The perennial joy and frustration of cross-country skiing is that every day on the track brings varying conditions. There are natural elements to consider, including temperature, wind, and snow. Then there are psychological factors, like dreading the transition between warm car and freezing trail. Wear too little and there’s a chance of frostbite or hypothermia—especially during a long ski. Wear too much, and you’ll sweat, then overheat, and eventually freeze.
The best way to avoid this over-under-dressing dilemma is to follow three simple rules: Always wear breathable, wicking layers. On warmer days, less is always more. And always keep a change of clothes and a plush puffy in the car. Our four testers—who, collectively, have been skiing for almost two centuries—put more than 100 pieces of gear to the test in Minnesota and Wisconsin in search of the best ski accessories for gliding through winter.
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