The Best Winter Sports and Apparel

Winter activities like sledding, ice hockey, snowball fights, and ice skating at an ice rink kept us active as kids, but these aren’t typical parts of everyday life for adults in the winter. 

Luckily, there are plenty of winter sports that are excellent opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy the snow and chilly weather. Sure, the sun might not be out as much, but there are still lots of fun athletic activities to participate in, both with and without snowfall.

If you want to get the most out of your favorite winter sport, you’ll need the right sports apparel. We have all the activewear you might need no matter your winter sport of choice. Let’s take a look at some of the best winter sports and apparel options you can pick up soon.

Our 5 Favorite Winter Sports

Winter sports are fun, engaging, and great means to get your blood pumping even if it’s cold outside. Here are some of the best winter sports to practice, even if it’s your first time!

Skiing

Skiing is one of the best winter sports ever. 

However, whether you are a beginner or an expert, hitting the slopes for some cross-country skiing means you’ll crash in the snow and have to pick yourself up once or twice. Because of the inevitable crashes, skiers have to dress in a way that protects them from the snow.

What Should You Wear on a Ski Trip?

For the best results and to make sure you stay warm and safe during your stay at a ski resort, wear the following clothes:

• Long underwear. This usually goes down to your shins or your ankles
• A light fleece or wool top. Fleece and wool are perfect materials for freestyle skiing or downhill skiing since they are made from true or synthetic fur, so they keep a lot of your body heat inside.
• Thick skiing socks. You never want your feet to become wet or cold, as your toes could become susceptible to frostbite, especially during alpine skiing.
• A thick skiing jacket. This jacket should have several layers and lots of pockets, as well as enough packing to protect you from the impact of falling on the ground after some unsuccessful ski jumping.
• Good gloves or mittens. You don't need very dexterous gloves to succeed with ice sports, so the thicker, the better.
• A durable helmet, which is always essential for sports like skiing, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snow luge, or bobsleigh.
  
• Good goggles. Goggles protect your eyes from ice and from potential snow blindness. These are worn by the pros who combat in world championships like the Winter Olympic Games

Snowboarding

Snowboarding is very similar to skiing in that you ride down snowy slopes at high speeds Because of this, the appropriate apparel for a snowboarding trip is pretty similar to what you should wear during a skiing trip. Both of these Winter Olympic sports have high standards for what athletes can wear, and with good reason. 

Here’s what you should wear to stay warm and safe while snowboarding:

What’s the Best Snowboarding Apparel?

The best snowboarding apparel includes:

• Good snowboarding socks, which are taller than your boots and not too thick. That’s because thick socks might make your feet colder if they restrict your blood circulation by accident
• A fleece or wool top designed for winter sports events.
• A thick hat and snowboard jacket 
  
• Waterproof or water-resistant snowboarding pants
  
• Gloves or mittens
• A helmet and goggles
• You may also want to get a neck gaiter, which you can bring to your nose to insulate it and warm your breath if the temperature gets very icy.

Yoga & Pilates

Yoga and Pilates are perfect matches for the cold winter season. You can perform yoga and pilates exercises indoors, so you don’t have to expose yourself to the cold outdoor environment.

While they’re performed indoors, yoga and pilates still exercise your body, get your cardiovascular system moving, and will help you retain your strength and flexibility throughout the winter season.

What Should You Wear for a Yoga Session?

Many of the best clothes for yoga or pilates are tight, formfitting, and comfortable to the max. To that end, you should prioritize:

• Grip socks, which are non-slip and perfect for both holding poses and protecting your feet
• Conforming bottoms or stretch leggings. These should have four-way stretching and preferably be made of a moisture-wicking, breathable fabric like bamboo cotton blends
  
• Fitted tops. T-shirts are a little too loose and floppy to be suitable for most yoga sessions
• Women should grab hair ties and low-impact sports bras for added stability and support

Fishing

When you think about winter sports, you’re probably picturing figure skating, snowshoeing, bobsled races, or maybe short-track speed skating. However, boating and fishing can be a blast in the winter, even though they’re not Olympic sports.

That’s because many species of fish go to the tops of frozen lakes or ponds in search of food. They may also float around just beneath the surface of the ice. If you’re patient, can easily catch a few fish per day while paddling around in a canoe or waiting on the edge of a frozen lake.

What To Wear on a Winter Fishing Trip

That said, you’ll want to bundle up appropriately for any potential winter fishing trip. The best clothes for a winter fishing trip include:

• Thick coats. Generally, you should layer up and wear a T-shirt or tank top, a long sleeve shirt, a light jacket, and then a thick winter coat on top. However, the thick coat should have insulation and protection against snow and ice.
• Gloves to keep your fingers warm. Go for thin gloves so you can maintain some dexterity. The best gloves may allow you to swap between thicker pads to protect your fingers and thinner finger gloves when needed.
• Thick boots. Ice fishing means you’ll be stomping through snow and ice, and the last thing you want is for your socks to get wet.
• A warm and fluffy hat. Most of your body heat goes away through your head, so don’t let it escape — keep that heat in with a thick winter hat!

Hiking

Last but not least is winter hiking. 

Hiking in the winter allows you to see beautiful views of the surrounding countryside that you’ll never get during other seasons. There’s nothing quite like seeing a gorgeous white landscape untouched by other people for the first time.

If you hike after a storm, you’ll also likely be treated to clear skies and an invigorating atmosphere that feels unique and special. Hiking in a quiet, snowy wooded area is a remarkable experience.

The Best Outfits for Winter Hikes

Naturally, you’ll need to bundle up quite a bit to be safe and to keep your energy up during a winter hike. While you want thick (but not too thick) socks, a thick coat, several layers, and long underwear, you’ll also want:

• Thick, durable boots. The best boots should be relatively easy to walk in. You might also want to pick up boots that come with spikes to help you get traction over the snow or ice
• Good gloves
  Waterproof pants
• A jacket with a hood. You never know when a brisk winter wind might whip up, requiring you to protect your face a little more than usual.

Comfort and Performance All Winter Long

All of the winter sports listed above give you a chance to burn some calories and stay fit through the winter.

Our cotton and bamboo blended activewear options, ranging from shirts to shorts to joggers and much more, are made not just for you but for the planet. Sustainably sourced and made with the environment in mind, our activewear choices are perfect for all athletes. check them out today!

Sources:

Physical-Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber Composites Using Filament Winding - PMC | NCBI

What is Photokeratitis — Including Snow Blindness? | American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Frostbite: Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Treatment & Prevention | Cleveland Clinic