merino wool

With Winter comes a wide variety of snow sports like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, as well as the unique challenge of Winter running. I hope that you are not under the delusion that just because it's cold outside, you are not going to sweat. Sweating and Winter don't mix! Once your clothes are wet, they stay wet and that will make you cold. Plus if you pile on too many layers, you won't be able to move freely, which is really frustrating.

Here's what to wear and the order to put them on:

1. Start with a sports bra and undies that wick away moisture. Ones made out of cotton will be really uncomfortable when you sweat.
2. Then you need to put on your warm, base layers. Ones made with merino wool are better for Winter sports, since they'll pull away sweat from your skin and into the fibers of the wool. Plus they don't retain odor the way some polypropylene base layers can. Look for tops and bottoms made by Smartwool.
3. Then you need your warm wicking socks, also made out of magical merino wool to absorb any moisture. Put your socks over your base-layer pants so they feel extra secure, and they're less likely to slip down into your boots that way.

Want to see what else you need to wear? Then read more

If you love working out in the cool Fall weather, but you don't want your noggin to freeze off, you need a thin hat that'll insulate your head but also wick moisture away from your skin if you start to get sweaty.

Merino wool is a great natural material to wear while working out because it pulls sweat away from your skin while it's still in vapor form (body steam). That means your head won't get damp, so you won't get cold.

Smartwool makes a great merino wool cap called the Training Beanie ($19.95). It's made with a double layer of merino wool that's not at all itchy and resists odor. It's soft and comfy and will keep you incredibly warm. The Training Beanie is great for fall runs and can also be used when skiing or riding in the winter.

Your feet take a lot of abuse from all the pounding, stomping, kicking and leaping you do. It is a fact that if you are on the move, your feet are too. This means they get hot. This means they get sweaty. All that extra moisture can cause some nasty blisters. Cotton socks stay wet, so you need socks made out of merino wool, which wicks. The wool pulls moisture away from your skin, keeping your feet dry and comfy.

Here are some of my favorites made by Darn Tough and Smartwool. You can choose the amount of thickness and cushion you need, and the height of sock. All the pairs come in some wonderful colors too, many more than the ones shown here.

Merino wool really is the way to go when it comes to active wear, and socks are no exception. I just found this sock company named Darn Tough. They're a small company - they make all of their socks in their mill in Northfield, VT.

Their socks are made with a combination of warm and breathable merino wool, and soft and strong Coolmax fibers. They insulate to keep you warm, and the wool is great at wicking moisture away from your foot when you sweat.

Plus, they're on-mountain socks to cover your entire calf and shin, keeping them warm and cushioned from the pressure of your ski boots.

These socks, although made from wool, aren't the slightest bit itchy. They also make shorter socks for running and hiking.

I'm a huge fan of Darn Tough (as are a ton of other people) mostly because they make one awesome, comfy and durable sock, but also because I like to support smaller companies. Find a pair nearest you and I'm sure you'll agree.