Why You Should Workout Outdoors In Winter

The winter months are a time of year when many of us want to hibernate, staying wrapped up and cosy at home rather than braving the elements. The dark evenings in Europe evoke a natural sense of hygge, the Danish and Norweigan word that captures that feeling of contented comfort we tend to associate with staying home in winter by a roaring fire. However, winter sunlight and exercising outdoors through these months have many benefits, from boosting much-needed Vitamin D to increasing cardiovascular fitness, reducing stress, and improving sleep. In this article, we explore why you should make the effort to exercise more outdoors during the wintertime.

The Benefits of Outdoor Winter Exercise

The physical health benefits are why many of us exercise in the first place, and during the winter, the sharp rise in viral illnesses is enough of a motivator for many of us to explore ways we can boost our immune system. And one way of doing that is by staying active. According to various medical studies published by the British Medical Journal, exercise has been repeatedly found to improve immune function, making you less susceptible to getting ill.

Much-needed winter light is also a great reason to get outdoors and enjoy being active. Whether you're fitting in a lunchtime run or spending the weekend hiking in the countryside, increasing the amount of time you spend outside will help you get more sunlight so your body can create vitamin D. Sunlight is also essential for our body's natural rhythms. During the winter months, we spend more time using artificial light, which can impact these rhythms. Even on a cloudy, getting outdoors will have a positive impact on both your physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging your brain to produce serotonin, providing a boost for both your mood and your energy levels. Natural light also helps your body regulate its sleep patterns so you get a deeper, more restful night's sleep.
 

Choosing The Right Fabrics For Winter Workouts

Making sure you are appropriately dressed and protected against the elements will help you feel more comfortable exercising outdoors in winter. Your clothing needs to offer warmth but also be breathable, preventing you from overheating when you are exerting yourself. During the winter months, merino comes into its own with its incredible thermo-regulating properties, adapting to your body's temperature to keep you warm and protect you from wind chill.

Thin, lightweight and warm, merino makes an ideal thermal base, trapping warm air close to the skin so you can brave the cold and stay outdoors in comfort for longer. A simple base layer, like our merino activewear tops, is perfect for high-intensity workouts.

These ultra fine Italian-spun merino wool tops are also fast drying, ideal for changeable weather conditions. For more extended outdoor pursuits like hiking, you can layer a fleece over our merino activewear. You can also opt for cosy hiking socks like our British wool hiking socks or Alpaca walking socks, with their comfortable padded heels made to ease tired feet on longer stretches. Both wool and alpaca are incredibly insulating fabrics, keeping your feet warm and cosy but also wicking moisture away from the skin to prevent overheating.

Adaptable layers can also help you feel more comfortable when working out. Our pure merino accessories like our merino snood and knitted headband, are great ways to add a touch of warmth to your outfit but lightweight and easy to pack away when needed.