It’s huge, with enough room for at least 4 people to have coffee (or two greedy coffee lovers like myself to have 3 cups each), meaning you don’t have to keep making more or worry about what you made going cold.
Bring Hot Food and Beverages
Thankfully I was near my car when my guide pointed this out to me, and was able to change my socks before we set out hiking. Check your socks! Start out with them totally dry when possible.
The vacuum bottle was out in the frigid early morning hours and stayed hot until I finished it 4 hours later.
Best for Hiking
This is the french press I didn’t know I always needed. When I tested this one, after 2 hours in the cold the water temp was still 150°F, down 40 degrees from boiling.
These are all dishwasher safe as well.
Best for Camping
If I’m going to be out in -15°C/5°F or below, I use them in my boots and my gloves. They’re a game changer.
For funsies, I poured boiling water in and tested it for 24 hours in 20°F and it was still 130°F the next morning! True to the name, this is solid and can easily withstand drops.
I tested the Classic Legendary Camp Mug temperature, too. This is just meant to keep drinks warm as you sip, but even after 2 hours outside in the cold, it was still hot (around 120°F).
Skip the potential pain and misery by covering up before you leave whatever warm situation you’re in, like a car or house, so that you retain that warmth from the moment you step outside.
Best for Extreme Cold:
Finally, if you’re feeling cold, just move around! Part of the reason why I’m able to enjoy the outdoors so much is by staying curious about my surroundings and exploring as much as I can when I’m outside.
For the best combo of weight and temperature protection I tested the Adventure Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle (pictured above) in Lake Tahoe with my early morning coffee brewed at home, which is about an hour’s drive from me.
Cover All Exposed Skin
I learned when winter hiking in Alberta that despite it being crazy cold out, you’ve still got to make sure your socks are dry. I hadn’t realized that by driving with the heat on, I was causing my feet to sweat in my boots. It was so cold out that the sweat had frozen, causing my toes to go numb.
This sponsored post features products from Stanley, with genuine reviews after testing each product:
Check for any areas that could be exposed if you were to bend over or sit down as well.
Layer, Layer, Layer
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Make Sure Your Socks are Dry
When the winter chill comes this California girl gets excited. It feels like after a lifetime of living without snow, I’ve got lost time to make up for.
Consider Chemical Warmers
I’ve found that from freezing to -40, the same tactics more or less apply – you’ve got to layer. I have more tips here for what, specifically to layer depending on the conditions here.
When it’s well below freezing, especially if it’s at night, I bring chemical hand warmers out with me. They’re often the difference between fingers and toes going numb in the glove and actually being able to take my hand out of my glove to handle the camera from time to time.
Move
How much insulation is enough insulation? Well friends, I tested a bunch of options from Stanley, both out hiking and in my backyard, measuring the temperature of the water every few hours and this is what I found:
Trust me, you’ll still get hot hiking in -25°C/-13°F, so being able to shed layers — and put them back on when you stop — are essential to winter happiness.
I used to think winter would be so painfully cold, but even up until -30, I’ve learned that it’s more down to outfit choices and having the right gear with you to keep you (and your food and drinks!) warm. Here are the hacks I’ve learned from Tahoe to the arctic:
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Outdoors 101