I grew up just outside of Chicago, so I’m all too familiar with bitter-cold winters, but I’ve been out of the icy cold winter season for years since we moved to Florida in 2003. Now I’m in North Carolina and anticipating my first real winter in 11 years. It’s time to bundle up, baby!
Knowing that my coldest winter in years is on the horizon, I took some time to brainstorm ways to remain active during the winter months to share as part of Columbia’s new initiative. I’d love to hear some of your ideas, too!
Tips for Staying Active During the Winter
- Keep At Home Workout Options On Hand
When it’s cold outside, there will inevitably be days that we won’t want to leave the comfort of a warm and cozy house. That’s when at home workouts come into play! Build a small collection workout DVDs, check out free fitness channels on YouTube or browse Pinterest for lots of at home workout ideas! If you happen to have an Amazon Prime membership, you can find tons of free workouts there as well!
- Bundle Up and Take Your Workout Outside
Even during the cold months, there are still tons of ways you can stay active outside. Grab a coat and have fun skiing, snowshoeing, building snowmen or snow forts and sledding. If it’s cold but there isn’t any snow on the ground, check out an indoor ice skating rink for some winter fun or bundle up and head out on a long hike!
Some new sure-to-keep-you-warm winter apparel favorites from Columbia:
I first had the chance to put Columbia’s famous TurboDown jacket to the test during a ski trip to Park City back in January and walked away raving about the heat-retaining powers of the Omni-Heat insulation (SO impressed!) and the lightweight yet incredibly warm down.
The silver lining you see is the Omni-Heat thermal reflective technology at work! The inside of the jacket is lined with tons of metallic microdots that reflect your own body heat back to you, making it 20 percent warmer than a normal liner. Sounds crazy, but after trying it out in Park City, I am a believer!
Another feature I somehow never hear people talk about that seriously impressed me is the way the TurboDown jackets can fold up and take up minimal space in a suitcase. When I think of down jackets, I always think of gigantic puffy coats that take up tons of space, but this jacket is somehow extremely lightweight and small but still incredibly warm.
In the winter months, warm feet = Happy feet! Columbia’s Minx Boots first caught my eye when I saw the company’s social media guru wearing them in Park City so I was quite excited to try a pair myself! I opted for the Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print because I wanted a pair of boots I could easily pull on and off to take me to and from the gym during the winter, but I also wanted a waterproof boot I could wear on cold weather hikes.
These boots fit the bill and I love the fun print and cushioned sole. Plus, I have a feeling the Omni-Grip will come in handy when it gets icy outside or when I am hiking and need a good grip to keep me from sliding all over the trails.
- Participate in a Winter Workout Challenge (or Create Your Own!)
Sometimes a little friendly competition (even if its only with ourselves!) is all we need to get motivated to work up a sweat. Many gyms offer winter workout challenges but if you cannot find a fun challenge near you, reach out to some friends and create your own. Pick a prize that will motivate you (a new workout outfit, perhaps?) and make it a goal to work up a sweat four to five times a week. Support each other and hold each other accountable!
- Try a New Workout Class or Sign Up for a Local Running Club
Trying something new can do wonders when it comes to reigniting our love for fitness. Try taking a new workout class at your gym or sign up for a class you’ve never tried before at a local studio. (If the cold has your spirits at an all-time low, look for a hot yoga class to warm you up!) If you miss your summertime outdoor workouts, research local running clubs. Most running clubs meet up during the winter months, too!
- Train for a Race or Competition
There’s no denying the fact that having a goal makes it a little easier to commit to a fitness routine. By signing up for a race or local competition (look for indoor triathlons and CrossFit competitions), you’ll have a training plan to follow which may motivate you to stick to your workouts when curling up on the couch sounds more appealing.
Columbia Giveaway
And now it’s time for a winter giveaway! I have a feeling most of you out there are hoping to remain active through the winter months, so I’d love to send one reader their own Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket and another reader a pair of Minx boots in the style of their choice.
If you’re hoping to win the jacket, simply comment below and tell me which color you’d like from the options offered: Red (the one I have), purple, black or silver.
If you’re hoping to win the boots, let me know which style you like best! (You may see the 10 different style options of the Minx boots here.)
Or, if you don’t care which prize you win and are equally interested in both the jacket and the boots, tell me about some of your favorite *active* things to do during the winter months or some of the ways you motivate yourself to stay active in the winter.
I will randomly select two winners on Friday!
Good luck!
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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Columbia through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Columbia outerwear, all opinions are my own. The giveaway portion of this post is not sponsored and I will personally be buying the winners’ prizes and mailing them to the winners. Good luck!
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I love the shorty in Elk. I’ve been dying for a new pair to wear camping in the desert this fall since I got a hole in my uggs.
I would love either jacket or boots! I LOVE to go snowshoeing in the winter! I live in Michigan so we have a LOT of snow and it’s a fun way to explore!
I’d love the jacket in black! It would be so great for the upcoming windy winter!
Shoveling snow is a great way to stay active 🙂
I’m definitely in need of some winter boots. I’d choose the ones you have: Pull On Omni-Heat Print.
