Winter and I don’t have the best relationship. Growing up in Virginia, snow days were rare treats that had more to do with sitting inside drinking hot chocolate than playing in the snow. When we did venture out, the temperature never dropped far below 32°F, so sledding and snowball fights kept us warm enough to brave the strange white dust falling from the sky.
Only upon moving from the Mid-Atlantic to the high mountains of Colorado did I realize how unprepared I was for the cold. I’ll never forget my initial shock when I saw nothing but single digits on the two-week weather forecast. I tried dabbling in winter sports, willingly swapping out my running and climbing shoes for ski boots from the first sight of snow to the last. Then, the novelty wore off, and I started resenting the winter wonderland. I missed expressing myself physically in the ways that felt most authentic to me but weren’t accessible for half the year. That, and I developed a bad case of Raynaud’s Syndrome, a condition that restricts blood flow to the extremities. Outdoor activities in the winter became uncomfortable and unsafe because I lost almost all dexterity in my hands and feet below a certain threshold of cold. I couldn’t trust myself to belay my climbing partner without inadvertently dropping the rope, let alone get on the wall myself or lace my shoes.
Everything changed when I learned how to clothe myself more effectively. I’d avoided the rote recommendation to “dress in layers” because the bulk limited fluid movement, making me feel colder. The sheer number of layers it would take to keep me warm added more weight to my body and bag than I could justify when trying to ascend cliffs and navigate trails at a quick clip. Nothing served these purposes quite as well as my trusty down jacket: powerful, compressible, low-profile, and with a high warmth-to-weight ratio. However, a jacket only covers so much surface area, so I decided to deck out my entire body in down apparel.
That realization saved my relationship with the winter season. Down doesn’t have to stop at the waist. Everything from your head, hands, legs, and feet can benefit from its featherlight insulation. These items require more TLC than your typical synthetic puffy or fleece pullover, and will cost you more upfront. But you can trust one piece of down apparel to do the work of three such alternatives. Each down item represents an investment in your warmth worth the time and money it takes to extend those outdoor experiences year-round.
180s Down Ear Warmers
Hot take: hats get too much hype. They’re impractical and uncomfortable more often than not, and hats under helmets or over glasses create pressure points that trigger headaches. Don’t even get me started on the battle between hats and long hair. Your head may stay warm, but at the expense of your patience, as all the loose strands you can’t pull up into a ponytail fly into your face with every move.
Avoid the hat hassle with the 180s down ear warmers. It’s a myth that you lose most of your body heat through your head, so there’s no need to worry about covering your crown. Your ears, on the other hand, need much more protection from the elements than your scalp. They’re especially susceptible to the cold due to a lack of fat for insulation. And when your ears get too cold, the risk of infection and hearing loss skyrockets—which might be the only thing worse than wearing icicles as earrings in the first place.
Powered by 650 fill down, these ear warmers cradle the ears while leaving the rest of the head free from bulk and constriction. Structured cups lined with soft fleece create an enclosed shelter for the ears that won’t compress the cartilage or irritate the skin, while a water-resistant outer shell protects the feathers inside from losing their loft when the weather turns sour. The cradle adjusts to accommodate various sizes, which means that it won’t protrude out from small heads or dig into larger ones. No matter your head shape, it will lie flush against your skull for a low-profile fit across the board. For someone with such a small head that some hats refuse to stay on, these muffs passed every shake test, staying in place throughout a 15-foot climbing fall that flipped me nearly upside down. While that’s not a common enough occurrence to hang their worth on, it made for quite the litmus test.
The 180s down ear warmers have become almost as much of an everyday carry essential as my wallet, watch, and keys. Even after the worst of winter has passed, Colorado’s dawns and dusks tend to usher in a wave of cool air at any time of year. The 180s keep earaches at bay well enough to earn a permanent home in my bag. Given that they fold into a disc no bigger—and lighter—than a coin purse, the benefit outweighs the burden. I do wish they didn’t block sound quite so much. It’s tough to make out words clearly at any sort of distance, more so than when wearing a hat because of the thick padding. Hand signals go a long way while climbing or hiking. Otherwise, remind your friends ahead of time that you’re not ignoring them.
$30 | 180s.com
Exped Down Sock
“Cold feet” might be a figurative phrase, but there’s plenty of literal truth to it, too. It’s tough to do anything useful with toes so cold they go numb. Even sleeping becomes elusive when pins and needles in your feet make relaxation a pipe dream. Restlessness correlated with cold feet isn’t just in your head. Research reported by the National Sleep Foundation suggests that cold feet contribute to insomnia. Warm extremities, on the other hand, lead to falling asleep faster and sleeping more soundly through the night.
With that in mind, R&R gets easier with these down socks from Exped. Yes, you read that right: down socks, not booties. These aren’t your typical house shoes, and you won’t want to sully them by tromping around in the dirt. They’re not durable enough for that, either, and you’d risk ripping the relatively fragile exterior. No, they’re made specifically to protect your piggies from the cold during downtime when you’re not able to stimulate blood flow via movement.
