Damp
The way in which the problem of dampness is tackled is just as important as insulation against the cold. ^[6] We can distinguish between two sources of wet coming from outside (snow, ice, water) and that produced within, in the form of perspiration.

The Inuit of Greenland live with snow, ice and water virtually the whole year round, and in many situations. In order to avoid being troubled by these, the Inuit have developed suitable clothing. Especially when they are in direct contact with water, as when hunting, or on sledge journeys, the easy, rapid removal of humidity is essential for keeping the body dry. The Inuit's clothing is therefore constructed not only to retain warm air, but also to permit ventilation. When the wearer becomes overheated, pushing back the jacket hood allows the warm air to escape through the neck.

Apart from perspiration, the problem of dampness also derives from the constant, if usually invisible humidity produced by the skin. This second kind of bodily humidity becomes visible in temperatures of minus thirty to forty degrees Celsius. At these temperatures a small cloud of steam forms round the palm of the hand, one of the warmest parts of the body. In extremely severe temperatures, such as minus fifty degrees Celsius, this steam actually freezes.
 

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