Layer like a paranoid onion: a merino wool base layer (yes, it’s expensive, but so is frostbite surgery), a fluffy mid-layer, and a windproof outer shell. The key is trapping air—your body heats that air, and the layers keep it from escaping. And for the love of all that is warm, cover your head. You lose up to 30% of your body heat through an uncovered noggin.
Also, don’t drink alcohol before going out. That “warm glow” is a lie—alcohol dilates blood vessels, sending warm blood to your skin where it freezes faster. You’ll feel toasty for five minutes, then you’ll be the drunk guy crying in a snowbank.
And if you’re thinking, “I’ll just tough it out”—don’t. I once saw a neighbor try to prove he could chop wood in -10 for an hour. He came inside looking like a human popsicle, unable to close his hands, and his wife made him sit in a lukewarm bath while calling him a “certifiable idiot.” It was hilarious, but also a lesson.
