When travelling to a wintery wonderland, it is essential to have proper attire that keeps you warm, dry and comfortable. Therefore, the first thing you need to consider when planning a trip to the snow is what to wear. Snow trips require comfortable clothing that suits your style and the weather conditions.
Hence, when venturing out in near-freezing weather, wearing the appropriate snow clothing and layering is crucial. But always remember, when it comes to clothes for winter or snow trips, less is more; all you need to do is just invest in the right piece of clothes.
So before you splurge at new winter clothes, spare a few minutes and go through this article. This article talks about some essential snow clothes that you must have. Read on!
Essential snow clothing for every traveller
Long underwear or thermals
Long underwear, also referred to as thermals, makes up the base layer of your clothing. It is an essential part of your snow clothes as it wicks sweat off your skin and keeps you warm throughout the day. Therefore, you need to be cautious about the fabric you choose. It should be either wool or cotton-based material. It would be better to avoid silk and polyester materials for your thermals as these fabrics cannot absorb moisture from your body and make you sweat beneath your clothes.
Snow pants (or Bibs)
Just like a snow trip is incomplete without adventures snow activities, your luggage bag will also be unfinished without snow pants or Bibs. So if you are heading for a snow trip, do carry a pair of snow pants. They are water-resistant, waterproof, insulated, and often come with several convenient pockets giving you ample storage space. Over that, they are heavily layered, provide you with warmth and keep you and your belongings safe.
Heavy coat
This is a piece of clothing on which you may splurge, but you may not need to. For snowy weather, an appropriate coat would be the one that covers your butt; it should be at least to your mid-thigh (or lower). Plus, look for a waterproof jacket instead of water repellent. You might have started scratching your head, wondering the difference between the two. Don’t fret! Here’s the answer!
- A water-resistant coat/ jacket will come with an external coating that allows the water to run off, but it will not have taped seams.
- A waterproof coat will have a similar layer with taped seams. Thus it can protect you from snow, wind, rain, and freezing temperatures.
Mittens/ gloves and hats
Whether you are buying protection for your hands or head, make sure it is moisture-wicking, wind-resistant, and thermal insulated. Some people prefer wearing gloves on snow trips as gloves offer individual pockets for fingers and provide the convenience of doing up zips, holding poles, handling gear, etc. In contrast, others prefer mittens that have a single pocket for all fingers and allow them to share internal heat. So it is entirely your choice, what you like. Besides this, you would also need snow beanies or hats to cover your head in cooling weather.
Socks and Boots
Last on the list of snow clothing are- winter hiking socks and boots. You would need insulated non-slipping winter hiking boots that protect your feet and prevent you from sliding on the ice. However, boots alone will not be able to keep you warm and dry. To retain insulation, you need snow socks made of wool, shearling, fleece, or other synthetic fabric.