KR Cold Weather LARPing: 101?

Silk also makes a good layer, because it dries very quickly. (Real silk, that is, not that weird polyester-blend stuff.)

See me second the silk hmmm. Raw silk too of you can find it.

Shoes, plenty of em, dry water resistant (preferably waterproof) especially when there is snow on the ground.

Those awesome moccasins that makes you Berserker Goblin may be paper thin and running / standing in snow / water will serve as no protection to the feet.

Toes are the first to go

My things are by far not as important as hydrating or staying warm - but these are some things I find that detract from my experience....a good moisturizer for your exposed face and lip balm for dry lips. Also, if you have longer hair, a really good spray in conditioner to get the tangly knots out that happen when you wear lots of layers.

Most important things though- socks, boots, gloves, layers, and plently of them to change into when they get damp - A HAT OR HOOD (keeping the warmth from leaving your head is key) and warm bedding.

Something I learned last winter - Do NOT be afraid to go inside. Mods and events may be colder and/or longer than expected, and there is no shame in bowing out or taking a break to go find somewhere warm to warm up.

There are five ways in which your body loses heat:
1) Conduction (Contact)
2) Convection (Wind)
3) Radiation (Exposed skin)
4) Respiration (Breathing)
5) Perspiration (Sweating)

Brigitta mentioned that cotton is no good for cold weather. The reason why cotton is a very poor choice is that once it's wet it tends to remain wet. Therefore, you'd lose heat via conduction as your body's heat will transfer to the colder wet material; as the heat is trying to reach thermal equilibrium.

Your base layer should be any good wicking material. As Silverbow suggested, Underarmor, as they make superior quality moisture wicking base layers, thus keeping your skin drier. If you were going with fleece for either an insulating layer our outer layer, Polartec has a vast amount of very good products. Wool, albeit expensive, for me, is the way to go. Wool has the ability to absorb as much as 30% of its own weight in moisture before feeling wet; likewise, wool retains much of its insulation factor even when damp/wet.

The same applies for your socks. Stay away from cotton socks. I know some who choose to layer their socks as well.
Base layer is a wicking material covered by a wool sock.

If you're buying wool make note of the % of actual wool in the product. The closer to it being 100% wool, the better.