I decided to assemble a “dream team” of my warmest winter layers – old and newish – and go out for a walk this morning when my weather station told me that it was zero degrees outside.

I lasted only about 20 minutes, I only came back because my toes were not warming up enough. I now have a heating pad applied to my feet!

All of my layers were a mixture of things old (wool stormy daniels I mean kromer hat I’ve had since 1994), some cold weather items I bought for a winter beer festival in 2007, including snow pants and wool thermal shirt), and homemade items (leg warmers and scarf made by my mom).

Every other layer that I put on today did well – two hats, scarf, wool thermal base layer shirt, three down layers (vest, light jacket, heavier outer jacket), two layers of gloves (Isotoner ski ski gloves over basic dollar store smart phone gloves), snow pants over pajama pants, leg warmers under those as well as covering shirt cuffs, two layers of wool socks under boots allegedly rated to negative 30 degree temps.

Figures that my feet would be the weakest link! My other digits were fine – the outer gloves were off by the time I was close to home 😂 🦶🦶

Pro tip – if you plan to be able to use your phone on a winter walk, make sure your base glove layer has those finger and thumb modifications to allow for touch screen use. This way even if you peel off your top glove layer you can still use your phone to make a silly social media post – or less importantly – text or call for help!

Also bring some form of ID with you in case something unthinkable happens on your arctic adventure!