Hi, I'm Eri from the web shop photo team! It feels like that mild day we spent at our recent Birthday Ride was a lie, as it's been getting colder by the day. Since I'm someone who hates the cold, today I’d like to introduce some "handy items to have on hand for sudden drops in temperature"!
HOUDINI W’s Mono Air Vest
Ever have those moments where you’re bundled up outside, but once you get indoors and take off your warm outer layer, you suddenly feel chilly? For that, a vest is the best! (Get it?) When your back is warm, the cold becomes much more manageable.
In spring and autumn, just layering one over your base layer is perfect, and in winter, adding one between your base layer and your outer layer significantly boosts your warmth. Thick clothing can feel bulky around the sleeves, which I don't like, but one of the things I love about a vest is that you don’t have to worry about that sleeve thickness.
PAUL COMPONENT Wool Knee High Logo Argyle
Even in winter, socks are often quite short, but personally, I live in knee-high socks during the winter. There are plenty of knee-high options for women, but for men, it seems they only exist in formal dress styles. It makes a huge difference in how you feel the cold when your calves are protected from the chilly wind blowing in from your pant hems, so I really want outdoor activity enthusiasts to give these a try. Plus, the argyle pattern peeking out from under your hem looks stylish.
RAL Anorak
A thin jacket that packs down compactly is incredibly useful to have. It’s perfect for those "might get a little cold" moments when you need to regulate your temperature, so just tossing one into your bag when heading out gives you peace of mind. If the jacket is windproof, you can wear it under a down jacket or other outerwear in mid-winter to double your warmth. With its windproof features, the RAL Anorak reliably blocks out the winter chill and keeps you toasty.
ACLIMA WarmWool Pulse Heater
They say keeping your wrists and ankles warm is the basic rule of insulation, and wrist warmers are a winter staple. Because of my line of work, I sometimes have to shoot outdoors even in the winter, but it’s always difficult to operate a camera while wearing gloves. When it’s cold but you still need your fingertips free, these wrist warmers truly make a world of difference—they provide so much peace of mind. If your work involves using your hands outdoors or in cold indoor environments, this is a must-have item.
HOUDINI W’s Desoli Mid Crew
Ultimately, I feel like as long as you have a well-fitting merino wool long-sleeve, you can withstand a fair amount of cold. For winter base layers, merino wool is the only choice. By layering it with the RAL Merino Tee or the HOUDINI Mono Air Vest, these thin yet warm layers will protect you from the deep winter cold. The sleeves are long and feature thumbholes, which discreetly block the cold air from entering at the wrists.
Of course, men’s models are also available.
BIVO Trio 21oz Insulated
We previously introduced the Bivo bottle as something that lets you enjoy ice-cold drinks on summer rides, but come to think of it, how often do you bring a plastic water bottle on a winter ride or hike only to find the water is so frozen it’s impossible to drink? "Insulated" also means it can keep room-temperature water at room temperature. While it's a no-go for hot drinks due to burn risks, keeping room-temperature water at room temperature is actually a surprisingly welcome point for winter activities.
The cold is a major enemy for everyone, not just women.
Instead of just wearing one warm item, layering multiple thin pieces to build up warmth is the foundation of staying insulated in winter.
Let’s enjoy the freezing winter with smart layering! I wonder if the Circles ski club activities are about to start soon!
