Cold weather doesn't mean you have to stay indoors and shut down for the season. With the proper gear, you can get outside and enjoy the crisp air and beautiful snowy landscapes in relative comfort. Whether you want to rage down a mountain on skis or just have a mellow stroll through a meadow with snowshoes, the right tools for the job are essential when the mercury drops. Below, we break down all of the key gear items you'll need to stay cozy this winter, from puffy jackets and long underwear to insulated boots and mittens. And for those who plan on hitting the slopes, be sure to see our detailed ski gear reviews. 


Winter Clothing & Gear | In-Depth Reviews | Learning Center

Winter Clothing & Gear

Winter jacket (Rab Neutrino Pro in the mountains)

Best Winter Jackets of 2024

When the coldest winter months arrive, it’s time for a serious jacket. Our picks for the best winter jackets and parkas below are among the warmest on the market—they are packed with down fill (or synthetic on occasion) and built to stand up to...
Women's winter jacket (cleaning off car in Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka)

Best Women’s Winter Jackets of 2024-2025

When the days get shorter and the mercury drops, it’s time to reach for a winter jacket to guard against the cold. Lightweight puffies have their place for three-season use, but you'll want a well-insulated, serious piece for truly frigid conditions...
Winter Boots (Sorel Caribou in snow)

Best Winter Boots 2024-2025

Winter boots are a timeless and charming piece of gear. From classic Sorels to light and modern designs, they aim to keep your feet protected and warm from wet snow and frigid temperatures. Whether you live in a cold and snowy climate...
UGG Adirondack III women's winter boot (walking near water)

Best Women's Winter Boots of 2024-2025

Winter weather calls for capable footwear, whether you're working outdoors, snowshoeing, or commuting to work. The good news is there's no shortage of women's-specific designs to keep your feet warm and dry no matter the conditions. Our team of female...
Winter gloves (closeup with down jacket on)

Best Winter Gloves of 2024

Gloves may not get quite as much attention as your other winter clothing, but they offer invaluable warmth and protection when the temperature drops. Our picks for the best winter gloves of the 2024 season span the spectrum from high-performance models...
Black Diamond Mercury Mitt (winter mittens)

Best Winter Mittens of 2024-2025

Nothing spells cozy quite like a winter mitten, which by definition prioritizes warmth over dexterity. It’s true that you’ll most often catch us wearing gloves, but we do prefer mittens for particularly frigid environments and wind-generating...
Norrona Falketind Down750 down jacket (prayer flags in Nepal)

Best Down Jackets of 2024

It's tough to beat a great down jacket, whether it’s for casual use or tearing around the backcountry. This cozy insulation type offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio on the market and packs down smaller than synthetic options for easy storage. From...
Women's down jacket (wearing Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody in mountains)

Best Women’s Down Jackets of 2024-2025

As impressively warm and cozy insulators, down jackets are one of our favorite pieces of outdoor gear. Whether you’re looking for an uber-light alpine piece for the mountains, a casual and well-tailored option for around-town use, or something in...
Arc'teryx Atom AR (synthetic insulated jackets)

Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets of 2024

Synthetic insulation might not offer quite the warmth-to-weight ratio of down, but it resists moisture, breathes better, and is more cost-efficient. With the choice of both types of jackets in our gear closet, we find ourselves consistently reaching...
Women's Synthetic Jackets (Patagonia Nano-Air)

Best Women's Synthetic Insulated Jackets of 2024

Synthetic insulation is a bit of a miracle material: It’s breathable, water-resistant, and modern blends come impressively close to matching the loft and light weight of down. We’ll lounge around in our down jacket any day, but for performance use it’s...
Hiking in the Patagonia Better Sweater fleece

Best Fleece Jackets of 2024

With a wide variety of insulated jackets on the market, the classic fleece is still the most comfortable and affordable. These polyester jackets have been providing cozy warmth for years, from campsites and ski resorts to the streets and restaurants of...
Women's fleece jackets (hiking in Patagonia R1 Air Hoody)

