When it’s cold outside, many people want to avoid leaving the house as much as they can. However, it can be nice to go for a countryside walk and explore the area, especially if there isn’t much rain. That’s why we’ve created this guide of 10 red-hot tips on how to keep warm outside, whether you’re hiking or running errands around town!
Start your day getting warm
It might seem strange to start here but trust us, it makes perfect sense! By getting organised the night before or the morning of a hike, you can set yourself up for hours. It’s all about retaining any heat before you leave the front door. Here are 5 ways to do so at home:
- Use a hot water bottle
- Load up on hot drinks
- Take a warm shower
- Warm your clothes up on a radiator before you get ready
- Eat a hot breakfast, like porridge
Start with a base layer
This might be the most important layer you wear. Ideally, it will be a thermal, long-sleeved top to maximise keeping the cold out but short-sleeved versions work. If you don’t have a thermal layer, a cotton long-sleeved top works too. You’ll want to opt for a long-sleeved version because it keeps your entire top half warm. We don’t want you getting cold elbows, especially if you forget your gloves.
There are various thermals but those with sweat-wicking properties are best for the outdoors. Even though it might be cold, you’ll still be sweating underneath and there’s nothing worse than a T-shirt stuck to you when it’s cold outside. Of course, you can overheat but this layer is the one that stays put!
Try a cotton or wool-blend jumper
If you’re prone to getting very cold, adding a jumper as a secondary layer should help to keep you warm. Cotton or wool materials are designed to be stretchy, comfortable and warm but that doesn’t have to mean boring. For the ladies, we have lots of bright colours available in our ribbed and cable knit jumpers. The men have a selection of shooting jumpers in country colours, from chunky knits to V-neck styles.
Stick on a fleece as a mid-layer
If there’s an item that we know a lot about, it’s a fleece. We have gilets, half-zips and full-zips in just about every colour under the sun. We love them as a layering option as they’re usually fitted jackets to go underneath a coat or as an outer layer when it’s warmer outside. We recommend long-sleeved, full-zip styles when outside as it makes it easier to remove that layer if you’ve warmed up too much! If you’re in the market for a new fleece, we have extensive choices in both our women’s and men’s ranges.
Choose a coat with warming properties
Often, people think this is the most crucial layer but we’ve found that if you get your inner layers right, you might not need as thick a coast as you might think. Of course, if you’re prone to getting colder than your average person, you should look into a more padded style.
Make sure that your coat has a hood and is waterproof; these are the two most important features of any outdoor coat. Here are a few options to ensure you keep warm outside:
- Insulated puffer jacket for when you have plenty of layers underneath
- Waterproof or hiking jacket for days when you know it’s going to be raining!
- Tweed jackets (men’s and women’s) for cooler days with a warming lining
Wear thermal leggings if it’s particularly cold or waterproof overtrousers if hiking
Many of us often forget that our bottom half can get particularly cold on a walk yet just stick on our usual trousers or jeans. However, sometimes, we need to be a little more prepared than that. If it’s really cold, a pair of thermal leggings should be in your walking wardrobe as they’ll retain as much heat as possible under your trousers.
Alternatively, if you’re going to be hiking and you know it will be raining or already muddy, a pair of waterproof overtrousers (we have women’s and men’s options) is good to have. You might want to have them on for the entirety of your walk or fold them away in your rucksack as a ‘just in case’ option.
Opt for thermal or hiking socks
If you’ve got thermal-lined items covering the rest of your body, why not on your feet? There’s nothing that spoils a hike more than having the wrong socks on as it can make you prone to blisters and more general footaches. Hiking socks have been designed with the activity in mind so have extra padding on the bottom sole, around the heel and ankle bone.
Wear ankle boots or walking boots for walking or hiking
Depending on your activity, you’ll still need the right kind of footwear. If you’re walking around your local village or town for a winter’s day out, ankle boots with a decent tread are a must for any winter activity. Even on a pavement, there can still be icy or slushy conditions and you’ll need your balance!
For a countryside walk or hike, you might prefer specialised walking boots for men and women. The extra padding around the ankle is there to make longer walks more comfortable and the tread is extra grippy to deal with uneven terrain. The leather upper boot is sturdy but flexible and provided you give them a clean after every walk, they should last you for years.
Choose Wellington boots if necessary
If you’re not hiking but need to be outdoors for a long time, you might want to put on a pair of Wellington boots (men’s and women’s available). Many find them uncomfortable to walk around in but if you’re working outdoors or spending time in the garden, wellies might be your best option. By wearing thicker socks and getting the right fit, they can be cosy enough for being outside!
Start your own collection of warm accessories
By this, we mean hats, scarves and gloves of course. Again, wool or cotton-blend items should be the materials you gravitate towards because of their thermal properties. Many accessories have a thermal lining, which is ideal for spending the day outside. We recommend a hat that goes over your ears and a pair of gloves are the most important but a scarf can also be added if you’re extra cold.
If you know you’re going to be walking or hiking for some time, another top tip is to pack an additional outfit to change into afterwards. There’s nothing worse than sitting around in cold, damp clothes so switching your outfit is often the best way to start getting warm again. Even if you wear waterproof overtrousers, you can still feel a little cold underneath after you’ve completed your walk. At best, take a fresh pair of thermal socks, a hat and a pair of gloves to at least get your feet, head and hands warm again!
Don’t forget to take your thermal flask with you, especially if you’re going on a long walk or hike. Fill it up with tea, coffee or a hot beverage of your choice and it should see you through for a few hours. If you stop off at a cafe on your walk, see if they can refill it for you for the next stint of your walk.
