I grew up in a very arid, desert climate in the Southwestern United States.  Then I moved to the rainforest of the West Coast of British Columbia.  Now, my chosen home is on the Canadian Prairies.  This desert flower has had to learn how to survive in sometimes-harsh winter conditions, from rain to blowing snow.  Here are two things I have learned about staying warm in the winter.

Good Gear

A friend of mine in BC once said, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.”  After I got my first pair of really good winter gloves I could wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

Having good quality equipment can be the difference between being comfortable and being miserable.  I’ve been both (comfortable and miserable) and I will pay a little extra money to buy good gloves, toques, waterproof boots, snow pants, heavy coats, etc., both for myself and my children, just to avoid being miserable.

Layers, layers, layers

In the heat you have the difficulty of not being able to take off enough clothes to get cool. The cold, in my opinion, is a bit easier to deal with, since you can almost always add layers.  Your mom always told you to put another sweater on, and she was right!

A good base layer of a t-shirt or long sleeved t-shirt, followed by a sweater or fleece jacket will keep your body core warm.  Add a scarf, winter coat, mitts or gloves and a hat of some kind and you can be fairly warm even while playing in the snow.  If needed, a hoodie or another light jacket can be added over the sweater, giving you even more insulation.

Winter Boots for Women

Having thin gloves to wear inside your heavier gloves can help a lot to keep your fingers warm.  I often wear tights under my pants, too, when it’s really cold, with thin socks, a pair of thicker socks over them, and my winter boots (I have a couple of different pairs of boots). This way I stay warm when I’m outside, but can take layers off when I’m inside so I don’t get too hot and sweaty, which would lead to being even colder when going back outside.

Layers apply to your bed, too.  We got a heated mattress pad not long after we moved out to the Prairies, and we always add an extra quilt or two to the bed when the temperatures start to drop.   I know many people who have electric blankets, too.  It’s cheaper to use an electric blanket than it is to try to keep your whole house warm at night.

Winter in some part of the world can be brutal times with temperatures well below zero, biting winds and driving snow.  Stay warm by employing multiple layers of clothing and bedding, and by having good quality gear if you have to brave the elements.