Exped’s down socks pillow your entire foot—from the top to the sides to the bottom—in feathers. Booties made for walking aren’t able to provide that level of all-around warmth, especially underfoot. And while I wouldn’t judge you for wearing booties to bed, it doesn’t sound exactly comfortable. Break out the down socks when it’s time to turn in instead. Think of them as sleeping bags for your feet. They’re the ideal companion for cold winter nights in the car, chilly shoulder-season camping trips, and cozy fireside chats. I’ve been able to extend my camping season by over a month on either side, thanks to these alone.
The 700 fill-down in these socks rivals the best parkas on the market. Seven individually stuffed baffles, including one dedicated to the toes, cover all your bases so no square centimeter gets left behind. The down spreads out enough within each baffle to keep from bunching up and creating uncomfortable hot spots in such a sensitive area, but not so thinly that you lose loft. My favorite feature is a snug but stretchy elastic band around the ankle that traps the warmth and makes it easier for your body heat to generate even more in the closed-off space.
When not in use, they compress down to the easy-to-store size of a pair of thin cotton socks, which also means they won’t create excess bulk in bed. At less than 5 ounces per pair, though, there can’t be much bulk to speak of in the first place. And if cozy toes don’t help you sleep through the night well enough already, rest easy knowing that these socks meet the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) for animal protection. Warmth meets welfare to put both your body and your mind at ease.
$90 | expedusa.com
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Pant
You already know how I feel about warm toes, but wait until you try a warm butt and thighs. Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer down pants have changed my entire outlook on where warmth matters most. Since adding these to my winter wardrobe, I’ve reached for them more frequently than my parka. They shine brightest in combination with a down jacket, but there are a surprising number of instances where the upper body gets enough action to stay warm without the need for extra insulation while the lower body doesn’t: cooking dinner at camp, sitting around the fire, belaying your climbing partner, driving into the sunset, etc. The Ghost Whisperers have come to my rescue on all those occasions and more.
These pants run a bit big. However, I love that they’re loose enough to slide on over whatever I have on. The generous fit allows for wearing them over baselayers as an additional measure of protection from the cold that so easily cuts through slim-fitting athletic wear. Simply swapping out thin leggings for thicker pants doesn’t always work since certain activities necessitate a wide range of motion that seams, stiff fabric, and tight gussets won’t accommodate. It’s not a great use of time and energy to change clothes multiple times a day (not to mention the logistical struggle of stripping down in public). But the ability to dress for the demands of the activity at hand and then throw on these down pants overtop as needed offers the best of both worlds: comfort in motion and at rest without having to undergo a full outfit change.
An internal drawstring around the waist holds them up despite the loose fit through the legs, while ankle zippers with snap closures at the cuffs give structure to the otherwise unconstrained design. These details make it easy to adjust the fit based on your baselayers. When I throw these on over my climbing attire, for instance, I leave the drawstring loose so the pants will fit over my pants and my harness. All that’s left to do when my time to climb comes around is remove the pants and tie into the rope. When skiing or hiking, the ankle zippers come in handy as a way to put on the pants without having to go through the rigmarole of messing with clunky, dirty boots.
The Ghost Whisperer comes in three different inseam options, so no ankle goes bare, and no hem gets trampled underfoot. Ripstop fabric on the outside keeps them from catching or tearing on anything you might brush up against. In between wears, they stuff into a small sack that occupies less space than a water bottle. These 800-fill, 9.5-ounce pants pack such a punch that you might never want to wear “real” pants ever again. Available in men’s and women’s sizes.
$275 | mountainhardwear.com
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Overall
Overalls, along with every other ’90s trend, are officially back in style. Whether or not that applies to down overalls is up for debate, but any concern you might have for looks will fade into the background once you experience these in action. In typical Cotopaxi fashion, the color-block stripes on the Fuego down overalls combine aesthetics with eccentrics. They’re quirky, for sure, but in a way that can’t help but catch the eye. They make a statement that says, “Warmth is worth celebrating—loudly.”
I stepped into the Fuegos immediately upon opening the package and proceeded to wear them every day thereafter for a week straight. They extend a creative solution to a problem that I’d never been able to put my finger on before. No matter how intentionally you dress, typical outerwear still leaves a sensitive area of the body vulnerable to the cold: your midriff. Drop hems and high waistlines help close the gap, but air still easily blows into the space between where your jacket ends and your pants begin. Overalls eliminate that issue by streamlining the design so that there’s no gap for air to take advantage of in the first place.
Not only does the design prevent cold air from creeping in, but it allows the body heat that your core generates to spread through the rest of your body. There’s no opportunity for that warmth to escape on its way down. I wore them over top of one set of baselayers for an outdoor concert in a snowstorm and felt completely comfortable after a few minutes of dancing around. The heat stayed trapped within the overalls even as the night slowed down.
