Having tested outdoor gear as my main gig for over a decade, I am used to finding myself on the same side as the experts when it comes to gear advice. We agree that cotton doesn鈥檛 always kill; waterproof running shoes can actually make your feet wetter on runs; and yes, you should always pack a headlamp. One area where I heartily disagree? Socks. I am a big proponent of wearing synthetic (rather than wool) socks for winter pursuits.

I have tested over 150 socks鈥攔anging from ski socks to running socks鈥攆or 国产吃瓜黑料 and interviewed professional athletes, thru-hikers, and product designers in the process. Most of these folks believe that wool socks are the best choice for winter wear because of the fabric’s natural thermoregulating and odor-mitigating properties.

There鈥檚 no arguing that wool is a better insulator from the cold. It remains warm when wet,听 so your sweaty feet are less likely to freeze in your ski or hiking boots. Textile manufacturers have experimented with brilliant weaves and fancy chemicals to make synthetics (like polyester, nylon, rayon, and spandex, to name a few) as effective as wool at regulating temperature and mitigating odor, but most haven鈥檛 been able to match mother nature in those departments.

Still, I swear by socks made from synthetics and here鈥檚 why: I have brutally sweaty feet that blister like the dickens. Synthetic materials are better than wool at wicking moisture.

The right synthetics will actively grab moisture off of your skin and move it away to the exterior of the fabric, mitigating friction that can lead to painful blisters. When well made (from reputable brands like my personal favorite, Polartec), synthetics make the most of the fibers鈥� hydrophobic properties.

That said, every body is different, as are feet. Even two feet on the same body can even be different (my left foot blisters more than my right). So instead of letting you know what socks work best for me in the winter, let鈥檚 dive into the pros and cons of each.

Wool vs. Synthetic Socks: Pros and Cons

Are you concerned about odor? Go with wool.听

One of the biggest benefits of wool is its natural odor-resistance. While it is not technically antimicrobial, the keratin protein that wool is made from and the waxy lanolin that many wools contain do not allow our stinky bacteria to thrive on it the way it does on synthetics, like polypropylene (or polypoopaline, as I like to call it).

鈥淥ne of the things that I like least about the synthetic socks is that they’re embarrassing on a multi-day trip when your sock is dried and you can hold it out like a flag in a gale force wind,鈥� said Saylor Flett, an 国产吃瓜黑料 gear tester and program director for 鈥檚 outdoor program. 鈥淎nd it’s actually just a rigid shape that you have to reconform to your foot every morning until it gets wet again.鈥�

If you plan to spend multiple, consecutive days in the same pair of socks this winter, socks with high wool content are the best option.

Do you have sweaty feet that are prone to blistering? Choose a sock made from synthetic materials or a synthetic-blend.听

鈥淲ool just doesn’t dry very quickly. So once you get it wet, it stays wet,鈥� said Tyler Maheu, a textile guru who has worked on connecting brands with products for over 20 years. 鈥淵ou get a little bit of grit or whatever in your shoes in that moisture and it forms blisters.鈥�

Since synthetic moves moisture off the skin so efficiently, it can significantly mitigate the chances of getting painful blisters. My personal favorites for skiing are the socks. For running, my go-tos are .

Do your feet get cold in the winter? Wool鈥檚 your answer.听

While wool doesn鈥檛 dry as quickly as synthetic materials, it stays warm when wet鈥攊t鈥檚 like neoprene, explained Robert Fry, an expert in material sourcing who was previously in charge of wool product at Mountain Hardwear and The North Face. So if moisture is to blame for your cold feet (and your feet aren鈥檛 prone to blistering), then wool might actually help keep your feet warmer because holding the moisture close to your feet allows your body to warm it up.

On the other hand, if the moisture is moved away from your feet (i.e. by a moisture-wicking synthetic sock) and gets trapped under the plastic shell of a ski boot or the vapor barrier of mountaineering boots, the cold from the outside can really bring down your boot temp.

Do you like drying your feet by a fire on hut trips or in a ski resort parking lot? Choose wool.听

鈥淚 like drying my feet around a fire,鈥� said Flett. 鈥淚 don’t have to worry about wool melting.鈥� While this one might seem obnoxiously specific, wool鈥檚 fire-resistant qualities can be very important to those who use fires to get warm for much of the winter.

Are you freaked out by microplastics getting into waterways? Wool鈥檚 the only option.听

鈥淚’d be remiss if I didn’t mention microplastics,鈥� said Fry. 鈥淪ynthetics like air-spun or ring-spun polyester shed a lot of microplastics every time you wash those socks,鈥� said Fry. 鈥淲ool doesn’t shed the microplastics. Micro-wool isn’t harmful the way microplastic is.鈥�

Charles Ross, performance sportswear and design lecturer at the , has closely watched the effect of microplastics as well as treated cotton on London鈥檚 aging infrastructure and had a particularly interesting story about researching outflow pipes with hundreds of years of waste built up. 鈥淲hen we dug up the outflow pipe, we had synthetic waste, we had cellulose waste, but we had zero wool waste,鈥� said Ross.

Still not sure whether to go with wool or synthetic? Go with a wool/synthetic blend.听

鈥淭he best compromise is by blending wool with a synthetic yarn,鈥� said Ross early in our conversation. When done correctly, there is an opportunity for the materials to deliver the best of both worlds. This blending has to be done very carefully, though, to make sure that the warmth of wool and sturdiness and stretch properties of synthetic are being fully utilized.

One way companies achieve this is by putting the bulk of the synthetic materials in the heel and toe to help the socks move and minimize wear, while using wool elsewhere to allow the bulk of the foot to stay warm. Another method manufacturers use听 is to place soft wool content next to skin to enhance warmth and synthetic away from the skin to increase the sock鈥檚 durability.

On the flipside, poorly blended fibers can offer the worst of both worlds. Some of the original wool/synthetic blends are pure garbage because their only goal was to cut down on the amount of wool going into the sock. They were blended in such a way that they held onto moisture and odor.

Be wary of socks that use an 鈥渋ntimate blend,鈥� a process in which wool and synthetic fibers are woven together equally, sometimes strand by strand, which makes the end product take on some of the worst properties of both ingredients.听

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It鈥檚 hard to get excited about socks. Despite all the marketing hoopla about strategically placed cushioning and support panels, most pairs wind up feeling the same. And by the end of a long day, even the best are usually just smelly, damp, and stretched out. ($27) is one of the first to grab our attention.

