Winter Gear Round-Up: 5 Cold-Weather Clothing and Camping Items Reviewed

It doesn’t matter if you’re hunkering down in the rainy Pacific Northwest or winter camping in snowy Colorado, having the right gear to keep you comfy is important. We review the latest cold-weather clothing and camp gear to keep you enjoying your time with Old Man Winter.

Mountain Hardwear Men’s Jackson Ridge Jackets
Canvas jackets have long been favored as hard-working outdoor essentials. Their durability goes a long way when hauling firewood or doing other activities that demand high-quality wear-resistant materials. Mountain Hardware recently released updated his-and-hers Jackson Ridge utility jackets, and we reviewed them both.

The men’s Jackson Ridge jacket has an updated slim fit with a sherpa fleece hood lining and insulated overall material. Mountain Hardware raised the neckline, repositioned the pockets, and added a cinch hem that can be adjusted.

“I like the Jackson Ridge’s style,” said Andy Lilienthal, my husband. “The overall fit is good, however, there are a few things that could be better. For instance, the front pockets’ openings are woefully small. I can barely get my hands in there. Once they’re in, they seem spacious. It’s also an issue if I want to put my mobile phone in the pockets, too.”

For him, the jacket fits a bit snugly across the shoulders and chest, especially if he’s driving in it. He also wishes there were internal pockets.

“While the sleeves are the right length, the cuffs are very tight. Almost too tight to wear a watch,” Andy added. “Much of the time I left [the cuffs] unsnapped.”

“All those things aside, the fit is good for slim people like me,” Andy said. “I like the lined hood, which is warm on cool days.”

Price: $175.00

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Jackson Ridge Jacket
Featuring a slouchier fit, the women’s Mountain Hardware Jackson Ridge jacket has the same type of hood and interior lining as the men’s variant, but has a completely different look and construction.

The men’s cut is slim whereas the women’s quite baggy in the sleeves and dropped-shoulder design, similar to that of the bomber jacket of the 1980s.

The women’s jacket has thin black fabric cuffs which can accommodate most watches, jewelry, or mittens. The length hits the right area, providing good coverage. A bottom cinch is available if needed.

While the women’s Jackson Ridge jacket boasts large pockets, the angled zippered entrance makes it difficult to get a larger smartphone stowed when needed. An enormous hood supplies ample coverage when wind picks up or unexpected rain starts.

The women’s Mountain Hardware Jackson Ridge jacket is very roomy and durably constructed. It’s made to last years of adventures. However, its sleeves seem overly bulky and a bit out of place when comparing it against its boxy torso. This is especially true when evaluating it against the men’s slim fit.

The men’s jacket has heavy-duty canvas cuffs, though the women’s thin fabric iteration may wear quicker over time. However, if you’re in the market for a go-to rough-and-tumble jacket that either he or she can wear and not worry about, the Jackson Ridge jacket series should be looked at for overall durability.

Price: $175.00

Ignik Topside Heated Blanket
Keeping warm is essential when camping in the cold. Ignik’s Topside Heated Blanket will keep you nice and toasty when temps drop. This luxe double-sided 100% post-consumer recycled blanket has a polyester shell with one side being non-slip micro-suede. It also includes moderate insulation for a comfortable feel yet packs down minimally when traveling.

Although you can’t use this blanket at home with a normal house plug (we wish it did!), it comes with a 12-volt DC adapter. This can be used via your vehicle’s 12V outlet or most power stations with a minimum recommended 250Wh capacity. We tested it with our Inergy Flex 1500 power station and Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Core unit.

The Ignik Topside Heated Blanket is 52x72 inches in size and fits one person (though we’ve used it to cover up to two people when lounging or sleeping. The max heat output is 48W and the blanket offers a central full-body heating element.

The Topside has upper and foot heat zones that provide extra heat while the central area offers users moderate warmth.

A simple hand-held controller switches the heat intensity from levels of 10 to 100. Then, with another click of the triangular button within the Ignik logo, you can set how many hours you’d like the blanket on for. You can have warmth for up to 10 hours at a time without tons of battery draw. Note: The controller and lengthy cord stows in a nifty zippered pouch sewn on the blanket.

