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 would LOVE the black jacket! I just ran my first marathon, and would love an awesome jacket to stay motivated to continue exercising/running through the cold Chicago winter!
Such a great giveaway! I usually stick to indoor workouts when it’s super cold out (yoga and spinning are my go-tos), but on more mild winter days, I’ll bundle up and take a nice long bike ride!
I would love to win either! I am active during the winter by CrossFitting and competing!
I would love the black jacket! Thank you Julie!
I’d love either prize! I stay active year round since I have my own elliptical, treadmill and stairmaster at home
DEFINITELY yoga! Indoors and 98 degrees when it’s freezing outside. I’d love the pull on minx boots to wear to yoga class and walking the dog though.
I also hike a lot (yes in the winter too) and some indoor cycling. Mix it up!
Gotta love a jacket that is both lightweight and super warm at the same time. Tough decision on the color… I would choose purple.
I would love the jacket in the black! So cute!
I’d love the red jacket. Such a fun energetic color for a cold winter day.
I would love the Women’s Minx™ Shorty Omni-Heat™ Print in Elk! You can never go wrong with a pair of warm and super cute boots in my opinion
I am so thankful for the gym during the winter, but our family stays active by skiing too! I would love the jacket in red, it looks so cute!!
I love that jacket in black!! Thanks so much Julie!
I love the Shorty Omni-Heat style in Herringbone. I’m heading to Paris over Christmas with my family and am in search of a warm pair! Cold feet are the worst.
I would love the red or purple jacket…but boots would be awesome too! I motivate myself to stay active in the winter by rewarding myself with delicious treats like peppermint or pumpkin spice lattes. Mmmm!
I love love the red jacket! Maybe a cute jacket would help with my motivation to get outdoors in these chilly Maine winters!
I am in love with the silver color! Amazing giveaway Julie. xoxo to Sadie
I, too, live just outside of Chicago (currently in Wheeling, but I grew up in Arlington Heights – and I’m dying to know if you know some of my friends who went to Fremd!)
Anywho-When there is snow, my husband and I cross country ski or snow shoe. If there isn’t any snow, then I do some in home workouts or hit the gym. My motivation is healthy living!
I would love the silver jacket. I’ve had my Columbia jacket since 2004 and it’s time to get a new one.
I would choose the red jacket- very cute!! ….
I love running outside and always train for a 10k Thanksgiving morning, so that gets me outside! After Thanksgiving I usually do indoor spinning classes for cardio!
The black jacket would be great. I am pregnant and due in January and want to be able to get outside for walks with the dog as I try to get back on my feet. Living in the Boston area I need a warm jacket that will also let me move around. This one looks perfect.
I definitely cannot stay indoors all winter, so I bundle up and strap on my headlamp to run outside in the winter (since it is dark for so many hours!). A hot shower feels especially good after a run at 5:30am in the cold!
I’d love either of these! My favorite activity is always running, rain, shine, snow, whatever!
I LOVE the purple jacket! I’ve gotten into running and I’m getting nervous about the coming winter months…this coat would definitely keep me warm!
I love them both!! Super cute! I love Columbia! I try to just stick to my normal routine no matter the weather. I work out in our garage gym and luckily there is a heater in there! So if it gets too cold I just make sure to turn that on about 20 minutes before I start my workout to ensure it’s nice and toasty before I start!
Living in Wisconsin, I’d love either the jacket or boots! I love warming up in the winter by doing a kettlebell workout
– But I can’t go a winter without skiing!
I would love to win either! I’m in your hometown of Chicago so either would come in super handy! I find that working out with others, in general, but especially in the winter when it’s dark and freezing is super helpful and motivating to stay active! It keeps you accountable!!
I would love to win a new jacket. I’d choose the black one
I would love the minx mid II omni-heat boots in black! They look so cozy.
I just put a winter coat on my Christmas wish list! It would be great to win one prior to! I like the silver or black!
I love both and in either color. I’m completely in to barre- but sometimes getting out in the cold air for a quick run just revs my metabolism!!
I’d love the purple jacket! I live in Massachusetts but I try to run outside until the temp drops below 20… this jacket would definitely keep me warm during those chilly runs. As for those super-chilly days (that *arctic freeze* last year!), I plan on looking for a Barre class to help me get in shape for my July wedding:)
I would like either the jacket or boots! I think I would like the silver jacket or the Minx mid II omni Heat boots in white! They would be so cute for winter!
I make sure that I have the gear to get outside and run in the cold weather! I actually just invested in a new (warmer) pair of leggings and a cozy running top this weekend! Signing up for races usually gets my butt in gear!
My favorite winter activity is skiing!
I love the boots you picked the best! So chic.
I don’t think I would have looked at these items twice on the website, but they look really cute on you! I love the red jacket- I would definitely wear that!
I love WOMEN’S MINX™ MID II OMNI-HEAT™ BOOT in shale. I feel like they would match everything I own!
My boyfriend and I always go camping in the colder months around Ocala and further north and this jacket would honestly be the best thing ever!!!! I’m also going hiking in Georgia around thanksgiving and Christmas time so I would totally use this a million times I love the red !!!!
Love all of the boots and the jacket! I’m fortunate enough to live in Colorado, so of course skiing is my favorite winter activity. My dogs love the snow, so on days I can’t hit the mountain we have a good time demolishing snow dunes
Love the black jacket!
I love the black jacket!
I would love the purple jacket! I like to run and prefer to run outside so this would be perfect to keep me warm!
I would love the jacket in silver!
I’d probably do the black jacket!
I am in desperate need for both a winter coat and boots!!! I love the red color too! Such a great giveaway 🙂
Love the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Print in Winter White!!
Love the tan boots! They would be perfect for wintery hikes and walks.
I love the jacket. I love the purple but would probably wear the black one more. Thank you for the chance to win!
Hi Julie,
Both the jacket and the boots sound amazing. During the winter, I love to head over to a local golf course and run/walk the cart paths. The pavement is usually less snow covered than the fairways and you can’t beat the views.
I have the woman’s minx shorty omni-heat herringbone boots on my wish list! I have been looking for a new pair of boots for this upcoming winter and love the look and sounds of these.