Best Women's Fleece Jackets of 2024

Nothing spells cozy quite like a fleece jacket, whether it’s a high-pile heavyweight or a sleek performance layer. And they’re more than just soft: Fleeces’ breathability and affordability make them an excellent option for everything from daily use to...
Patagonia Down Sweater Vest (overlooking canyon)

Best Vests of 2024

For getting outdoors on cool fall and spring days, it’s hard to beat a vest. This simple layering piece adds warmth to your core and is cozy, compact, and cheaper than a full jacket. But, like all sectors of the clothing industry, vests are varied...
Baselayer (layered underneath ski jacket)

Best Baselayers of 2024

As your next-to-skin article of clothing, a baselayer plays a fundamental role in pulling moisture away from the body and regulating core temperature. It’s far easier to justify purchasing a nice down jacket, but a baselayer can be just as important...
Women's baselayer (standing by fire in Kari Traa Rose Half-Zip)

Best Women’s Baselayers of 2024-2025

Your baselayer may not be the most exciting part of your layering system, but make no mistake: It’s certainly one of the most important. As your next-to-skin article of clothing, baselayers are tasked with the all-important duties of pulling moisture...
Hiking in Fjallraven Keb Eco-Shell hardshell jacket

Best Hardshell Jackets of 2024

Hardshell jackets are designed for the mountains: They're highly windproof, waterproof, breathable, and durable. This is the outer layer you turn to for ultimate protection while backcountry and resort skiing, mountaineering, alpine climbing, and 4...
Snowshoes (lined up in snow)

Best Snowshoes of 2024-2025

With a long platform for floatation and added traction underfoot, snowshoes open up your favorite terrain and hiking trails for all kinds of winter fun. We've tested dozens of designs over the years all over the country, from snow-laden peaks in...
Winter traction devices (hiking up slick rocks)

Best Winter Traction Devices of 2024

Winter traction devices go by a variety of names—including microspikes, snow grips, ice cleats, and more—but the goal is the same: to provide reliable and consistent grip on snowy and icy surfaces. Traction...
4-season tents (The North Face VE 25 at Denali basecamp)

Best 4-Season Tents of 2024

From backcountry ski tours to mountaineering in some of the most brutal weather on Earth, a 4-season tent is the last line of defense between you and the elements. Accordingly, these tents are much stronger than their 3-season counterparts with less...
Mountaineering boots

Best Mountaineering Boots of 2024

No piece of gear is more critical to summiting high peaks than footwear. A great mountaineering boot fills countless roles: It offers support while carrying heavy loads, grips confidently over slick rock and snow, keeps your feet warm when the mercury...
Satellite Messengers (Testing the inReach Mini in the Winds-t)

Best Satellite Messengers of 2024

We’re all for big adventures that take us off the grid, but it’s never a bad idea to have a way of getting in touch. For organizing a pick up, initiating a rescue, or just checking in, a satellite messenger has become our go-to means of staying...
Avalanche Beacon (BCA Tracker attached to strap)

Best Avalanche Beacons of 2024

Tasked with transmitting your location and helping you search for buried victims, an avalanche beacon (also called a transceiver) is an essential piece of gear for backcountry exploration. Whether you’re a...
Hydration bladder lineup (CamelBak, Platypus, Gregory, MSR, HydraPak)

Best Hydration Bladders of 2024

Whether we’re hiking, biking, running, or climbing, on-the-go hydration is an essential part of our kit. There’s simply no better way to encourage drinking consistently during activity, which is vital to performance and enjoyment (after bonking one too...
Trekking poles (hiking with Black Diamond poles in Washington State)

Best Trekking Poles of 2024

Serious hikers have known the benefits of trekking poles for decades. Aside from providing stability while hauling a heavy load or moving over technical terrain, hiking poles have distinct advantages even on easy trails. They’re great for setting a...

