How do you choose clothes that protect you from the cold?

The key is layers, preferably that can be opened and/or removed easily - something light but wooly next to the skin, (including your legs) something normal dress but with long sleeves and pants next, then an outer layer that is thick, but most importantly windproof, on the outside. Then you’ll need a toque or hood, plus mitts (not gloves) and insulated boots.

Oh, and a pair of sunglasses to cut the glare from all that white snow… Snow blindness is a real thing!

That should get you through just about anything a Canadian winter can throw at you.

Why the emphasis on layers? It sounds odd if you haven’t done this before, but a serious danger is overheating, especially if you begin to sweat, which will really freeze you when you go back out in the deep cold - you need to be able to open things up to stay reasonably cool.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t look this good in our winter outfits…

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

G 

H 

T 

O