Effective Tips to Stay Warm in Winter
Effective Tips to Stay Warm in Winter
September 18 2025 (10 minutes)
Winter is approaching, and with it comes that unpleasant feeling of constantly being cold, even when wrapped in multiple layers of clothing. Yet, fighting the cold is not just about piling on sweaters: it’s a science that combines clothing techniques, physiology, and common sense.
Some people seem naturally resistant to low temperatures, while others shiver as soon as the first chills arrive. The difference? A methodical approach that ranges from the three-layer system to good eating habits, along with lesser-known tricks to effectively protect your extremities.
Whether you’re a fan of outdoor winter activities or simply looking for daily comfort, these proven strategies will help you get through the cold season without suffering from the cold.
Introduction
Your body works like a boiler, maintaining its temperature at 37°C. When it's cold, vasoconstriction concentrates heat on your chest, leaving your hands and feet icy cold. To remedy this, thermal insulation isn't limited to a thick jumper: modern technical fibres create air pockets that retain heat. Since 2008, our Picture teams have been testing these solutions in the most extreme conditions. This guide gives you the best tips for staying warm - from choosing your first layers to merino wool, herbal teas and essential oils - so you can make the most of winter, whether in the city or the mountains.
Table of contents
Why Don’t Some People Feel Cold?
Brown fat plays a major role in your resistance to the cold. Unlike white fat, which stores energy, this specialized fat directly burns calories to produce heat. We don’t all have the same amount.
Your basal metabolism also determines your internal heat production. Thyroid hormones regulate this process: hypothyroidism slows down the thermal machine, while a fast metabolism naturally maintains your body temperature.
Blood circulation distributes this heat throughout your body. People with good circulation efficiently supply their extremities, even in cold weather. Conversely, poor circulation concentrates warmth on vital organs, leaving hands and feet icy.
How to Dress to Stay Warm?
The Three-Layer Technique That Changes Everything
This method revolutionizes your approach to cold by intelligently layering three complementary types of clothing.
Base layer: Wicks away moisture from your skin thanks to synthetic fibers or merino wool in our technical underwear.
Mid layer: Traps body heat in its insulating fibers. Our Picture fleeces and down jackets create this essential thermal barrier while remaining breathable to avoid overheating during activity.
Outer layer: Protects you from external aggressions: wind, rain, snow. Our 100% PFC Free technical jackets block moisture while allowing sweat to escape. This modular layering adapts to conditions: remove a layer if you’re too hot, add one during breaks.
Choosing the Right Materials to Stay Warm
92% of our cotton comes from organic farming, but it’s not your best ally against the cold. Merino wool remains unbeatable: it naturally regulates your body temperature while wicking away moisture, even when wet.
Our recycled polyester (69% from plastic bottles) provides remarkable insulation in our technical down jackets. Tencel and EcoVero in our lifestyle sweaters use 50% less water than traditional viscose, while perfectly retaining warmth.
Absolutely avoid pure cotton as a base layer: it retains moisture and cools you down. Instead, choose our synthetic fiber or wool underwear, guaranteed PFC-free since 2017 with our reactivatable Teflon EcoElite™ treatment.
How to Keep Hands and Feet Warm?
Effectively Protecting Your Extremities
Your hands and feet lose heat first when your body senses cold. This natural reaction concentrates blood flow on your vital organs, gradually abandoning fingers and toes.
Our Picture technical gloves create an insulating barrier while preserving dexterity. In very cold conditions, layer thin silk liners under your main gloves—the trapped air between the two layers significantly boosts thermal insulation.
For feet, sock choice determines your comfort. Merino wool in our technical models wicks away moisture while retaining insulating properties, even when wet. Avoid cotton, which traps sweat and cools your feet.
For optimal comfort, regularly warm your extremities with circular movements. A few drops of ylang-ylang essential oil in a warm foot bath effectively restart blood circulation after a cold day.
Hand Warmers: Your Allies Against Intense Cold
When even our best technical gloves reach their limits in biting cold, hand warmers become your best companions. These small devices slip discreetly into pockets, gloves, or shoes to diffuse gentle heat for several hours.
Two technologies dominate the market: disposable chemical warmers that activate on contact with air, and reusable saline reaction versions that you reactivate in boiling water. The former provide up to 8 hours of continuous heat, perfect for long mountain outings.
Slip them into your Picture gloves before you start feeling cold—once numb, your fingers struggle to recover. This anticipation transforms your winter outings into moments of pure pleasure, without the unpleasant sensation of frozen extremities spoiling the experience.
How Not to Be Cold on a Bike?
Even at moderate speed, the wind strongly amplifies the sensation of cold: at 25–30 km/h in 5 °C, your body actually feels more like 0 to 2 °C. On a mountain bike, this constant exposure quickly turns a simple winter ride into a real thermal challenge.
Our Picture technical jackets create an essential windproof barrier thanks to their 100% PFC Free Teflon EcoElite™ treatment. Complete with a neck warmer to prevent cold air from seeping into your jacket—a critical zone often neglected.
For legs, layer technical pants over your regular clothes. Hot drinks before departure warm your body from the inside, an excellent way to prepare for the cold.
How Not to Be Cold While Camping or in a Tent?
Setting up your bivouac in a windy corridor turns your night into a nightmare, even with the best equipment. Choose a spot sheltered from prevailing winds and avoid low areas where cold air naturally accumulates.
Your mattress determines 80% of your thermal comfort: the R-Value should exceed 4 for winter conditions. Double this protection with a survival blanket under your sleeping pad—this reflective barrier effectively blocks cold transfer from the frozen ground.
Preheat your sleeping bag with a warm water bottle before sliding in. This simple trick avoids the initial thermal shock and immediately kickstarts your bag’s warming process.
Food and Hydration: Your Secret Anti-Cold Weapons
What to Drink to Fight the Cold?
Hydration remains essential even in freezing temperatures: your body loses as much water as in summer, but you feel less thirsty. This misleading illusion often leads to winter dehydration.
Hot drinks maintain your body temperature while keeping you hydrated. Prefer warm lemon water in the morning with a spoon of honey—this combination activates your immune system and boosts your morning metabolism.
Green tea is particularly effective thanks to its antioxidants that strengthen your natural defenses. Avoid overly hot drinks, which cause excessive sweating followed by sudden cooling. A temperature between 50–60°C offers the best compromise between comfort and thermal benefits.
Foods That Truly Warm You Up
Certain ingredients naturally activate your thermogenesis—the process by which your body produces heat. Legumes such as chickpeas and dried beans heavily stimulate your digestive system, generating long-lasting internal heat thanks to their high vegetable protein content.
Spices are your most effective allies: ginger, cinnamon, and pepper stimulate blood circulation and warm your extremities. Incorporate them into root vegetable soups or roasted sweet potatoes to maximize their thermal effect.
Choose foods rich in zinc and selenium (oat flakes, tuna) that optimize thyroid function—your body’s real thermostat. A handful of nuts (walnuts, almonds) as a snack maintains heat production between meals. Beware of iced fruit juices, which abruptly cool your body.
Move to Stay Warm: Physical Activity as a Solution
Climb a few stairs and notice how your body temperature instantly rises. This natural reaction turns every movement into an internal heat generator.
Our Picture technical jackets perfectly accompany your winter warm-up sessions. Jump rope for 2 minutes or do side steps to reactivate blood circulation numbed by the cold.
Morning running remains highly effective against freezing temperatures: your metabolism stays elevated for several hours after exercise. Add vigorous arm exercises to instantly warm up your upper body.
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