How to dress for extreme winter? Part 2 – pants, footwear and accessories

Discover how to dress in extreme winter to keep your feet, hands and head warm. This second part of the article focuses on choosing the right pants, shoes, socks, gloves and hats. Practical tips and recommendations to help you prepare for any freezing conditions.

How to choose the right pants for winter?

In the first part, we intentionally left out the rather extensive topic of pants, although it is logical that in temperatures where you have to wear three or four layers on your torso, you will not go out in just underwear.

The most important thing is layering. Thermal underwear is suitable for the bottom layer, which wicks away moisture and contributes to thermal comfort. This is followed by an insulating layer that should retain heat. The outer layer should then be waterproof and windproof. Suitable materials include softshell, nylon or elastane.

TIP: If you want to know more about pants for winter, check out our more detailed article Winter pants that won't freeze your butt.

The Tilak Military Gear^® Ketil Mig winter pants are made of durable Pertex Microlight material with high-quality Climashield Apex insulation.

Quality footwear is the foundation

Shoes for extreme winter should have high-quality insulation, waterproofness and breathability. We recommend high boots, at least ankle boots, so that snow does not penetrate them. Shin guards are also suitable as an extra insulating layer.

A non-slip sole is important for safe movement on ice and snow. Shoes that are a little larger are ideal so that you can layer socks and ensure sufficient blood circulation.

How to care for winter shoes?

• Impregnation protects against moisture.
• Drying at natural temperature, avoid radiators.
• Regular cleaning increases the lifespan of materials.

TIP: Need advice on how to impregnate your equipment? You can find the answers in this article.

How to choose the right socks for winter?

Avoid cotton in winter! It wicks away moisture, but it traps it, which means colder feet. The best choice for winter socks is merino wool, which retains heat even when wet. Another option is synthetic materials that mimic the properties of wool and are more affordable.

For optimal comfort, it is good to layer socks – a thin functional model plus thicker wool socks.

Essential winter gloves: What to look for?

Winter gloves are key if you don't want to risk frostbite. The best combination is a thin functional glove + an insulated top layer. Materials: fleece, softshell, goat or cowhide.

The low-profile design of the Mechanix Wear^® ColdWork Base Layer winter gloves will protect your hands during outdoor and tactical activities.

Hats and neck warmers: Head protection in winter

A lot of heat escapes through the head, so you need to protect it with a winter hat. A wool hat, fleece or softshell is suitable. Cotton models are more suitable for the city. For extremely low temperatures, we recommend a balaclava or neck warmer.

Inspiration from the Rigad offer

• Winter pants: Tilak Military Gear^® Ketil Mig.

• Winter boots: Lowa^® Renegade Evo Ice GTX, which we also offer in a women's version.

• Wool socks: Helikon-Tex^® Merino.

• Winter gloves: Mechanix Wear^® ColdWork Base Layer, Helikon-Tex^® Range leather winter gloves.

• Winter hat: Fjällräven^® Byron.

The Fjällräven^® Byron winter hat will keep you warm and prevent heat loss on cold days.

In conclusion

Dressing for extreme winter is not just about a jacket. Good quality pants, boots, socks, gloves and hats are also important. If you combine the right materials and layers, you will minimize the risk of catching a cold and ensure comfort even in the harshest conditions.