Skip Yashow this year and get some quality threads that will last you several Beijing winters in a row. We’ve got picks for serious ski and snowboarding enthusiasts as well as for those who just want to keep warm during Beijing’s viciously cold winter.

Coats and Jackets

Beijing’s not the Himalayas, but stocking up on some professional outdoor explorer gear is never a bad idea. Check out leading outdoor adventurer label ArcTeryx’s Alpha LT jacket (¥6,400), with Gore-tex for a light and flexible wear, or the Covert Cardigan (¥2,200)—available in both men and women’s cuts—which uses Polartec, some of the best thermal material around. Helly Hansen, the Norwegian outdoorwear giant, has also set up shop in the capital. Pick up a Helly Hansen ski jacket, made with the brand’s own Helly O2 fabric, (¥2,000-¥4,000) or pick up one for the kids (¥688-788). At Boardsports in Dongzhimen, you can find the full line of top ski and snowboarding brand Burton’s latest collection, while Ao Tian Ji Xian in Ciqikou stocks the most complete collection of popular ski wear label DC, where good quality jackets will run between ¥1,000-¥2,000. Pick up a Nike Bellevue 3-in-1 snowboard jacket (¥2,499), or a Nike 6.0 Kampai jacket (¥1,699) to give your winter wardrobe some style.

Sweaters and Shirts

Less is more is a golden rule of fashion, and now it can apply during winter, too. This season, a number of brands have launched lines of ultra-light down clothing. Try Patagonia’s down sweaters (¥2,000-¥4,000), which are filled with soft, thin grey goose down from geese raised in Europe. Patagonia’s men’s organic cotton shirts are also very popular (¥860). The North Face’s women’s light sweaters (¥2,000-¥3,000) weigh less than 400 grams and come in a variety of colors. Men can check out the American brand Mountain Hard Wear’s light down jacket (¥3,000).

Footwear

Beijing is not as damp as southern China, but if it snows, you’ll need waterproof footwear to keep your toes dry. The best way to cope is with L.L Bean’s OHJP2 hiking boots (¥1,488), with TEK2.5 breathable, waterproof membrane, to ward off the clammy winter. Women will love the red quilted nylon faux-shearling boots, which have water-resistant uppers and waterproof rubber bottoms. For toasty footwear, try Ozark’s winter boots (¥1,398), whose Thinsulate thermal layer offers warmth and comfort, all encompassed in a light-soled shoe. North Face’s NEWS Traction Mule (¥398-498) uses goose down to keep feet warm and traction on the soles to keep you upright. Snowboarders will want to check out Nike Zoom Kaiju boots (¥3,199), which have a TPU back liner that offers protection and flexibility.

Accessories

Japanese brand Swany’s leather gloves (¥400-500) are a winter must, while American outdoor gear brand Smartwool makes fantastic winter socks (¥200-¥300), made from fine New Zealand Merino wool. They dry fast, and stay breathable and warm, even in humid conditions.

ArcTeryx, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, L.L Bean, The North Face, Ozark and Nike all have outlets in Beijing, while Burton and DC products are available at Boardsports (板尚), Top ( Top雪具店) and Ao Tian Ji Xian (傲天极限). Check out Sanfo Outdoor Sports Shop (三夫户外用品店) for more brands.

A Guide to Winter Wear

Water-resistant | Gore-tex: This waterproof fabric is breathable and is one of the most widely used fabrics for outdoor gear in the world. Four categories of Gore-tex cover a variety of needs, as well as a variety of prices: Pro Shell, Performance Shell, Soft Shell and Paclite. A Gore-tex Pro Shell jacket (over ¥6,000) is top-of-the-line waterproof, at a top-of-the-line price.

Fleece | Polartec: This is one of the most popular knit fleece fabrics around. Polartec is light, soft, warm, dries quickly and is easily cleaned, and is used in everything from gloves and socks to pants and jackets.

Thermal Tech | Primaloft: Originally developed for the U.S. Army, Primaloft is a high-end synthetic microfiber thermal insulation material—essentially a synthetic alternative to down—which keeps the wearer warm and dry. Other thermal tech brands are Thermolite and 3MThinsulate.

Traditional Thermal | Goose and Duck Down: Goose and duck down have been used throughout history to keep cold bodies warm. When looking to buy a comforter, go for goose down, which has more fill power, and will last longer. “Fill power” means the space one ounce of down occupies in cubic inches. 800+ means superb quality comforters, and 600+ means good quality comforters. Goose down also has less of an odor than duck down.

Classic | Wool: Wearing wool is one of the best ways to stave off the cold, and New Zealand Merino wool is the kind most frequently used in outdoor sportswear. It’s most often found in base layers of clothes, where it helps keep heat in and adds to the comfort factor.