How to stay warm in layered clothing and avoid frostbite this winter

abcnews.go.com:

As a bout of bitter and deadly cold sweeps the U.S., millions of Americans are being told to dress in layers if they must go outside

MINNEAPOLIS — As a bout of bitter and deadly cold sweeps the U.S., millions of Americans are being told to dress in layers if they must go outside.

In places that rarely experience bone-chilling temperatures, that advice can be confounding. What does it mean to layer up? Is it different from just putting on a coat? Is there a way to do it wrong?

People in Minnesota, a state that is no stranger to the cold, have wisdom to share.

Layering means wearing multiple pieces of clothing to keep your body comfortable in cold weather. Each layer creates an insulating pocket of air that protects you better than just wearing a big jacket, and layering helps move sweat and moisture away from your skin.

No matter how cold it is, you’re probably going to sweat when you go outside and start moving, said Claire Wilson, executive director of The Loppet Foundation — a nonprofit that promotes winter recreation and activities in Minneapolis.

If you're wearing the correct layers, you can feel perspiration wick away from your body, she said. The idea is to add another layer if you get cold, or take off a layer when you get hot or wet.

Wilson said she loves to shop at thrift stores for layers that won't break the bank.

“Just look for things that aren’t cotton,” she said.

Cotton absorbs moisture, so it stays wet longer, Wilson explained. Cotton socks can get wet in your boots or shoes if you walk in the snow, and a cotton shirt under your jacket can get wet with sweat. Cotton won't dry quickly, so you'll get colder, she said.

Instead, choose wool socks and fabrics made of fleece, polyester or polypropylene,