Also available in quarter-crew ($24) and crew heights, the Flite XT Trail boasts a host of features that amount to the best-fitting, most resilient sock we鈥檝e ever put on our feet. For starters, there鈥檚 the synthetic fiber, called olefin, that spans the sole; it鈥檚 hydrophobic and thus promotes incredibly fast wicking. Then there are the toe and heel portions, which are lightly padded with polyester-olefin nanofibers that grip the inside of your shoe to prevent your foot from moving around and thus reduce the chance of friction blisters.

All these features have popped up in socks from Swiftwick and other brands over the years. But here, the brand has combined them all with a merino-nylon fabric that confers natural anti-odor properties and is perfectly tuned to stay put and hold shape, even when wet, without feeling too tight. Credit just the right amount of compression around the midfoot and a strong elastic added in around the ankle. Neither of these things is groundbreaking; Swiftwick simply nails the balance between compression and comfort. Five testers wore the Flite XT Trail for four days through the hot, humid, muddy, river-filled Panamanian jungle. Our feet oscillated between damp and soaked (rarely dry); still, the Flite XT Trail held its shape and remained comfortably snug鈥攏o drooping, no bunching, no blisters, and no pinching from too-tight cuffs. In other words, this is a high-tech sock for daily running and hiking.

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You have to be a little bit of a masochist to spend much time on Denali. In the early season (beginning of May),听temperatures regularly plunge to 20 below on the upper mountain. You have to be willing to suffer a tad听in that environment, but that suffering can get out of hand quickly without really warm gear.

When my team and I flew onto the Ruth Glacier on May 8 last year, we went prepared for serious cold. We didn鈥檛 reach the summit, but we did get a good taste of all the weather Denali had to offer. After two winters in Colorado testing every item, seeking out the best approximations of Alaska (mainly the lowest temps, strongest winds, and most exposed campsites the Rockies have to offer) to double-check that everything performed, I was confident in the gear I took up the mountain. Here鈥檚 what kept me warm and comfortable while climbing in Denali鈥檚 40-mph winds and subzero temps.

Scarpa Phantom 6000 Boots ($949)

Choosing what boots to pack for a trip like Denali is tricky. You need a single pair that breathes well enough on the lower glacier, where daytime temps are in the fifties, and can still keep you warm on summit day when it can be 70 degrees colder or worse. I also wanted something with a toe and outsole precise enough for more-technical climbing. A good compromise between limitless warmth (and bulk) and a bit of precision was with . The Phantoms use PrimaLoft Micropile and EVA to insulate enough for 90 percent of the mountain, but on the coldest days I could slip the neoprene overboots over the top for extra insulation. My feet don鈥檛 typically have major issues with cold, though. For my climbing partner who suffers from chilly extremities, , with even more insulation and integrated overboots, were a one-stop shop.

Feathered Friends Down Booties ($119)

While the Phantom 6000s do have internal liners, they tended to get wet over the course of the day, especially on the lower mountain, where warmer temps made my feet sweat and mushy snow dampened them on the outside. So I got in the habit of slipping out of them as soon as we arrived at camp and finished digging, dropping the shells in the vestibule of my tent, slipping the sweaty liners into my sleeping bag, and sliding on my . Cozy 800-fill down felt amazing after a long day in constricting boots, and the removable weather-resistant shell made it easy to step outside to pee or hang in the cook tent without getting them wet and ruining my foot warmth.

The North Face Summit Futurelight Belay Mittens ($165)

If there鈥檚 any item to bring in excess onto Denali, it鈥檚 handwear. I brought three pairs of gloves, plus these beefy , so I could fine-tune my selection for the conditions of the moment and get a set wet without being totally out of luck. Unlike my feet, my fingers get cold quickly. And thanks to an internally split finger compartment, these mittens allowed just enough hand function if I needed to ditch my lighter gloves for something warmer midclimb. This is where gear confidence is key in the Alaska Range. If you know you can reach into your pack and have warm hands whenever you need them, you鈥檒l feel exponentially better about your preparedness.

Smartwool Mountaineering Extra Heavy Crew Socks ($25)

Socks, like gloves, are most effective in numbers. Expect them to get wet and need continuous drying, usually in your sleeping bag near your chest at night. I needed only three pairs of these for a two-week trip: a couple pairs in daily rotation that held their shape and didn鈥檛 get smelly thanks to their sturdy woven arch brace and merino鈥檚 odor-resistant properties, plus a pair sealed in a Ziploc bag specifically for summit day. The extra-heavy weight was necessary for the colder days (and I sized my boots specifically to fit them), but the breathable, wicking merino kept them from becoming totally useless on warmer days. Setting aside a set that had kept me warm for soggy hikes and windy climbs and unwrapping those summit socks once we made the decision to turn around was definitely bittersweet.

Therm-a-Rest Polar Ranger -20 Sleeping Bag ($750 and up)

Even in a place where the sun never fully sets during the summer, conditions change a lot at night. When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates鈥攆ast. A sleeping bag like the (designed with the help of Polar explorer Eric Larsen), with 800-fill down insulation (which doesn鈥檛 wet out with a little moisture), is crucial for a good night鈥檚 sleep in extreme cold and wet. The hood鈥檚 magnetic openings made it easy to tuck my face away from chilly air, and on stormy evenings when I was killing time in bed, I could slide my hands out of the arm holes to read a book without unzipping the bag.

Patagonia Grade VII Down Parka ($899)

I brought only three different upper-body layers to Alaska: a lightweight active insulator, a midweight synthetic puffy, and a massive parka. The versatility that would come from adding an additional layer to this kit wasn鈥檛 worth the space it鈥檇 take up in my pack. But that parka was a doozy. The massive baffles kept the 800-fill down lofted and maximally insulating, and the extra coverage from the long hem and big helmet-compatible hood provided nearly instantaneous warmth during my trip. The snow skirt, elastic cuffs, and elasticized side panels ensured a snug, warmth-retaining fit, but there was still room for my other layers underneath when necessary.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad ($230 and up) and NEMO Switchback Foam Pad ($55)

Two sleeping pads are better than one, especially on snow or ice. Your sleeping bag isn鈥檛 something to skimp on, and neither are your pads鈥攚ithout sufficiently insulating ones, your pricey down bag won鈥檛 be as effective at retaining heat. Most climbers you see on Denali use a super-insulating inflatable pad with a foam pad underneath. I went with the , which has a crazy-high 6.9 R-value (the rating for how resistant to heat flow, or insulating, something is; the higher the number, the more resistant to heat transfer) and the , which adds 2, bringing my cumulative R-value up to almost 9. Both pads pack down small (I carried the foam pad strapped to the side of my backpack, and the XTherm is about the size of a disposable water bottle). And, conveniently, the XTherm comes with an inflating bag that makes blowing it up a whole lot easier in the thin air.

Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pants ($175)

are one of those pieces of gear you never knew you needed until you tried them. On chilly overnights in Colorado鈥檚 San Juan Mountains, they were an epiphany. Just slap them on over your ski bibs or climbing pants (no need to take your boots off鈥攖hey have full-length side zips) for instant and appreciable warmth. In Alaska, they were perfect around camp at night or sitting in our group kitchen tent. They鈥檙e synthetic (using Mountain Hardwear鈥檚 proprietary Thermal.Q Elite insulation), so not as packable as down but more durable than down for sitting or kneeling. The 20-denier nylon ripstop fabric on the knees and seat held up to wear and tear.

40 Below Bottle Boot ($40) and Insulated Food Bag ($20)

Because of the technical route we chose for our trip, it was easier and more time-efficient to pack cook-in-the-bag dehydrated meals rather than bulky ingredients (not to mention the minimal cooking space higher on the mountain). With a stove like the , which has a wind-blocking design and efficiently sips fuel, getting the water hot was no problem鈥攂ut once we added it to our food, we had to find a way to keep it warm while the food rehydrated (which takes extra time at altitude). The is a neoprene pouch that helps the cook-in bags, which are insulated with much milder climates and shorter cooking times in mind, retain heat while your chili mac rehydrates. A loop on top lets you hang the whole thing in the tent and keep it from tipping or getting crushed. The brand鈥檚听 is also a staple on Denali to prevent water from freezing. You鈥檒l still want to keep fluids in your backpack听on really cold days, but the neoprene sleeve keeps your water from turning to a block of ice.

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We鈥檝e sweat in them, worn them on muddy trails, and through countless miles on pavement. Now they鈥檙e discounted.

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Merino wool is often raved about for its ability to keep us warm in cold climates, but it works double duty; it also keeps our bodies cool when the mercury rises.

When choosing outdoor fabrics for hot weather, there are a handful of performance characteristics to look for in a garment: the ability to wick moisture, dry quickly, breathe well, offer protection from the sun, and move with you鈥攅ven when you sweat. The ultimate benefit is something that鈥檚 odor-resistant. Merino wool checks all these boxes, but how?

Why Merino Wool Is Ideal for Summer

Merino wool is an active fiber, which means it responds to use鈥攂oth to the external environment and your body鈥檚 temperature changes鈥攁nd that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 great for outdoor pursuits.

Because of its composition, merino wool is excellent at natural moisture management. The outer shell of the fiber is hydrophobic鈥攊t repels water (similar to how water beads off a rain jacket). On the inside, it鈥檚 hydrophilic鈥攊ts core is attracted to water (in this case, your sweat), drawing moisture away from the skin and into the core of the fiber, to hold about 30 percent of its weight in water before it even feels wet. The practical result is that it keeps you drier longer. When it does saturate, that core consistently releases moisture, which leads to evaporative cooling throughout the day.

One of the biggest advantages of wearing wool in summer is its resistance to odors, because merino is antimicrobial (it inhibits the growth of microorganisms). You can sweat into a merino garment for hours, hang it to dry, and the next day it鈥檚 likely to be stink-free. Since it stays cleaner longer, you can wear it multiple times before washing it, resulting in less wear and tear on the fabric, and, ultimately, more years of use.

Merino wool has incredible stretch and return (how well it bounces back to its original shape), unlike other fabrics like elastane or Lycra, which break down over time and become loose in spots. UV light is one cause of this breakdown, but merino wool offers natural UV protection, so your garment is more impervious to sun damage and will remain in like-new condition a lot longer.

Now that you know the ins and outs of what makes merino wool a good choice for summer, here are the wool underwear, bra, and socks I鈥檝e been wearing comfortably during this year鈥檚 unusually high temperatures.

Ibex 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Natural Brief ($35)

Material: 94 percent merino wool, 6 percent spandex

Natural fibers are the right choice for underwear, because bacteria is less likely to grow on them. Cotton is super soft, breathable, and good at wicking moisture, but the two main issues with cotton are that it retains a lot of that water (once wet, it stays wet), which can leave you feeling clammy, and it also loses its shape over time. This is where merino wool proves advantageous. I鈥檝e never written a love letter to underwear before, but after wearing , I now understand why the company rightfully has its own group of dedicated superfans.

The Ibex product line is simple and honed-in, with staples that will take you from the trail to a night on the town. There鈥檚 nothing overly flashy about the brand鈥檚 garments, and this undergarment is no exception. It鈥檚 extremely comfortable, lightweight, quick-drying and odor-resistant鈥攅verything you want in a good pair of undies.

Ibex鈥檚 Natural brief doesn鈥檛 feel as soft as cotton, but it鈥檚 made of superfine merino wool, and once I鈥檝e got it on, I can鈥檛 even tell I鈥檓 wearing it. Neither high-rise nor bikini style, it sits a couple of inches below the belly button and provides full bum coverage鈥攏othing fancy, just a classic fit. Because the fabric is slightly slick and has a little spandex to it, hiking or running shorts slide right over the brief, and there鈥檚 no bunching; plus, the thin elastic waistband keeps it in place while you鈥檙e moving. I鈥檝e been wearing these undies in peak summer temperatures with no complaints. For overnight trips, you can definitely get a few days鈥� wear out of them. Then just hand-wash them in cool water, hang them to dry, and they鈥檒l be ready to wear again by morning.

Ibex only sources mulesing-free wool, and it鈥檚听 so you can see where the wool comes from, who鈥檚 making the garments, and the provider鈥檚 list of certifications.

Ibex Balance Crop Bra ($70)

Material: 70 percent merino wool, 24 percent nylon, 6 percent spandex

I first started hiking in a merino wool sports bra when I became pregnant five years ago. The summer heat and humidity required that I change up my old ways if I was going to have any level of comfort. After years of wearing the , I made the switch to the 鈥攁 step up in terms of support and technical design. This double-layer bra is seamless, which means you won鈥檛 suffer from hot spots or pressure points, and it keeps the girls in place while I鈥檓 jumping, running, hiking, and working out. The two-inch band doesn鈥檛 roll up, and the way the back straps fold over each other makes for a snug fit without any digging in. Various knit patterns throughout provide a mix of support and ventilation. It also looks great without a shirt.

If it鈥檚 really hot where you live and you don鈥檛 need two layers of support for your bouncing boobs, consider the pared-down , which has the same top layer, ditches the second layer, and features a simplified back.

