Cross Country Skiing

As the air becomes chilly, and the leaves begin to change, so must our activewear. Winter running can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be! Outersports.com reached out to a seasoned runner in South Eastern Idaho in hopes of discovering some tips for running during the winter months.

Brett Bawden and is his lovely wife Josie train year round, and the cold weather doesn't slow them down one bit. Brett and Josie train to qualify for the Boston Marathon and other races all year, and they take their training seriously. Brett and Josie are well known in their community for their personal training tips, and starting the "Just Cuz Half Marathon" in Pocatello, ID.  Brett was kind enough to give our readers some guidelines on running in the cold. He makes it clear that by using the proper activewear you can avoid feeling uncomfortable when running outside.

Brett changes his activewear depending on the temperature. When the weather is nice and anything above 40 degrees he wears basic running shorts and a light tee shirt. Once the temperature drops below 40 degrees, he throws on a wind breaker and some running pants.

However, when the temperature drops below twenty five degrees, it is time to break out the big guns! Running tights and a top are essential for staying warm and dry.
The Coldpruf premium performance thermals are a great option if you don't want the cold to slow you down from your active life. This product stands up to other leading brands but is half the price. The polyester / spandex blend gives protection against high winds while the trim fit keeps the material from bunching during high activity.

These thermals are great for that cold weather run, and a cross-country ski workout, or on the ski slope. They are designed for maximum dryness and antimicrobial odor-control. This is perfect for any distant runner who is training this winter season. We also have Coldpruf Premium Performance Thermals for women as well!

Be sure and check out our new products for hiking and camping at www.outersports.com

With temperatures lingering at a frosty 19 degrees you would think that most would cuddle up next to a warm fire and hide. But for one amazing mother in Utah, her fire seems to come from within!

Shawna, of NatureForKids.net, shows that with the proper cross country ski wear, and a touch of scenic beauty, you can get outdoors and enjoy nature even on the coldest of days. She exemplifies the model family camper who isn't afraid to take her children along with her. Knowing how to be prepared with the right thermal layers gives her more confidence and comfort to do what she loves. What does Shawna love? She loves cross country skiing around a high altitude reservoir outside of Brigham City, Utah.

It was no surprise to see her sporting some high quality ColdPruf Extreme Performance Thermals under her coat. Most of all she loves the comfort and bargain of her Merino Wool Outdoor Trail Socks.

In regards to the Merino Wool Trail Socks - Shawna says, "First thing I noticed was how cushioned they were. They fit snug and the seams aren’t bothersome at the toe. They’ve kept my feet warm enough that I haven’t had to give them a second thought while outside."

You can read the full experience, review, and get to know Shawna on her blog by visiting: Nature For Kids

Do your feet stay wet, cold and clammy when you're hiking, biking, skiing, snowboarding, exercising, etc? You might want to try some thin polypropylene sock liners by Fox River Mills (children sizes). Polypropylene sock liners are great for warm or cold weather. The polypropylene fabric is designed to keep your feet nice and dry helping your feet to regulate their temperature better. Polypro sock liners are especially nice in the winter time because they add a layer of warmth to your feet while keeping them dry. Polypropylene retains more heat than any other fabric and it also absorbs less water than any other fabric. If you have trouble with smelly feet, you'll want the Fox River Polypro socks with x-static. X-static is an anti-bacteria fabric that prevents odor causing bacteria from developing in your socks.

What can you wear that will keep you dry, block wind, provide warmth, and allow you plenty of flexibility? The answer? Soft Shells. The latest craze in outerwear that promises to answer the problems that skiers, snowshoers, runners and other winter or otherwise cold weather sports enthusiasts have complained about since winter sporting was invented.

Traditionally, an outer shell is made of tough nylon that has a waterproof membrane laminated to it to add many of the qualities desired by winter athletes. However, the nylon restricted flexibility and the waterproof membrane caused excessive sweating and a lack of water vapor release from the garment.

So what is a Soft Shell? Well, most Soft Shells are a mixture of fabric technologies. The core of the fabric is typically a soft, warm, wind resistant polyester fleece that retains body heat well, yet has exceptional breathability. The manufacturer then coates the fleece with DWR© (Durable Water Restistant). DWR makes the garment very water resistant and the garment can endure multiple washings and still retain its water resistancy. Finally, many manufacturers will also laminate a WindStopper© membrane to the fabric to eliminate the penetration of wind through the garment. Windstopper© completely blocks wind, yet it still allows the garment to breathe.

Soft Shells are great for most any winter sport, especially high endurance sports. The only thing to worry about is the fact that that they are not completely waterproof. If you are going to be exposed to wet conditions for an extended period of time, water will start to soak through you soft shell.