The Ignik Topside Heated Blanked can be used as a base layer, or as a top layer. It comes with a stuff sack made of thin material. It takes a bit of wrangling to get the blanket back into its place. Plus, the sack doesn’t have sewn-in material shield to cover the blanket once settled, either.

The Topside blanket is an essential bit of kit for your next winter overland adventures if you’re looking for added warmth. It’s warm, soft, well made, and packs small enough for most vehicle-based excursions.

Price: $199.95

Mountain Hardware Women’s Phantom Belay Down Parka
Nothing screams “warm” more than a puffy jacket with lots of loft. Enter the Phantom Belay Down Parka from Mountain Hardware. Packed with 800-fill RDS-certified down in a 3-D box baffle construction, this women’s jacket is destined to help you climb mountains, conquer the Arctic (like we will with the Alcan 5000 Rally), or simply lounge around the campfire in the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter.

The outer layer is made from Pertex Diamond Fuse ripstop shell fabric. It’s water- and abrasion-resistant. There are several details that make this not your ordinary women’s down parka. This Phantom Belay Down Parka includes supplemental layers of polyester insulation throughout the shoulders, yoke, and lower sleeves to add additional warmth and protection. Dual-mapping fabric is concentrated on high-wear areas like the helmet-compatible hood and shoulders, ensuring a longer lifespan.

This Mountain Hardwear parka also has a snag-resistant two-way front zipper with a belay snap that enables a secure 1/2 zip for harness access, though simple on-the-go zipping seemed to be challenging at times. Huge hand pockets and an interior chest pocket allow room for oodles for items. Just make sure you don’ t lose sight of where you pack things in these coffers. A stuff sack is also supplied, perfect for on-the-go adventures.

This down parka is Responsible Down Standard certified meaning it contains down or feathers from farms certified to animal welfare requirements and are tracked from the source to the final product.

The Mountain House Phantom Belay Down Parka has a relaxed fit and is roomier than other parkas. It boasts an internal waist cinch to keep the cold out when necessary. Additionally, stretch-knit cuffs allow for a variety of gloves, mittens, and underclothes to be worn without issue. The hood is huge and is helmet-compatible with three-way drawcord adjustments. Finally, a lower hem keeps bums warm when temps plummet.

Though the zippered portion of the collar is stiff and takes getting used to if you’re constantly looking down, the women’s Mountain Hardware Phantom Belay Down Parka has been instrumental in keeping me warm in a variety of winter conditions. It’s a must-consider if looking for a high-quality women’s parka for extreme warmth, quality, and good looks.

Price: $550.00

EXPED Camp Slippers
Who doesn’t want a comfortable pair of slippers at the beginning or end of the day? EXPED’s Camp Slippers contain 100% recycled quick-drying synthetic insulation, have a textured sole, and are easy to get into. Additionally, they fold nearly flat for packing and keep your feet warm in chilly temperatures.

EXPED’s Camp Slippers boast a 4-millimeter-thick insole, providing a comfortable step. They even have a loop on the rear of the slipper for easy stowing and are lightweight to wear.

Our Navy-blue testers were a medium (to fit women’s U.S. 8.5-10.5). I anticipated a perfect fit due to my street size being a women’s size 10. Though, when they arrived, I slipped them on and they were wide and comfy. However, my toes were right up against the front edge. I tried one size up, but they were too big.

There is a single seam line sewn around the entire slipper at the base of the sole. While this may be fine for most campers, this may allow possible water intrusion while camping during inclement weather. The sole is also thin, not a thicker, more rugged one to adequately accept uneven terrain, if that’s what you’re after.

EXPED’s Camp Slippers are a solid choice if you’re looking for easy slip-on lounge slipper to hang around camp with. They’re not meant to go far, but rather keep you warm and dry while you’re relaxing by the campfire as the roaring glow toasts your cheeks in wintertime glory.

Price: $54.95

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