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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Both would be fab as I hike the beach of Lake Michigan in the winter. I love to grab my camera and set out to see ice formations or just what’s blowing around on a wintery day on the beach. Lots of great cardio accomplished while maneuvering the sand dunes and sandy beaches at a nice clip.
My winter motivation has always been my horse. Cause rain or shine… cold or warm… he always needs exercise.
I would absolutely love the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print (the ones that you have). I’m in Arlington Heights, Illinois (right next to Palatine) and I’m dreading the upcoming winter. Even walking around can be treacherous, I would love to have some boots that actually have a bit of grip so that I don’t fall flat on my butt like last year. I would prefer not to have a bruised tailbone this winter!
The Columbia Platinum jacket in red looks perfect for the weather here in Colorado! I’m constantly running around outside during work events, as well as running from work to the trails and yoga. I’m really interested in how well it retains heat, but I have a feeling that it will work just as well in Denver as in Park City. Thanks for actually testing all this out and letting us know how they all worked!
Love the purple jacket! Perfect for Upstate New York winters!
Hi Julie,
I live in Minnesota and kind of look forward to the change of seasons (comfort foods, cozy clothes, and crisp morning runs). I have the Glam-her down Columbia jacket that kept me nice and toasty last winter, but felt it was a little too “big” (poufy) at times. So, I would love the Platinum TurboDown jacket in purple, it looks warm and not so bulky!!
I love to stay active in the winter by snowboarding. Living in Cali it can be hard to find places close by that have snow but its worth the travel!
OOoh I love the Purple jacket! But I also really like the boots in the style you wore! I really need a good pair of snow boots, I haven’t actually found a pair that I like, but I might go to the store to try these on soon! In the winter I stay active by going to the gym, I belong to a Crossfit gym and it always stays very warm in there during the winter months! They also have rowers to use during workouts all winter long when running outside isn’t an option!
I find that, like you mentioned, trying out new classes is always motivating to get to the gym when I just want to stay home. I also have a crazy dog full of energy that requires daily walks, so no matter how cold it is outside, he’s ready to go. Which requires lots of bundling up! I would equally love this jacket or a new pair of boots to freshen up my dog-walking look!
I am in love with either the red of grey coat!! It would be absolutely fabulous to have because I attend school at Ohio State so sometimes the winters can get pretty miserable when I’m walking to class and this seems like the perfect coat to get me through it!
I have a similar jacket but could really use a new pair of winter boots! I live in Maine where it is basically winter half of the year. I loooove the look of the WOMEN’S MINX™ MID II OMNI-HEAT™ BOOT — looks mighty warm!
OOh – I’d love to win either!! I live in South Dakota and it gets bitterly cold here in the winter, so outdoor activities can be accomplished, but you definitely need a back-up plan. I have an elliptical and a treadmill that both get a good work out in the winter.
The red down jacket is cute! My husband has a Columbia jacket with the omni-heat reflective material, and it is SO warm! I find myself stealing it from him more often than not when I get chilly when we’re out so it would be good to have one for myself.
I love the jacket in purple and the Minx pull-on boots in the all tan color! I am also in NC and will keep on running and doing CrossFit throughout the winter here!
I love hiking in the winter and skiing (though I doubt that’ll be happening this winter) and walking the dog
That red jacket looks amazing! So warm and cozy looking!
I have been struggling with my workouts lately and was getting nervous that I was going to completely fall off the bandwagon as it gets colder. Thanks for this post! I usually love a good group fitness class when it’s too cold to be outside!
I’d love to win the jacket in black!!
I would love the purple jacket
Red Columbia Jacket is gorgeous! Perfect for the 49er games 🙂
Ooh I would love the jacket in black!
That jacket in silver would be perfect for ski trips this winter! I could finally stop wearing my $20 pea coat in the snow! 😉
I Love that red jacket! I love the idea of training for a race to stay active. I try to register for 1 half marathon a year just to keep me going! Hot yoga is also great in the winter. No better way to beat the cold than sweating in a hot yoga studio!
I love the Women’s Minx™ Shorty Omni-Heat™ Print in Minx. So cute! I finally splurged on a set of Power Block weights so I plan on staying inside all winter. Last winter I used to get up and go to the gym every morning and its just not fun to put on 8 layers to drive to the gym, sweat, and throw all of that stuff back on.
Red!Red!Red!!! super cute!
That jacket looks so comfy. I love the purple color. I love to go ice skating during the winter especially if there are outdoor ice rinks.
i would LOVE the jacket in black. I go hiking a lot and need something lightweight for the cooler temperatures!!
I would love to win that red jacket, I’d get a lot of use out of it in the mountains of West Virginia!
I love the black jacket and the same colour of boots you received. In the winter, I love to snowboard and just go on walks, especially on those days/nights were the snow is just picturesque.
I love the Pull On Omni-Heat boots and the black TurboDown jacket! During the winter months I stay active by participating in indoor cycling and taking hot yoga classes.
The jacket in red!
I LOVE the white minx boots. I live in upstate NY and end up shoveling a lot… warm slip on boots with great traction are a MUST!
I plan on taking a group fitness class during the winter! I would love either the coat or boots to keep me warm! 🙂
What an awesome giveaway, I absolutely love the red one, it would be my first pick for sure!
Perfect for col weather, love the re jacket
I am always cold lol….that jacket looks like it will keep me warm and i love how thin it is!! Black would be my go to color 🙂
I love them both – especially the boots.
I love to run in the winter snow.
The red jacket would be a nice pop of color during the winter. 🙂
I love the Minx MID II Boots in black. They look so warm & perfect for walking to campus for class!
red jacket, brown boots, THANKS
Can’t choose between the two. I like to walk to the gym in the cold and back.
The Minx Mid II boots. Those would be perfect for playing in the snow with the kids!
I love the black coat! I’ve been dying for one of those!
oh i love both!! I live in Denver, so I love going snowboarding in the mountains on the weekends. Some days we go snowshoeing so our pup can hike along with us, she LOVES the snow. My boyfriend and I like to sign up for snowshoe races and running races too!
I love to cross country ski in the winter! Its a great workout and way to enjoy nature through the winter months. Now that i live in the south, I bundle up and go for winter runs through the woods, or if its really cold, enjoy netflix and the treadmill 😉
I love the jacket and the boots! I live in Western NY, so we always have a ton of snow. I love to go snowshoeing in the winter.
The “WOMEN’S MINX™ MID II OMNI-HEAT™ BOOT” in shale looks great for my snowy winter walks. What a cool program. Thanks.
Sledding is always a workout!
What an incredibly generous giveaway – thank you!
I’d love to win the black jacket. Living in SC I have never invested in a QUALITY warm coat. This one would be perfect for football and soccer games, as well as helping keep me warm on pretty winter walks!
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Ohhh I would LOVE the Turbodown Jacket in Black. I love that it is so lightweight, yet warm. I’ve been looking for something exactly like this. FINGERS CROSSED!