Want to Start a Winter Sport? Here’s Everything You’ll Need to Wear

If you’re tempted to pick up a winter sport to stay fit or improve your mood this season, there’s an entire world of options to explore. Maybe the mountains are calling for some skiing or snowboarding. Perhaps you see yourself gliding gracefully across a frozen pond or outdoor skating rink.

But even something as simple as a walk in the woods or taking the kids sledding requires a pile of equipment to keep you toasty warm and happy instead of soggy, frozen, and frostbitten. Staying warm and dry can mean all the difference between the most fun you’ve ever had and being absolutely and even dangerously miserable.

“As a skier, snowboarder, and emergency medicine doctor myself, I can tell you firsthand that skiing and snowboarding are some of the most exciting activities imaginable but also some of the most dangerous,” says Cheyenne Falat, MD, the assistant medical director of the adult emergency department at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

When it comes to staying warm, she suggests dressing in layers: “There’s a science behind it! Wear a base layer that is moisture-wicking, a middle layer that’s insulating — fleece, wool, or down are all great options — and an outer layer that is windproof and waterproof. Make sure to cover exposed areas of the body. This includes hats, scarves, face masks, gloves/mittens, warm socks, and waterproof shoes.”

Having spent winters in upstate New York, Switzerland, Utah, and northern China, my love of winter sports runs about as deep as my complete and utter intolerance for being even the slightest bit cold. I was born on a tropical island, and I guess my body never adjusted from its factory settings. And yet winter sports dominate the athletic highlight reel of my life: I’ve somehow skied my way through the Swiss Alps, played competitive ice hockey, snowboarded Utah’s backcountry, and happily dusted frost off my sleeping bag while camping in the snow.

If you need the lowdown on how to stay warm in the midst of a snowstorm while smiling so hard your gums hurt from the cold, I’ve got you covered. Assuming you’re going to be renting your hardware — be it skis, skates, snowboards, or snowshoes — this guide has everything else you need to stay warm and dry when starting a winter sport.

Nothing will ruin your day faster than getting wet, and your outerwear’s most important job is keeping you dry.

You also need to decide between outerwear that’s just a thin waterproof shell to wear over layers and one that has built-in insulation. “I wear a base layer of a medium weight, then a thicker mid-layer, a puff, then a shell, but that’s just me,” says Sayers. “You can easily simplify your jacket by having more of an insulated jacket. If your jacket is insulated, then just a base layer and a mid-layer may work best,” she explains.

Personally, I prefer insulted pants and jackets, as it’s one less thing to put on, but an uninsulated shell like Sayers recommends will give you more flexibility with temperatures, and you’ll be able to wear it through the spring when conditions warm up.

If you’re going to be outdoors in extreme weather, you’ll want snow pants to block out wind and snow. If you’re indoors, say, skating in an enclosed rink, you can give the snow pants a miss. A lot of snow pants come in a bib style, like overalls. These do a great job of keeping snow from getting down your pants and remove the discomfort of a waistband, but everything has a trade-off, and you’ll discover this one in the bathroom.

Whichever variations you choose, make sure both your pants and jacket fit loosely enough to wear an extra layer underneath. Even if you’re not layered up, the air trapped inside does a lot to keep you warm.

When dressing for winter sports, think of yourself as an athletic onion. Outdoor temperatures can change at a moment’s notice when the wind picks up or the sun comes out. You’re going to get hotter from exercising, then cold again if you break a sweat. Having layers you can shed or don is going to help you regulate your temperature.

If you’re working from your existing wardrobe, synthetic thermal tops and long underwear make good base layers, while sweaters and fleece pants make good mid-layers. Avoid cotton: It will suck up snow like a poodle in a powerdrift, leaving you wet and cold before lunchtime.

Generally speaking, synthetic fabrics are going to perform better for winter sports, with the exception of wool, which both wicks moisture and stays warm when wet. 

There’s a reason the expression “getting cold feet” means you’re ready to back out of plans you were excited about. With winter sports, it is literally true.

Gloves and socks may seem like relatively minor pieces of equipment, but the wrong ones are probably the most likely to derail your day. Keeping your hands and feet warm and dry is crucial to having a good time in the elements. A really nice pair of gloves or mittens can cost about $200 dollars, but I’ve always found you can get something that works just fine for about $30 to $50, as long as they are waterproof.

For socks, you want something tall enough to peek out over the top of your boots, since boots can chafe and irritate your skin. Some socks have full cushion, meaning a uniform thickness across your whole foot (which I find works better for my narrow feet), while others have targeted cushioning, where the heel and toe is thicker than the rest of the sock. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. It comes down to preference.