Swiftwick Pursuit One Ultralight Merino Wool Socks ($18)

Material: 46 percent merino wool, 27 percent nylon, 18 percent olefin, 9 percent spandex

厂飞颈蹿迟飞颈肠办鈥檚 are the answer to hot, sweaty summer feet. Trust me, your dogs will thank you. Even when I鈥檝e worn them in temperatures over 110 degrees, my feet have stayed dry and comfortable in my running and hiking shoes. I鈥檝e tested dozens of pairs of merino wool socks in the field, and the Pursuit Ultralights are some of the most breathable, the result of channeled uppers (think: ventilated groves atop your foot) effective at dumping heat. Because they鈥檙e primarily made of merino wool, they draw sweat away from the foot, preventing blisters from forming, and also help regulate temperature. On top of that excellent breathability, they have a seamless toe box to prevent rubbing, and the reinforced heels and toes provide durability to these high-wear areas. Other thoughtful details, like a more flexible weave at the top of the ankle and a Y-shaped heel, help make them comfortable inside footwear.

I鈥檝e been wearing a version of the Pursuit Ones with a one-inch cuff height, but they鈥檙e also available in four- and seven-inch cuff heights, as well as with no cuff.

Taking Care of Merino Wool Garments

If you鈥檙e going to invest in quality merino wool, here are a couple of tips to keep your garments lasting longer.

When you first get a merino wool garment, you should wash it within the initial couple of wearings, or even before you wear it. This will help prevent it from pilling. At this point, it鈥檒l also feel a little softer against your skin, because the short fibers are either washed out or flat. After that, only wash the garment as needed鈥攁nd keep in mind that听washers and dryers can be tough on fabrics, so you鈥檒l reduce product鈥檚 life span if you overdo it鈥攁nd don鈥檛 use bleach or fabric softeners. Next-to-skin garments can be washed every three to five wears; other pieces, every five to seven wears.

Merino wool鈥檚 uneven surface allows water to penetrate very easily, and because the core of the fiber soaks up water, washing is a breeze. Cool or warm water is best, and a washing machine is better than hand washing, as you鈥檒l want to make sure any dirt and silt is removed鈥攖hat debris can cause abrasions to the fabric and speed up deterioration. A pH-neutral detergent is ideal, but regular laundry soap still works just fine.听It鈥檚 also such a fast-drying fabric that you can lay it out flat or hang it to dry (or even tumble-dry it), and it will soon be ready for your next adventure.

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In everyday life, ill-fitting kicks are painful at worst, but on a long backcountry excursion, they can be dangerous. I鈥檝e limped many excruciating miles with my dogs howling, cut trips short, and was even sidelined for over a month with an infected sore on my instep. Granted, my feet are weird. They鈥檙e extra wide, extra flat, and have an extra bone in each heel, which makes them particularly prone to blisters. No amount of moleskin, Dr. Scholl鈥檚 inserts, or moisture-wicking socks have ever made up for my bizarre anatomy, so I accepted it and built up a high pain tolerance. Until the achieved the impossible: over almost two years and 300 miles in them, I鈥檝e had exactly zero blisters.

When I first unboxed the Speedgoats, I admit it鈥擨 laughed. The ultra-thick foam midsole seemed more at home in a 鈥�90s high school sitcom than in the backcountry, and the 11.3 ounces of nylon and rubber appeared flimsy when compared to my sturdy leather boots. I stashed them in the back of my closet until early spring, when my old boots tore my feet to shreds on my first 15-plus-miler of the season. Already committed to a two-night backpacking trip the following week, I dug out the Hokas, thinking what the heck, my feet can鈥檛 get any worse.

Not only did I not develop a single hotspot, but I barely felt the sores I already had. Even with a heavy pack, hiking in the Speedgoats felt like having a miniature trampoline made of memory foam under each foot.

Hoka is known for its ultra-cushy running shoes, and the Speedgoat Mid gets both its name and design from one of the company鈥檚 most popular low-cut trail models. 鈥淲e found that the geometry we use for our running shoes can be applied to hiking, because it involves the same forward-to-back motion,鈥� says Gretchen Weimer, the brand鈥檚 global vice president of product. Weimer explains that the boot鈥檚 blister-fighting power is largely a result of minimizing 鈥渇oot travel,鈥� or movement of the foot within a shoe.

All Hoka shoes are built on a wider platform than typical runners or hikers, helping the toes to spread out to create less rubbing between digits. Meanwhile, the extra-cushy foam helps your foot sit further down in the midsole鈥攍ike when your feet sink into wet sand鈥攑roviding extra stability. For the Speedgoat Mids, Hoka paired its signature mixed foam footbed (Weimer wouldn鈥檛 reveal the brand鈥檚 secret recipe) with a snug-but-breathable mesh upper and a three-inch collar designed to mold around and stabilize your ankle, keeping your foot firmly in place. This combination effectively eliminates the friction that brings on blisters and the rubbed-raw feeling on the bottom of feet that can be especially present after a long downhill.

Weimer notes that the Speedgoat Mids weren鈥檛 technically designed for what I use them for. (For a true backpacking shoe, she recommends the new , which have even more exaggerated heel geometry.)听 A midpoint between a trail runner and a hiking boot, the Speedgoats are meant for fast-and-light trips over rugged trails, not to bear the weight of a large pack. True long-distance hiking boots usually feature stiff polyurethane or EVA foam midsoles to protect against foot fatigue when traveling over rough terrain, and a high cut that sits fully over the ankle for added stability. I鈥檇 heard plenty of thru-hikers use Hokas, but never really believed it until now. I find the extra cushion underfoot in the Speedgoat actually absorbs the shock of repeated heavy footfalls better than any of the more rigid boots I鈥檝e tried, and hundreds of miles later, my Speedgoats are still just as bouncy as the first day I laced them up. The softer midsole is also more responsive, allowing me to better adapt to changes in terrain without slipping, without being so squishy that I feel every pebble. Paired with a durable, rubber Vibram outsole that sticks easily to slick rock and ice, the resulting shoe makes even clumsy me feel as nimble and quick as the boots鈥� surefooted bovid namesake.

The 50 millimeters of foam underfoot also virtually eliminated the chronic knee and hip pain I typically experience after long downhill slogs. When descending, your knees bear the brunt of your body and pack weight鈥攔esearch has shown that the stress can be worse than when going uphill. But the extended heel and extra cushion more evenly distributes your and your pack鈥檚 weight throughout your forefoot, midfoot, heel, calves, and thighs, rather than in the front part of your leg, foot, and knee. This, again, evolved from Hoka鈥檚 focus on runners: 鈥淓verything we design is intended to solve the problem of knee, hip, and joint pain when running downhill,鈥� Weimer says.

