Bundle Up, Baby

Keep warm with these outdoor winter wear options

Unless you live in the tropics, you’ll never mistake December weather for summer weather. Here in North America, there are still chores to be done outside even when the temperature drops below freezing.

Winter wear such as warm gloves, heavy-duty boots, and insulated jackets is absolutely essential. Here’s a selection of great winter wear to keep you warm and toasty while outside on your acreage property.

Tough, fleece-lined work pants

Hardworking men put Fire Hose Work Pants to the test on their acreage property every day. The “Fire Hose” 11.5-ounce cotton fabric is durable but also surprisingly comfortable. This tough fabric is lined with lightweight, sweat-wicking polyester microfleece that keeps your legs warm even on cold winter days.

And check out all the pockets—there are a total of 11 pockets, including tuckable mid-leg and back pockets. The relaxed fit is comfortable, and the seams are triple-stitched for strength. The fabric is prewashed for comfort and treated to repel water and stains. Available in three colors from duluthtrading.com.

Women’s insulated jacket for outdoor chores

Duluth Trading Company also makes a terrific Fire Hose Insulated Jacket for women and it might be the perfect cold-weather jacket for farm and ranch chores. The strong outer shell is triple-stitched and the elbow patches give the jacket extra durability. The Fire Hose outer shell is also treated to be water and stain resistant.

This tough jacket is also comfortable, with underarm gussets that offer plenty of room for lifting, climbing a ladder or moving bales of hay. Thinsulate insulation gives impressive warmth for a lightweight jacket, while heavy-duty ribbed trim on the cuffs and collar seal out the cold. You’re also going to love the nine pockets that have plenty of room for a pair of pliers, a pair of gloves, a notebook, and more. The Women’s Fire Hose Insulated Jacket comes in brown, black, and vintage olive. At duluthtrading.com.

Denim ranch jacket with warm blanket lining

When you live far from the city and livestock and a few horses, the last thing you want to wear is a city slicker’s winter jacket.

If you like the look of a ranch jacket, here’s a made-in-America denim jacket that’s warm enough for winter wear. It starts with a tough outer shell of 14.5-ounce denim with a full grain leather collar. The jacket’s classic design includes four front pockets—two chest pockets and two pockets below for your hands. The back of the jacket has a double-V Western yoke back. There are solid brass logo buttons right where they belong—on the front, at the cuffs, on the chest pockets, and along the waistband in the back. The fleece blanket lining in the body of the coat gives it the warmth needed for winter chores.

This might be the cold-weather version of an American classic. The Legend Denim Jacket with Fleece Blanket Lining is available in sizes small to 3XL at schaeferoutfitter.com.

Insulated gloves for women and men

Everyone working outdoors needs a really good pair of durable gloves. The Carhartt Women’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves keep hands warm in cold and wet weather. They are durable, with a special synthetic material on the palm for extra grip. The soft inner lining wicks sweat off skin, and the stretch fleece cuff helps seal out the cold. The adjustable strap closure gives a perfect fit, and there’s a waterproof insert. Available in attractive crabapple red or black in small, medium and large from carhartt.com.

There are plenty of tough winter gloves for men, too. The Men’s Leather HydraHyde Winter Gloves (from Wells Lamont, model 7664) do everything a working winter glove is supposed to do—plus, they look rugged and masculine. Outside, the HydraHyde leather is water resistant and breathable. The leather even stays soft after repeated exposure to water and snow. The Thinsulate fleece lining inside provides plenty of warmth. An extended cuff stretches over sleeves to prevent cold air on your wrist. A carabiner clip is included to keep the gloves together when not in use. Available from amazon.com.

The perfect base layer for extra warmth

Fun fact: The cunning Arctic Fox (scientific name, Alopex lagopus) grows a cozy fur coat to protect it from the cold. We don’t have that luxury, but we can wear a warm base layer next to our skin to keep us warm.

The Men’s Alaskan Hardgear Alopex Mock Neck base layer shirt is a body-hugging blend of polyester and spandex knit that traps body heat and wicks off moisture. It is smooth and stretchy, and for its weight it provides and impressive amount of body warmth. The mock neck keeps cold winds away from your throat. It comes in five sizes (medium through 3XL) in black or orange. Available at duluthtrading.com .

Insulated work boots for toasty toes

You’ve already got a couple of pairs of work boots, but in wintertime, you need insulated work boots, like these Rugged Flex 8-Inch Insulated Composite Toe Work Boots. The insulated, waterproof design keep feet warm and dry in a range of conditions. It doesn’t matter if you’re lying on your back on a snow-covered road trying to fix your truck, or stomping through the snow to the barn, these boots will keep toes toasty.

A flexible rubber outsole provides a confident grip for ladder rungs, cement floors, and uneven terrain, while resilient cushioning helps maintain all-day comfort. These tough boots are available from carhartt.com in a full range of men’s sizes in medium and wide widths.

Keep your head and face warm

A balaclava is a winter face mask worn by skiers and snowboarders, and it’s also a great piece of clothing for property owners. There are dozens of different choices on the market, but the Balaclava Ski Mask and Hood combination from CALOICS combines cozy comfort with modern fashion.

The windproof face mask can be easily pulled up to cover your face—handy in these Covid-19 times—or easily pulled down for a sip of coffee. The hood can easily be pulled up and down, too. The face mask is available in black only, while the hood comes in black, gray/black, and red/black. This unisex item comes in one fits-all size. On amazon.com.