Winter Gear We Love
It seems like every time we turn around this winter there's another snow storm hitting us. Since we weighed in about dog apparel in the winter season, we thought it’d be good to cover what we rely upon to have successful walks with our furry buddies. As New Englanders you all know about the basics, but here is some outdoor gear from top to bottom that we really love. When it comes to hats, there are so many good brands out there. The most important thing we’ve found is that you want something soft like fleece to line your hat if it is not made out of a soft fleecy material itself. Wool is great to keep you warm but who wants their face to be itchy while enjoying the outdoors?! If it’s a windy or especially cold day, a hat with ear flaps really helps cut down on facial exposure.
People often neglect covering their neck but this is a must. Whether a scarf or neck warmer, make sure it can fit easily under the collar of your jacket on very cold days. I am particularly fond of the company Turtle Fur that makes neck warmers so soft and cozy, that I often forget to take mine off at the end of the day!
Layers, layers, layers. We have been extremely happy with Lululemon for layering purposes on top. Depending on the temperature, you can opt for a lighter weight long sleeve or go for an ultra soft close-knit long sleeve to help seal in all of that body heat you create romping with your dog! If you are adventurous or your blood has thickened like ours and you feel like wearing a vest as your outer layer, it is advisable to wear a wind-blocking shirt over your base layer. Again, we have been extremely happy with Lululemon for this as well (I swear, we have not been paid by them!).
On the days when a vest will not cut it, your winter jacket will be the most important thing you put on. Something that blocks the wind and rain is essential. Marmot makes incredible down jackets and vest for extra warmth and I love my trusty waxed Barbour to keep those biting winter winds out.
Bottom layers are just as important when the temps drop under freezing. A cozy pair of leggings or some really good Thermasilk under jeans keep us toasty. If you happen to get a snowy or wet day (thanks New England for having extremely varied winter weather), snow pants or rain pants may be necessary. WE recommend checking out REI, North Face and Marmot for those as well. There are a variety of styles from fashionable(ish) to functional!
It is very rare that we need to double up socks for a hike. Smartwool makes wonderful cold weather hiking socks that are guaranteed to keep your feet feeling good during the winter months. Of course, a good pair of socks doesn’t really matter if you don’t have the right boots. We have had many a pair of boots and the ones that we rely upon time and again are those made by Sorel and LL Bean. They both make excellent waterproof boots that are perfect for tromping through puddles, sloshing through slush, or frolicking in the snow. Liners made of recycled felt (Sorel) and shearling (LL Bean) really up the coziness and comfort for long hikes.
Lastly, we cannot stress how important it is to have something to combat the ice during those super frosty hikes. Icetrekkers by Yaktrax have served us fairly well but we are always looking for the best items and have been advised that Microspikes by Kahtoola are the way to go for excellent ice traction.
So get out there and enjoy the winter months with your pups. We know we sure do!!!