In-Depth Reviews

Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka (wiping off snow-covered car)

Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 Parka Review

Patagonia makes several of our all-time favorite winter jackets, with the Tres slotting in as their premium 3-in-1 design. We recently put the women’s version to the test in the Pacific Northwest, where the 2-layer waterproof shell did an excellent job...
Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie (opening wallet in town on a sunny day)

Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie Review

Swedish brand Fjallraven is known for their attractive styles that straddle the line between performance and looks, but they generally come at a steep cost. Their Expedition Pack Down Hoodie, however, marries style and function in a package that...
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Jacket (standing next to skis in storm)

Arc’teryx Beta Insulated Jacket Review

Arc’teryx’s Beta collection is a longtime favorite, lauded for its reliable protection and top-notch build quality. A relatively recent addition to the line, the Beta Insulated Jacket retains a lot of what we love about the uninsulated models...
Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket (zipping up)

Patagonia Micro Puff Storm Jacket Review

Patagonia’s Micro Puff is legendary in the synthetic jacket world for its down-like warmth and compressibility, and the Micro Puff Storm turns up the performance dial with a waterproof shell...
Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody (standing above lake in Patagonia)

Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody Review

Arc’teryx’s Cerium Hoody is their leading down jacket and one sleek piece of gear. We’ve tested several iterations over the years—from the past-generation Cerium LT to the latest version featured here—and have come away impressed time and time again...
Black Diamond Guide Gloves (riding chairlift)

Black Diamond Guide Ski Gloves Review

Black Diamond's Guide Gloves are a longtime favorite for those who put a premium on warmth and protection. We recently put a new pair to the test (after using and abusing a previous pair for seven...
Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parka (standing in snow)

Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parka Review

When it feels truly arctic outside, only a well-designed and thoroughly insulated jacket will do the job. For casual around-town wear, the market is full of stylish knee-length options with various features and...
REI Magma 850 Down Hoodie (wearing with full pack)

REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie Review

REI Co-op is a consistent leader in the value space, but many of their designs are decidedly casual. The Magma 850 Down Hoodie bucks that trend, combining premium 850-fill down with a nice array of technical features and distinctive styling that wears...
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody (walking to get water 2)

Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody Review

Years ago, Patagonia’s Nano-Air helped to define the active insulation market, debuting the new category with a fun “put it on, leave it on” campaign. With soft and breathable materials, the synthetic jacket is designed to be worn all day...
Yakima SkyBox NX 16 roof box (putting snowboard in box)

Yakima SkyBox NX 16 Review

The roof box market is a pretty stagnant space, so it’s notable when a big-time product gets a revamp. And that’s just what happened with the Skybox NX, which effectively replaces the Carbonite model in Yakima’s lineup. Offered in 16- and 18-cubic-foot...
Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody (standing in mountains)

Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (Women’s) Review

Arc’teryx’s Cerium is legendary in the performance down jacket market, and for good reason. With a mix of premium down and synthetic fill in moisture-prone areas, the jacket is both impressively warm for the weight and more protective than most...
REI Co-op Stormhenge Down Hybrid Jacket (playing with dog by lake)

REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Jacket Review

REI Co-op continues to impress us with their in-house line of products, and the Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Jacket is one of their best. Highlights include a combination of premium goose down and synthetic insulation, a 2-layer waterproof shell with...
Arc'teryx Nuclei SV Parka (standing in snow with hood on)

Arc’teryx Nuclei SV Parka Review

Replacing the Dually as Arc’teryx’s warmest synthetic jacket in their collection, the Nuclei SV (short for “severe weather”) Parka stands out for its impressive warmth and mountain-ready feature set. Though I haven’t used it for climbing or belaying...
MSR Lightening Ascent Snowshoes (set up in snow)

MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe Review

MSR’s snowshoe collection runs the gamut from the entry-level and affordable Evo Trail to the top-end Lightning Ascent featured here. This premium design puts it all together, including class-leading...
Arc'teryx Alpha Parka (standing in mountains in Nepal)

