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 jacket and boots! But during winter I make lots of workout dates with friends that end at Starbucks. We motivate each other to make it to the class/run by promising to each other and then we get a fun, warm treat after!
I love the red jacket! So fun and looks so cozy! I love Columbia stuff!
That down jacket in black is perfection! It looks so cozy.
While I LOVE them both, I think I would like the boots more and would choose the same pair you chose. They look super comfy and will go with just about anything! I like tha tyou can pull them on and off easily, which like you said, would be great when going to and from the gym. This winter, well actually in a few weeks, I am going to start Les Mills Combat workout and can’t wait! I am always looking to try and incorporate new things into my workouts. I am also going to look into resistance bands and try them instead of weights. It is so important to change your workouts so your body doesn’t get to used to a certain workout. Thanks for this awesome giveaway 🙂 Sure hope I win!!!! (fingers crossed))
The jacket in any color would be awesome – I love that it’s lightweight! And the boot styles are so cute – hard to pick just one! I go hiking most mornings. Getting up to go at 6 a.m. when it’s chilly is hard. I do it, but it’s hard!
I would love the jacket or the boots! They would be so helpful during the winter when I still like to go on long walks. I also try to stay active by doing a variety of indoor workouts. My favorite are circuits to keep me from getting bored!
I like both the jacket and the boots. I like to bundle up and ride my horse in the winter. Keeping him in shape helps keep me in shape, too!
I’d love the jacket in purple! So cute!
Thank you Columbia for making cold weather clothing that is so cute! The Minx pull on omni heat boots you have on in the post are my favorite. Would definitely get a ton of use out of them this winter.
I would be happy to win either! Would love the jacket in black or the tan boots with the printed cuff (the ones you have!). I stay active during the winter by keeping up with my running outdoors. Minnesota gets crazy cold in the winter so some days I take it to the treadmill, but usually I try to keep myself motivated by reminding myself how much easier it is to run in cool temps for me than in heat and humidity! Also, I like wearing a jacket to run because then I can stash things in the pockets. … It’s the little things!
I love the black columbia jacket and the boots you picked out! Just moved to Denver from MS so cold clothes are new to me!
Absolutely adore the boots – Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print in Redand would love to win them..If I may be greedy, wouldn’t mid the jacket in red as well!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I definitely need a new pair of snow boots. Winters are long and cold here in Philadelphia, and last winter was the worst we’ve ever had in history. True story!
It is so hard for me to get motivated to work out in the winter, so when it does snow, I go out and shovel my car from its parking spot, and I help a friend too. If you’ve never shoveled heavy, wet snow, it is definitely a workout. I’m usually ready for a shower when I return inside.
I love the purple jacket and the boots you’re wearing. I still love to run outdoors during the winter. I do a lot of in-gym and at-home workouts, too.
I love the boots AND the jacket! I like black for the jacket (just because it goes with everything) and the minx boots you are wearing in the pictures are super cute! Love them! I started running and lifting weights this past winter and just recently I started going to Pure Barre classes. Your recommendation of the class gave me the push to finally go try it and I will definitely be going all winter long.
Love, love, love the purple jacket!
All of the different options are adorable! I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. 🙂 I’m a die-hard runner, but I can’t seem to bring myself to do long runs in the summer heat and humidity. Winter is by far my most active season! I always sign up for a late winter marathon, so I spend most of the winter outside running or in the gym lifting. There’s nothing better than bundling up for a great run outside without having to worry about sweating out all your salts and fluids. LOVE it!
I would love the jacket in black. I love how it goes with everything.
To keep active in the winter I always sign myself up for a spring race, a training schedule keeps me accountable when the weather is cold and dreary.
Love the jacket and the boots! I take my workouts indoors in the winter but I always vary what I do since I get bored easily!
OMG I lovvvve the jacket in black 🙂
I love doing hot yoga during the winter. I also check out groupons and find new gyms to try that way.
I would pick the black jacket and the mid II omni heat boots.
I am from the great white north, and i don’t exactly looove winter months (probably because I walk everywhere and my face gets so windburned) but i DO love to go downhill skiing!!!
The red jacket is so stinkin’ cute! Usually, I would go for black or a more neutral color, but, the red is just so fun! That would warm me up during the cold Cleveland months!
