Cold Weather Gear for Walkers

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After months of sweating through those hot summer walks, as soon as I see the first leaf change from green to yellow, I start thinking fall.  Of course, where I live, in Central Ohio, the weather could still be hot well into October—and even November—but since fall is my favorite time of year, I’m always on the lookout for those colorful signs that the temperatures might start dropping soon.

While I love those cooler fall days, though, they’re a sign that colder days are coming—the days when walking in just leggings and a tech shirt won’t cut it anymore.  So, for me, those changing leaves are also my reminder to start digging out my cold-weather gear. 

As the temperatures drop, here’s what I’ll be bringing out of seasonal storage and adding to the gear bag that I keep in my car:

Layers

Layers are the key to staying just the right temperature during chillier days.  When the temperatures drop, I tend to start with a pair of fleece-lined leggings (I love Baleaf’s fleece leggings – and you can use code KRISTINKRAMER for 10% off!  Here’s my review.).  As it gets cooler, I may add a pair of hiking pants, an extra pair of leggings, or a cozy pair of fleece pants on top for extra warmth.

On top, I start with a long-sleeve tech shirt—or a fleece-lined top as it gets colder (my favorites are Under Armour’s ColdGear).  Then I’ll layer with another fleece-lined top (again…from my extensive ColdGear collection).  As it gets even colder, I’ll layer as needed.  I keep a windbreaker, a puffy vest, a light fleece jacket, and a Columbia fleece jacket in my gear bag, so I can plan accordingly.

Socks and Shoes

Once the temperatures drop, my warmer socks come out of hiding.  Though I’m more of an ankle sock kind of person most of the year (go ahead—call me old), I often haul out the longer compression socks and other higher, thicker socks during the colder months.  After all, with my long legs, my ankles almost never get full coverage from leggings—so I need the extra help to keep my ankles warm.

As the weather gets colder—and sometimes wetter…and snowier—I also reach for my sturdier shoes.  I prefer something with a little more of a grip to keep me upright on frosty days—and some all-weather coating doesn’t hurt, either.  I love my pair of Hoka Challenger GTX (here’s my review)—which come complete with Goretex to keep my feet warm and dry.

If you live in a place where roads can get slippery with ice and snow, you might also want to consider some crampons for extra grip.  Though I own a pair, our winters haven’t been bad enough to necessitate them for the last couple of years.  But if you’re looking for a reliable brand, you can pick up a pair of Yaktrax.

Gloves

My hands are always cold.  Like…embarrassingly so.  So when the temperatures start to drop, my fingers are the first things to freeze.  It doesn’t take an especially frigid day for me to pull out a pair of gloves—but they don’t have to be heavy.  I’ll start with a thin pair of knit gloves—the kind you can pick up at your local dollar store.  But as the days get colder, my gloves get heavier.  I have a couple of different pairs of runners’ gloves that have grippy palms and touch screen fingertips that work on occasion.  If the days get really cold, I might double up and wear my thin gloves inside my thicker gloves.

Sometimes, though, the gloves aren’t enough.  Which takes me to the next item on the list.

Hand Warmers

Sometimes my poor, chilly fingers need some extra heat—which is why I always keep my hand warmers charged and ready to go.  While you can get disposable ones—which you can also use in your socks to keep your feet toasty warm—I prefer my rechargeable hand warmers (here’s my review).  They’re a bit bulky, but the three heat settings give me plenty of extra warmth.  I can pop them in my gloves when I need them—and turn them off and stash them in my pockets when I don’t.  If you battle freezing fingers during the winter, I highly recommend picking up a pair and keeping them in your gear bag.

Hat

During the non-winter months, I’m not much of a hat person.  My friend Kristin loves her Sprints (https://amzn.to/4eWW10W) running hat for keeping the sun off her face—and I’ve been tempted to buy one just because they’re so cute—but I tend to stick with my favorite sunnies.  During the winter, though, a hat is so important for staying warm.  I keep a couple of hats in my gear bag—including a nice, fuzzy fleece one.  But my favorite is my Under Armour Storm Fleece Beanie, which has a convenient hole in the back for my ponytail.  Admittedly, it isn’t the most flattering look for me, but I’m not exactly expecting to be discovered on the trail in the middle of January and begin a new career as a middle-aged supermodel, so it’s function over fashion for me.

Gaiter

Those winter mornings can get really cold.  On those days, you’ll want to keep as much skin covered as possible—so you’ll want to keep a gaiter in your gear bag, too. 

A gaiter is just a tube of fabric that fits around your neck and over your face and acts much like a scarf.  I have a couple of warm fleece ones that come with a drawstring, so I can tighten them as needed.  I tend to keep mine down around my neck—but when the cold winter wind starts blowing, I pull it up over my face to cover my mouth and nose and keep my lungs from freezing when I breathe.  Breathing through your gaiter will make it a little damp, so you’ll probably want to wash it often—and you might want to pick up a two-pack while you’re at it, so you can have one on your face and one in the wash.

Cold weather can definitely add an extra challenge to your daily walk—enough, in fact, that some people just call it quits instead of braving the elements.  But don’t let those chilly days keep you from your daily walk!

As you get out there each day, I recommend making a note of the weather and the kind of gear that works best for you.  Then write it down in your walking journal (I even include a gear tracker page in the Will Walk for Coffee printable journal), and it’ll help to take the guesswork out of those winter mornings.

Where are our walkers from colder climates?  What are your tips for staying warm on winter walks?

Kristin

Kristin has been hitting the trail (or the treadmill) for a walk almost every day for the past several years, and she recently completed her first half marathon. She loves sunny fall days, cushy walking shoes, and coconut caramel iced coffee from Dunkin.

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