Have you ever wondered why a humid, cold day can feel so much worse than a dry, cold day? It’s a familiar yet perplexing experience for many. In this blog, We'll explore the reasons behind this phenomenon and provide practical strategies to help you choose apparel that keeps you warm and dry in damp, cold weather.

Why Do We Feel Colder in Moist Air?

Less Sunlight

Damp days are more likely to be overcast and have less solar heating. Without the warming rays of the sun, the cold feels more intense.

Reduced Insulation of Clothing

As humidity in the air rises, the insulation provided by clothing becomes less effective. Moisture becomes trapped in clothing fibers, reducing their ability to insulate. Even if our clothes don’t feel wet, the humidity creates a thin layer of moisture that results in a greater transfer of heat through the clothing, making us feel colder.

Skin Moisture

The process of moisture evaporating off your skin naturally cools you down. While your body doesn’t sweat in cold weather, humidity can place moisture on your skin, giving you the same chilly effect. Think of the cold feeling you get when you step out of a hot shower – that’s humidity at work.

Dewpoint and Relative humidity

The dewpoint temperature measures how much moisture is in the air. Relative humidity, on the other hand, compares the current amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum it could hold at that temperature.

In colder weather, the dewpoint is lower, even with the same relative humidity, because cold air holds less moisture. Therefore some say that cold humid air is not all that different compared to dry cold and does not much change how cold the air feels to us. However, in regions with milder winters, like Florida, dewpoints can still be in the 40s and 50s.

Also, when cold air reaches 100% relative humidity, water vapor condenses into droplets, known as condensation. If these droplets touch our clothes or skin, as mentioned previously, they create a pathway for body heat to escape, making us feel colder.

How Damp Cold Weather Can Affect You

Extended exposure to cold, damp conditions can harm your comfort and health, increasing the risk of chilblains. These painful red or purple bumps usually appear on the fingers and toes.

Wearing damp clothes in freezing weather can also increase the risk of hypothermia, particularly during outdoor activities where protection is crucial.

How to Keep Warm in Humid Cold Conditions

Heated Clothing

Generate heat rather than just retaining your body heat.

Featuring quick-heating elements that warm up in seconds and long-lasting batteries, our range of heated apparel ensures you stay warm and comfortable in various weather conditions.

Smart Layering

Layering is critical when dealing with fluctuating outdoor temperatures and humidity. Multiple layers allow you to adjust your clothing to manage moisture and warmth effectively. By layering your clothing, you have more options to take off layers if you start sweating or add layers if you get cold.

Start with a moisture-wicking base layer to keep sweat away from your skin, followed by insulating layers, and finish with a breathable waterproof outer layer. This combination keeps you dry while allowing sweat to escape during heavy condensation or light drizzle. A 3-in-1 jacket with 10,000mmH₂O waterproof rating and water vapor permeability of 8000g/m²/24h can be a convenient choice.

Avoid Cotton

Cotton absorbs and retains moisture, making you feel colder as it becomes damp.

Synthetic materials like polyester, satin, pongee and nylon have a natural resistance towards water. When a fabric resists water, the tightly woven yarn acts as a barrier between the user and water. Explore our range of heated water-resistant apparel designed for cold, humid conditions.

Cover Key Areas

Significant body heat is lost through the head and neck, so it’s important to cover these areas. Using scarves, gloves, socks and other accessories can help maintain warmth in vulnerable parts of your body. We offer a variety of heated accessories to ensure you stay warm from head to toe.