Arc’teryx Alpha Parka Review

Arc’teryx is a leader in technical mountain apparel, and the winter-ready Alpha Parka slots in as their warmest belay jacket built for harsh mountain environments. Replacing the Firebee AR in their lineup, I brought the Alpha on a trip to Nepal’s...
Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody (standing in snowy backcountry)

Arc’teryx Gamma Heavyweight Hoody Review

Slotting in as the warmest and most weather-ready softshell in Arc’teryx’s Gamma family, the Gamma Heavyweight Hoody (formerly the Gamma MX) is built for serious backcountry pursuits like skiing and ice climbing. Throughout a season of testing in the...
MSR Evo Trail snowshoes (snowshoeing with backpack)

MSR Evo Trail Snowshoe Review

MSR is well-regarded in the world of snowshoes, and their budget-friendly Evo Trail remains a favorite year after year. At this price point, you get a simple molded plastic decking, but it’s nevertheless a great value with excellent traction, a quality...
Cotopaxi Fuego Down Jacket (in San Juan mountains)

Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket Review

Cotopaxi is a brand on the rise. With their distinctive and vibrant colorways, sustainable business practices, and skillful collaborations with other brands, they’ve quickly established themselves as a serious player in the outdoor market. The Fuego...
Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV Omni-Heat winter boot (lacing up)

Columbia Bugaboot Plus IV Omni-Heat Review

It’s not often that we come across a truly capable all-rounder in the winter boot category, but Columbia’s Bugaboot Plus IV Omni-Heat is a real standout. After putting the Bugaboot through a full season of hiking, snowshoeing, and everyday use in...
Norrøna Trollveggen Gore-Tex Pro Light (under a running vest in Patagonia)

Norrøna Trollveggen Gore-Tex Pro Light Jacket Review

Norrøna may not be as popular in the U.S. as brands like Arc’teryx or Patagonia, but serious backcountry-goers take note: They offer an extensive lineup of quality hardshells that are purpose-built for big mountain objectives ...
Rab Neutrino Pro (mountain backdrop)

Rab Neutrino Pro Jacket Review

Winters are harsh in the U.K., and British alpinists are known for getting out in all types of conditions. So if there’s any brand we can trust to make proper gear for the cold and wet, it’s Rab. This England-based company launched the Neutrino down...
UGG Adirondack III (walking in snow next to lake)

UGG Adirondack III Winter Boot Review

Ugg might not be the first name you think of for a performance winter boot, but their Adirondack line might change your mind. With premium materials, impressive warmth, and a very comfortable fit, the Adirondack III quickly earned its place as our...
Norrona Falketind Down750 Hood Jacket (prayer flags in Nepal mountains)

Norrøna Falketind Down750 Hood Jacket Review

There’s no shortage of quality down jackets on the market in 2022, but Norrøna’s Falketind Down750 Hood jacket sets itself apart as a highly versatile option with a nice performance slant. With a mix of 750-fill down at the core and synthetic...
Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan Fleece (grabbing rain jacket from pack)

Arc’teryx Covert Cardigan Fleece Jacket Review

Arc’teryx has built their reputation around technical outerwear, which makes the casual Covert Cardigan a bit of an outlier. But this fleece has been a long-time favorite for a reason: its fit, build quality, and...
Patagonia AlpLight Down Jacket (hiking in Patagonia)

Patagonia AlpLight Down Jacket Review

Patagonia is well-loved among outdoor enthusiasts for their good-looking products and eco-friendly ethos. Their AlpLight Down Jacket follows suit, combining a remarkably low weight and sleek styling inside a shell made from recycled fishing nets. It's...
Black Diamond Mega Light backpacking tent

Black Diamond Mega Light Review

On first glance, it's easy to see that the Black Diamond Mega Light isn't a regular backpacking tent. With no floor and a remarkably light and minimalist design, the Mega Light can serve as a spacious common...
Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket (hands in pockets)

