Before you read this, please do me a favor and look up “idiot strings” in the Urban Dictionary.…
I wasn’t sure if this is an actual term or just what my mom called them…. Nope, not just my mom! Mom’s everywhere! Be sure to read how “idiot strings” is used it in a sentence, as there were tears streaming down my face from laughing. Here is a link for convenience: Urban Dictionary “idiot strings.”
Now that you’ve done your homework, enjoy some stories highlighting our shared humanity when it comes to lost mittens and some tips to save your sanity, followed by a guide to our family’s thoroughly researched and most cherished winter gear. There’s something for everyone.
Hopefully I can establish myself as an expert at keeping my shit together, even when everyone else is losing theirs.
Storytime!
When I was in kindergarten, at the mid-year parent/teacher conference, my mom and my teacher collectively decided that I would lose my head if it wasn’t attached. It may sound like an insult even to a five-year-old, but the observation was brought up in a complementary manner. I was already aware of my tendencies to show up without the right gear, so with the cold Vermont winters, I brought a few back-up sets of hat and mittens to school to leave in my cubby, just in case. They were both impressed that I outsmarted myself with this little backup system, because who wants to miss recess? Not me. If there is fun to be had, I’m there.
I don’t think I was really that aloof though. As I remember it, hats and mittens were more or less communal in our house and scarce. Having three siblings, it was hit or miss if you could find any if you went out the door last, and often the fit was way off. That’s my version of the truth, but perhaps they were scarce because the whole family’s stash ended up in my cubby!?
Fast forward a few decades, I now live in southern Wisconsin, and although it’s a bit milder than Vermont, it is still a winter tundra. Last year we experienced a low of -24 F (-31 C). The kids stayed home from school for the day due to the weather conditions, and they did science experiments with their dad while I worked, exploring whether salt-water, sugar-water or regular water freezes faster.
It was so cold, not even the salt-water stood a chance, and they all became solid ice fairly quickly. Of the four samples: “big salt, little salt, water, and sugar,” big salt was the last to freeze and the first to thaw, and now the mystery of why salt is used on front steps and sidewalks has been solved.
I was glad to be working away indoors instead of taking temperature measurements every 30 minutes. Generally, unless I’m doing something active, like skiing or sledding, I prefer staying inside.
However, kids of all ages are more or less forced outside for recess regardless of the winter weather, which is healthy of course, but as a working parent, since I’m not around to make sure they are warm on the coldest days, I spoil them with well researched winter gear.
The last thing I want to do is to have to ask my kids’ teachers to help them check the lost and found, so I do my best to train my them to keep track of their gear. Learning from my childhood and my high level of annoyance when things go missing beyond my control, I label everything with their names on it (A sharpie works great, but check out these labels from minted).
I’ve threatened to sew in smart tracker technology to help locate mittens/gloves. Instead, I shame them, and make them read, “Three Little Kittens, Lost their Mittens….” OK – Just kidding! Although one time when a mitten went missing, I did send my son to school with a pair of pink mittens with no thumb compartments. I could have grabbed a different pair with a little more effort, but a pink pair that does not acknowledge the existence of opposable thumbs was a far better way to teach a lesson. He hated every minute of it, but it worked! It was especially frustrating since they were clipped to idiot strings. (Please tell me you looked up idiot strings in the urban dictionary?)
For the infants/toddler years, I learned to leave extra pairs of socks at daycare to serve as mittens. When the kids got a little older, I learned to take a different approach, and I buy three pairs of mittens for each of them at the beginning of the season, leaving extra pairs in the trunk of my car and would only take the tags off and put them in circulation in case of emergency, like when you have a panic moment right as you arrive at preschool. Basically the parenting version of redundant mittens in my cubby, because it works!
