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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Favorite Winter Activities, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Down Hill Skiing
i would love the classic black coat! would be perfect for the cold st. louis winters and standing outside at recess with my students!
i would LOVE to win the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot – i need something warm and sturdy when i go outside to take zoey for walks in the winter!
I love walking outdoors on a brisk morning and sled riding with my kids!
Love the black coat. It would be perfect for those cold walks with my dog!
I’d love the coat in any color! My 12 year old dog, Berger, is in need of more walks and a coat like that would really make it easier to go outside in the cold Indiana weather! 🙂
LOVE the red jacket!!! I currently live in Charlotte and yes we get snow in February. It would also come in handy over the holidays when I visit my parents in Ohio.
My winter wardrobe needs a serious refresh so I would love to inherit the jacket or the boots! My favorite winter activities = ice skating & cross-country skiing!
I would love to win the jack in purple, black or grey!
I am moving to Edmonton Alberta this December (it’s going to be sooo cold!!!) so I could use the boots and the jacket that’s for sure! lol Anyway, in the wintertime I love love LOVE to go downhill skiing! I also love skating and snowshoeing. So many fun options for wintertime activities 🙂
Living in Minneapolis, I truly appreciate all winter gear! Both giveaways look great. Thanks Julie!
I love the classic black coat! How great that it’s warm, but not overly bulky??
That jacket & boot combo looks perfect for snowshoeing and hiking!
The classic black coat would be perfect for my move to Mid-Missouri next month!
The technology in that jacket sounds incredible! I would love to win a black one.
Would love the Red one!
Being from New England and having a Vizsla, my husband and I are VERY active in the winter. We go hiking, snowshoeing and back country skiing EVERY weekend to run our guy! I love both the boots and the jacket!!
I would LOVE the jacket, been eyeing a down jacket for some time! The black or purple would be beautiful!!!
I love it all! The pink jacket is so pretty and I love the minx boots you are wearing!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the RED down jacket!!! Looks great on you, too!
I LOVE the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boots! I am not a fan of being stuck inside, even when it’s cold outside, so my husband and I love bundling up and taking walks in the cold PA winters. It feels so good to warm up from a little exercise while breathing in the cold fresh air!
I live in freezing cold Western, NY so the down jacket would be perfect (especially if we have another winter like last year, where the temperatures very rarely went above 25°)!
Think Columbia would be willing to ship to an APO address? I am in the desert on a deployment for the Army and you would think it wouldn’t get cold but it does at night! Love the red jacket.
I actually love running in the winter. Is that weird? I get overheated really easily (I know most of it is mental) when I run in the summer. I love how much easier it is to breath in the winter during a run.
If you don’t ship overseas maybe I can enjoy the prize when I get back next winter? Have to tell the hubby I want to plan a ski trip!
Although I would like to change a little bit, I will choose the black one cause I know will suit best my wardrobe!
I would love the turbodown jacket in black! I’m sure the omni heat would keep me toasty warm during our brutal winters here in New England! Especially skiing!
We live in Northern MN so winter gear is a necessity for me! I run year round, and love to ski (both downhill and x-country). I’d be interested in either boots or the coat. LOVE them both!! Thanks.
I would love either one! My favorite winter activity is definitely going on hikes!
I would go to the shorty omni-heat. They would be perfect for Boston winters!
My favorite way to stay active during the winter is taking walks to see everyone’s holiday decorations!
I would love to win the jacket in purple! Living is Ontario, Canada we are no strangers to cold winters! My favourite way to stay active is ICE FISHING! Pulling a sled full of gear out on to the frozen lake, manually drilling the holes (ok, ok, the BF does this) and running back and forth between the holes when the fish start biting is tons of exercise and always a great time! Take it from a Canadian, just bundle up and get outside!
This is my first winter to live somewhere with snow… ever. I have no idea what to do. This post has been very helpful to me! There are mountains since its Utah so I actually thought snow shoeing would be fun to try! We’ll see how that goes haha! I love the workout you posted and as I’m about to go to the gym I think I’ll do it this morning 🙂 the red coat and tall red minx boots are cute! I guess I like red haha. Hope you’re having a great day!
I love taking my snow obsessed dog to a field and we chase each other. It sounds silly but the effort it takes to try to catch him through a foot of snow will have your heart rate up really quick!
I try to plan my workouts when the weather will be it’s best. Bundle up and go!
I would love the purple jacket! I’ve been needing a new jacket for the wintery months in SC when taking my kids outside to play and for walks. Love it!!!
I love that style of coat. I actually saw someone wearing the same one yesterday and thought I should look for it at the store–how funny! I would choose black 🙂
I love the minx boots that you received! Favorite winter activites would definately have to be skiing and sledding; both of which i have not done in a few years!
I would love to win a pair of the black or tan Minx boots. My fiance and I just moved to Denver, Colorado. These boots could definitely help me get through my first Rocky Mountain winter! They’b be easy to pull on after a day of skiing or on a snowy morning walking the dog!
I would love the jacket in purple. Love the color and it looks super warm but not bulky.
I love the coat or boots purple or red coat and red or white boots…and I enjoy running and hiking in the winter…if it gets too cold I usually open a window and do some of your circuit workouts inside!
My boyfriend and I recently bought a house close enough to my office that I have the option of walking to work. I would LOVE the white pair of Mynx boots to keep my feet warm and hopefully motivate me to continue walking to the office throughout the cold Minnesota winter. Thanks, Julie!
Hello, love the Jacket in black. It would be perfect to stay warm this winter in NJ while hiking, ice skating and snow tubing. Sometimes having the great gear motivates you yo use it 🙂
I absolutely LOVE the down coat! It looks like the perfect thing to wear on the ski slopes after a few runs, or even snow shoeing in the spring!
Great giveaway ideas! xxx
Those boots are delightful looking! I would love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni Heat Boot (can’t decide between the gray or the brown though – so pretty!!).
I’m really boring, so I like the turbo down jacket in black and grey.
I would lovveee the black or silver jacket. I would wear it all the time, especially running outside in the winter. The silver would be excellent for that because it would alert cars to my presence in the dark.
I LOVE that jacket and the boots are adorable as well! I hate the cold weather, being from Charleston, SC, but surprisingly I tend to run more in the winter than the summer. It’s the perfect thing to do b/c we’re lucky enough not to be too cold outside so by the end of the run I’m all warm and sweaty! I’m also loving the new Barre studio that opened down the street from me! I love the shakes and quakes 🙂
I absolutely love the jacket. If I won, I would choose the silver!!!!
I love both the jacket and boots! During the winter I love running and I stay motivated by keeping audiobooks loaded in my phone. If I really need motivation I’ll buy a new pair of warm leggings 😉
I’m an early morning winter gym rat and i think that BLACK Columbia Platinum 860 TurboDown jacket would keep me warm when I’m running from by car to the parking lot and vice versa!!!
Looking for a new pair of boots! Would love the WOMEN’S MINX™ SLIP II OMNI-HEAT in black! I live in central NY and we have brutal winters here! I try to stay active with skiing, cross country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and at home work-outs to get me through our looooong winters!