15 Travel Essentials for Subzero Temperatures, From $15

I grew up in Montana, where in August, I shivered while posing next to one of our state’s favorite roadside attractions, a three-story penguin statue, proclaiming, “Welcome to the coldest spot in the nation.” Montana is still home, but in my career as a travel writer, I regularly visit places that reach subzero temperatures, from Antarctica to Alaska. One time, I tent camped in Greenland on the world’s second-largest ice cap. The high that week was around 5 degrees Fahrenheit—without wind chill. 

As someone who has anemia—a complication of having Crohn’s disease—I get cold easily, but I don’t let it hold me back. Instead, I’ve accumulated an impressive collection of winter gear that allows me to survive subzero temperatures, whether I’m ice canoeing in Quebec or simply walking my dog at home in Montana. The following is a list of my favorite cold-weather essentials, from budget-friendly finds like fleece-lined leggings to splurge-worthy lifesavers like a down jacket.

Baleaf Women’s Fleece-lined Leggings

I wore these fleece-lined leggings on a winter safari in Grand Teton National Park. Not only were we successful in spotting wolves, but I was warm enough to post up at a spotting scope for hours. More recently, I wore them while Christmas market hopping in Northern Europe in December. Even with the ample fleece lining, these leggings aren’t bulky; I prefer the three-pocket style because I don’t like having to unzip my bag to pull out my phone when it’s cold, and I find them water-resistant enough to wear even if it’s snowing or sleeting. “My legs will never know cold again,” wrote one shopper on Amazon, where they have more than 25,000 five-star ratings. Another shopper deemed them “100% the quality of Vuori or Lululemon, at a fraction of the cost.”  

DG Hill Winter Thermal Socks

I first got these thermal socks for a cruise to Antarctica, where they were invaluable as we had to wear rubber muck boots without much insulation on all of our land-based excursions. Don’t let the low cost fool you; they’re by far the warmest socks I’ve ever owned, which says a lot since I grew up in Montana, where every resident has their summer socks and their rest-of-the-year wool socks. On Amazon, where they’re backed by more than 19,000 five-star ratings, they claim to be seven times as warm as regular socks. “These socks kept my feet completely warm the entire time,” recalled one shopper who wore them for over eight hours in freezing temperatures while dogsledding and touring around Sweden. My first pair is going on three years old now, and I still have yet to see any holes or loose threads. 

AI Rechargeable Hand Warmers

I first learned about these rechargeable hand warmers from my dad, a rancher in Montana who doesn’t get to call in sick during calving season in March. He packed them on a Northern Lights cruise we took, where I went through at least a dozen disposable hand warmers that took several minutes for the heat to kick in. Meanwhile, he just pushed a button and enjoyed instant, precise (there are three temperature levels to choose from) 360-degree heat. The AI chip in these warmers even has a sensor that keeps them from overheating. They recharge via the included USB-C cable and are such a hit on Amazon that more than 20,000 were sold in the last month alone. 

Buff Lightweight Merino Wool Neck Gaiter

A few years ago, I mountain biked around Iceland (in February of all months), and if I created a highlight reel from that adventure, it would start with “This trip is brought to you by Buff.” The brand’s neck gaiter with 4,200 five-star ratings on Amazon is a game-changer, and not just because it’s made of ethically-sourced Australian merino wool, which prevents the growth of odor-causing bacteria and allows you to breathe even when worn over your mouth. There’s also value in its versatility; there are 12 official ways to wear it, including as a hood and as a beanie. 

Naturehike Down Pants

If puffer jackets are a thing, why can’t puffer pants be, too? I bought my first pair of down pants at a gift shop on Mount Fuji, where it was so cold that the water lines in the bathroom were frozen. Mine are from Montbell, a Japanese brand, but I found these similar, highly-recommended Naturehike Down Pants at Amazon, where 70 percent of shoppers give it a five-star rating. One shopper was so warm wearing them at the Arctic Circle that they can no longer go out in the snow without them. Sure, these pants may give Michelin Man vibes, but anyone who points that out is just jealous—and cold. Plus, these pants weigh just 8.8 ounces and pack down nicely in their drawstring stuff sack, so you can clip them to the outside of your bag or slide them into a water bottle pocket. 

Patagonia Down Sweater Vest

My Patagonia Down Sweater Vest dates back to 2016, when I sported it for 32 days straight while sailing through the Northwest Passage, where it was so cold our ship was accompanied by an icebreaking escort ship. You’ll find cheaper down vests, but are they made of 100-percent recycled fishing nets that help minimize ocean pollution? Plus, this vest’s insulation is a responsibly-sourced goose down, which offers a better warmth-to-weight ratio than duck down. The elastic around the armholes and the drawcord hem keep drafts out, and water has never successfully seeped through the durable nylon shell. Other bells and whistles it comes with include two zippered hand pockets, a repair patch (I’ve never had to use it), and a zippered interior chest pocket that doubles as a stuff sack and has a built-in carabiner, so you can clip it to your bag. 

Buff Lightweight Merino Wool Neck Gaiter

A few years ago, I mountain biked around Iceland (in February of all months), and if I created a highlight reel from that adventure, it would start with “This trip is brought to you by Buff.” The brand’s neck gaiter with 4,200 five-star ratings on Amazon is a game-changer, and not just because it’s made of ethically-sourced Australian merino wool, which prevents the growth of odor-causing bacteria and allows you to breathe even when worn over your mouth. There’s also value in its versatility; there are 12 official ways to wear it, including as a hood and as a beanie.

Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket

Despite now owning a $1,700 Canada Goose parka I lusted after for years, I still prefer this Fjällräven Expedition Down Lite Jacket, which is just as warm (courtesy of its 90-percent goose down fill) and has a much easier price point to stomach. While it’s certainly still splurgy, it comes highly recommended—mine shows virtually no wear or tear after five years of daily use during the winter. “High quality and worth every penny,” agrees one Amazon shopper who plans on traveling to the Arctic with it this winter. The hem and oversized hood are cinchable via contrasting yellow cords, and with two top-loading exterior pockets, zippered hand pockets, and three interior pockets, you’ll run out of things to carry before you run out of storage space. While it weighs less than my cropped Lucky Brand jean jacket, it is bulky, so you’ll want to pack it in a stuff sack or compression bag.  

Yehopere Women’s Winter Fleece Lined Jeans

Disclaimer: I wear Duer’s Tech Fleece Denim Girlfriend Jean at home in Montana during the winter, but demand is so high that they’re sold out. Currently, I’m eyeing these Amazon fleece-lined jeans with nearly 2,900 five-star ratings. “Just enough stretch, they don’t even feel like jeans,” raved one shopper who wore them on a chilly New Year’s Eve trip to Europe. I used to think flannel or fleece-lined jeans would be bulky and make my legs look like sausages. But fleece technology has come a long way in the last few years, and these look like any ordinary pair of jeans. Pro tip: if you want to feel the warmth without the bulk, look for pants like these that have a brushed lining.

Arc’teryx Aestas Fleece Hoody

Initially, I balked at the price point of the Arc’teryx Aestas Fleece Hoody, but three continents later, I’m still living in this fashionable half-zip hoodie with three pockets and state-of-the-art fabric technology. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the designers behind it had degrees from both FIT and MIT. It’s made of a premium Polartec fleece that is just as warm as normal fleece but sheds five times fewer microfibers. And because it’s made for mountain climbers and designed to be worn with a backpack, its seams offer unmatched mobility Personally, I like being able to reach up into the overhead bin without feeling restricted or having to worry about tearing a hole in the armpit. “I’ve been wearing this practically nonstop since I purchased this,” wrote one shopper who, like me, “loves everything about it.” 

C.C Thick Cable Knit Beanie

I’m so obsessed with this C.C. knit beanie that when it accidentally fell out of my bag on a winter hike along the Yellowstone River, my husband went back for it, despite it starting to get dark out and not knowing exactly where I’d dropped it. It boasts a very impressive 4.8-star average rating from nearly 34,000 ratings on Amazon. Made of a thick acrylic fabric and a fleece lining, it’s pretty substantial, especially with the faux fur puff on top. It’s cute enough that you can wear it on the plane if you don’t have space to pack it. I even wore it last January in Paris—and someone even asked me for directions, which, to me, means that it’s so flattering strangers will think you’re French! 

The North Face Montana Puffer Mittens

After tent camping on Greenland’s largest ice cap, I’m officially team mittens forever. They’re just so much warmer because they do a better job of trapping body heat. Of course, the tradeoff is dexterity. Fortunately, these The North Face puffer mittens feature wrist leashes, so if you need to type something, you can take them off without worrying about dropping them. The water-repellent finish adds some serious protection against moisture, making them ideal in the snow. That said, even if these mittens get damp, they’ll still keep your hands warm thanks to the brand’s ThermoBall Eco insulation, which is designed to trap heat, even when wet.  

Uniqlo Heattech Ultra Warm T-shirt

I got my first Uniqlo Heattech base layers when I lived in New York City in 2012, and we were hit with a Nor’easter just days after being slammed by Hurricane Sandy. Since then, Uniqlo has come out with its Heattech Ultra collection, which is more than double the warmth. In December, I went Christmas shopping at the Uniqlo Ginza flagship store in Tokyo for friends and family who ski; I picked up this super soft Uniqlo top designed for temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. I love how lightweight it is—which means I can pack multiples in my luggage with ease. Somehow it feels snug and like a second skin without bordering on suffocating.

Amazon Basics Vacuum Compression Bags

Prior to investing in these compression bags, whenever I went on a ski trip or visited a cold-weather destination, I used to have to sit on my suitcase and risk throwing out my back trying to zip it shut. Now, I simply fill one of these reusable vacuum seal bags with my bulkiest layers, zip it shut, and suck out the extra air using the included hand pump. The end result? I can easily pack a parka, snowpants, and chunky sweaters without having to wear them all on the plane. But don’t just take it from me: Amazon shoppers purchased these bags more than 10,000 times in the last month alone—and they’ve accumulated over 24,000 five-star ratings. 

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Open Cardigan Sweater

If you’re buying cashmere, head to Quince, where its Mongolian cashmere sweaters are reasonably priced, like this open cardigan that goes with everything in my travel wardrobe. The grade A Mongolian cashmere fibers trap heat more efficiently, so it’s warmer than some of my thicker cardigans made of regular wool. And because the fibers are hollow (unlike synthetic fibers) and the keratin in them isn’t compatible with odor-causing bacteria, this sweater is breathable and stays fresh in between its infrequent washings. The only downside is it’s hand-wash only, but on the plus side, you can do it in a hotel sink!

Tuckernuck Eloise Cable Knit Sweater

It’s definitely a splurge, but I’m also not letting this stylish Tuckernuck sweater out of my sight this winter. It’s even with me here in Thailand, where I slip it on when I’m in overly air-conditioned spaces. Unlike more affordable cashmere pieces, this sweater has several elements that make it look and feel ultra luxurious, warranting the higher price point. I’m crazy about the thick cable design, the slightly oversized fit, the stylish ribbing on the cuffs and hem, and that it can be monogrammed for an extra $15. Shoppers are smitten, too. “I love it and can see myself wearing it for years to come,” reads one five-star review titled “Modern Classic.” 

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