What keeps you warm?

[Robyn]

Multiple layers on top, none of which are very heavy. Wicking tank, REI Midweight Baselayer, down sweater if cold then my jacket. Bottom is CWX tights, another base if really cold then pants, sometimes insulated. Swany Toaster Mittens in leather, Hotronics Boot Heaters, helmet and powderfish gaiter.

 

[KatyPerrey]

What keeps me warm? The thought of going to the beach!!

 

[Jilly]

What keeps me warm? The thought of going to the beach!!

I've quite often been sitting on the chair, telling my feet they're in Florida!!

Sometimes it works!!

 

[mollmeister]

I like the Marmot tops (can't think of the name) that are slightly fuzzy on the inside and smooth on the outside. They layer well for a thick baselayer, and keep me cozy.

Helmet. And definitely balaclava with helmet when it's really cold!

Feet have been my problem for the last few years, and I have a couple of tricks for the really cold days (when even the boot heaters, on a reasonable setting, don't seem to be cutting it).

1. Turn on the boot heaters. Or not, if you don't have heaters. Put the boots on, in a warm, inside location, and then put one of those chemical heat packs on the OUTSIDE of the boot, over the toes, and then strap a neoprene *Boot Glove* https://www.bootglove.com/PRD_BGA.htm over it to hold it in place. The neoprene traps the heat, and things stay WARM in there. Slightly dorky and bumpy looking? Sure. But who the h*ll cares if my feet are warm and I can ski deep, cold snow all day?!

2. Carry some very lightweight, squishable slippers (with rubber soles for the lodge. Acorn has several things that work well-- https://www.acorn.com/product_detail.aspx?category_id=44&StyleCD=0913 ) in your backpack, along with extra socks, on really cold days. When it's time to go in for hot chocolate, hang up cold socks to dry/warm, put chemical heat packs in your boots to warm them, and shuffle around in dry, thick socks and slippers. HEAVEN. (I learned this from my ex-racer friend who used to get frostbitten toes from breaking in racing boots barefoot. She now has trouble with cold fit, and does this every time the temps dip. SMART!)

3. Also, when it comes to socks, the thinner the better. Really. Thick, warm-seeming socks just end up making my feet cold. Bridgedale Micro-fit are my favorite.
https://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7395842/c/401.html
Counter-intuitive? Yes, but true!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Put the boots on, in a warm, inside location, and then put one of those chemical heat packs on the OUTSIDE of the boot, over the toes, and then strap a neoprene *Boot Glove* https://www.bootglove.com/PRD_BGA.htm over it to hold it in place. The neoprene traps the heat, and things stay WARM in there. Slightly dorky and bumpy looking? Sure. But who the h*ll cares if my feet are warm and I can ski deep, cold snow all day?!

2. Carry some very lightweight, squishable slippers (with rubber soles for the lodge. Acorn has several things that work well-- https://www.acorn.com/product_detail.aspx?category_id=44&StyleCD=0913 ) in your backpack, along with extra socks, on really cold days. When it's time to go in for hot chocolate, hang up cold socks to dry/warm, put chemical heat packs in your boots to warm them, and shuffle around in dry, thick socks and slippers. HEAVEN. (I learned this from my ex-racer friend who used to get frostbitten toes from breaking in racing boots barefoot. She now has trouble with cold fit, and does this every time the temps dip. SMART!)

These are some super tips I plan on trying - thanks! I've been resisting boot heaters for some time, still hope to continue, but the toes are the one body part that will send me indoors. Love these 2 ideas and will report back after our first sub-zero day.

 

[mollmeister]

These are some super tips I plan on trying - thanks! I've been resisting boot heaters for some time, still hope to continue, but the toes are the one body part that will send me indoors. Love these 2 ideas and will report back after our first sub-zero day.

Glad to be helpful!

Let me know what you think-- these two tips helped me a lot. Seems like having babies sapped my toes of their warmth, so I am right there with you. Strange timing.


And I can take no credit for the ideas-- as noted, my friend is the source of the *slipper plan* and a lovely ski instructor acquaintance suggested the heat pack/boot glove combo!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I have caught on to the trick of absolutely carrying aboard boot bag a very small (but 1875 watt) hair dryer. Something of a lodge issue to actually find an available outlet (ha, maybe I'll also bring along a power strip?). Dry out boots and socks, but I like the idea of not turning to ice in the first place!

 

[MaryLou]

Last winter I started using the disposal boot heaters (under toes), thought they'd bug me being there...but they turned out to be wonderful. We buy one foot case and one hand case at Costco (need to do that now, or they're gone for season).

Also discovered making sure everyone's boots were heated before leaving the house (4 of us heat boot by wood stove once we get it cranked in the AM, husband has boot warmers he puts in overnight). Makes a huge difference - heating a boot up to body heat from room temperature is tough on a cold day, so out of the gate you're good.

I'm a 'glove in a mitten' lover, have inexpensive Combis that work great (may upgrade this week at TJMaxx). I'm not as chilly as most women (it seems), so I don't get how anyone can ski w/o on a cold day. Bulkiness doesn't bother me at all. Also add a disposible warms on freezing cold days.