I never even bring the extra mittens inside from the store, so my husband is so confused how I can magically save the day “Hey look, new mittens!” Before breathing a word about their existence, I wait until the panic appears on my husband’s face, and when the high and low search is underway on the way out of the door. I try not to get in the way or help because that just adds to the panic, and I calmly watch from the sidelines. When the finger-pointing and murmured cursing begins, you know it’s serious! Quick …. to the car with Wonder Woman-like speed! It’s such a good feeling when you can reduce the stress of others with a little planning, yet also vindicating when the original mittens are discovered in the back of dad’s car. Just sayin’.
Despite the inevitable struggles, now that my older kids are six and nine, I am thankful they are more independent, because for babies/toddlers, when the mittens are left behind, it is clearly the fault of the parents, and it just adds to the mom guilt. I have more recent experience with outfitting big kids, but I am re-entering the baby winter gear phase right now, as I have a two-month old, so I have some tips there too if you have littles.
My ability to outfit a family has continued to improve immensely in recent years as my kids joined a downhill ski race team, and my husband recently began coaching reliving the glory days from his youth. One season I served as the co-coach despite my fair-weather tendencies, although I still draw the line at 10 degrees and stay in. I DO still send the kiddos skiing when it is below zero, because I personally make sure they are dressed to stay warm with several layers.
I’m obsessed with this topic, and I’ve become a go-to resource for my friends. I had an epic text stream with one friend who was seeking advice, and at the end, she asked me if I could be her mom.
I converted the contents of the text into a Pinterest Board, which I then shared with another family, and now the board has been circulating to all the families of a rival ski team like wildfire.
Below I will share articles of clothing essential for all outdoor play. If you are interested in additional gear recommendations for skiing, definitely check out Edit Studio Co on Pinterest for those, including ski helmets, goggles, gear bags, etc.
Let’s start with the base layers for the whole family:
There are three factors that impact the warmth of your base layers: the material, the fabric weight, and the fit. As for the material, while I’m a huge fan of wool, there’s a reason that I included the synthetics; they are plenty warm and cost 40% less. The weight comes down to preference, but I recommend mid-weight or thicker. As for size, for kids, I intentionally buy them a bit large so they can get more than one season out of them as they grow. They wear them until they are tight fitting, which is technically how they are supposed to fit for the wicking properties of the fabric to work optimally. They can also be passed down.
A few years ago when we were in Japan, we discovered Uniqlo’s HEATTECH line, which has an extensive collection of base layers for the whole family. Uniqlo is a brand known for its simple design and high quality, yet it is also affordable enough that you can stock up without guilt.
We have an assortment of Uniqlo’s base layers that we mix-and-match for every member of the family.
Here are links to my favorite Uniqlo womens’ and mens’ base layers. I have these women’s long sleeve crew shirts and leggings for layering. The shirts are available in a scoop-neck and turtleneck, whichever you prefer, and they have an extra-warm and ultra-warm weight available. My husband has this shirt and these pants which he skis in, and when he’s not skiing, he wears these fleece-lined pants, which are Aaaamazing! They are currently out of stock, but I’ll update the link to this year’s version in as soon as it comes out. and my son and daughter are also obsessed with Uniqlo’s pile-lined sweatpants and this zip-up fleece and wear them to school everyday as soon as the temps drop.
We have the same Uniqlo HEATTECH sets for the kids, and Uniqlo is a GREAT value for long underwear, but the kids’ all time favorite (and as a mom, my favorite) are the REI’s Merino Wool base layers, including the midweight merino half-zip and midweight merino crew top and matching merino base layer bottoms. They are 100% wool, and very high quality. They are also on sale leading up to Thanksgiving each year, so time your purchases wisely. For each kid, we layer two sets of base layer shirts + pants together, so the crew + half-zip shirts makes a nice combo. REI’s synthetic versions are also great (synthetic crewneck and bottoms), and I just bought my one-year-old her very own set. If fun colors and patterns are your jam, SmartWool also makes a great set (top and bottom).