Feathered Friends Eos Down Jacket Review

Feathered Friends is a boutique down specialist birthed out of Seattle’s climbing scene in the 1970s, and they still lead the pack in down outerwear construction and design. The company is known for...
Hiking in the snow (Arc'teryx Beta AR hardshell jacket)

Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket Review

From Arc’teryx’s formidable hardshell lineup, the Beta AR slots in as the all-around workhorse. The jacket has been a flagship piece since its release back in 2000, and it’s a favorite for everything from hiking and backpacking in rough conditions to...
Marmot Montreal Down Coat (header)

Marmot Montreal Review

Many women’s winter jacket models come and go, but Marmot’s Montreal has been a powerhouse for years. For less than $300, you get quality down fill, a fleece-lined interior, fur-rimmed hood, and clean styling, making it ubiquitous across a wide range...
Arc'teryx Beta SV Jacket (backpacking in Patagonia)

Arc’teryx Beta SV Jacket Review

Arc’teryx makes some of our favorite hardshells on the market, and their SV offerings are purpose-built for the harshest of conditions. From their all-rounder Beta collection, the Beta SV slots in as the most protective option for fending off rough...
The North Face Gotham III winter jacket (in snowy forest)

The North Face Gotham Jacket III Review

The North Face is known for making stylish jackets, which is demonstrated again with the winter-ready Gotham III. For a reasonable $300, it checks most major boxes including a stout weatherproof build, impressive warmth, and great durability. The...
Patagonia Silent Down Jacket (front of jacket)

Patagonia Silent Down Jacket Review

Patagonia is a leader in the insulation market, and their down jacket selection ranges from technical belay parkas to versatile puffies for mixed outdoor and daily wear. At the casual end of the spectrum, the Silent...
Helly Hansen Blaze 3 Layer Shell Jacket (standing in mountains with pack)

Helly Hansen Blaze 3 Layer Shell Jacket Review

Helly Hansen flies a little under the radar in the U.S. market compared to brands like Arc’teryx and Patagonia, but their outerwear selection is similarly extensive and typically priced a bit more...
The North Face Metropolis Parka II review

The North Face Metropolis Parka II Review

Winter weather doesn’t discriminate—it can be just as unforgiving on the streets of New York City as it is in the mountains of Colorado. And for everyday use, down-filled parkas like...
Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody (standing in mountains)

Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody Review

Climbers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers of all types have enjoyed Patagonia’s Down Sweater for years. It’s a go-to piece that has defined a jacket category, and Patagonia gave it a significant revamp a few seasons back. Key changes include a more...
Arc'teryx Ralle Jacket (standing with hands in pockets)

Arc’teryx Ralle Jacket Review

Arc’teryx is a longstanding leader in the technical hardshell market, and much of that expertise trickles down to their more casual offerings. Their Ralle Jacket is case in point: This everyday rain shell offers top-notch protection with proven 3-layer...
Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Jacket (hiking with pack)

Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Jacket Review

Along with Patagonia’s ubiquitous Synchilla, the Better Sweater is one of the brand’s foundational fleece designs. Offered in a range of styles, we tested their core full-zip jacket for this review...
MSR Access 3 tent

MSR Access 3 Tent Review

Tent manufacturers constantly are pushing the limits of weight and weather protection, and 4-season tents designed to withstand harsh conditions tend to fall on the heavy side of the spectrum. Yet MSR essentially created a new category with their...
Patagonia Down With It Parka (standing on snowy boardwalk)

Patagonia Down With It Parka Review

Patagonia’s high-performance and responsibly produced outerwear is known both for excellent protection from the elements and looking good in the process. Their casual Down With It Parka follows...
Patagonia Fitz Roy jacket

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Parka Review

Patagonia’s down products are known for their 100-percent-traceable feathers, quality construction, and sleek, stylish looks. Building off of these core characteristics, the Fitz Roy Down Parka is...
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (hiking in Fisher Towers)

