There’s someone on your list who checks the forecast, sees “feels like 8°F,” and laces up anyway. The trail is calling. The slope is open. Cross-country conditions are perfect. The cold is just something to dress for — and they know exactly what that means.
If you’re shopping for that person — the one who snowshoes at dawn, skis on powder days and icy ones, and thinks a storm is a good reason to try cross-country — this guide is for you.
Start from the ground up
ORIGINAL® Socks
Every performance cold-weather kit starts at the feet. Cold feet don’t just hurt — they drain focus and cut a great day short. Heat Holders ORIGINAL® Socks are the foundation: independently tested at TOG 2.3, 7x warmer than cotton, perfect for winter boots, and will keep their feet warm and cradled in softness for their winter walk or winter hike.
Snowsports Socks
For days on the slopes or deep in snowshoe terrain, the Men’s Mogul ULTRA LITE™ Snowsports Long Socks ($15.99) are purpose-built for performance footwear — longer length, in a thinner profile perfect for ski boots and still 3X warmer than the average cotton sock. They'll keep them out on the slopes for longer.
The layers that change everything
Base Layers
The best outer gear can’t compensate for a cold base layer. Heat Holders® ORIGINAL™ Base Layer Tops ($29.99) and Base Layer Bottoms ($29.99) build warmth from the skin out — before wind resistance and waterproofing even enter the picture. Made with flat seams for comfort when layering, these base layers have all-way stretch, great for active days.
Mid layer warmth in extreme cold: ORIGINAL® Zip Jackets
For colder pushes — long cross-country routes, multi-hour snowshoe days, backcountry skiing — the ORIGINAL™ Base Layer Zip Jacket ($39.99) earns its place as a mid layer. Made from dual-brushed fleece for exceptional warmth and comfort, this jacket has multiple pockets, a two-way zipper for temperature control, and a rubber zip pull for easy use with gloves. An exceptional layer to add in the extreme cold.
The outer layer that completes the system
This final layer locks in the warmth and keeps the weather out. Heat Holders® Puffer Jackets are designed to do exactly that. Made with a weather resistant shell and the incredibly soft HeatWeaver® lining, these jackets are your outer line of protection against the cold. Packet with features like adjustable internal cord locks, HeatWeaver®-lined pockets and convertible rib cuffs, this jacket will keep the cold out whether on a cross-country trail or for a full day on the slopes. They’re available for men ($89.99) and women and work as a standalone outer layer or over a midlayer on the coldest days. For the adventurer who’s serious about their kit, this is the piece that ties everything else together.
Don’t overlook the hands and head
Feet and core get the most attention. The head, hands, and neck betray you first on a long trail or icy slope.
Performance gloves for the win
Cold hands aren’t just uncomfortable — they’re a liability when you’re navigating a slope or gripping a pole for hours. The Men’s Emmett High Performance Gloves ($26.99) are feature-packed and warm. Made with HeatWeaver™ lining, they are wind and water proof, with palm grips for your ski poles, and adjustable straps to ensure a solid fit. Whether they’re snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or on the trail in January, these are the gloves they’ll reach for every time.
Warm ears all day
The Men’s Sawyer Snowsports Jacquard Hat ($24.99) is built for active cold-weather performance. HeatWeaver™ lining means they're incredibly soft and keep your head and ears warm. The rollup design ensures you can fully cover your ears for hours outside in the cold.
The gifts they didn’t know they needed
Is your adventurer starting to feel the cold?
Heat Holders® Unisex Ali Leg Warmers are a practical gift that gets pulled out every single cold day either for on the trail or for extra warming after they get home. For anyone putting in the miles this winter, they’re a quiet game-changer.
Headwear options to suite the day
A headband or ear muffs can give your adventurer options for headwear. Both are made with our plush HeatWeaver® lining for softness and warmth. If the temperature means you don't have to fully rug up, the Albury Foldaway Earmuffs allow you to put on ear protection as you need it and fold it away easily when you don't!
Help them fight the cold one piece at a time
You don’t have to give everything at once. ORIGINAL™ Socks + Joint Warmers + a Neck Warmer lands under $50 and covers three things they’ll use constantly. Add the base layers for a full-kit gift that takes them from trailhead to summit and back again — warm and comfortable.
Whatever they’re doing this winter — snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, cross-country — the right warmth system means they can push harder, go further, and stay out longer.
