Staying Dry = Staying Warm

If you are like me, you have struggled to keep those pinkies and piggies warm when Jack Frost comes to visit. Whether you are on the slopes, at the ice rink or out for a wintry walk, you can fend off frozen footsies with a few simple rules of thumb. I'm not saying you won't eventually get too cold, but you can at least extend the fun.

Stay Dry
This is the most important, and perhaps the most difficult. In fact, any other rules lead back to this one. Once your mittens and socks get wet, your extremities will start to get cold. Here are some tricks I've learned over the decades -- and I use them on my kids, too. Good snow gear isn't cheap, but it is worth the extra money if everyone stays dry and warm.

NO COTTON:
Nope. Nada. None. Anywhere. You are just asking to be cold if you wear cotton. 'Nuff said.

Strong elastic on the bottom of ski/snow pants: Don't skimp here. Buy snow pants--especially for kids-- with strong elastic on the boot cuffs. You need something strong so that cuff can go over the top of a snow boot and STAY. Otherwise, snow will go inside the boot.


Tall boots:
You need boots that are tall enough for the pants liner to cover. The taller the better for keeping snow out.




Velcro on ends of sleeves:

Again, the key is to keep the snow out and the mittens on. I always tuck my gloves inside my sleeves. For kids, you can buy mitts with long sleeves that go up to the elbows. Fleece cuffs inside the jacket sleeves also help keep out snow. 

Fleece inside the collar:
For those windy cold days.


Powder skirt:
Some jackets have an elastic waist the snaps in the front to help keep snow from going up inside when sledding or yard saling. Weak elastic doesn't do any good here.


Removable hood:
It is good to have the option to remove the hood for warmer days.

No short jackets:
I loved my blue corduroy short-waisted CB jacket from the late 1970's. But I also got a lot of snow up my shirt and down my pants whenever I wiped out skiing (which was a lot). Get a jacket that covers the backside--at least partly.


Pit zips:

For me, this is a must. Zippers under the armpits provide ventilation so I don't soak my inner layers. I unzip on the way down and zip up on the lift.  New jackets may have mesh to help keep out snow in case of a face plant. Not many kid jackets have them, probably because it is one more thing to manage. 

Nifty extras:
Snow pants and jackets often have a plastic loop or nob near the waist for a lift ticket so it isn't flapping in the face.  Inside pockets are handy, too, for tissues, ipods or phones. Also, a lot of kiddie outerwear has a "growth ring" that can be let out to extend boot cuffs or sleeves to accommodate growth spurts.

Glove and sock liners:
My sweaty hands get cold instantly when I stop moving. Glove liners--inside my mittens--are the only things that keep them warm enough for me to keep skiing. I bring an extra pair so I can change them at lunchtime. Sock liners are hard to find these days (I tried in Banff last year). A thin silk sock does the trick, though.

Gloves v mittens:
You may have to experiment to see what works best for you and your kids. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves, though. I usually wear mittens, and I can wear gloves only on warm, sunny days. I have old mittens with a zipper on the side (I think so you can slip in a heat pack) that I use as a vent. I can also squeeze my hand out to use my phone, etc. without taking off my mittens. E-tip glove liners also help w/ answering the phone and snapping pics.  

Either way, I usually carry a backpack with a change of gloves, mitts and liners for me and my kids. I might throw in some extra socks, too.  

Pants v bibs:
Bibs are good for kids to keep out the snow since they do tend to fall down a lot. For grown ups... bibs are probably a good option for a beginner, but they do look a little weird on adults, sort of the way footie PJs would look. I wear ski pants with a longer jacket (shell usually) that doesn't have a lot of wiggle room for snow to get in.

Long johns:
Comfy non-cotton tights or long johns and a long-sleeved top are perfect for a base layer. Like glove and sock liners, this layer will help whisk moisture away from your skin. A turtleneck is a good option on a cold day. You probably don't need another layer except ski pants on your legs. If your pants are just shells, wear fleece tights underneath on a cold day.

Middle layer:
On top, I wear either a fleece vest or a thin fleece t-neck sweater with a zipper.  

Don't overdo: 
Wear enough layers to keep you warm, but not too many that you can't vent moisture once you start to move.

Stay hydrated:
I tuck a water bottle or two in that backpack of extras. It is a good idea to stay hydrated even if you are cold. 



Helmets:
Wear a helmet to ski or snowboard. Put helmets on your kids. Even if it's warm. Adjust the chin strap properly. You just never know.