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  • Home
  • Raising Outdoor Kids
    • Cooking & Crafting

      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

      November 27, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

      March 28, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During…

      March 17, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      50+ Spring Nature Activities for Kids of…

      March 3, 2020

      Crafting

      How to Make a Willow Nature Crown…

      July 2, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      9 Special Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice…

      June 1, 2019

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      A Beginner’s Guide to Pond Dipping with…

      May 20, 2019

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      How Pokémon Can Get Kids Bird Watching

      April 30, 2019

      Nevada, USA

      Rock Climbing and Hiking Around Las Vegas…

      April 24, 2019

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Signs of Spring Nature Walk for Kids…

      April 5, 2019

  • Spring Outside 2020
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  • Canadian Adventures
    • All Alberta British Columbia Lower Mainland Northern Interior Okanagan
      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      August 30, 2017

      Alberta

      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

      Alberta

      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

      Alberta

      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

      Alberta

      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

      November 8, 2017

      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      November 1, 2017

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      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

      October 10, 2017

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      Lower Mainland

      Visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in…

      March 7, 2017

      Lower Mainland

      Outdoor Family Adventures in Metro Vancouver

      August 2, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking the Stanley Park Seawall

      July 27, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Deep Cove and Quarry Rock Trail

      July 25, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park

      July 22, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking Through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

      July 20, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Lynn Canyon Park

      July 18, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      1001 Steps to the Beach

      April 19, 2014

      Northern Interior

      Life at Ness Lake

      September 1, 2016

      Northern Interior

      McMillan Creek Regional Park

      October 8, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

      October 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Eskers Provincial Park

      October 5, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Autumn in Northern British Columbia

      September 28, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Wildflowers in Northern British Columbia

      June 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Visiting Barkerville Historic Town

      June 2, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Travelling North

      June 19, 2013

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      A National Park Reserve in the South…

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Backwoods Mama

Product ReviewsRaising Outdoor Kids

Keeping Kids Warm in the Winter with Base Layers

December 14, 2017

Getting outside during the winter months can be a struggle with children. There’s the initial challenge of convincing everyone that it’ll be fun. Then there’s the act of wrestling on everyone’s winter gear while listening to the high-pitched screams of “I need heeeelp!” and “I don’t like it!”. Dear parents, the struggle is real and after all that hard work of getting outside, there’s the inevitable complaint of “I’m cold!”

Children can’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults; it’s a known fact. However, kids can play outside in cold weather for a very long time, for hours, if they’re dressed right.

“There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”― Ranulph Fiennes

Getting dressed for playing outside in the winter starts with a good base layer. This is the secret for keeping kids happy, dry and warm for hours, yes hours, of outdoor play and adventure in the winter months.

Base layers are made of a material that stays dry, warm and sit close to the body like a second skin. The most commonly used materials for base layers are merino wool or polypropylene and each type of material has it’s advantages and disadvantages.

Polypropylene: Advantages and Disadvantages

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Great at keeping in body heat.Gets stinky.
Wicks moisture very effectively.Synthetic material.
Soft and form fitting.
Durable.
Lightweight.
Dries very quickly.
Machine washable.
Less expensive.

Merino Wool: Advantages and Disadvantages

AdvantagesDisadvantages
Great at keeping in body heat.Not as good at wicking moisture.
Soft and form fitting.Can feel itchy. (usually better after a few washes)
Lightweight.Takes more time to dry.
Naturally antibacterial. (not stinky)Less durable.
Natural material.More expensive.

Best Base Layer Material for Kids?

I love merino wool, but polypropylene is much more durable, affordable and better at wicking away moisture. I’ve noticed that my kids will wear through merino base layers quickly while polypropylene base layers can be passed down from child to child as they grow out of it. For these reasons, I recommend polypropylene base layers for keeping kids warm and comfortable while being active outdoors.

Stripes Gear Base Layers Review

Stripes Gear is a family owned and operated business in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada and they design fun, colourful and functional premium polypropylene base layers for the whole family, from toddler to adult. Their base layers are made in New Zealand where they are constructed with great care.

We’ve been field testing Stripes Gear base layers and here’s what we think. For starters, when my kids got their base layers they wore them for a week straight! My kids played in them, skied in them and hiked in them and they’ve been happy. After a week, I had to smuggle them away for a wash, mostly to freshen them up. I didn’t notice any bad smells, but they were getting full of dirt and food.

What we love about Stripes Gear Base Layers:

  • The material is super soft and comfortable (good for sensory sensitive children).
  • The fabric dries very fast (don’t put them in the dryer!).
  • The tops and pants are form fitting with lots of stretch.
  • The double knees are great for wear and tear.
  • The colours are plain awesome!

Click on the logo below and use BackwoodsMama at checkout to save 10% off your order.

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Disclaimer: Stripes Gear sent me products for the purpose of this review; however all thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, this page contains Stripes Gear affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from your purchases made through them. By purchasing items through these links you will be supporting my work in empowering families to be active outdoors together. Thank you!

Keeping Kids Warm in the Winter with Base Layers was last modified: January 13th, 2019 by Josée
Advantages and DisadvantagesBase LayersGiveawayMerino WoolPolypropylenePros and ConsReviewStripes GearWinter Gear
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1 comment

Pam M. January 17, 2019 at 3:04 pm

Hi Josée,
I know this post is a year old, but I love what you wrote about layering and all the suggestions for gear. I’m including a link to it in an email to parents in my preschool classroom. We need all the layers here in Minnesota this time of year! Thanks for all you do for families and getting kids outside!!

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