Microclimate Exposure Score
Combines sun, wind, humidity, and ground into a single exposure rating for clothing decisions.
Inputs
Result
A natural placement between the calculator and the explanation.
What this solves — and what it doesn't
What you wear depends on the combination of air temp, wind, sun, ground wetness, and effort — not on the air temperature alone. A sunny ridge in 8 C with a 20 km/h wind and dry feet is different from a shaded snowy forest at the same 8 C. This tool computes an ‘effective’ temperature that drives a layering suggestion.
How to read the result
Read the suggested layering line. It’s a starting point, not a verdict — you know your sweat rate, your cold tolerance, and your pack weight. But it’s a calibrated default that beats guessing.
Wet snow, full sun, hard effort: the wet-penalty dominates. Cold dry wind: the wind-chill dominates.
Limitations
- Doesn’t model humidity.
- Sun offset is approximate; real solar gain can be 50 to 100 W/m².
- Doesn’t account for previous sweat (clothes already wet).
Frequently asked questions
Why is effort so important?
Hiking generates ~200 to 400 W of heat. At low effort, you’re cold; at high effort, you’re overheating. The same microclimate requires opposite kits.
How do I handle wet feet?
Wet feet cool 25x faster than dry. Carry a pair of dry socks to change into at lunch — this is the single biggest comfort win.
What about down insulation?
Down is unbeatable dry, terrible wet. Synthetic insulation keeps working when wet. Choose by forecast.