What I Wear to Stay Warm(ish) in Winter

It’s coming up on Thanksgiving, and the temperatures are starting to reflect that winter will be here before we know it. Case in point, as I write this we’ve found ourselves in a winter storm warning here in the good life. But, I mean, is there a more appropriate time to share what I wear to stay warm in the winter than right before things get, well… wintery? I think not.

Head-to-Toe My Favorite Winter Gear

In general, I’m a quality over quantity kind of gal. I would rather pay more for something that I know is going to keep me warm and hold up for a decade than to pay less for something I’ll have to replace in a year because it doesn’t stand up to the conditions or the wear. So, keep that in mind as you scroll through this head to toe list of my favorite winter gear.

Also, funnily enough, as I was gathering the links for this list, I found that a lot of the things I wear have been discontinued. Like I said, I buy quality gear that lasts, and lasts, and lasts. 🤷‍♀️

But I did some homework and found the styles that have replaced my old reliables. Some of the styles I have tried and some I have not, but I’ll let you know which ones are which below and provide my honest thoughts on what I’ve tried.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. For all the deets on how and why I use affiliate links click HERE.

Head

The Button Up Cap with Harris Tweed

I love, love, love this cap from Stormy Kromer. It’s functional. It’s fashionable. It’s comfy and keeps me cozy when it’s moderately chilly out. As much as I love this cap, I won’t lie to you and tell you that it’s meant for sub-zero temps. It’s not.

While it does the trick in the moderate chill with minimal wind, it’s not the cap I use when the wind is howling and the temps are well below freezing. The cap I use for that is the Snowdrift, also by Stormy Kromer.👇🏼

The Snowdrift Cap

This cap, while not quite as fashionable (unless you’re into the Elmer Fudd look) as the Button Up, is beyond functional for life in the frozen tundra. In addition to its woolen exterior, The Snowdrift is Thinsulate™-lined and features tie-up ear flaps for warmth that are beyond compare. I literally don’t need a hood when I go out in this bad boy. 

Torso

Shirts with Thumb Holes

I’ve got a couple Under Armour shirts with thumb holes and a couple I bought from Zulily years ago. I don’t remember the brand and can’t find it because the shirts are old and the tags are worn. And I’m not necessarily loyal to any brand here, but what I can tell you is that having a base-layer shirt with thumb holes will keep you exponentially warmer in the extreme cold on account of your wrists being covered.

The Woolover for Her

I’ve been wearing my Stormy Kromer Woolover on the daily during the fall/winter since I got it in the fall of 2015. And aside from a teeny-tiny little bit of wear on the sleeves, it’s the same as the first time I put it on.

Full disclosure – there have been more than a few times when my Woolover has been too much and I’ve ended up shedding layers. It’s so dang warm. And, as long as you don’t put it in the dryer, it doesn’t shrink in the wash.

Stormtech Coat

Way back when I still worked at the feed yard, I was given a soft shell Stormtech coat that turned out to be the best coat I’ve ever owned. It was water resistant, warm, and best of all lightweight, so I could move and not feel bogged down. Unfortunately, after years of use (and mostly abuse) my favorite coat died last winter when the zipper blew out.

No problem, I told myself, I’ll just order a new one. Except there was a problem. When I got online to get a new one coming, I realized they no longer made my coat.

I emailed customer support to confirm. And confirm they did, but they offered the replacement style, which I did end up buying. While it is lightweight (like my old coat) and waterproof (better than the OG), it isn’t nearly as warm as my trusty old coat. 😕

Moral of the story – my new coat is perfect for fall, and mild winter, weather, but I may need a bit more when we hit those sub-zero temps. And I still love the Stormtech brand.

Hands

Ida’s Wool Sherpa Mittens

I’ve been blessed with (self-diagnosed) Raynaud’s disease. If you’re not familiar with Raynaud’s, it’s this really cool (and kinda dangerous) thing that happens where the tips of my fingers turn white and feel numb when I go out in the cold without proper coverage.

And by “proper coverage” I don’t mean just any old gloves. I mean, my Ida’s Wool Sherpa Mittens by Stormy Kromer. They are THE only thing that I’ve found to one hundred percent keep my Raynaud’s away. These mittens are legit.

And, if you haven’t guessed it by now, I am a Stormy Kromer fanatic. Since I was given my first SK cap in the winter of 2013, I’ve been loyal to SK. Not only is their gear amazingly warm and able to withstand the test of time, it’s also made in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Legs

Cuddl Duds

My very most favorite (great grammar – I know, but don’t care) long johns of all time are my Chill Chasers Active Stretch by Cuddl Duds. They are perfect because they’re form-fitting and not loose and bulky. I hate ill-fitting, bulky long johns under my jeans. And I don’t use the word hate loosely.

Unfortunately, I can’t find my beloved Chill Chasers anywhere. But, I did find these Cuddl Duds at Target. I have not personally tried these, but they are made of a similar material blend, look to have a similar fit, and are what I will likely buy when I need replacement long johns.

Carhartt Coveralls

I got my Carhartt coveralls when I was working at the feed yard nearly 10-years ago. I’d tried a couple brands that didn’t hold up for more than a year or two (at the most) before I switched to Carhartt for women. I still have my OG pair and they’re still going strong nearly a decade later.

They don’t make the exact coveralls I have anymore, but the Women’s Weathered Duck Wildwood Bib Overalls are very close. The only difference I see are the pockets. And it looks like those have been improved upon from the pair I have.

Toes

Socks

Full disclosure, the jury’s still out on a good pair of moisture wicking socks that keep my feet dry and warm. Oddly enough, I have feet that sweat almost instantly after entering a boot or shoe. And I haven’t found a “winter” sock that I love enough to suggest.

Moral of the sock story is, if you too have feet that sweat as soon as they enter a shoe and have found a brand/style sock you like, drop a link in the comments so I can try them out. Because right now, I’m wearing my everyday Hanes. 🤷‍♀️

Twisted X Boots

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you my favorite wintertime boots are no longer in production. I wear the Twisted X Women’s Guide Boots and love them. Unfortunately, Twisted X no longer makes them. But maybe if we bug them enough they’ll bring them back.

Bogs Boots

If Twisted X doesn’t end up bringing those boots back, I will go back to wearing Bogs Boots in the winter. Bogs are what the kids and Mr. FFB wear, and what I wore before I was introduced to the Twisted X Boots.

We get all of our Bogs Boots (and Twisted X for that matter) from Double A Feeds. If you can’t find what you need on the website, give the girls a call and they’ll get you set up. 😉

This Concludes the Winter Gear Round-Up

I hope you found this helpful and not too boring. Did some of your winter weather favorites make my list? If not, what’s your tried and true cold weather gear?