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Review

Patagonia’s synthetic Micro Puff made headlines when it was first released a few years ago, touted for its down-like weight and packability. In 2022, the Ventura, Calif.-based company released an update to the popular jacket...
Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight Parka (racking up for ice climbing)

Arc’teryx Alpha Lightweight Parka Review

For frigid winter days spent in mountain shadows, a warm and protective parka may be the single most important piece of gear in your pack. The Alpha Lightweight Parka is the newest lightweight belay parka from Arc’teryx, a technical brand with a well...
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 jacket (fall colors)

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody Review

Ultralight without feeling ultra-compromised, the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 is one of the lightest fully featured down jackets on the market. Despite hitting a sub-9-ounce weight (for the men’s hoody model), Mountain Hardwear managed to...
Arc'teryx Alpha SV hardshell jacket (in snowstorm)

Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket Review

Arc’teryx is no stranger to hardshell jackets and long has been a go-to option for protection in harsh mountain environments. At the very top of their lineup is the Alpha SV ("severe weather"), which is designed for use in the most serious of...
Hilleberg Allak tent

Hilleberg Allak Tent Review

Hilleberg has set the bar high, creating some of the most finely tuned and well-built tents on the market. Therefore we were extremely excited to test the Allak, a 2-person freestanding tent that falls into Hilleberg’s “Red Label” category. This means...

Winter Gear Learning Center

Winter Boots (lineup)

How to Choose Winter Boots

For those living in cold parts of the world, a quality pair of winter boots is essential. They help keep your feet warm, dry, and planted on the ground as you navigate months of snowy and icy conditions. Below...
Winter camping

Winter Camping Checklist

Whether you're planning a week-long expedition or camping for a single night, having the right camping equipment for winter is crucial. Snow-covered landscapes can be magically enticing, but trips quickly can turn dangerous—or uncomfortable at the very...
Down jacket (sitting on tailgate in REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0)

How to Choose a Down Jacket

For the best in cozy and lofty warmth, down jackets are in a class of their own. The category covers a wide range of options, from lightweight and packable designs for backcountry use to stylish and hardwearing models for your winter commutes. Below we...
Down jacket (insulation closeup)

Down vs. Synthetic Insulation

As the weather cools down each year, the great down-versus-synthetic insulation debate heats up. Goose and duck down fill are among the premier insulators on earth, trapping air and creating pockets of warmth around your body with very little weight...
Hooded down jacket

Does Your Down Jacket Need a Hood?

A down jacket is a wonderful insulating piece: It’s light, packable, and offers premium warmth that you simply can’t find in a synthetic equivalent. In choosing your perfect puffy, one of the forks in the road is whether to go with a hood or without...
Baselayer

How to Choose Baselayers

A baselayer’s primary job is to keep you comfortable while wicking moisture as you sweat. Whether you’re climbing steep skin tracks in the backcountry, skiing lift-accessed terrain at the resort, or climbing and hiking in cool shoulder-season weather...
Switchback team testing merino shirts while backpacking

Merino Wool: Is It Worth It?

Merino wool, the ultra-soft fabric most commonly found in performance baselayers and socks, is one of the most sought-after materials in the outdoor gear world. But is it worth the hype? Below we break down the pros and cons of merino wool, including...
Sleeping bag warmth

Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Explained

Choosing a sleeping bag can be a confusing experience. There are so many considerations to keep in mind: down or synthetic? Snug mummy or roomy rectangular shape? And perhaps the most puzzling question of all: which temperature rating should you choose...
Down Fill and Insulation Explained (zipping up Rab Mythic G down jacket)

Down Fill and Insulation Explained

Down is perhaps the most effective insulator on Earth: Its warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility are unbeatable, and it’s extremely soft and cozy to boot. To better understand the world of down, below we break down considerations like fill power...