If I may quote from Complete Walker III (my dog-eared, edge-clipped, much loved, thrice re-stitched-with-a-sewing-awl copy from 1983): [and I'm quoting excessively because to do less would do violence to a damned good writer]:

'Quality of warmth. Both VB [vapour barrier] and three-layer systems, though they can keep you comfortably warm and may even at times make you too hot, never seem to generate the the "toastiness" that you often experience, even sitting still, when wearing a wool or cotton shirt and down jacket. Almost anyone who has tried both new and old systems will know about the difference. I recently confirmed it by ringing the changes on all three systems within a few minutes one windless evening when the thermometer registered 32 F. Yet I have never seen the difference mentioned in print, let alone described. The closest I can come is to say that "plastic warmth" rarely if ever seems to move beyond a mere absence of coldness, while "old-fashioned warmth" can and commonly does become a positive, glowing radiance -- a luxurious sense of well-being, a sensual pleasure.'

'It's interesting, I find, that at least some textile researchers recognize the difference. But although they like hell want to understand what goes on, so that they can do something about it with improved synthetics, the causes remain unknown. Naturally, the researchers will not admit, officially, that old-fashioned warmth is necessarily "better" than plastic warmth. And I guess it could turn out that the latter is more calorie-efficient or something. Still, sensual pleasure is sensual pleasure. And you presumably go backpacking for pleasure. But pleasure can be measured in many ways, and one one or them -- as TBs always remind you -- is by the lightness of your load.'

'So the future remains sweetly uncertain. ... I only hope you now know enough to go out and make up your own cotton- or polyester-pickin' mind.'


Well, Fletch is The Man, and a hero of mine. And I know exactly what he means. I personally suspect it's about holding water vapour close to the body. A mini-sauna is delectable -- ask any Finn -- but in my experience there's a nasty payback later in the day. So I've gone totally synthetic for long walks. But I wouldn't turn down a down vest around camp either.