If there is one thing we know, it’s winter. We have snow on the ground from November to May. The temperatures regularly dip below twenty degrees. In fact, this last November weekend we woke up to -11. If we let snow and cold stop us, we would go stir crazy and never see the sun and believe me you need all the sun you can get in winter around here.
So we go out, everyday. We ski, we walk, we sled, we snowshoe. We have shared some of the ways we get outdoors in the winter here. The thing we have learned is that it’s all about the clothes. Good clothes, worn strategically, keep us warm in almost any temps.
Overtime we have dialed in, a really excellent toddler layering system. Many experiments were conducted. Many trials and tribulations were had. Here is how we dress West for cold winter adventures.
Baselayer
Patagonia’s Capilene Midweight Bottoms have worked well as a baselayer for the past three years. They are slim enough to go under everything, but keep the heat. We use the Capilene layer on top and bottom. I also really like wool, but it tends to be pretty pricey for fast growing toddlers.
Midlayer Fleece
REI’s Trailsmith Fleece pants are a real winner for their value. We also really like Patagonia’s Micro D Fleece. Again, we use a fleece layer top and bottom.
Outerwear
We have used Patagonia’s Hi-Loft Down Sweater Bunting for years. For extra warmth, it’s pretty unbeatable and you only need one outer layer. Its downfall is it’s not as water resistant as traditional snow bibs so this year we switched to Patagonia’s Snow Pile Bibs. We really like them. Easy to get on and easy to adjust to fit your toddler. We recognize Patagonia is expensive. My pro-tip is to shop their twice annual sale and buy one size up for the next year or check out Worn Wear. For a jacket, we have moved to Columbia’s Toddler Lightning Lift Jacket. Columbia is a pretty good value. They also have done something super smart to accommodate growing toddlers, which is to enable you to extend the length of the sleeves as your toddler grows.
Socks
We have tried every pair of wool socks under the sun and REI’s Trailsmith Wool Socks are by far my favorite. They are warm, stay up on toddler toes, and are good value.
Boots
Bogs Neo Classic Boot are hard to beat. They are fully waterproof and according to Bogs, good for temperatures down to -35 degrees. The patterns are fun and toddlers can usually get them on by themselves.
Again, we have really put this system to the test in some cold conditions. And the beauty of layering is that you can add or subtract based on the weather. If it’s over 30 degrees, I ditch the baselayer. Regardless, we don’t let a little cold stop us. Let it snow.