I’d love the Columbia jacket in red! I spent 8 years living in south Florida and my first one back in Ohio last year was full of snow and negative temps! I spent most of my time hibernating inside. My goal this winter is to learn how to ski so I can spend time enjoying being outside even its not 80 and sunny : ) Finding a warm jacket is at the top of my list!
We love taking our dogs to the empty lot by our house and running around with them in the winter. They love it and we get a good workout. Either of these Colombia options would be perfect for this activity!
I think both are super cute and would be perfect to bundle up for long walks with my puppy.
When the time changes and it’s so chilly out, getting up early with her for a long walk – and she loves the chill! – is great motivation. We like hiking on the weekends when it’s super crisp.
Would love either the boots or the jacket for our outdoor adventures!
I am in need for a warm jacket for the upcoming Minnesota winter! Perfect for walking the dogs on the trails!
Indoor dodgeball league!
Oh my gosh, I am in love with both the jacket and boots!!! The black jackets for sure so it will go with anything and everything and the Minx pull on omni print shoes too! My favorite way to stay active during the winter months is to join a gym with good group classes that you love. You make friends and they help you stay commit to showing up, no matter how cold it is outside 🙂
I like the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print the best, although the jacket is pretty awesome too!
I love the jacket in purple! I live in Minnesota, and it would get a LOT of use. I love winter sports, like cross country skiing. It has to be the toughest full-body workout for the winter months!
I love the silver jacket! Winters here in Utah are FREEZING, so I need as many coats as possible 🙂 I love that the jacket is still a slim fit, some jackets are way too bulky to be functional!
The Women’s Minx™ SHORTY Omni-Heat™ Herringbone in Pebble/Oxford tan for sure! Super cute for a mountain holiday 🙂
I love the women’s minx pull on omni-heat print in elk! Cute and warm sounds like a perfect boot to me!
We shovel lots of snow up here in Minnesota which is always a good workout.
Those are both adorable! My fiance and I have recently taken up frisbee golf as a way to stay active without feeling like we’re being active. All the extra walking around to get our discs (I’m not too great yet but that means more walking!) is exercise, and hopefully we can continue through the winter with the right gear. I think either would be perfect for this but the boots would really help, since the grass might be wet sometimes. I like the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ black boots! Thanks for all the tips! I also just signed up for a Groupon for a few passes to our local Barre Amped class, and so far the first class was killer but I really like it!
I love the red jacket like the one you have! All my winter clothing is pretty dark so it would be nice to spice it up with a red jacket:)
I would love the red jacket! Anything to help keep me warm in the winter 🙂
Such a cool giveaway! I’d love the black jacket or the black Mid II Omni-Heat boots (I’m so plain – haha!!)!
I would love either the jacket or the boots! I love them both! I stay active in the winter by bundling up and going on runs or taking spin classes.
I love the Minx pull on boots. They will be great on those cold morning walks and for commuting.
I love both! Columbia is a fantastic brand to help keep you warm in the winter months. I love the jacket in red and the Minx Mid II boot in Shale. Both look super comfy and warm! 🙂
Oh man I can’t decide! The red jacket is super cute. I do like the pull ons because I love just being able to slip on warm waterproof shoes in the winter to walk my dog. I also like the mid 2s for more snow trekking in the city.
I would love either the jacket or the boots! I am a big skiier – the rest of the year I am an avid triathlete, so it’s nice to do something totally different in the winter that still serves as good cross-training!
I would love to win either the jacket or the boots! I’ve tried on the purple Omni Heat jacket at my local Columbia store and I loved it! I live in Salt Lake City Utah and go to Park City all the time! Some of the ways I stay active in the winter are ice skating, bundling up and running outside and I also ski (not that well…). Thank you!
Shorty omni heat boots are so cute!
I love hiking in the winter! The Smoky Mountains are gorgeous! These would be perfect for the trails!
Living in iowa we know a few things about the cold and after holding strong for a few years my jacket and boots have finally given in and I’m in need of new this year! I love the jacket in black; it’s versatile enough to wear everyday and for outdoor activities such as sledding. I also love the minx boot in grey, they look super warm and like they can handle the snow and ice!
I would be equally thrilled to win boots or a warm jacket; either option would be a welcome additon to my winter defense mechanism! My favorite winter activity is taking long walks with my husband and our dog. We love spending time together outdoors!
I love the red jacket!! So cute! I live in Florida, but go skiing a couple times in the winter! That jacket would be great….