Winter Clothes: Wrapping Up Warm and Staying Dry

1 Wrapping Up Warm and Staying Dry

Winter is cold and wet. You need special clothes to stay warm and dry.

When it is very cold, you need warm clothes on your body. A wool sweater keeps you warm. A fleece jacket is soft and warm. Some people wear heavy pullovers when the weather is very cold. You can also wear a turtleneck sweater. This covers your neck and keeps you warm.

When it rains or snows, you need protection. A waterproof shell stops the rain. A padded jacket has special material inside. It keeps you warm. An insulated coat also has warm material inside. It protects you from cold wind and snow.

Many people use layering in winter. This means you wear many clothes, one on top of another. First, you wear thermal base layers next to your skin. Then you wear a sweater or fleece. Last, you wear a coat on top. This keeps you very warm. You can take off one layer if you feel hot.

You also need warm clothes for your legs. Insulated pants keep your legs warm. Waterproof trousers stop the rain and snow. Some people wear long underwear under their trousers. In very cold weather, people wear snow pants. These are very thick and warm.

2 What Every Winter Wardrobe Should Contain

Every person needs good winter clothes. Here are the important items for a European winter.

For your head, you need a thermal hat. This keeps your head and ears warm. Some people also wear ear muffs. These cover only your ears. In very cold weather, you can wear a balaclava. This covers your head, neck and face. Only your eyes can see out.

For your neck, many people wear a scarf. You can also wear a neck gaiter. This is like a tube for your neck. It is easy to put on and take off.

For your hands, you need warm protection. Insulated gloves keep your fingers warm. Some people prefer mittens. Mittens keep your fingers together, so your hands stay warmer. You can also wear glove liners under your gloves. These are thin gloves that give extra warmth. Some people use hand warmers. These are small packets that make heat. You put them inside your gloves.

For your feet, you need good socks. Wool socks are very warm. Thick socks protect your feet from the cold. Some people also use foot warmers. These are like hand warmers but for your feet. You put them in your boots.

3 Specialist Gear: Skiing and Other Outdoor Pursuits

When you go skiing or do other winter sports, you need special clothes. These clothes protect you and keep you warm when you move a lot.

For skiing, you need a ski jacket. This is a special coat for skiing. It stops wind and snow. You also need ski pants or salopettes. Salopettes are trousers with straps that go over your shoulders. They keep snow out of your clothes.

Skiers use layering too. They wear a base layer next to their skin. This is usually thin and warm. Then they wear a mid layer like a fleece. On top, they wear an insulated jacket or a hard shell jacket. A hard shell jacket is very strong. It stops wind and rain but it is not very thick. A soft shell jacket is softer and more comfortable.

For your feet, you need ski socks. These are special long socks for skiing. For your head, you must wear a ski helmet. This protects your head if you fall. You also need ski goggles. These protect your eyes from snow and sun.

For your hands, you wear ski gloves or mittens. Some people wear a helmet liner under their helmet. This is a thin hat that gives extra warmth. You can also wear thermal bibs. These are like salopettes but thicker. Some people wear wrist guards to protect their wrists.

4 But What About Footwear?

Your feet need special protection in winter. Different activities need different boots and shoes.

For everyday winter weather, many people wear insulated boots. These boots have warm material inside. They keep your feet warm when you walk outside. Waterproof boots stop water from getting in. Your feet stay dry when it rains or snows. Snow boots are special boots for deep snow. They are very warm and waterproof.

When it rains a lot, people wear Wellington boots. In some countries, people call these rubber boots. They are made of rubber and they are completely waterproof. You can walk through water and your feet stay dry. Some people call them galoshes.

For walking in the mountains or countryside, people wear hiking boots. These boots are strong and comfortable. Many hiking boots are waterproof too. They protect your feet on rough ground.

Some winter boots have special bottoms. These stop you from falling on ice. Other boots are very tall. They stop snow from going inside. When you buy winter boots, think about where you will walk. Will you walk in the city? Will you walk in deep snow? Will you walk in the mountains? Different places need different boots.

5 Winter Clothes Recap

Now you know many words for winter clothes. You learned about everyday winter clothes like wool sweaters, fleece jackets, and insulated coats. You learned about clothes for your head, hands, and feet. You learned about thermal hats, insulated gloves, and warm socks.

You also learned about special clothes for skiing. Ski jackets, ski pants, and salopettes keep you warm and dry. You learned about layering. You wear base layers, mid layers, and outer layers.

Finally, you learned about winter footwear. Insulated boots, snow boots, and Wellington boots protect your feet. Different boots are good for different activities.

When winter comes, you will know what clothes to wear. You can stay warm and dry in cold weather.