Outerwear: Short and sweet, the only thing you need to know about your outerwear is waterproofing and insulation. Basically, waterproofing is listed on the hangtag, and is described in increments of 1,000s. The higher the number, the better the waterproofing. Insulation is described in grams, and it’s the same rodeo as waterproofing. The bigger the number, the warmer you’ll stay.

Layering: COTTON IS BAD. When you sweat, cotton absorbs the moisture, thus clinging to your skin and making you cold. Wear something that wicks your sweat away from you. Trust us, invest in some Under Armour. You will not regret it.

Gloves: Look for something with a tough grip palm. Snowboarders: you know what we’re talking about. Skiiers, try and aim for something with a little more flex. Either way, buy the glove appropriate for your sport and you won’t have any blown out fingers.