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 choose the black jacket! I also love the shoes that are the Omni Heat 2 Print, in silver. I love making it fun outside. Sled riding is a workout by walking back up the hill. Going for hikes is fun, and even harder because you have the snow to walk in.
I would love the jacket in purple and they would look so cute with the Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot in the shale color. My favorite activity in the Winter time is skiing. I live in VA so we have lots of options for that around here!
I would love the boots. It would allow for long walks with the baby and dog be bearable in the cold winter months of DC!
Going to the beach in the winter is one of my favorite things to do. I live right by Lake Michigan and when it gets cold enough (which it does), ice gathers around the edge of the lake and can get all the way to the end of the pier. It piles up enough where we are able to go out and walk on it. It is so beautiful.
Love those boots! I’d pick the Pull On Omni Heat in black.
I live in New England and would be interested in both! The black jacket would be awesome to replace my current down jacket that is about 10 years old. I stay active in the winter by sledding with my daughter and snowboarding at my favorite place, Mount Snow in Vermont. Both the tall and short minx boots look like they would keep my feet warm, especially when we’re walking to the mountain in all the snow/slush/ice.
I’d LOVE to win the minx boots in winter white! They would keep my feet nice and toasty!
The light brown minx boots are adorable! I’m from Alberta, Canada, so our winters least for roughly 6-7 months. Very long so you have to embrace all the winter activities!
I would love the jacket since it looks so comfortable and LIGHT!
I want to get the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print in either brown or black!
I would love to have the jacket in black! I live in Atlanta and with all those crazy ice storms that happened last winter, I’d love to be prepared this winter!! 🙂
Hi Julie! You look so adorable in that red jacket, that’s the one I’d choose! Could use this puppy while walking my own ginormous puppy, Sammy! Thanks 😉
I would love either! I love running outside in the winter as long as it’s not icy 🙂
I would LOVE the red Columbia jacket!!! Love that unique/stylish color.
I love the look of the Women’s Minx™ Pull On Omni-Heat™ Print since I need a to-from the gym boot and these look cute & easy to travel with!
I love that jacket! Super cute. If I win I have my fingers crossed for the red jacket! 🙂 Would be perfect when I go visit Colorado this Winter
I would be excited to win either! The jacket I would go with the black. And my favorite boots are the Women’s Minx Shorty Omni-Heat Print in the Elk color – they’re so freakin’ cute!
I’m not a winter weather fan but will be forcing myself to stay active by signing up for a March marathon that I will need to do some serious training for through the winter.
My feet are perpetually cold in the winter, so the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni Heat would be amazing! I need something that would keep my tootsies toasty in the New England winters and the gray color is lovely.
I love to ice skate in the winter (and any other month)! haha. I was a figure skater for 10 years growing up. It helped beat the heat in Florida!
I love the Minx boots! I live in Central IL and during the cold and snowy winter months, my husband and I like to run around with our dog, Lucy, on the golf course behind our house. The cold does NOT seem to bother Lucy… she loves every second! I could use some cozy, waterproof boots to get me through it, though!
I love to workout in the winter, espeically in a warm toasty gym!!! I actually get more motivated in the cold than the heat…I would love either the jacket or the boots to fuel my workout 🙂
I would love the jacket in red! I just moved from North Carolina to Minnesota. It would be great for staying warm this winter!
I would choose the cute boots! I love the Shortie in Tan Herringbone 🙂
I live in Denver, CO but, grew up in Ft. Myers, FL. I am loving learning to enjoy the winter months and stay active. I don’t know how to ski/snowboard yet but, have been still been keeping active other ways. I discovered hot yoga and it’s my LOVE in winter b/c the classes warm me up. Sauna/steam room visits are a way I reaward myself for making it to the gym after a long cold day. They are also soooo relaxing!
Winter has actually become my most fit months….once summer hits I only want to be on a patio with a drink in my hand.
I actually don’t own a winter coat (crazy I know) so I would LOVE the jacket in black.
I would love the jacket in red or black and the boots in black so they go with any outfit!
I would pick boots, specifically the Women’s Minx Slip II Omni-Heat!
I love both! The red jacket and the boots you have! I don’t LOVE being outside in the weather so I try to keep my workouts in doors with videos, gym visits and treadmill cardio.
I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat print (in blue, of course).
I would LOVE the TurboDown jacket in Black! That jacket looks awesome!
I love all things Columbia and love the red coat you’re wearing!
Oooo…my wife would love the black jacket. You have some great buddies at Columbia! Thanks for the post!
The jacket would be awesome in black!! Thank you for all your great features!
PS…to edit the previous comment…my wife would look great in the black jacket for our winter Minnesota trip as well as our snowshoeing trips up to Mount Hood!
I always need a good down sweater/jacket where I live in Calgary (Canada)! …thanks for the giveaway! I would wear the red one all the time – great color and great review, Julie!
I love Women’s Minx™ Mid II Omni-Heat™ Boot. Those look like they would be warm enough for a Minnesota winter!
Hi Julie!
I would love to win either the jacket or the boots! I’m a children’s ski instructor at a small mountain in Pennsylvania, and that definitely helps me stay active (especially because I’m usually picking kids up when the fall down). I also try to spend time outside on sunny days, even when it’s cold, because it really boosts my mood. Long walks and skiing are my favorite winter activities.
I love the silver jacket and the brown minx shorty boot. For staying active in the winter, YouTube workout videos are great! And having good gear always motivates me to brave the outdoors.
I’m obsessed with both the jacket and those boots! I think for me something I always tell myself in the winter is that working out will help me feel warmer! Definitely good motivation.
I love the red turbo down jacket! We just moved to Flagstaff, AZ and as a Tucson native, I am preparing for my first winter with snow and ice!
I would choose the black jacket! I’m an athletic trainer and during early baseball season it is frigid in the dugout so it would be perfect for those cold days!
I love to ski during the winter!!!
Both options look great to me and I would definitely get good use out of both!
I still love the good old fashion snowball fights. When I go home for Christmas and there is snow on the ground we always have snowball wars, complete with building forts and safe zones. Lots of cardio during those fights.
LOVE that jacket! Looks great for my chilly winter workouts and I think it’d be the perfect thing to wear to motivate me to take my dogs on winter hikes more often! 🙂
I’d choose it in purple because all my winter workout pants are black and I think purple would coordinate well.
Silver jacket and same boots as you have. If I don’t win looks like I will be heading to the Columbia outlet here in Utah to get these. We love Columbia husband and I each have jackets that we use for winter activities like snowshoeing and skiing. Bring on winter 🙂
I love them both! Anything to keep me active in the winter is a win for me 🙂
I travel a lot to some cold places (Canada next week brrrr) and I think the best way to stay active is to go on hikes. Explore while travelling, it is fun and doesn’t feel like a major challenge. But once you are out there you never regret it!
I love the Shorty Omni-Heat! They would be perfect for the cold and snowy weather this winter!
I love to throw snowballs for my dog. She’s always so surprised when she catches one and it crumbles! I also tend to have SAD symptoms and I know that attending classes at my local The Barre Code studio takes me right to my happy place. 🙂 I love the Women’s Minx Mid II Omni-Heat Boot in black or the coat in red.
This is a great giveaway! My favorite outdoor activity in the winter is hiking, so either the boots or the jacket would be amazing.
I would love the same boots that you chose! In the winter I try to do Kettlebell workouts inside!
I love the boots and the jacket! Either one would be great for hiking which is my favorite winter activity!