How to beat the winter woes and stay warm in Wisconsin's outdoors

Roasty and toasty

How to beat the winter woes and stay warm in Wisconsin's outdoors

"Warm," "Wisconsin," and "winter" are not 3 words you normally group together here in the Dairyland state.

Heck, we preheat our cars like ovens, salt our sidewalks more than our steaks, and routinely find snot-sicles hanging from our wind-whipped noses.

But - we also have some of the best snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, and ice fishing anywhere in the nation, and it'd be a shame if we didn't take advantage.

So the next time you recreate in the cold (or mom locks you out of the house on a snow day - classic!), remember these tips to stay snug and enjoy our "favorite" season.

Layers are in

As the Norwegians say: "There's no bad weather; only bad clothing."

Whatever activity you're doing outside, you've gotta start with a good base layer.

And forget Uncle Joe's cotton long underwear - cotton is poor at wicking moisture, and who even knows what that stain is from?

The best material for a top-and-bottom base layer is merino wool. Beating out synthetics, this wonder material wicks moisture away from your skin and keeps you warm, even when wet.

After that, you'll need some mid-layers, depending on the temps. Down and synthetic puffers are great, as they're packable, lightweight, and toasty warm.

Finally, a waterproof shell might be warranted if you're going to be in the snow. Which, duh, it's Wisconsin!

The other stuff

As far as frostbite is concerned, the ears, nose, toes and fingers are always the concern due to the thin skin and lower blood flow to those areas.

A winter hat is a great way to keep your head and ears warm. But if you're doing some real extraneous exercise, like shoveling your neighbor's driveway, you may find that Brewers ball cap or headband to be more appropriate.

To keep the fingers in play, you'll need a nice pair of gloves or mittens. For those with especially cold hands (read: Raynaud's Syndrome), mittens are the MVP.

Your socks follow the same rule as your base layers - no cotton. As your feet may be one of the first things to get sweaty (and then cold), you'll want merino wool or at least synthetic.

For the footwear, you'll want to consider if you need waterproof or breathable. Waterproof is great for sedentary activities like ice fishing or tailgating at Lambeau, but breathable materials will stop moisture buildup for more active sports, like winter running.

Don't forget the snacks

The final piece of the staying warm-ish puzzle is to fuel yourself correctly.

As your body heats up to stay warm, it'll burn through more calories. To keep up with your increased metabolism, opt for a hot, calorie-dense meal. So not a Culver's Concrete Mixer...

If you're moving and groovin,' keep it light. If you're sitting still in a tree stand or watching The Bachelor through your neighbor's window because cripes you forgot to pay the cable bill again, then go for a heavier, high-fat meal.

Need an extra boost? Citrus and B vitamins are shown to help with circulation, too.

So there you have it folks - with the above recipe you'll stay comfortable while enjoying all the splendors of Wisconsin's winter.

So join that running group, check out gear swaps near you, and pass along the goodies in this email to your adventure buddies.

And most of all - get out 'der!