I layer. I also dress for how I'll feel that day if I'm stuck on a chairlift for a long time. That's my nightmare scenario, so I always overdress in layers and unzip/take off as needed, b/c you never know what'll happen weatherwise.

Neck gator, always...unless it's a guaranteed warm spring day, I hate cold air down my neck.

 

[Jilly]

Our Costco has the cases already. I had to check our supply to see if we needed any. 1 case leftover for Hubby this winter. Our cases are mixed - hand and feet in the same box.

 

[CMCM]

For me, it's Icebreakers....top and pants, also socks. They make two thicknesses, I get the heaviest one, but it still feels like NOTHING when on. I've used these for 2 years now, and I don't ever even wear a sweater. Just the icebreakers, ski pants, and parka. I haven't been cold yet! I like Icebreakers better than anything else I've tried.

To keep warm, in addition to the above, I learned it's necessary to have warm hands and warm head. I bought a thin polartec type material helmet liner for the cold days, and a thick polartec gator for my neck. I bought Marmot's warmest mittens, and that covers it all. I learned that if my neck gets cold, or my hands, or my head/ears, then I feel cold all over. I've skied in major storms, high wind, anything bad mother nature can throw at me, and wearing the above stuff I'm not cold. For the worst wind/cold, I add on a face mask, but mostly I don't use that.

 

[SuZieCoyote]

Oh, and...

Once I skied with a fellow once who never got cold - warm-blooded, I guess. When I whined about my cold hands on the lift, he gave me his gloves, which were very warm. Meanwhile he warmed my gloves under his jacket. What a guy! Ski bums....geez.... Gotta love 'em (mama warned me, is all I can say.) One of the best ways to stay warm I've discovered....

 

[MaryLou]

Our Costco has the cases already. I had to check our supply to see if we needed any. 1 case leftover for Hubby this winter. Our cases are mixed - hand and feet in the same box.

Hopefully they're migrating south, DH was at Costco yesterday and they weren't there yet.

 

[NWGirl]

If I'm doing the bc and know I'll be gone for a while, I'll bring a thermos of hot something or other. I get really cold and have been told I have something called Reynaud's Phenomenon. Sounds weird, I know.

 

[amanda]

I have to second Mollmeister's boot glove toe warmer combo. My toes are always freezing, even when it's not that cold, and on days when the temps were really low my numb toes really messed with my skiing. Last season I bought a pair of boot gloves and started using them with the toe warmers on the outside of my boot under the boot glove. The difference has been really really AMAZING. No more cold toes!!!

 

[VTskiDiva]

Smartwool socks
Down sweater
helmet

would love to get boot heaters some day when i can afford them...

 

[plainjane]

Hands- I also have Raynaud's in my hands, what works for me is a pair of Marmot mittens with Smartwool glove liners and chemical heat packs.

Head-Smartwool balaclava under helmet and neck gaiter.

Body-depending on how cold, a layers under a wool sweater. I love Neve wool sweaters. Goretex shell or Goretex thinsulate jacket. For me it's about staying dry, when I can stay dry I don't get cold (I sweat a lot).

Legs-stretch fleece calf lengths under waterproof Arcteryx shell pants.

Feet- thin Smartwool socks.

Mental-don't think about the being cold part, think about how much fun it is to be outside skiing!!!!

 

[PNWSkier]

I really only get cold on the lift. On really cold days I put handwarmers in my pants front and back pockets. Sitting on the lift gets my bum toasty! Pressing on my legs gets circulation going in my thighs.

 

[Grace Elventhing]

One more vote for Smartwool baselayers. I like their midweight the best. They look good at the pub after skiing, too.

 

[Elangirl]

I am another Icebreaker fan--I have all the weights available (I work ina store--I am an indentured servant to my Icebreaker).

Also now have a lightweight 12 oz down jacket from Mountain Hardware. (Patagonia and Marmot have them too) I wear it under my parka--especcially under my ski coat.

I have Hotronics for feet--they are worth the splurge.

Hands--I have Spyder Rage gloves and Marmot Randonee gloves too. I hate mittens--wear them only on the coldest days I have a down pair from Cloudveil--Down Patrol.

I really think that when it comes to hands and feet, you need to splurge more than for jackets--you can layer up on the core, but the hands are so easily neglected. I have those Hand Warmers from Costco too for long days outside--they really make a difference. On a really cold day, I stick two of them in my pockets on my jacket and they help to keep my core warm too. Yikes--I can't wait to be cold.

 

[Skisailor]

Amanda and Mollmeister:

So good to hear that the bootglove/heat pack combo has worked for you!!

I stumbled upon that concept last year but then had trouble finding the bootglove at any shops. (did alot of asking around with no luck).

I'll be sure to go to the website and get a pair for the upcoming season!

It makes alot of sense to me especially since I don't like the boot heater idea, and can't imagine putting anything inside my boot other than my feet! (and a very thin pair of socks)