From there, 800-fill down (courtesy of responsibly sourced Allied Feather + Down) within a DWR-finished shell covers the rest. These overalls are made for tromping around in all kinds of winter weather. Water resistance and ripstop nylon give them a degree of durability that goes beyond surviving a few splashes and scrapes. I can attest to the fact that there’s no snowball too big or puddle too deep to take the Fuego down overalls out of commission.
Cotopaxi has also addressed the worst part about most overalls: the logistics of wearing them. It’s more than an annoyance to take them completely off every time nature calls; in the winter, what’s merely a hassle at other times of the year can quickly turn treacherous depending on the temperature. Unfortunately, there’s no butt-flap on the Fuegos. That would be my only recommendation for V2. But a full-length, two-way zipper down one side offers easy access while protecting your legs and chest so you can pop a squat in comfort. It’s the little things.
$285 | cotopaxi.com
Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Mitts
I nearly passed off these mitts to my male partner because they didn’t seem anywhere close to appropriate for my small size at first glance. The aptly named Coldfront down mitts from Outdoor Research might as well be oven mitts. The bottom hem extends almost halfway down my forearm, and the high loft renders my hands completely useless where fine motor skills are concerned.
But if it takes wearing flippers on my fingers to keep from losing feeling in them, that’s a trade-off I’ll happily make. The Coldfronts are the first mittens to ward off my Raynaud’s symptoms, no matter the temperature. I can trust these to create summertime heat deep into the single digits. They’re my go-to for early morning runs before the sun rises when the frozen ground makes the air feel colder as it bounces off the ice back into your face. Hands usually bear the brunt of that bone-chilling, pre-dawn cold because larger muscles like the quads poach more blood—and thus, more warmth. Your digits are left to fend for themselves. But wrapped in these mitts, they’ll work up a welcome sweat.
Plus, the Coldfront mitts are only temporarily impractical. The warmth they infuse into your extremities lasts longer than the amount of time you’re wearing them. They’ll make sure your hands retain their dexterity so that when you do need to take them off for delicate movements, you don’t have to waste any time shaking enough blood into your fingertips to have control over them. They slip on and off so quickly that the transition is largely painless. Gloves that fit more snugly than the Coldfronts might offer more dexterity while on, but it takes three times the amount of time to extract your fingers from inside and then wiggle them back into place. Low-cling polyester gives the inner lining of these mitts a soft but slick texture that glides easily over the skin.
When removing your mitts isn’t an option in the most bitterly cold temperatures, the Coldfronts do include a silicone patch on the palm and thumb for some semblance of grip. Don’t expect to be able to keep a tight grasp on small items like keys, but they’ll latch onto steering wheels and trekking pole handles just fine. The silicone isn’t for grip’s sake alone as it protects the mitt from getting torn up every time you slip on the ice and brace yourself against the ground or reach for the nearest tree branch, occurrences so common in the winter that wearing delicate down on your hands would be a waste of money otherwise. Take it from the clumsiest of the bunch that these can take a tumble in stride.
$75 | outdoorresearch.com
Rumpl Down Blanket
I’m the type to bring a blanket pretty much anywhere I go. I have three that live in my trunk, one in my everyday backpack, and another in each of my climbing, hiking, and ski bags. I keep so many stashed away not only for the security of knowing that I’ll always have one on hand should disaster (or a cold front) strike but also because I don’t trust only one to give me enough warmth on its own.
I’m happy to report, for the sake of my storage space and my dignity, that the Rumpl down blanket has replaced them all. I’m now comfortable with bringing this single option because I can trust the Rumpl to keep me as warm as three others combined—it’s the only “security blanket” I need. This blanket packs down significantly smaller than any quilt. Go from a 52-inch by 72-inch rectangle to a 5- by 13-inch stuff sack, complete with a water-resistant roll top in seconds. Keep in mind that it’ll retain wrinkles after being stored in the sack for more than a couple of days straight and takes a few shakes to loft up.
The 600-fill, hydrophobic down housed in a ripstop shell grants a shocking amount of warmth across an expansive surface area. This one-person blanket is large enough to wrap me up like a burrito three times over. For an adult of a more average size, it’s got plenty of width and length for full-body envelopment. The Rumpl’s durable exterior gives me further confidence in bringing it far off the grid as my sole blanket. I’ve definitely played with fire (literally) when cozying up in this blanket and walked away with it unscathed. Don’t take this as an endorsement of flame resistance, but if a few stray sparks didn’t leave a mark, then rocks and branches don’t stand a chance. It’s machine washable, so there’s no fear of mucking it up for good.
My favorite feature on this down blanket is one I only discovered after months of everyday use: a small clip on one corner of the blanket attaches to a loop on the opposite corner to create a wearable cape. Needless to say, my favorite travel blanket has now pulled double-duty as my favorite statement piece. Watch out, red carpet. In all seriousness, though, I appreciate being able to attach the blanket under my chin and go hands-free as needed. Loops on each corner of the blanket, not just the one, present the possibility of pinning the whole thing onto the ground for a picnic or makeshift shelter. This is the blanket of your childhood imagination—ready to become whatever you need at any given moment.
$275 | rumpl.com
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2024 Issue.
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