Budget Cold Weather Clothing
Extreme weather gear

Dressing for seriously cold weather without buying expensive clothing. This page assumes you will be spending extended periods outdoors in the coldest weather and are not so concerned with fashion.

This is the UK page | Go to US page Buy from Amazon USA

Foundation / Base Layer - Insulate and wick sweat away from the skin.
ECWCS level 2 thermal topSomewhat counter intuitively one of the most important aspects of underwear for the coldest conditions is that it can wick away sweat from the skin. With so much clothing on top, sweat can build up in the layer next to the skin and become cold and clammy, especially after some activity. The key is to avoid cotton and go for synthetics such as polypropylene and polyester. Much more effective than using your usual underwear, probably the biggest "bang for your buck" layer.

Mid / Heavy weight long underwear - For colder conditions or use as outerwear indoors. Heavier weight thermal tops in particular can be used as a shirt indoors which makes them more versatile.
Men's  |  Women's

Lightweight underwear - For use in less extreme conditions or alternatively if you don't like thicker base layers and can use thicker layers over the top.
Men's  |  Women's



layering clothes for cold weather

Layering - I spent time in Antarctica as a marine biologist, the coldest thing I did was setting and retrieving nets through the sea ice in mid winter using snow mobiles. Our clothes consisted as several layers, this worked better than a small number of thick layers. Sometime afterwards I was a school teacher, I used to give talks on Antarctica and part of this I would borrow bags of clothing from British Antarctic Survey and dress one kid in thin layers like I did, and another kid in easier to put on fewer thicker layers. The first kid would always get hotter faster and need to take the gear off quick. Layers work best.

It may seem obvious, but layers need to be on the top and legs too, shorts or skirts can't be compensated for by 3 top layers and a parka.

Mid Insulation Layers - flexibility is important along with ventilation during exertion or warmer conditions, with the ability to wrap up warm again when the temperature drops.

A very varied layer that can be put on or off, unzipped, sleeves rolled up etc. during sunny periods or exercise and then closed down fully and another layer put on top when the weather gets bad again. It should be a soft layer for comfort and also to make it a more effective insulator when another layer is put on top of it. Half or full length zips are good and allow it to be used as the outer layer during warmer conditions or to quickly vent excess heat.


Upper body - thick shirts, sweaters and jackets long enough at the back to avoid exposed skin or lower layers during bending.


Fleece tops -
Men's   Women's   Sweaters and hoodies


Lower body - Thick warm trousers of heavyweight synthetic material such as polyester/cotton or brushed cotton moleskin. Trousers should not be tight fitting, a little loose helps keep warm air in. Denim is about the worst possible choice.

Bibs and overalls are particularly good, they add extra core insulation and keep you covered while bending or stretching.


Winter trousers -
Men's   Women's   Insulated bib overalls - Men's  Women's


Materials:

  • Synthetics such as Polartec fleece are an excellent choice and not expensive.

  • Wool is a traditional material and a great insulator, make sure it is pure wool as the vague description "knits" are often acrylic which isn't a great insulator or cotton which is worse. Pure wool isn't particularly cheap, though you may be able to pick it up in a sale or at second hand charity shops. Make sure you check the label to be sure what you're getting.

  • Acrylic knits are to be avoided. They will keep you warm to a degree but no-where near as much as the equivalent fleece or wool. It is good for chunky fashionable garments, hats and sweaters that can be worn without causing overheating. Woven acrylic on the other hand is good for hard wearing shirts.

  • Cotton is also generally to be avoided. It is hard wearing and some types can  be good for outer layers in the dry (avoid it like the plague if there is a chance of getting wet) but is inefficient as insulation and not good at wicking moisture which it grabs hold of eagerly and is reluctant to let go again.

The Outer / Shell Layer - direct protection from the weather, windproof and may be waterproof depending on the temperature use. Simply a "shell" with no additional insulation or with insulation built in.

The outer shell layer can be insulated or not. It may seem unusual at first but the most versatile and effective cold weather shells are fully windproof, but not always heavily insulated. In this way they can be used as the outer layer over any combination of insulating layers underneath. It takes a little more time to get dressed this way, but it works at least as well as a large heavily insulated parka, though more cheaply and for a more versatile and therefore more often used collection of clothing.


