In the mountains and all outdoor activities, cold rarely comes solely from the outside temperature: it mainly results from poorly managed moisture. Sweat, condensation, wind, and rain create conditions where body heat can drop rapidly if clothing is not suitable. Managing these factors is essential to maintain performance and safety.
1. Sweat: Internal Moisture
The body naturally produces moisture to cool down. However, during prolonged exertion, sweat accumulates in fabrics if they lack breathability. The base layer’s role is to transfer this moisture outward. The RWS-certified merino wool used by AYAQ (Mefonna, Biafo, Shirwali) remains insulating even when damp, preventing sudden cold sensations during breaks.
2. Condensation: External Moisture
When warm internal air meets a cold surface (jacket, rock, fabric), water vapor turns into droplets—this is condensation. A quality hardshell membrane must allow vapor to escape before it condenses. The Sympatex membrane in the LONAK (men’s / women’s) and LONAK-XT (men’s / women’s) jackets excels here: the more internal moisture rises, the better it breathes.
3. Wind: The Cooling Accelerator
Wind greatly increases heat loss, especially if clothing is slightly damp. It compresses fabric layers and expels insulating warm air. A windproof jacket like SHANDAR (men’s / women’s) or an AYAQ hardshell prevents this effect and stabilizes body temperature.
4. How to Avoid Moisture Build-Up
The key is anticipation: unzip before overheating, remove a layer as the climb intensifies, and add insulation (Kokanee, ULTAR (men’s / women’s), FORNO (men’s / women’s)) as soon as the pace slows. Waiting until sweat accumulates causes rapid cooling at the first stop.
5. The Importance of a 3-Layer System
The combination of a merino base layer + insulating midlayer + breathable hardshell is the most effective way to control moisture. Each layer manages a part of the challenge: transfer, regulation, protection. Together, they create thermal stability.
6. AYAQ Expertise
Vincent Defrasne emphasizes: “We manage moisture before it appears.” Extreme condition testing by Mike Horn has refined membranes, ventilation, and cuts to maximize vapor evacuation and minimize condensation in cold or humid environments.
Conclusion
Understanding moisture and its mechanisms is essential to stay dry and avoid thermal drops. Thanks to its RWS merino textiles, high-performance fleece jackets, and Sympatex hardshells, AYAQ offers a complete system to control sweat, condensation, and wind in all conditions.