Make sure your socks fit properly: You don’t want them too roomy, as that can lead to blisters (as can wearing two pairs of thin socks). You also don’t want your socks to be too thick. Equipment like ski or snowboard boots and ice skates are designed to fit snug, so the energy transfer from your foot to your edge and the ground beneath it is precise and efficient. Overly thick socks will make your sports equipment harder to control. (Imagine taping a pillow to your car’s steering wheel.) Disposable toe warmers can help here, too.

Still, keeping your head covered is important for staying warm. You want a winter sports hat to fit snugly across your forehead and completely cover your ears. Other than that, just pick one you like! Any basic beanie should do the trick.

When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, “a helmet is nonnegotiable, even for beginners going slow,” says Joseph Lamplot, MD, an orthopedic sports medicine and shoulder surgeon at Endeavor Health in Kildeer, Illinois.

If your pleasure is skating, it’s up to you. Most adults don’t wear a helmet, but the rink in my town has kids’ helmets available for free and highly recommends all kids wear one, especially if they’re in hockey skates that don’t have a heel on the blade. It’s easy to fall backward and hit your head when you’re learning to skate.

Goggles come with lots of different kinds of lenses that can usually be replaced or swapped out. For example, you can get a clear lens or choose between red, green, or gray tints, depending on how you want to see the world and what kind of light condition you’re experiencing.

Polarized lenses are incredibly helpful in flat light, which happens when it’s overcast and makes it hard to see the topography of the snow. Be sure to match your lens to the conditions. Goggles tinted for bright sun are going to be too dark on an overcast day, for example.

Once you’ve gotten your mountain of gear, there’s the dilemma of how you’re going to carry it all. Juggling lots of bags is irritating, while trying to put on all of your layers before you get in the car is a recipe for overheating.

The solution is a massive gear bag. A big blue Ikea bag works, but if you want to look chic and have something that will last for years, we’ve got a couple outstanding options for you.

Most people build their winter sports arsenal slowly over several seasons. Making less-than-perfect equipment functional is part of the initiation into the world of winter sports. There are several cheats you can use to make imperfect gear perform better until you’re ready to commit to a major investment.

For example, hand warmers cost about $2 a pack at most pro shops and will save you from frostbite if your gloves get soggy. Wicking sock liners can go under regular socks to pull moisture off your feet effectively. You can also use a can of waterproofing spray to coat any jacket or snow pants you already have that aren’t keeping you fully dry. If your coat doesn’t have a high collar, add a neck gaiter to keep your neck and face toasty.

Also, toward the end of the season, you can keep an eye out for sales that will have you ready to go by next winter.

Making sure your body is as prepared as your clothing is a great way to lower your chances of injury.

“Before your first day, do some basic conditioning in the weeks leading up,” Dr. Lamplot says. “Focus on leg strength, balance, and core stability. Light cardio (walking, cycling, rowing, elliptical) helps with endurance, while stretching the hips, hamstrings, calves, and ankles improves mobility.”

Take it easy when just starting out. “One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is trying to do too much on day one,” Lamplot adds.

If you notice your fingers or toes tingling, it’s time to go warm them up. Once they’ve gone numb, you’re in dangerous territory, as you won’t notice how cold they are anymore.

“You may not see a color change until you remove your socks and boots,” explains Sayers. “Watch your face: If you have exposed skin, the skin will visibly become white/waxy. You must cover your skin to help prevent the start of frostbite.”

“As frostbite progresses, pain becomes more throbbing and intense (though at its very worst stage, people lose sensation altogether), and blisters develop, which are initially clear but can become bloody as the severity worsens,” says Falat.

If you experience intense pain after your skin has warmed up, or your frostbite leads to any blistering, do not pop the blisters, and seek emergency care immediately: You may be at risk of infection and permanent tissue damage.

A good rental counter should be able to set you up with proper gear that fits you well. But often, especially on busy days, mistakes can happen.

Be sure to try on any footwear before you leave the rental area. Hockey skates always run a size smaller than shoes, and boots can also fit differently from your regular shoe size, particularly if you’re wearing thick socks. Having enough room to comfortably wiggle your toes is essential to keeping your feet warm. 

When it comes to skis and snowboards, check the bottom to make sure there are no deep scratches, and inspect the metal edges for serious nicks. Skis should reach between your chin and your forehead, while a snowboard should hit between your chin and your nose.

If you’re getting skis, the rental technician should make sure your boot pops out of the binding easily when you fall (but not while you’re skiing). “Do ask questions about boot buckling and tightening, and understand that beginner skiers are set up differently than advanced skiers,” Sayers explains. “You will learn this when you pick up your equipment.”  

For snowboard and ski boots, make sure the boot is tight enough to keep your ankle locked in place. If you can walk comfortably with your boots on and buckled or laced, they’re too loose to let you turn your board or skis properly. If you notice after your first few minutes out that your gear doesn’t feel right, go back to the rental counter and swap it out. 

It may take a long time to get all of this right, but injuries take even longer to heal, so this time is worth it!