The design is topped off with a waterproof-yet-breathable upper. My older model sports Hoka鈥檚 proprietary Skyshell membrane, which hasn鈥檛 let a drop of water in through heavy downpours and deep winter snow; the current version now features a guaranteed-dry GoreTex bootie, with a higher waterproof rating that can handle being soaked for hours at a time. The breathable mesh outer also keeps my normally sweaty feet dry in the summer鈥攁nother key blister-fighting power.

The downside of shedding weight and adding breathability comes at the expense of the kind of durability you鈥檇 find in a leather boot. I have poked a few holes in the mesh from dragging my Speedgoats over sharp rocks and through deadfall, though the punctures didn鈥檛 affect the performance of the waterproof membrane, as they did not penetrate the liner beneath the mesh. As Hoka invests more in its hiking line, Weimer told me, it has plans to solve this problem by adding leather accents to newer hiking-specific boots in high wear areas like the toe box, heel, and forefoot鈥攊ncidentally, exactly where mine got holes.

Still, the bottom line is this: after a long day on the trail, I used to crave changing into a nice pair of slip-on camp shoes. Now, I wish I could wear my boots to bed.

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I鈥檝e poured over to find the best deals on hiking gear that I鈥檝e used for years. There鈥檚 nothing too technical or niche here, just good quality stuff that鈥檚 versatile, durable, and withstands wear. Everything on this list performs great in the field, and most of these pieces function capably in other areas of life, too. Whether you鈥檙e planning a backpacking trip or looking for gear that makes family-friendly hiking easier, you can count on these seven items to work well and last a long time. And听they鈥檙e all on sale right now.听

Black Diamond Distance FLZ Trekking Poles ($105; 25 Percent听Off)

When I first started using trekking poles, I was surprised at how much balance and support they provided. They鈥檙e also fun; I like the repetition and focus they create when I plant them with each step. The听听is听lightweight, stowable, easy to use, and rigid when you require听support.听

These poles feature a ton of great听features. First, they combine the best of both worlds: the stowability and simplicity of foldable models with the length customization of telescoping ones (I like to lengthen my poles an inch or two on the descent). The three-section听streamlined design collapses down small (13 to 16 inches, depending on the听size), making them easy to pack, and there鈥檚 really no听bulky hardware that might snag on loose clothing. There鈥檚 a听minimal locking mechanism on the top section that听allows up听to听eight extra inches of adjustability, but it doesn鈥檛 get in the way.听

I trust the Distance FLZ听to help me navigate loose rock, tangled roots, and ever听changing terrain. Its听rubber tech tips are precise, and the low-profile stopper baskets don鈥檛 trip me up when I鈥檓 moving quickly. The hand grips are comfortable and breathable (the grips on the are slightly shorter), and the wrist straps are easy to slip in and out of. The sliding lock听requires听a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, deploying them takes a couple seconds, and once they鈥檙e locked in place, they鈥檙e solid.

听

Salomon 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots ($172; 25 Percent听Off)

听is an听exceptional all-around hiking boot听that straddles the line between backpacking and day-hiking footwear. It听isn鈥檛听the lightest boot, nor is it听especially听rugged, but it听offers a great mix of features to make it more than听suitable for most adventures on the trail.听

I鈥檝e worn the Quest听year-round on routes听that involved climbing slick and muddy switchbacks, in peak summer temperatures as well as听in pouring rain, and high in the mountains, slogging up scree slopes and over glaciated alpine terrain. It鈥檚听comfortable right out of the box, cushioned, sturdy, provides听excellent听ankle support, and听manages to be both breathable and waterproof (often a tough combo to achieve). This is my go-to hiking footwear because I know I can put them through anything. To borrow from John Cameron Swayze鈥檚 famous Timex tagline:听these boots can take a lickin鈥� and keep on kickin鈥�.

Nalgene Sustain 32-Ounce Wide-Mouth Water Bottle ($7; 50 Percent Off)

The is iconic for two reasons: it鈥檚 simple and it works. First created in 1940 for laboratory use, it quickly entered the mainstream and has been a staple on hiking trails for the past 70 years. Now it鈥檚 the reusable bottle of choice for, well,听almost everyone. It鈥檚 leakproof, odor-proof,听and damn听near bulletproof. You鈥檒l lose this plastic bottle before you break it鈥攁nd if it does break, it鈥檚 backed by Nalgene鈥檚 limited lifetime warranty. The Sustain听is made of Tritan Renew, a next-gen recycled resin that turns plastic destined for landfills into BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free bottles (eight听single-use plastic bottles are recycled to produce one Nalgene Sustain).

The easy-to-use design hasn鈥檛 changed since its inception鈥攊t鈥檚 a plastic bottle and a screw-top lid鈥攁nd it鈥檚 compatible with many water-filtration systems. There鈥檚 a , but I prefer听the wide-mouth bottle because it鈥檚 more versatile;听you can toss in ice cubes, and you can fill听it with听more than just liquid (perhaps听last night鈥檚 leftover pasta for tomorrow鈥檚 hike). Whether it鈥檚 covered in stickers from gear shops across the country or sports听a new national-park graphic design, one thing鈥檚 for certain: you can鈥檛 go wrong with a good ol鈥� reusable water bottle.听

Matador NanoDry Towel ($26; 25 Percent Off)

I鈥檓 a fan of Matador鈥檚 superlight, super-compact because it鈥檚 a great take-with-you-everywhere towel. Over the past five years, I鈥檝e brought听it hiking, paddleboarding, camping, to the beach and听the playground,听and just about everywhere else that might require such a necessity. It has also taken听a fair share of abuse听yet is听still in essentially the same condition as when I first got it.听

This ultrathin nanofiber towel stuffs into its own unique silicone case, and with the sturdy carabiner clip, it attaches to the outside of a backpack, which is where it lives permanently for me. Smaller and lighter than my iPhone, it takes up almost no space or weight; with the case, the whole unit weighs five ounces, but the towel itself is only 2.4 ounces. Its size is that of a standard bath towel:听47 by听24 inches. Although it boasts high absorbency, if you take a lake听dip midhike, you鈥檒l probably have to wring the towel out a couple times to get completely dry, given how thin it is. It dries just as quickly听as other microfiber towels I鈥檝e used, but it doesn鈥檛 seem to pick up odors or debris like grass or dirt the same way. If you鈥檙e looking for the kind of result you get from drying your hair and body with a cushy bath towel, this isn鈥檛 it. But if you need a towel that dries sufficiently听and will work听in a pinch and on听the听go, the NanoDry does the job.听

REI Co-op Talusphere Rain Pants ($63; 30 Percent听Off)

