Summit Uniforms

For workers who operate in extreme conditions, a uniform is not just for show. It is also their protective gear, the clothing that will protect them from the elements and regulate their personal body temperature to prevent them from becoming too hot or too cold. For personnel working or at play on a mountain summit, uniforms must be able to shield them from freezing winds, trap body heat to keep them warm, and wick away sweat and water to prevent the cooling effect. Failing to wear appropriate clothing can cause personnel serious harm.

Personnel who may have to operate at altitude in the cold include fire and rescue workers, law enforcement personnel, and search and rescue teams. Their summit uniforms are made up of many garments, layered on top of each other to provide maximum warmth without inhibiting the wearer’s movement. There are also those who climb to the tops of mountains for recreational purposes. At the summit, garments for skiers are in many ways very similar to those worn by professionals who are doing a job at that elevation. They must be kept warm and dry by their garments, and their movement must be free because they are participating in a sport.

Perhaps the most important garment worn for surviving mountain conditions is a high-quality jacket, usually a sky jacket. Almost all workers wear these technical, breathable jackets, which are water- and windproof and so ideal for such conditions. They are worn over other layers in order to trap body heat and keep the wearer warm. For use on a mountain summit uniforms are usually are usually made in vivid colors. Jackets are often manufactured with contrasting stripes of color to ensure maximum visibility against the snow. This is particularly important for those attempting to attract attention, or locate missing or injured people on the mountainside.

Jackets are also often customized for wear in these conditions. Silk-screened jackets and embroidered jackets are examples of personalization that serves an important purpose. Jackets may be customized with the logo of the department or organisation for which they are working: for example, medical personnel may wear a cross on the back of their jacket. Summit uniforms should be recognisable at a distance so that team-members can easily spot one another, and they in turn can be spotted by those in need of assistance.

Also important are the layers worn beneath jackets. Thermal underwear is an effective base layer for personnel working on mountains because it lies close to the body and helps keep in body heat. Thermal underwear can be bought as part of summit uniforms for men, women and children and are often full-body garments, usually made of wool or polypropylene. Over thermal underwear, personnel usually wear long-sleeved shirts, often made of wicking fabric to help keep moisture away from the skin, and loose pants that will allow them to move whilst providing another layer against the elements. Socks and thick boots are important for shielding extremities from the cold.