How to keep walking (outdoors), all winter long

The right clothes, mindset, & gear to get you moving outside

As a northern girl with Nordic roots, I’m fascinated by stories of those who throw themselves regularly into icy bodies of water or roll naked in snowbanks.

Cold exposure has taken on an almost mystical appeal; it’s credited with everything from better cardiovascular health to spiritual growth. For my brother John, who advocates for a daily blast of frigid water in the shower, the biggest benefit is a bit more prosaic: “Most of the time, putting your head under cold water is the worst thing that’s going to happen to you all day,” he told me. “If you can get that out of the way first thing, the rest of your day will feel easy by comparison.”

I want to be the kind of person whose inner fortitude would allow me to face down any freezing-cold challenge with grit, or maybe even a grin. And while I’ve yet to jump in a Great Lake in January and don’t much love cold showers either, a daily walk even on the coldest days feels much more within-reach.

But once the temperatures dip into the low 40s and below, the decision-making that goes into a simple stroll—what coat to wear? Hat? Gloves? Shoes?—can start to overwhelm my desire to breathe the fresh air and take in the frosty wonderland.

Last year I challenged myself to walk a mile a day during the crucial transition month between autumn and winter, when the weather is starting to get wonky and holiday schedules can crowd out daily routines. And while, no, I didn’t walk every single day last winter, I was absolutely more active outdoors in the December through February months than I have been for quite some time.

This week’s episode of The Tea’s Made podcast was all about my strategies for keeping moving outdoors this time of year.

While I talk through some of my mindset shifts and other tactical tips in the podcast, one big reason I got outdoors so much more last winter was that during my mile-a-day challenge I went through the effort of locating, cleaning, and organizing my outdoor winter gear, plus buying or replacing a few missing pieces.

Along the way I took inventory of my favorites, and in this post I’ll share some of the gear and garments that seem to make the biggest difference on those cold, snowy days.

Here is my list of essentials, from fleece-lined leggings to super-warm snow boots and more:

(note: Amazon links are affiliate. If you click and purchase, I earn a commission. Thank you!)

Pants:

When it’s chilly: In the podcast episode above, I mentioned my new WoolX Piper Leggings (I have them in Bark and Dark Moss. ) This is a relatively new addition to my lineup but they have quickly become my favorite cold-weather (any-weather, really) choice. The benefits of wool for outdoor activity - temperature regulation, moisture-wicking, odor-crushing - really can’t be beat, and I love the idea of slowly replacing my old synthetic fabrics with more natural textiles, at least on the pieces I’m wearing right next to my skin.

I also have a couple pair of these thicker fleece leggings, which I bought one size too big so that I can layer them over thinner leggings when the temps drop.

When it’s really cold: This is where snowpants come in handy, and I have a couple of options for you here:

These lined pants are flexible, stretchy (they do seem to run a little big) and have a streamlined fit, so you don’t feel like a little kid shuffling off to school in them. I’ve now worn these on several outings where the temps were in the 20s, and I was toasty warm and dry in them. Layering over fleece leggings definitely helps!

I also have these more traditional snowpants in olive green. These ones are substantially warmer than the ones linked above, though we didn’t have a very cold winter last year so I didn’t really get the chance to put them to the test. Again, I was attracted to the streamlined fit and the fact that they don’t rustle, squeak, or “sshh-sshhh” when you walk in them. These are roomy enough that I can wear them over another thick layer on a really cold day, but can also use the waist belt to cinch if needed.

Footwear:

I’m loving my Baffin Chloe Boots.

Keeping feet warm, dry, comfortable and supported is one of the biggest challenges during winter walks, but with a little forethought, it can be done!

• Socks: An essential part of a cold-weather walking strategy! I’m a huge Smartwool fan, and find that their light cushion athletic socks are great for keeping my ankles warm without being too bulky or bunchy for sneakers. Once the temps drop enough that I’m opting for boots, I typically up my game to a thicker, taller snow sock.

• Hiking boots: A regular pair of sneakers or walking shoes can get you through some surprisingly chilly weather if you pair them with good socks, but for a bit more ankle support and coverage, I reach for my Salewa hiking boots. A note that after several years of use, the insoles of my Salewa boots seem to be breaking down a bit. I’m a tenderfoot these days, so I’m now wearing them with orthotic inserts from The Tea’s Made sponsor Vionic, and it’s making a huge difference. A good reminder that it’s possible to extend the life of our quality gear for better value! If you order from Vionic, use the code TEASMADE for 15% off.

• Snow boots: Once the snow starts falling in earnest or it gets REALLY frigid out, it’s time to bring in the big guns.
  
  For more casual walks around town, I love my Gwen Tall Boots from Vionic (use code TEASMADE for 15% off.) I walked miles in northern Michigan last December wearing these boots and was warm and comfy the whole time.
  
  For really frigid temps or contending with deep snow and slush, you want something that’s warm and weatherproof and ALSO good for comfortably logging miles. I am in love with the Baffin Chloe Boots. They are so warm and cozy, comfortable, sturdy, AND they pull on and off easily with a simple cinch lace for tightening when needed. I’ve worn them shoveling, hiking, snowshoeing….and even on a date-night walk to a bar. They kept me warm and comfy in every situation.

Up Top:

Me perched inside an “ice cave” (frozen waterfall) outside of Munising, MI

• My core stays pretty warm while I’m walking, even on really cold days. If the temps are above 40 or so, I do just fine with some light-ish layers. I have this fleece zip-up from Arc’Teryx. It’s expensive (I didn’t pay full price), but has been incredibly versatile and it’s so much warmer than you’d expect such a lightweight layer to be! Depending on the temps, I might wear this over a long-sleeve tee or sweatshirt, and/or under a shell layer like a windbreaker or a light jacket.
  
  I’ve found that unless the weather is REALLY cold, I often don’t need a super-warm jacket (and actually will sometimes get too hot with a parka or other warm winter coat on.) Last year, at an end-of-season super-clearance, I did spring for the pricey Barbour coat I’m wearing in the photo above. I love it…but my basic black Columbia coat (pictured below) does the job of keeping me warm in almost any weather.

Accessories:

A good hat like this Smartwool Lid beanie makes a big difference!

• A warm hat (or, at the least, ear covering) is essential for me any time the temps drop below 45 or so, especially if there’s wind. I love my simple Smartwool beanie and am adding this colorful version to my winter gear list.

• I hate having a cold neck, so I have a couple fleece neck gaiters on standby.

• Warm gloves are great, but you don’t have to over-think this too much. For walking, I prioritize comfort and hand dexterity over waterproofing since I’m not making snowballs as I stroll. These fleece Isotoners have been great on all but the very coldest days – when, frankly, I’m probably not going to be out walking long anyway.

• In the not-necessary-but-nice category: Ankle gaiters can help keep slush from splashing onto your pants leg or, worse, seeping down the front of your boot, and simple slide-on crampons provide extra grip on the bottoms of your shoes for really slick days. (The older I get the more I worry about injuring myself, so I appreciate any extra stability I can get!)

A note about shopping: whenever possible, I love to encourage people to visit their local sporting-goods store or outdoor outfitter. I have an excellent locally-owned outfitter near me, and I’ve relied heavily on them and their sound advice and quality curation for camping and hiking gear over the years.

That said, sometimes very specific items are hard to find (I’ve had very little luck sourcing good snow boots close to home, for example), and you may not be lucky enough to have an outfitter in your town. So I’ve provided Amazon links above to make it easy to compare options and buy if your local shopping options are limited.

I’d love to hear your thoughts - if you live in an area with a cold season, do you walk outside regularly during the winter months?