The 听is听a versatile pair of rain pants that can handle anything from a big downpour听to an afternoon thunderstorm.听They鈥檙e also good for everyday off-trail use, like walking the dog in the rain or hanging with your kid at the playground. Constructed from REI鈥檚 proprietary 2.5-layer breathable laminate, these pants pack down into their own pocket for easy stowing. And although not generally as durable or as heavy as three-layer rain pants, they鈥檒l see you through most听trail pursuits just fine. Tightly sealed pockets keep your essentials dry, and the polyester fabric is quiet (read: it won鈥檛 sound like you鈥檙e walking with two garbage bags rubbing against each other).听

The Talusphere听unzips to mid-calf, so putting them on over hiking boots is easy听enough, while听the generous fit means they can be听donned over an existing layer or two. The elastic waistband and four-way-stretch fabric are听comfortable and facilitate seemless movement, and the hem drawcord and fabric tab over the ankle zipper keep听rain and debris out. A听range of sizing options means you can pick the best fit; these include听听(XS to XL), 听(S to XL), 听(S to XL), 听(S to XXL) and听听(S to XXL). The one downside: they don鈥檛 have vents, but if you don鈥檛 need something too technical and you don鈥檛 plan to log a ton of miles in inclement weather, the Talusphere听is听a solid pick that will keep you dry.

Arc鈥檛eryx Atom LT Insulated Jacket ($179;听25 Percent Off)

Arc鈥檛eryx is known for making high-performance products that last, but those听also often come with a听high-performance price tag, which is why any discount on its听gear is something to get excited about. The Atom LT is a supercomfortable midlayer (not to mention an听essential piece of hiking gear to own) that doubles as an outer layer, thanks to DWR coating that allows rain to bead off rather than soak in. After four years, my Atom LT shows almost no signs of wear; the wrist cuffs are just as snug, the color just as black, and the zipper functions听like it did on day one. The synthetic Coreloft insulation, an alternative to down, will keep you warm, but not too warm; in the Pacific Northwest, where I鈥檓 based, I get four-season use from听this jacket.听

This Atom LT sits midhip and has a narrow cut, so you won鈥檛 fit much underneath except a base layer or light shirt, but it wears well as part of a layering system with an outer shell. Zippered pockets include an inner one at chest level and two hand warmers. What I like most about this jacket is that it doesn鈥檛 feel restrictive; the stretchy, breathable, fleece-lined side panels allow for free movement. Whether I鈥檓 scrambling听up loose rocks or crouching down to tie my son鈥檚 shoes for the umpteenth time, this jacket works with me, not against me. Sizes range from XS to XL for听听and S to XXL for听, and as an added bonus, the jacket is听backed by Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 limited lifetime warranty.

Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks ($17; 25 Percent Off)

Socks can make or break your hiking experience. Bad socks cause blisters, result in听sweaty feet, don鈥檛 stay in place, and are generally a pain in the butt. Good听socks do the opposite, wicking听moisture,听reducing听friction, regulating听temperature, and generally staying put. I always recommend investing in two pairs of hiking socks: one to wear, and one as a backup.听

These Smartwool socks hug your feet in all the right spots, providing cushioning, compression and ventilation where it鈥檚 needed most, which is along the top of the foot and up the shaft of the sock to help dump heat. Made with over 50 percent merino wool,听the Performance Hike socks听have light cushioning along the bottom and听mesh worked in throughout key areas to add breathability. Best of all, they don鈥檛 move around or bunch up. The crew听version hits approximately听mid-calf听and is a solid听choice if you鈥檙e wearing hiking boots or want some extra coverage against the environment. These socks come in both 听(S to XL) and 听(S to L) versions, but for something that sits lower on the leg, the Mid Crews (designed for听听and听) have all the same features鈥攖hey鈥檙e just shorter.听

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My wife and I both work full time, and our daughter is in school a mere 12 hours a week. Those hours are precious. In February, with a full calendar and our exercise routines slipping, we embraced the fact that we couldn鈥檛 put aside a full hour for training runs on work days. We adopted a mantra: Have 30 minutes? Take 30 minutes. It helps us squeeze in runs and build consistency into our training. But a half-hour run is often easier said than done: if it鈥檚 not planned right, it can stretch out to a 60-minute ordeal. Part of it is actually taking that time, the other part is having the right gear to make it as convenient as possible. Here are the items that we鈥檝e been using for the past three months to make sure we never skip a short run.

Get Comfortable Shoes

Having plush running shoes waiting for me on my front porch makes me significantly more motivated to get out the door. First, I look forward to putting them on. Second, I find my feet and legs warm up more quickly in cushioned kicks, which is particularly important for short runs鈥攊f I鈥檓 running for 30 minutes I don鈥檛 want to spend 20 of them tuning up. Every runner and every foot is different, but my current preference is Hoka鈥檚 Clifton 8 ($130, available June 2021) which are some of the most comfortable running shoes I鈥檝e ever worn. My feet are wide and brutally beaten up from years of hard use. While I should probably invest in a trip to the podiatrist, the Clifton 8s are keeping my dogs happy for the time being. My wife Sarah is wearing鈥攁nd loving鈥擜ltra鈥檚 ($170).

Have a Clothes Plan

On hot multi-hour runs, I鈥檓 a big fan of running in five-inch shorts with fancy supportive underwear and techy tops that look like they could be worn under a NASA space suit. But for quickies, I run in athleisure wear that I won鈥檛 have to change out of when I get home鈥�showering doesn鈥檛 fit into the half-hour run window. I like Reigning Champ鈥檚 Polartec Power Air ($130) and ($80) Both pieces fit me better than 90 percent of the clothes in my closet, while the matte black finish and remarkable wicking of the Delta never fails to look clean on Zoom. If I have to take an important meeting, I throw a collared shirt over the undershirt. I recognize that this is significantly more difficult for folks who have more formal clothing expectations or have to go to the office (and, as one of my female editors pointed out, this is harder to pull off for women). My wife often lays an outfit for herself on our bed to change into after she stops sweating. That鈥檚 a good move for office workers too.

Deal with Your Hair

We have the luxury of indefinitely working from home, but we still regularly take video calls after our runs. Most of the folks I work with don鈥檛 mind if I throw a hat over my greasy hair, but my wife prefers to use ($16) to get ready for meetings.

Smell Nice

This whole system hinges on your willingness to sit in your post-run sweat for the rest of your workday, whether you change or not. I find that I can handle that no problem as long as my socks and underwear aren鈥檛 nasty. ($26) does a fantastic job of knocking out stink and is so effective that I can usually get a few extra uses out of socks or underwear between washes. Separating technical gear out to use this special cleanser takes time, but I only do it about once a week. It鈥檚 no more onerous than separating whites and darks, which most of us do without thinking about.

