Escaping the Everyday

You may be worried about staying warm while skiing in temperatures that are in the single digits or even below zero. Alternatively, you may be new to skiing and unsure about how to dress appropriately. I always struggle with this because I get cold easily, and if I am cold, I do not enjoy my activities.

I always want to go skiing, but it seems pointless if my hands, toes, and face are going to freeze. After three years of skiing, I have finally figured out what works for me, and I hope it can help others as well.

If you are curious about what I mean by getting cold easily, even in the summertime when temperatures are in the 70s or 80s, I still bring a sweatshirt with me because I am unsure if restaurants or stores will be cold or if the temperatures will drop due to a breeze. Therefore, you can only imagine what it is like for me in the winter.

Please note, there are some links included in this post that are my affiliate links! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Affiliate Link Information

The Site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.

Body warmers

Hand warmers and toe warmers have significantly improved my comfort. Despite purchasing high-quality gloves for skiing, my fingers would still become cold in chilly conditions.

They are fairly inexpensive and typically last about 10 hours, which is plenty of time if you are skiing for the whole day. The hand warmers simply sit between the palm of your hand and the glove. While I am on the ski lift, I wrap my fingers and hand around the hand warmer in my glove.

Initially, I was somewhat skeptical about the toe warmers, as I doubted they would remain in place or that they might cause discomfort throughout the day. The bottom of the toe warmer is adhesive, allowing you to stick it to the bottom of your foot or toes before slipping your foot into your boot. To my surprise, I did not even notice them throughout the day, and I was simply pleased that my toes remained warm.

Size up in ski jacket

One thing that I have found extremely helpful is sizing up in my ski jacket. This allows extra room for layering. On colder days, I wear my base layer, mid-layer three-quarter zip-up, a fleece zip-up, and then my ski jacket.

Being able to layer under my jacket keeps me warmer, and having the larger size still allows room for layering. There is still plenty of room in my jacket, so I do not feel constricted.

This was actually a fortunate error when purchasing my ski jacket. I accidentally bought the wrong size and was deliberating whether to return or exchange it. I decided to exchange it for a smaller size, but it was unavailable, so I kept the original one. Fortunately, it turned out for the best!

Thin socks

You might be wondering, “Why would I prefer thin socks? Wouldn’t thicker socks be warmer?” That was my initial thought as well until I conducted some of my own research. It turns out that thicker socks are more likely to cause poor circulation due to the combination of the thick material and tight boots.

Tight boots cause poor blood circulation, resulting in cold toes. I have also found that putting on ski socks right before hitting the mountain keeps my feet warmer than putting them on first thing in the morning. This is because moisture accumulates from being in my shoes and the warmth in the car.

Don’t buy cheap gear

I certainly learned this the hard way. When I first started skiing, I purchased some winter gear from Walmart, and that was a huge mistake. While they do have some great winter options for playing in the snow, going to the store, or taking a walk, I would not recommend this gear for spending all day in the mountains with temperatures in the single digits.

Invest in quality! You will not regret it. While I usually seek good deals and name brands, when it comes to staying warm, these reputable companies are popular and expensive for a reason—they genuinely keep you warm.

If you lack the funds to pay full price, as it can become expensive quickly, search for deals around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or check their sale page. Occasionally, you may find an excellent deal on a style being discontinued or on sale because it was last year’s model and they are trying to clear it out.

Understanding weather conditions

It is extremely important to stay warm and dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Is there a wind chill?
Is it cloudy or sunny?
Is it supposed to snow?
Are you looking at the temps at the base of the mountain or the top?

All these questions are important factors when deciding what to wear. Looking at just the temperature in the town where the ski resort is located is not sufficient.

There have been instances when I observed the temperature at the base of the mountain to be 20 degrees and sunny, which appeared to be quite decent. However, I failed to consider the wind chill factor, which would make it feel as though it were in the single digits. Brr!

When it is snowing, windy, or slightly colder, I prefer to wear my balaclava as it prevents the wind from reaching my neck, face, and entering my jacket.

Believe me, you will appreciate the outdoors significantly more when you are appropriately dressed and warm.