Winter Clothing

There’s no other way to say it: if you want to stay active and enjoy the outdoors during the winter months, you need the right clothing. When you’re outfitting for a winter hiking adventure or just refreshing your winter wardrobe for a more comfortable commute, your winter clothing must help you retain your core heat and protect your extremities.

Winter Clothing for Staying Active in the Cold

Advanced technology in insulated fabrics makes it easier to stay warm without added bulk. If you’re into winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, you know how important it is to maintain flexibility and range of motion.

Headwear

When you plan to spend a long day on the hill, full-coverage headwear makes a big difference. Shots of fresh powder to the face are a lot more fun when you wear full coverage balaclavas and facemasks to keep your mug toasty. On less active days, a fleece-lined beanie with earflaps, a cable knit headband, or a faux-fur-lined trapper hat will keep your ears from going numb and help you retain body heat.

Socks

Winter is the wrong time of year for tube socks or cotton athletic socks. Stock up on Smartwool knee-high socks for comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking benefits. Your feet will stay warmer and dryer, whether you’re wearing insulated snow boots, fashionable work shoes, or a pair of ice skates.

Mittens and Gloves

Raw, chapped fingers and hands don’t have to be part of your wintertime experience. Advanced winter clothing materials help maintain complete finger and hand dexterity while protecting each of your digits from bitingly cold air. Look for winter gloves with touchscreen functionality, too, so you can navigate your playlist on backcountry hikes.

Insulated Tops and Bottoms

Staying warm doesn’t have to mean wearing bunchy and chafing layers of fabric day in and day out. Choose stretch-jersey or merino-wool base layer tops and bottoms for the perfect combination of warmth, softness, and breathability this winter. Whether you wear them under jeans or your favorite ski pants, you’ll be ready for anything.

Leading Brands for Functional Winter Clothing

Plenty of companies make winter clothing, but selecting from leading brands like Chaos, Bearpaw, The North Face, Outdoor Research, and Smartwool ensures your gear will outlast and outperform the competition. These brands prioritize the balance between practicality and comfort, so you’ll enjoy features like fleece-lined details and snow-banishing cinched cuffs as well as plenty of pockets and chafe-free seams.