When learning that you’re about to go to a place that has a maximum of 5 hours of sunlight a day, and is around -25°F on a warm day, what do you pack? Being from North Carolina, I’m not a newbie when it comes to cold weather and snow – and all the dramatic chaos that ensues after the forecast predicts inches of snow. Fellow Carolinians know what I’m talking about! What are the three items that get removed from the shelf first?! Comment below with your answers!
I poured myself into research and read tons of reviews on the best brands, best fabrics, best materials, and truly the best way to stay warm without overheating in such chilly temperatures. My extensive research led me to the following:
Footwear
For shoes, I had quite the struggle with in deciding what to wear. I don’t know about you, but my extremities get very cold during the winter months – ice toes and ice fingers. So finding a pair of shoes that not only would be durable for ice and snow, but comfortable, and most importantly keep my feet warm were quite the combo to find. I ended up going with two brands, and here’s why.
UGG and Sorel were the two brands I decided to try out for my Alaskan adventures. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each and link them in this post so you can check them out yourself!
UGG Adirondack II
These boots are the best for warmth. The shearling fur on the inside kept my ice-prone toes very comfortable. Leather upper with a lace up style. 100% waterproof which means all day fun in the snow without worry of having that moisture creep in. The rubber sole is the only part I was disappointed in. I chose these boots when I would need to be warm for a longer period of time outside, but the grip on the bottom with very poor. There is some grip, but I would find myself gently stepping over ice patches so my full weight would help me keep upright. If I needed warmth though, by far these win the race!
The updated version of these are faux-fur and can be found here.
Sorel Joan of Arctic
If you are needing a boot with a ton of grip, these at the ones for you! Places that were solid sheets of ice (basically every parking lot in Fairbanks), I could walk confidently knowing my shoes had my back (or feet.. you get the idea). The tall design allowed extra warmth and comfort for more of your leg which was great when pairing with taller socks. The only downside is the these left my toes feeling chilly after a few hours of being outside for a long period of time. If I was mainly driving around and exploring that way, these were great.
You can find a pair of these here.
Socks were an essential item I poured a lot of research in too. Again, if your feet are unhappy, you would be very unhappy. Our moods and body health are so closely related to what goes on and around our feet so I wanted to make sure I had the best materials for the coldest conditions.
The brands that I compared and loved were Smartwool and Darn Tough socks. They both have women and men specific styles as well as unisex. What I liked about both brands is that they have a range of levels of socks from mountain climbing to running. And, from a woman standpoint, the designs and colors are super cute and perfect for any winter vacation. You can find these (if you’re lucky!) at TJ Maxx or Marshalls sometimes, but from a constant stock standpoint, places like Amazon, REI, and any major outdoor store should carry them.
Here is a link that you can find them as well as here.
Hand-Wear
Just like my feet, my hands get really cold in the winter time as well. I always make sure I have a light pair of gloves in my coat before I go outside just in case. For the trip, I researched extreme weather gloves as if I was embarking on a month long journey to Antarctica. The three brands I chose to take on the trip are listed below!
Burton Quilted Patchwork
These gloves won my heart for two reasons – colors and warmth. I ski in NC and wherever there are slopes where I travel, and Burton is always the brand I go toward for the fashion and functionality. I like the fact that the fingers are individual and the index finger has touchscreen capabilities.
These particular gloves have been retired, but there are similar gloves here.
The North Face Montana Etip
Before we get into the details on the gloves, look at that precious puppy face! Nina was new to the pack and had the kindest spirit. She and I are twinning with her frozen whiskers and my frozen eye lashes.
Okay, now for the review part. TNF gloves were perfect for layering and staying outside for long periods of time. I found that the gauntlet style helped so very much with snow activities like snowmobiling and dogsledding as it added extra warmth and layers. Durable and waterproof faux leather. I usually wore an insert which I’ll talk about next!
You can find TNF gloves here.
Smart Wool Merino 250 Pattern Glove Liners
These gloves are perfect for layering. I tried these out solo without a thicker more durable outside layer, and you could tell a layer was missing. However, wearing the outside layer without these, I could tell something was missing. So, I pair these with my waterproof gloves so that I can get the extra warmth from the liners in addition to the already warm and waterproof gloves. You can find these here!
Head-Wear
What I decided to bring along on the trip were three pieces for three different reasons. One was more so for fashion purposes with no real added warm, one was to pair with my down jacket hoods I had on my jackets already, and the other was for extreme warmth just in and of itself. More details below!
Supreme Mohair Teal Beanie
Although I love this beanie for winter time, it’s not my “go to” when I’m needing to combat the chilling wind and ice from Alaska. I brought this along with me to give me variety to pair with outfits and to add some fashion on days where I would be exploring, but not out in the elements so much. You can find it here!
Smart Wool Merino 250 Headband
This headband was absolutely perfect for layering. The reason to bring it along was for the very reason seen in the picture to the right! Because of its sleek and non-bulky design, I was able to put my down hood and then my waterproof hood over top of it for extra insulation. This allowed me to keep the chill off my neck, face, and ears. Find the headband here!
Barts Beanies
This is one of my most favorite beanies I own. I purchased it on my backpacking trip through Europe one winter season to experience the different Christmas Markets! I purchased this beanie from a small shop in Amsterdam, but they also have an online store found here! I love that this beanie is not only super cute, but it’s incredibly warm with an extra band on the inside that covers your ears. Perfect choice for cute and functional!
Body-Wear
The key to staying warm in colder weather is layers for the sheer reason that since you’ll be traveling and exploring different areas, you’ll be going in and out of different temperatures all day. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to be restricted to one giant puffy jacket and a t-shirt underneath as my only layers. For some people, that works! For myself though, I like layers so I can have control on how I can regulate my body temperature, especially since I’m colder by nature and enjoy extreme heat whenever I can get it whether a hot tub, a hot shower, or layers upon layers of blankets on the bed. Where are my scalding hot shower girls at?! Below are the best pieces that worked well for me!
Smartwool Merino Base Layer
If you hadn’t guessed it, I’m a big Smartwool fan honestly because of how the product has performed for me personally. This base layer crew neck long sleeve top was a go to on my Alaska trip. Being so tall, the length and cut was perfect on me. The wool helped in reducing body odor which, let’s be real, is an important thing especially for winter where having so many layers can make your body sweat a little more. All I needed when wearing this top was my jacket overtop and I was perfectly comfortable in negative temps. Check it out here, and it’s even on sale!!
Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer
Base layers were a must on this trip. I would slip these leggings on first and then either slip on my jeans or snow pants over top. Also, a neat trick if you’re in a pinch and wanting to save some money is using pantyhose – yes, even for you guys out there. Read any blog from a winter sport fanatic and you’ll see them swear by that trick. These leggings held there shape and performed well for me keeping my legs toasty! You can find them here!
Columbia Heavenly Hooded Jacket & Burton Sadie Hooded Jacket
The Columbia Heavenly Hooded jacket was perfect for that fluffy layer or warmth on top of my base layer. A water-resistant shell, insulation, and thermal reflective technology keep you comfortable all winter. This thumb-hole zip up jacket is lightweight and an easy packing item for any trip! Find it here.
The Burton Sadie Hooded jacket is a go to jacket for me when it comes to skiing because of the longer cut, I can feel comfortable that no snow could fall where it shouldn’t. Also, the baggy fit allows you to layer which is a must! You can find it here.
Let me know what you think in the comments below or shoot me an email with what items you bring along for your winter trips!