I would love the Minx Mid II in the Siberia/Oyster color or the purple jacket–fun colors to brighten the dreary days of a MO winter! I enjoy a brisk walk during the winter. Nothing like some crisp air and sunshine to get you motivated.
sledding! pulling a GT racer up a hill is tough work! and the ride down makes it all worth it 🙂
I love both the jacket and boots! My favorite way to stay active in the winter is to make outdoors activity a work out. Simple things like ice skating and playing in the snow are different ways to switch up active rest days!
Loving the Charcoal Minx Mid II Omni Heat Boots!
I am a big fan of winter; hiking, skiing/snowboarding, hockey/skating are all regular activities for me. That being said, I cannot wait to try climbing a frozen waterfall this winter!
As for the giveaway, I am impartial but love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boots in black and the jacket in black. The jacket would be PERFECT for the bitterly cold mid winter dog walks!
I will use your in home workouts and bundle up to walk the dogs- they need exercise too!
LOvE the Purple jacket!!
Loving those boots 🙂
We moved from AL to PA this summer and i know I will be needing some boots! We bought our Columbia jackets on sale at the end of last season! 🙂 we plan to stay active by learning to ski. I love the slip II omni Heat!
The jacket in red looks amazing! I would love it! 🙂
I like to go hiking, skiing, running, and pretty much anything else you can think of outside. I am a small town girl who is all about nature no matter the weather. http://www.eatallovertheworld.weebly.com
I just started to read your block and I’m working my way through the last years. I love your running workouts.
And I adore the purple jacket and would be so happy to win it!! 🙂
I would love love love that jacket in black!
I love both the jacket and the boots! I recently got a treadmill that is in our basement close to the exit door to our house. Now every time I come in or out I see it and it reminds me to be active!
I love the purple jacket! My favorite winter activities are skiing and taking indoor boxing classes.
I like the jacket in black!
I love the jacket in black – thanks for the giveaway!!!
I love to take a walk around the neighborhood with a friend and warm up after with some hot cider or hot chocolate! I’m obsessed with the red coat and the tan boots!
I live in freezing cold Ottawa, Canada so I am no stranger to needing extra motivation to get myself to the gym on those extra cold days! Being warm and staying dry is definitely a key factor! I’d love to get a pair of the black Slip II Omni-Heat Boots. They look cute, and will keep my feet nice and toasty when the snow and ice start piling up!
I have always wanted a black Columbia coat! I just moved to Texas from Arizona and this will be my first winter of ice storms! (So I hear)
Jacket in Black!! Living in MN means real cold winters (and sometimes falls, springs, and summers too) so I need a nice new warm coat!!! =)
I love the red jacket and the Minx Mid II boot in black. I usually run outside but I just joined a gym so I can run more comfortably inside this winter. Michigan winters are no joke!
I really like the boots, I like the slipII omni Heat in black!!!!
The boots would be perfect for hiking/walking in the wintery, snowy months. I like the look of the minx MID II Omni-heat boots!!!
I would usually ask for black but I love the red! Plus I want people to be able to find me if I’m running in a blizzard 😉
I like the jacket in basic black.
A hot yoga class definitely takes the chill away.
I love the jacket in black
Thank you
That jacket looks so warm and would be perfect in black! I typically run outside, but it can be especially difficult when it snows. I usually switch up my routine and do workout videos indoors when it’s terribly cold, but sometimes I like the challenge of braving freezing temperatures to get outside for a quick run.
I love the red jacket and the Minx Mid II in black!
I enjoy skiing and long runs outside in the winter.
My favourite way to remain active in the winter is to take lots of group classes! I take spin classes and weights classes, which help motivate me to get moving. I’m also planning on training for a Hypothermic Half Marathon in March, so that’ll keep me running too!
love the black jacket and LOVE the boots you have on! So cute.
I enjoy cold weather trail runs!
I love the silver jacket-I have been looking for a lightweight and warm winter coat. This one seems perfect!
Love the red jacket!
Ummm I would love either its a tough choice! My favorite thing in the winter is to Ski!
I love the mid II Omni-heat boots!!
I love to hike with my dog
The black jacket looks soooo comfy! I live in Charlotte too so not anticipating a super cold winter but I plan on keeping up with pb!
I would love to win the black jacket. It would go with anything and could be easily accessorized with a scarf.
I love the black jacket!
I would totally get the jacket in silver, it’s adorable!
I love the black jacket and the Minx Mid II boot in brown are awesome for the slippery sidewalks if Boston. In the winter I like to run outside whenever I can. If I can’t i do spin, barre, and body pump classes at the gym.
I love the red jacket and the brown minx boots pictured in this post!!! I love staying active during the winter months and having some new gear would definitely keep me motivated. To stay active, I run, hike some of the beautiful mountains here in GA and enjoy hot yoga classes 🙂
The black jacket please!!
I love the omni print slip on boots that you wore! They are equally fashionable and functional! I live in Colorado and would love to try these out this winter! Thanks!!
Missouri winters have been FREEZing the last few years, polar vortex last year brrr. I stay motivated with early year beach vacations and have a blast playing out in the snow with our corgi 🙂 and doing indoor workouts.