We all know that the great outdoors is good for you. Being active and getting closer to nature is good for mind, body and soul, with countless physical and mental benefits, from relieving stress to lowering the risks of heart disease. It’s also a great way to have fun and to challenge yourself. But if you want to get out there and really enjoy it – whether you’re hiking, camping or backpacking – it’s worth investing a little time and effort in getting the right gear. That’s especially true when winter rolls around. Because us girls do tend to feel the cold a little more than men – that’s a physiological fact. And let’s face it, everything becomes so much more enjoyable when you’re warm and cosy.
Luckily, with the right winter wardrobe and a couple of cold-weather camp essentials, you can nail all your outdoor adventures. So, here are some of our top picks when it comes to warm layers, handy accessories and campsite luxuries to keep you cosy wherever you pitch up. So, gear up, ladies, and get out there!
Voited’s Travel Pillow Blanket has a lot of great qualities. It’s durable, versatile and folds up small enough to take anywhere. But best of all, it’s so damn cosy. As the name suggests, it can transform into a comfy pillow or a snug blanket. It also wraps and snaps into a hands-free cape and even has a removable hood. Basically, it’s the perfect adventure accessory. Pack it on long-haul flights, extended bus rides or intercity train journeys. Or just keep it handy for hikes, picnics, gigs and festivals. It’s literally got you covered.
This clever bit of kit means you can have a campfire pretty much anywhere, whilst still ensuring you Leave No Trace. Portable and packable, it’s quick and easy to set up – by the time your friends have set up camp, you’ll already have a fire burning. The clever scooped base allows for a clean pack-down and easy ash collection so you can carry everything out with you. And the slim pack size means it will slot easily in your rucksack. Winner winner, campfire dinner.
It’s big. It’s soft. It’s warm. Basically, it’s exactly the sort of beanie you’d bring with you everywhere. With an oversized style and an extended turn-up, you can wear it how you like to suit your individual style. It’s made from an extremely cosy blend of natural wool and acrylic for warmth, with eco-friendly recycled polyester and nylon for durability and quick-drying performance, plus a little elastane for stretchiness and shape retention. Hats off.
We love Sherpa Adventure Gear. It’s just a lovely brand with great ethics that makes gorgeous gear. The Uddesya Eco Jacket is a perfect example. It’s an easy-wearing full zip fleece with a contemporary relaxed fit. The delicious high pile fleece fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester, but it’s also warm, breathable and oh-so-comfortable. Then there are the nice little details, like that stand-up collar, the two snug hand pockets, the stretch-bound cuffs – oh, and that funky print. Cosy and colourful, it’s the ideal wear-all-winter layer.
This retro flashlight takes us straight back to childhood nights spent reading favourite books under the covers, dreaming of solving mysteries like Nancy Drew. But this torch is a lot lighter to carry than the heavy-duty originals. So, although you might not be able to knock out a villain with it, it is far more practical, being conveniently sized and equipped with a hook for hanging in a tent. The perfect companion next time you go hunting for clues, ghosts or that vital bit of camping gear you dropped in the long grass...
Another favourite product from a favourite brand, this warm padded body-warmer is sustainably made from recycled polyester blend fabric. It also features recycled synthetic insulation, Picture's eco-friendly waterproof membrane, and a PFC-free durable water repellent finish. It even has a high fleece-lined collar for added cosiness. The boxy silhouette is bang on trend and looks great layered over a big hoodie or a chunky fleece.
I hate having frozen fingers. But in winter, having to pull off a glove with your teeth just to type out a WhatsApp message can give you numb fingers in seconds. That’s why I love these gloves from Hestra. They are soft and thin, so you can still wear them without feeling like you’ve got flippers for hands. But they do a good job of beating the chill. And best of all, they’re touchscreen-compatible, so you can use your phone without having to take your gloves off. Handy.
I spent years stuffing clothes into drybags or improvising makeshift pillows from down jackets before I discovered the NEMO Fillo Elite. This soft, comfortable camping pillow packs down to about the size of a large potato and weighs under 300g. It’s become one of the first bits of kit I pack for almost any trip, from a wild camp overnighter to a three-week backpacking trip.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