Use Strava

Important caveat: if looking at a short run on your Strava profile bums you out, skip this tip. My private little Strava group is positive and not super competitive. I have a friend who recorded a rigorous gardening session a few weeks ago鈥攚hich warranted kudos and a comment from me. We鈥檝e found that logging small runs and walks is a great motivator for us to keep moving when we鈥檙e听in a time crunch. While these short jaunts may not get us any medals on the app, they are likely to get you a thumbs up from encouraging friends that share the same goals. It鈥檚 a sweet little reminder that can push me over the edge to make a run happen.

Keep a Snack Waiting

I have a passion for making intricate experimental burritos after a long run. Prepping, cooking, and cleaning up after these wonderful concoctions can add up to 30 minutes, though, and are not an option on packed weekdays. Having a snack ready to go afterward ensures I won鈥檛 crash in the afternoon. One option is leftovers, whether from meals prepared on the weekend or from the night before. I usually keep it simple though, eating whatever snacks we have on hand for our toddler, like an apple with peanut butter.

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Skiing in a pair of well-fitting boots in bottomless听pow is snow-sports nirvana.听And ill-fitting boots? Well, that鈥檚 undisputedly the opposite鈥攑ainful and unresponsive鈥攔egardless of conditions. Making sure your feet have the room they need to听flex, swell, and stay warm, all without sacrificing the stiffness your boots need to effectively drive your skis is critical to enjoying your time on the slopes. And because no factory fit is perfect for everyone, you鈥檒l probably need some way of molding them to your feet. Here鈥檚 how to do it yourself鈥攚ith a few variables to consider听before you start.

Should You DIY?

Undoubtedly听the most reliable way to go is to put your trust in boot-fitting experts to precisely tune your new kicks to your feet. Many manufacturers recommend going this route. If you have unusual feet (abnormally wide or narrow), old foot injuries (especially screws or plates), bunions, or other special concerns, you鈥檒l probably save yourself a lot of time and discomfort by going to a professional who can analyze your feet, build you custom footbeds, or do more extensive work to your boots.听

(liners with uppers that fold around the leg and overlap on the side, rather than using a traditional tongue) are tricky enough to make them worth a professional鈥檚 touch as well. And according to Jonathan Lantz, president of听, first-timers would benefit from getting the perfect fit from a boot fitter听so they can get a sense of how the ideal听feels on their feet.

But once you know what you need and like in boots, an expert鈥檚 attention might not be necessary. 鈥淲e know a lot of outdoor people are do-it-yourself people,鈥� says Lantz. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible to mold your liners at home.鈥�

鈥淥ur home-fitting method is basically foolproof,鈥� says Crystal Maguire, president of听Intuition, the industry鈥檚 top brand of replacement liners. 鈥淭he only way you can really mess up the liners is by heating them too long, or at too high of a temperature.鈥� While it鈥檚 difficult to irreversibly destroy your liners, if you do, say, leave them in the oven until they鈥檙e a pool of melted foam, you鈥檝e definitely voided your warranty. Otherwise, you can just heat them up and try again.

One caveat: molding your liners isn鈥檛 going to magically make them fit. Always try them on first with any orthotics or footbeds you plan to use to make sure they鈥檙e not too small (molding won鈥檛 make them bigger) or too large.

Heat Them Up

Heating may be the trickiest part of the process, only because the critical temperature varies among听brands or even liners, which often have different thicknesses and materials. Intuition provides . (Lantz says La Sportiva uses the same foam as Intuition, though his brand also provides directions.)听It recommends filling a thin stocking (which comes听as part of the听, $16) with three to four pounds of short grain-rice (because it holds heat better than other types) and tying it off, then microwaving it. Intuition recommends heating the rice for four to seven听minutes, depending on the wattage of your microwave鈥攖he rice should be too hot to touch (pick it up by the knot), but be careful not to singe or burn any part of the sock.

While the rice is heating, remove any footbeds from your liners. Once your rice is hot, drop the sock into one boot liner, tapping the exterior to work the rice all the way down into the toe box and filling as much of the liner听as possible. Depending on your shoe size, you might need two rice-filled socks to do this. Let the sock rest in the liner for four to 12 minutes (for Intuition liners, use ). 鈥淭he liners will go from feeling stiff to soft to the touch鈥攎alleable, but not squishy or mushy,鈥� says Maguire.听

It鈥檚 also possible to heat liners up in the oven directly, rather than dealing with rice, but this is where you听risk听melting issues, which is why Intuition doesn鈥檛 recommend it. First check that your liners don鈥檛 have any plastic pieces that could be damaged. La Sportiva recommends heating its liners to 266 degrees鈥攁nd this is a good target for liners made of similar foam. Preheat your oven to slightly beyond that temperature鈥攊n this case, about 300 degrees鈥攖hen turn the oven off. You want to use the residual heat, and some of it will be lost by opening the oven door.听

Lay one liner (footbed removed) on its side on a wooden cutting board and slip it into the oven. Turn the light on and watch it. After just a couple of minutes, you鈥檒l start to see it sag a little bit under its own weight. That鈥檚 when you want to pull it. As with the rice method, you鈥檒l want it to feel spongy and soft but not mushy or floppy.听

Mold Them to Your Feet

Whichever heating method you use, once your liners are hot, you鈥檒l need to move quickly. Don鈥檛 panic: just have everything ready to go ahead of time. Remember, if you mess up, you can always try again.听

Insert your footbed into the liner and slip the liner into the boot shell. Put on either an Intuition toe cap (also included in the kit) or a piece of an old extra-thick sock (think , cut off to just cover your toes) and then a thin ski sock (Intuition recommends using one of the stockings in its kit). Pro tip: it鈥檚 a good idea to get this sock and toe cap on while you鈥檙e waiting for the liner to warm. Smooth out the sock before you put on your boot, making sure there are no creases or wrinkles.

When the boot is on, pull up gently on the tongue and back of the liner, and then give your heel a couple of sharp taps on the ground, pushing it into the back of the boot. Buckle your boots one to two notches tighter than you would usually, so there鈥檚 a little extra pressure. 鈥淚n situations where the liner was extremely snug before molding, you want to buckle as tight as you can without deforming the shell听for maximum results,鈥� says听Maguire. It seems counterintuitive, but buckling tighter creates more space in your liner听(if you need it), while keeping it looser compresses the liner less (if it already fits well).听

Once you鈥檙e buckled in, stand up and place your toes on a two-by-four or thick phone book and lean into the tongue of the boot with your knees bent as if you were skiing. (Even though you鈥檙e only molding one boot at a time, it helps to do this with both feet.) Sit tight until the liner cools down to near room temperature鈥攖his could take anywhere from five to 15 minutes depending on the thickness of your liner. While you鈥檙e hanging out, wiggle your toes as much as possible. It will feel difficult, but once you鈥檙e skiing, you鈥檒l be grateful for the extra bit of space.听

Inspect Your Work

Take your boot听off and give your handiwork a look, checking for creases or folds on the inside of your now cool liner. If everything looks smooth, repeat with your second liner, then try them on with your regular ski socks鈥攐r better yet, take them out to the hill for a couple of test runs. Hot spots? The foam will mold to some degree from the heat and pressure of your foot, so you might be able to push through mild, general pressures until they work themselves out. But for more precise fixes or intense pressures, use a smaller rice-filled stocking to heat up just the problem area and, Maguire recommends, push it out with the rounded back end of a screwdriver until you have the shape dialed (or just slip your foot in听if it鈥檚 hard to reach).