  • Softshell: A soft touch material that is windproof and somewhat waterproof, though won't keep out downpours or persistent rain. Used in less extreme cold and wet conditions.
    Jackets  |  Trousers

  • Cold & wet: For use down to freezing point and a little way below, windproof and fully waterproof, should be made from a breathable fabric.
    Jackets  |  Trousers

  • Cold and dry: For the coldest conditions where there may be blowing snow but rain is a distant memory, at very low temperatures waterproof materials become stiff and incompliant so fabrics for dry cold are not usually fully waterproof. Uninsulated shell jackets are often used with insulation provided by mid and foundation layers.
    Jackets  |  Trousers
It is important for the outer layer to have draw-cords and cuffs that can close over the tops of gloves to prevent warm air being pumped out with movement, a hood is essential (unless wearing a helmet).

Extremities - head, hands and feet, ankles, wrists and neck.

Feet - Insulation from the cold ground is as important as insulation from the cold air

thermal insolesThermal insoles - The only place you touch the ground is through the soles of your feet and you can lose a load of heat this way. Easily added to almost any footwear at little cost, no substitute for proper winter footwear though.

Boots:

Thick insulated soles are as important as insulated uppers as a lot of heat can be lost through the only part of our body with which we contact the frigid ground. Boots for the coldest weather have soft insulated uppers, and they are going to be big, it's the insulation that makes them that way.



Socks:

warm work socks
One or two pairs of thick insulating socks or a thin liner pair and thicker over socks make a huge difference. Wool gives the best insulation, at least 70% wool is ideal, a small amount of synthetic material such as nylon or polyester helps durability, and some elastic material gives a snug fit and prevents them from sagging. Cheaper mainly synthetic socks aren't so good, they cause sweating and damp retention which as well as being unpleasant will make your feet cold. Too many pairs of socks makes your boots tight and squashes out much of the insulating air.
 

Thermal socks; Men and Women's


Hands

cold weather work glovesHands can get very cold very quickly, they have a high surface area to volume ratio and so lose heat readily. Hands don't need to get very cold before manual dexterity suffers which could impact whatever it is you're doing. Sensor gloves allow you use your touchscreen device without taking the gloves off.
Sensor gloves - touch screen | Glove liners, lightweight gloves

work mittensFor the same materials used as gloves, mittens will keep your hands warmer. Layering should be used here too in the coldest conditions, a light inner glove that allows for handling ability and then a thicker pair of mitts over the top. These can be insulated themselves or just be a weatherproof outer layer. The outer pair should be wind-proof while water-resistance is always useful.
Mittens

The issue with gloves when it gets colder is that the dexterity reduces as the insulation and thickness increases, despite what you may see claimed, there is no magical thin, ultra warm glove that is going to allow you full use of your hands down to minus stupidly cold, it's all a compromise.

hand warmersHand warmers - Disposable, chemical warmers, these can help your comfort levels significantly, one for each hand works better than passing a single one back and forth..

Rechargeable electronic hand warmers - Power packs that can be used for heat or battery back up for your phone


Head

Putting on a hat to insulate the head is an easy and obvious big step you can make to hang on to heat and one of the cheapest too.

Style and material. A beanie is a very effective shape and can pulled over the ears. Clean, plain shapes allow a hood to be pulled over and fit closely, bobbles make an air space that reduces insulation. Synthetics cost less than wool, are very warm and hard wearing.

 

fleece beanie
Fleece beanies

Tight weave, thinner and lighter than other synthetics

acrylic hat
Acrylic hats

Lots of variety and generally inexpensive


Thinsulate

Effective and warmer than acrylic for a similar price, though not so hard wearing

balaclava
Balaclavas

Hat, full face, neck gaiter, versatile affordable garments for cold protection

The Neck

neck gaiterNeck gaiters - the neck is an important area as warm air can be pumped out and lost to be replaced with cold air coming in,  a neck gaiter solves this problem.

A neck gaiter is a neater version of a scarf, a tube of stretchy insulating material than can be worn like a scarf or pulled up over the lower part of the face like the bottom part of a balaclava.