What’s the secret to surviving winter in the Upper Peninsula? Get outside! ❄️

If you’re thinking, no way it’s f*cling cold - I hear you but the key is dressing appropriately. Having grown up in the deep south, the most frequent thing friends and family ask me is how to dress for Marquette’s winter. We’ve outfitted plenty of Southerners for upper peninsula adventures so far and they’ve all had a good time! Marquette, Michigan is one of the snowiest destinations east of the Mississippi, and with four cold winters under my belt, I feel like I’m getting pretty good at keeping warm. Here are my best packing tips for a winter destination to keep you warm and having fun in the outdoors.

woman dressed in pom pom hat Goretex shell and snow pants — Backcountry skiing near Marquette, Michigan

Here’s my snow day uniform:

wool, silk, synthetic base layers

fleece top

wool socks

waterproof snow boots

wool hat

snow proof pants (no jeans!) I wear these prana hiking pants with fleece-lined or wool long johns underneath.

down jacket/synthetic puff

wool hat

insulated mittens

*If I’m cross-country skiing I just swap my down jacket for a waterproof shell over my layers and it’s a perfect weight. I do usually keep my down puffy in the car so I can swap jackets when I get off the trail to have a snack and pack up. It’s wild how cold you can get once you stop moving.

Woman holding cross country skis — Successful day at Blueberry Ridge Cross Country Trails

Back country skiing at Echo Lake near Marquette, Michigan — Backcountry skiing to Echo Lake

Toddler cross country skiing — Fern cross country skiing at Blueberry Ridge

We’re big Patagonia fans (especially Fern) and they’ve rounded up a great gift guide for everyone in your life.

Do not wear cotton

The big thing to remember is to leave cotton at home or in your hotel room. It absorbs moisture and traps it next to your skin. This is dangerous in cold temperatures. Good quality outdoor clothing is not cheap but usually lasts a long time.

hiking with dogs in the snow — Hiking in early winter near Marquette

What brand should you buy?

I’m not a strict brand loyalist and have pieces from Patagonia, Athleta, Prana, Icebreaker, and Minus33. I will say Patagonia’s fleece-lined long underwear has a really nice wide waistband that sits well under clothing. I wish more brands would do this - there’s nothing worse than an elastic waistband hitting you at a weird spot and creating extra bulges when you’re already wearing 3 layers.

I find Minus33 wool layers to be the softest wool layers so far. I do a lot of yoga and Athleta makes my favorite leggings. They have some warm fleece-lined leggings I wear cross-country skiing when the temps are in the 20s.

Cross country skiing at Blueberry Ridge — Skiing at Blueberry Ridge

Woman snowshoeing carrying a baby in a down snowsuit — Me and Fern showshoeing

How much should you pack?

I usually travel with two sets of base layers and socks and do laundry if needed. If you get somewhere and realize you need some more options, look for a locally-owned outdoor gear store. They usually have helpful staff and sometimes offer discounts to keep up with online retailers. Our shop in town for all cold-weather clothing is Getz’s and they’ve got it all! They have snow boots, socks, base layers, coats, gloves, and more. Even better is their staff has tested everything so they can help you find what you’re looking for. When my family comes to visit they usually do a little shopping because someone always forgets something and IMO you can never have too many wool socks.

*The other thing to remember is you don’t need a lot of clothes. I repeat outfits all the time. You’ll notice in almost all of my photos I’m wearing the same outer layers.

Sledding on Northern Michigan University campus — Sledding at Northern Michigan University campus

If you’re visiting a ritzy destination like Vail or Park City you might need some dressier clothes but in Marquette people usually stroll into dinner or the brewery wearing their ski clothes. I thought this was strange when we first moved here but it makes sense now. Everybody is playing outside in the snow all day long, so there is no need to change your outfit before your evening plans!

beers at blackrocks brewery outdoors — Winter patio beers at Blackrocks Brewing

Snow boots

When it comes to boots, Ryan and I both love Sorels. I have 3 pairs and they’re hard to beat. I have these tall, fur-lined boots, these are my everyday pair, and these are my fun city winter boots. If you’re going somewhere really cold with lots of snow, make sure your Sorels have a temperature rating. Some of their boots may look warm but if you really need the warmth make sure the pair has a rating. Fern has a pair of Bogs that are awesome. I think eventually I’ll try a pair of these because they are a pull-on style and look comfy.