If you search for “how to layer” on Outside, you’ll get back nearly 20 articles plus a handful of videos that cover everything from layering while backcountry skiing to layering in a sleeping bag. We take the art of layering seriously when it comes to playing outside.
But what about layering for the everyday? Does layering only matter if we’re trying to climb a mountain or camp in the snow? Most of us spend the vast majority of our time going to work, walking the dogs, picking kids up from school, and cleaning up around our houses—and I’ve found that smart layering helps immensely in these situations, too.
The absence of info on layers for quotidian tasks got me thinking about what the ideal everyday layering kit might be. I live in New Mexico where we have wild temperature swings through fall and winter—from 20 degrees in the morning to 60 degrees in the afternoon—making my home an excellent spot to test how layers can keep us regulated and happy as we get through our normal routine.
Here’s my suggested list.
Baselayers
By baselayers I don’t mean long underwear. Unless you live in a truly cold…
