As someone who works in frontline security, standing outside bars, shops and night spots for up to 12 hours at a time – occasionally watching clubbers turn blue while waiting for a cab – I am well versed in the need to dress weather appropriately. With temperatures hitting freezing across the UK this week, here are my tips, tricks and product recommendations to keep the frostbite at bay.
It’s all about the base
A lot of emphasis is put on outerwear, but anyone who’s ever had to stand on a door for hours or cheer their kid on at football while stuck on a touchline will appreciate that thought being given to the inner layers, too. Decent thermal underwear is a must. Made from merino wool, Icebreaker’s 260 Tech thermal leggings were invented 30 years ago at the company’s HQ in New Zealand – one of the last pit stops for travellers before they hit Antarctica. Icebreaker leg gear is like Ready Brek for your lower end – cosiness guaranteed in minutes.
For your top half, Decathlon’s long-sleeve Simond MT500 is also made from merino and is half the price.
Swap jumpers for zips
If you’re constantly moving between somewhere cold and somewhere sheltered, you might get tired of repeatedly diving through the head hole of your jumper. Zipped hoodies are what I get on with best. For chilliness indoors, the Rab Nexus is slim-fitting without being constrictive. Designed for hiking, it is also suited for those walking around city streets. And when it’s feeling truly Arctic, there’s the Power Houdi from Houdini, which is made from breathable Polartec fleece.
Pick your coat wisely
There are two approaches here. The first is to go for something ultra-thick. If you want to stay toasty with some added 90s rave nostalgia, Aritzia’s Super Puff coat, which is apparently “engineered to deliver warmth to -30C”, will give you that immersion-heater look and the glow to go with it. It’s made from tear-resistant and high-tensile Japanese fabric, is waterproof, and is stuffed with down. Think the best duvet of your life, but with side pockets and a hood.
The second approach is to choose a breathable shell. Designed by a snowboard manufacturer, the AK Cyclic Gore-Tex from Burton – a brand born in the frosty depths of Vermont – might be thinner than the wrong end of an ice skate, but it features pit vents and pockets galore (including that all-important chest pocket for your device). Just be sure to wear both of your hoodies underneath.
Go fingerless
Fingerless gloves have obvious downsides – no one likes snow getting under their nails – but remember that most of the finger still stays snug. These fingerless woollen gloves from Black Yak are extremely warm, and thankfully are available in more muted colours than so much outdoor adventure gear. You can choose from understated green, blue, brick red or charcoal, and be grateful that your exposed fingertips aren’t in mittens, meaning you can still check your messages.
If you have bad circulation or another good reason to want to keep hands hyperbolically toasty this winter, the Markhof Pro V3 photography gloves from Vallerret aren’t cheap, at almost €90 (£79), but they do cover all digits while allowing your thumb and index finger to be free to take pictures thanks to removable fingers. If that still feels too exposed, a mate of mine who rides for Deliveroo recommends Zippo’s 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer, which he describes as the “smartphone version of a radiator”.
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Gaiters, hats and beanies
A grade-two buzz cut means I don’t have the option of piling up my hair like loft cladding. I need to layer up, starting with something such as OMM’S Core Beanie; it’s thin, it won’t microwave your head if you’re moving around quickly and it will sit happily under another thicker hat. And the Fisherman Beanie from Finisterre is thick but naturally breathable. Combine both with a neck gaiter – the snood scarf from Ruffnek, for example – and you achieve something approaching the insulated look of polar pioneer Matthew Henson.
A soldier’s boots
Like jackets, you can either go padded or non-padded for your footwear, something that depends on time spent outside and what you expect your feet to be standing in. Yorkshire-based bootmaker Altberg covers both ends of the scale. Its Norway Military boot is lined for arctic temperatures, while its SF-MK3 tabbing boot is multi-season but light, which means decent socks are required. And for that, Darn Tough’s hiking socks are as reliable as the name suggests. Want something super-tough? HJ Hall make an Indestructible sock, with a somewhat paradoxical 12-month guarantee.
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