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When I was 19 years old, and first working as a wilderness guide, I learned about a secret room in the back of the local outdoor store, full of deeply discounted gear that was only accessible to those in the know. On my days off, I always ended up there鈥攅njoying the feeling of being an insider, a feeling I did not actually have at my guiding job (I was too young, too female, too not-from-around-there). I didn鈥檛 shop so much as linger, but the staff were gracious enough to ignore me, which I appreciated.

There was a fleece in the secret room that I tried on week after week. It was baby blue鈥攗napologetically feminine, though at the time I wore mostly 尘别苍鈥檚 gear in an effort to be taken seriously鈥攁nd it was the softest fleece I鈥檇 ever touched, more like mist than fabric. It was exactly my size, but out of my budget, and each week I was afraid it would be gone. Finally I saved up my tip money and bought it.

That was my favorite fleece for years. I wore it until it was full of holes, at which point I was heartbroken to find out that the model had been discontinued鈥攗ntil I learned that the company, Mountain Hardwear, had a whole line of fleeces from the same material.听I鈥檝e tried several over the past decade-plus, and loved them all (they鈥檝e gotten better, too; the current fabric is, by my estimation, very marginally less soft but infinitely more durable than the original). When I saw that the company introduced matching PANTS this year, I immediately wrote to my editor and begged for her blessing to review them. Which brings us to this, an extremely decadent gear review for when you want clothes that are more comfortable than a bathrobe, whether you鈥檙e spending the home stretch of the pandemic backpacking, working from home, re-watching The Crown, or all of the above.

Mountain Hardwear High Loft Pants ($150, XS-XL) and High Loft Pullover ($75, XS-XL)

Look: these pants are, predictably, fantastic. They pill a little bit on the inner waistband, but it鈥檚 pretty negligible, and the fleece itself is almost ridiculously plush and warm. So far I鈥檝e worn them under rain pants for mushing and as general around-home cozy pants, and for both purposes, they鈥檙e the best I鈥檝e ever tried, an instant layer of pure goodness against your skin. And they still come in second to the matching pullover (although I鈥檇 totally recommend both). But that鈥檚 Mountain Hardwear鈥檚 own fault for setting the bar so high.

The pullover is my favorite garment in the world. It feels like you鈥檙e wearing a pile of sleeping puppies, and the puppies are all dreaming about lambs.听It鈥檚 equally soft inside and outside, it doesn鈥檛 get matted (which plush fleeces are wont to do), and it comes out of the washing machine looking great. You can button up the (very soft) collar and stick your hands in the (very soft) kangaroo pocket. I like the shape鈥攍oose, but not too short or long, with a cuff along the bottom and wrists, and a cut that helps camouflage bralessness (if that鈥檚 your goal).

Mountain Hardwear has other fleeces in the high-loft line, and I imagine they鈥檙e very good, although I haven鈥檛 tried them, because that would require taking this one听off. The only downside is a limited size range: the largest size, XL, is equivalent to 飞辞尘别苍鈥檚 14-16, but I recommend sizing up for maximum coziness, which makes the range even smaller. If you鈥檙e reading this, Mountain Hardwear, please continue to expand the sizes of听your line of fuzzy garments. I鈥檝e been wearing them constantly听for a decade straight, and if they get discontinued I will have to set up eBay alerts for life.

Kavu Cabin Toes Slipper Socks ($35, S-L)

These slipper socks have a hidden inner layer of super-plush fleece, perfect anyone with chilly feet or people who, like me, always get their slippers gross by wearing them outside and need something else for lounging. The socks run large, so when in doubt size down, although an elastic drawstring around the ankle keeps them on nicely even if they鈥檙e loose. For that reason, I wouldn鈥檛 recommend wearing them inside boots; the toggle would rub. My husband stole them from me almost immediately, and wears them around the house every day, but I plan on stealing them back to wear inside my sleeping bag for snow camping.

Patagonia Recycled Cashmere Cardigan ($249, XS-XL)

It seems negligent to discuss soft clothing without including cashmere, which has a pretty extraordinary resume: like wool, it insulates when wet, but it鈥檚 eight times warmer and way softer. Cashmere can be fairly delicate (and expensive), which is probably why it hasn鈥檛 taken off as an outdoor fabric; but if you鈥檙e looking for something luxurious for gentle use, this cardigan is a great option. It鈥檚 made from materials that would otherwise go to waste鈥攃ashmere scraps that are sorted by color, shredded, and mixed with a small amount of wool for strength. I like how the cardigan itself is almost dainty, with an open knit that鈥檚 surprisingly warm for how light it is.

DIY Recycled Cashmere Gaiter (around $10, any size)

If you want to take advantage of recycled cashmere on a smaller budget, here鈥檚 a project I鈥檝e been making in various capacities since I was a teenager. First, you need an old cashmere sweater, of basically any size, color, shape, whatever. It doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 been felted or not (although felted fabric will be thicker and warmer). I鈥檝e found a lot of used cashmere in the range of $5 to $10 at thrift stores and online, and I usually snatch them up to wear or repurpose. If you find a sweater that fits you well, but you don鈥檛 love how it looks, try wearing it as a base layer鈥攊t鈥檒l last one extremely cozy season before wearing thin, at which point you can commence the upcycle.

The process is simple: cut out a rectangle (or two rectangles), and sew up the sides to make a tube, either by hand or with a machine. You don鈥檛 need to hem the edges; unless the knit is very loose, the fabric will curl but not fray. And that鈥檚 it! The softest gaiter ever, in roughly ten minutes鈥櫶齱ork.

If you have extra fabric, you can use it for wrist warmers (sizes vary, but when in doubt, sew tubes with four-inch听diameter openings), headbands (just measure your head), or even insoles (glue/sew a layer of cashmere onto pre-existing foam or felt insoles). Voila: you win winter.

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