For ski socks, I have have at least one pair of each of these in women’s sizes: SmartWool (1), Fox River (2), Icebreaker (3). Here are the same brand options in kids sizes: 1, 2, 3. We have a mixture of these that we’ve collected over the years. Learn from my mistake, and definitely buy 2-3 pairs of the same brand/colors in case one goes missing from each pair.
My husband’s favorite socks for winter activities are his Lenz heated socks, which he would not survive without. They run via an app that lets you turn up the heat. He has had them for four years, and they are still going strong. For milder days, he likes Darn Tough, which are made in Vermont where we are both from, and they have a lifetime warranty.
So many choices, which should you buy? Let me make it easy for you…. THE ONES THAT ARE ON SALE!!! They are on your feet, covered up most of the time, and this is where function matters way more than beauty. We recently did a little leaf-peeping in Stowe, Vermont in early fall, and while we were there, we stopped at Ski Essentials, which had an amazing selection of Darn Tough socks on clearance. Everyone in the family got some to wear to school/work everyday. How cute are these critter socks? I got the possum ones for like $5 each. If there was such a thing as a sock lottery, we definitely won it. They don’t have a good selection on sale anymore, but …. if you want to make a savvy purchase, I’d probably pick Fox River. They offer 20% off your first purchase, and they have 2-pack of socks.
Speaking of function, as the saying goes, friends don’t let friends ski in JEANS.
After adding the base layers/socks, add a looser layer like a sweatshirt and sweatpants on the bottom.
The kids wear a light-weight sweatshirt without a hood over their baselayers. You probably already have a sweatshirt that will do the job just fine, but if not, Uniqlo has the coolest sweatshirts with design collaborations with brands like the Peanuts, Disney, Marvel, and famous artists. Next they put on on an LL Bean pullover: Kid’s Pullover. That’s right, four layers even before the coat goes on. The kiddos love to wear Uniqlo’s pile lined sweatpants over their base layers, and in fact, they wear them to school practically every day when it’s cold out.
My husband also has the LL Bean Men’s Pullover, and someday, I may get the LL Bean Women’s Pullover to be matchy, but last season I found a sale at REI and snagged Kuhl’s Athena Pullover. On really cold days, the adults in the family also wear a lightweight down vest: men / women, which is super thin, yet shockingly warm and excellent for wearing around the house to stay cozy.
My husband wears a pair of fleece-lined wind resistant tights from Target over his base layers that he swears by. He bought them ages ago (from the women’s department!). I just purchased a pair of joggers by Zella for this purpose that are strikingly similar to his but not advertised as wind resistant. They have men’s joggers by Zella too, but I’m guessing he’ll just steal mine when his wear out since we wear the same size. He confiscated a pair of Adidas running tights from me once, so I wouldn’t put it past him.
Outerwear:
Kids:
Getting little kids and infants into a snowsuit is so much easier than snow pants and a jacket, and they can dress themselves independently when they are able to. I have searched high and low and the best two on the market are LL Bean’ Snowsuit and Columbia’s Snowsuit. We’ve had both, and the nice thing about Columbia’s is that it has a removable hood, which we like to take off for ski racing for our youngest. It also comes in larger sizes (from toddler to pre-teen).
For kids that aren’t quite on skis yet, all three of our kids wore Patagonia’s Down Sweater Bunting as babies, and since the third child is spoiled and will be a professional ski-race watcher, for the upcoming season, we invested in the most expensive snowsuit on the planet. OK, that’s not why…. we were on vacation, and we decided to rent bikes and go joy riding on a bike path on a frigid fall day, and this option provided the most mobility for our one year old, who is just starting to walk, and will want to play in the snow a bit this year. When I need to size up, I will for sure look for secondhand suits by the same brand on Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. In fact, whenever possible, I try to find kids gear secondhand, especially when purchasing an item from a premium brand.
