How to Buy Clothes for Cold-Weather Activities

Many people invite disaster when selecting winter clothes: Not wearing a hat is the number one mistake. If you use fashion as your guide instead of function, rest assured you'll be miserable when that first icy blast hits.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Conduct research if possible. If you've just arrived in a resort town, check out what the locals are wearing. In bad weather, they'll be dressed more like mountaineers than fashion models.

2. Layer clothing for maximum warmth and convenience. Layers allow you to add and remove items as your body temperature rises and falls. Begin with a base layer of polypropylene underwear, top and bottom. You can purchase these inexpensively at many outdoor stores. Brand-name items don't always deliver better quality, despite their higher costs.

3. Add one or more fleece layers as dictated by your comfort range. Again, these needn't be expensive to provide effective warmth. A vest is a good option, paired with a long-sleeved layer.

4. Add an outer waterproof, breathable shell. This layer does not need heavy insulation unless you expect to encounter below-zero temperatures. For jackets, get something that extends below your waist and has a hood. Pants should be loose fitting and should rise above your waist to keep out snow. Look for sealed seams and elastic or drawstrings at cuffs and hems.

5. If you need an insulated top layer, decide on either synthetic or goose-down filling. Synthetic filling will perform better if it gets wet, while down loses its warmth when wet. If weight is your primary consideration, however, buy goose down. It is warmer for its weight than any synthetic insulator.

6. Inspect the seams of insulated clothing. High-quality items have baffled seams. This means the stitching on the outside and inside layers doesn't meet, creating cold spots. Clothes without baffled seams are sewn straight through the two layers, and allow cold air to enter. (See How to Buy the Optimal Sleeping Bag.)

7. Wear a hat that completely covers your head, or even one that has ear flaps, to prevent a potentially life-endangering loss of body heat. Look for itch-free fleece headbands on warm wool hats.

8. Waterproof, gauntlet-type gloves that extend over your jacket's sleeves provide the most protection from snow and water. Some people's fingers stay warmer in mittens.

9. Boots present the biggest challenge for the novice winter recreationist. The most successful boot design incorporates a rubber lower boot with a leather top and removable felt liner. Boot temperature ratings are particularly important if you will be outside for long periods of time and need your feet to stay warm.

Tips & Warnings

• Many outdoor clothing retailers sell both online and through catalogs. REI.com has a tremendous variety of merchandise. SierraTradingPost.com offers cut-rate deals on overstocks from many name-brand manufacturers.

• Check Schnees.com and Sorel.com for good boots. Be sure to select a pair designed for your anticipated needs, paying particular attention to temperature ratings.

• Remember that with outer layers, more money usually does buy better quality.

• See How to Buy Performance Workout Clothing for more information on fabrics.

• Be careful of drying your clothes too close to the fire or other heat source. Synthetic fabrics and insulators may not be able to withstand high temperatures.