goodyear Welt — A boot and shoe construction method that allows for resoling.
- Salt Staining — The white crusty residue left on leather after exposure to road salt.
- Relative Humidity — The amount of water vapor in the air, expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible at that temperature.
- Dew Point — The temperature at which water vapor in the air condenses into liquid water.
- Frostbite — A cold-weather injury in which skin and underlying tissue freeze.
- Hypothermia — Dangerous drop in core body temperature, usually below 95°F.
- Heat Stroke — A life-threatening condition caused by extreme body overheating.
- Wind-Resistant — Fabric or garment that blocks much but not all wind movement.
- Moisture-Wicking Fabric — Fabric that pulls sweat away from skin through capillary action.
- Yaktrax — A brand of stretchy traction device worn over shoes for ice and snow.
- Ski Goggles — Sealed eyewear with anti-fog coatings designed for skiing, snowboarding, and severe cold.
- Snowshoes — Flat platforms that distribute weight over snow, allowing walking on deep powder.