As much as I try to keep my kids in snowsuits for as long as possible, older kids definitely prefer snowpants and a jacket. My daughter has received this Columbia Bugaboo II 3-in-1 jacket and Snowslope bib snow pants set each year for the past several years in different colors. Fingers crossed I can sell her on it again this year. My son, who is younger, wears all the hand me downs of the snow pants. They can get ratty from wear and tear at the bottoms, but I just roll the hemline and sew them, and they are good as new. I have a friend that is a daycare provider, and she mentioned Lands End’s snowpants are waterproof, and she REQUIRES parents to bring Lands End snowpants to school. I may give them a try because I’m definitely intrigued.
Big kids get to gear up for snow play too. My husband just ordered a toasty warm Arctica Jacket, with coordinating snow pants to match the ski team since he is a coach. He absolutely LOVES it. For my birthday late last season, I got Patagonia’s PowSlayer jacket and bibs, which were recommended by a friend. It was on clearance – and still way too expensive – but it was the first time I bought a jacket specifically for skiing since high school. My husband’s snow pants were the first pair he purchased in 20 years too, so they were heavily researched, and we’re betting the long game on our purchases. Here is the link to Patagonia’s web specials, so keep an eye out or try one of their other options.
Covering heads, necks, hands and feet:
A hat is a hat, so anything goes pretty much. Wool can be scratchy, and fleece lined is comfy, besides that kids can be picky about the color, so let them pick them out.
For neck gaiters, we have had good luck with Turtlefur, which come in toddler and big kids sizes and fun prints, and last year I tried out some different ones for the kids by REI and Buff. It turns out they still get lost at an equal rate, thus reducing their efficacy. I haven’t purchased a balaclava for a baby in a long time – maybe ever!? I don’t think I’ll be able to resist buying this baby bear balaclava for my one-year old…. we will need to protect those smooshy baby cheeks!
Mittens and gloves are “hands down” *wink* the most important. We swear by Gordini Cub Mittens (toddler) and Dakine’s GorTex Kid Avenger Mitten’s (big kids). We don’t ski in gloves, but last year the kids asked for gloves for recess, and we made a rookie mistake and didn’t get waterproof gloves, so we marched back to the store and landed on these: REI Timber Mountain Gloves and these: REI First Chair Gloves (these women’s XS fits my 10-year old). My husband insisted that GorTex is best, but REI was out of them. If I were more patient last year, I would have gotten these GorTex Gloves from Gordini for my seven-year old. If they don’t emerge from storage, I will trade up.
Last but not least, put on some boots and get out the door!
For kids, you can’t go wrong with Sorel (bid kids) or Kamik (little kids). Keep it basic with pull on and/or velcro designs. Both Sorel and Kamik make similar models of the two boots linked, so it doesn’t really matter which you go with. My husband and I have both had Sorels. He loves his, but I didn’t love mine (the Joan of Arcs), so I am in the market for some new boots. Boots for adults are more personal, so have fun, and just make sure they are warm. Look for a weather rating of -32 degrees celcius, like these Uggs I have my eye on. Decisions, decisions.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to stock up on those hot hands warming pouches. We prefer the Toe Warmers with adhesive for hands because they stick to the inside of gloves. Beware they can burn your child’s hands, so put them toward the tip of their fingers, and make sure to check in with them. These are reliably available at your local Walmart, Home Depot and online of course at Amazon.
If you are interested in additional gear recommendations specifically for SKIING, definitely check out Edit Studio Co on Pinterest for many more items, including ski helmets, goggles, gear bags, etc. I could go on and on about winter gear, and lately, I’ve been thinking about RUNNING gear for wintertime, since I recently picked up running again after a decade long hiatus. When I crack the code on winter running, I’ll add my running picks to Pinterest as well.
I hope you found this guide to our most loved winter outwear items useful as you fill in any gaps in your winter gear. Please let me know if find value in this list or have any tried and true recommendations of your own that you love!
