Here in New England, we aren’t scared of a little winter weather — and we do not, or cannot, let that stop us from getting around on foot or on bike. The fact of the matter is that no matter what sort of weather New England throws at you, with the right clothes, you will be comfortable. Humans have survived — and thrived — for thousands of years in the land we now call home. With plenty of local winter gear retailers — shops like City Cycle, JRA Cycles, Hilton’s Tent City, or REI Cambridge — it’s not only convenient, but affordable, to keep warm while you’re traveling.
If there was just one piece of advice our members could give you, it’s this: wear layers. You don’t need one perfect jacket, or one perfect pair of pants, to stay warm. Instead, always think about dressing for the winter as a matter of layering. For your torso, that’s perhaps a long-sleeved t-shirt, a sweater or sweatshirt, and a jacket. For your legs, it’s perhaps long socks, long-johns, and your regular pants (or even a pair of rain- or snowpants). For your feet, that’s thick socks and boots. For your head, it’s a scarf and a hat. Say it again with us: layers are the key! The layering strategy works so well that even in sub-freezing weather, you may find yourself a little too warm once you arrive to your destination. No matter: layers can be removed as easily as they can be added. A high-quality winter coat is a great investment if you can afford it, but almost any coat can be beefed up with extra layers underneath it.
Read on for some other specific helpful tips, collected by our members. If you’re looking for recommendations on specific gear, or if you have questions about something you do (or don’t) see mentioned here, drop us a line and let us know! Most of the gear we have linked here (or something equivalent) can be purchased at a local retailer. Always shop local first! Give the retailers we mentioned a call, and ask what they have in stock.
Give your legs some love
The biggest muscles in your body are in your legs, but many people neglect to think about layering for your legs in the winter. Guys, trust us: once you try a pair of thin performance leggings under your pants on a cold day – like these ones, from Uniqlo — you will be a convert. They are thin and stretchy, meaning that they allow a full range of motion when walking or biking, even worn underneath a normal pair of pants. Plus, they not only keep you warm outdoors, but quickly dissipate heat once you are indoors, so you won’t get uncomfortable. Take our advice. If you want to do a lot of walking or biking in the winter, why let your legs be cold? Throw these on and thank us later.
If you’d rather something easier to put on and take off, consider something like these Showers’ Pass Rain Pants. Even in dry weather, they’re excellent at keeping out the wind, and can easily be removed once you arrive at your destination.
Use your head
While researchers may have debunked the adage that you lose most heat through your head, you still want to make sure you’re leaving the house with your head bundled up. Most of us have good winter hats, but what about when you’re biking? The answer: a balaclava. It’s amazing how well this thin layer, worn underneath a helmet, works to keep your head, neck, and ears warm while biking. Most balaclavas optionally can also be used to cover your forehead, mouth, and nose – particularly helpful on really windy days, when you want to make sure every possible inch of skin is covered up. They are great for kids, too!
Balaclavas can be a little tricky for those with long hair. A sport fleece headband can be a great alternative.
Lights for being seen
Look, it’s an unavoidable reality: in the winter, whatever the weather, you will be commuting in the dark. That makes winter the most important time to be visible. For bikers, in addition to a good set of lights, one great option is the Lumos helmet, which has built-in 360-degrees LED coverage. For walkers and joggers, many of our members swear by clip-on lights – and you can even get them for your dog, too!
Wet-weather ponchos
What if it’s raining, but you don’t feel like donning your waterproof jacket and waterproof pants? Enter the poncho. A relatively new company, Cleverhood, makes a great, bike-friendly poncho which loops right over over your handlebars to keep your entire body dry. It really works! Just watch out for riding through slushy puddles. They also sell them in kids’ sizes.
Alternately, you can find a specific bike-seat cover for your little ones. Many bike seat manufacturers either sell something designed to cover kids on the go, or can recommend one to you that will work with your model. Kids are very hardy! If you keep them comfortable and dry, they’ll be just as happy to be spending time with mom or dad as they usually are — even when it’s cold, or wet, or snowing, or all of the above.
Pogies or Bar Mitts
Ever seen a winter bike commuter with what look like big gloves strapped over their handlebars? They’re called “pogies” or “bar mitts” – and for winter bikers, they are an incredible cheat code to keeping your hands warm and comfortable even on the coldest days. These are essentially large windproof and waterproof gloves that attach to your bike handlebars. They fit over your brake levers and gear shifters, so that your hands can stay inside them the entire time. They allow you to wear pretty much any sort of glove – including lighter, touch-screen gloves – even in below-freezing weather, making them a great option for commuters who don’t want to buy a new pair of gloves just for biking. Many of our members use them and swear by them.
Footwear
Not to be forgotten, your feet can quickly start to feel freezing if you leave home without the right pair of shoes or boots. Even when it’s dry, you will want to skip the sneakers – especially lighter, “breathable” ones, which may be great for warmer weather but will backfire when they let cold, breezy air in. When it’s wet, err on the side of caution and wear a pair of weatherproof boots. You may think you can avoid stepping in wet, slushy snow, but mistakes happen — and you don’t want one of those mistakes to be getting your feet wet on a frigid day.
Whether walking or biking, make sure you’ve got something with good treads. Don’t worry about boots and biking – most everyday boots are just fine for pedaling in. If you love your boots but your treads are a little under-performing in icy conditions or on unshoveled sidewalks, you can cheaply upgrade with strap-over traction system.
Keep it Clean
Here in Melrose, the DPW frequently salts before, during, and after storms or other cold-weather events. It’s an unavoidable reality that if you are walking or biking, on the roads, you are going to get salt on your gear. That can be particularly problematic for bikes, which are susceptible to corrosion caused by the salts. A little cleaning and maintenance of your bike can go a long way, especially after riding on a salty road. Click here for a recorded “Bike Cleaning Workshop” with MassBike’s Galen Mook that is relevant for all riding conditions.