The best places to shop for women's ski gear online

Why you'll love it: Sweaty Betty doesn't just make fantastic yoga and running gear — its ski gear, particularly its base layers, are top notch, too.

There are more than enough athleisure brands to go around, what with the Lululemon, Athleta, and Sweaty Betty's of the world all vying for your attention. But only one offers technical ski gear for women — and that's Sweaty Betty.

In fact, a whole decade ago, Tamara Hill-Norton, the founder and creative director of Sweaty Betty started offering a true ski collection, and today it remains one of the company's most popular offerings. And it's not hard to see why.

I'm particularly enamored by Sweaty Betty's base layers, which are some of the warmest, most comfortable, and certainly most attractive I've donned. The brand has brought its unique aesthetic to the ski game, and I love the Black Snowfall Jacquard print that is available in both tops and bottoms.

The tops feature quarter zips so that you can decide for yourself just how warm you want to be, and thanks to little details like thumb holes, this is a particularly useful piece of clothing. The material is sweat-wicking features enough elastane to help it move with your body.

If you're looking for outerwear, Sweaty Betty can deliver as well. The bestselling Exploration Softshell Ski Jacket has a fleece back and Primaloft thermal insulation to keep you warm, as well as an adjustable hood with a fur trim that. Plus, there are storm cuffs with thumbholes and a dedicated sleeve pocket for your lift pass.

In honor of Sweaty Betty's 20th anniversary, the brand has recently created a limited edition mini base layer in sizes 3T and 4T, marking the first time that the company is offering ski gear for your toddlers.

Pros: Comfortable and versatile base layers, great prints, functional and attractive design, availability of ski gear for tots

Cons: Slightly more limited selection than other ski gear purveyors

Check out Sweaty Betty's ski collection here

Why you'll love it: Burton offers fantastic and roomy ski gear that will keep you warm while allowing you to move.

High on any skier's or snowboarder’s list of must-have brands is Burton, and once you’ve pulled on one of these jackets yourself, it’s not hard to see why. The brand makes wide use of Gore-Tex to help keep athletes warm and dry. Burton also utilizes warm, comfortable materials so that you’re able to brave the coldest days for hours on end.

Especially inspiring is the Kimmy Fasani-inspired three-layer design, which does a great job standing up to wetter conditions. That’s thanks to fully taped seams and water-resistant zippers, and of course, the use of Gore-Tex throughout the jacket. There’s also a side-entry zipper that makes this jacket an easy one to take on and off, even if you have a helmet on.

You could also look to the Rubix Ski Jacket, which Snow Magazine describes as boasting a long and spacious cut for maximum comfort and protection from the elements. Two layers of Gore-Tex will keep you cozy, and there’s also Thermolite insulation for extra warmth. Pockets are available both on the outside and inside of the coat, and there are a wide range of colors and patterns.

Also worth mentioning are the brand’s Gore-Tex mittens, as well as its long underwear. Because no matter how great your top layer is, your bottom layer will still come into play, too.

Pros: Extremely warm, element-proof thanks to layers of Gore-tex, plenty of styles and patterns

Cons: Like many other high-end ski brands, Burton doesn’t come cheap

Shop Burton’s women’s ski collection on Amazon

Why you'll love it: When we say straightforward, we don’t mean basic, and here to prove that is the classic winter brand The North Face.

You don’t need tons of bells and whistles to make for a great coat or ski jacket, and no one knows that better than The North Face. There’s a reason that seemingly every denizen of the east coast and northwest owns a North Face jacket. These pieces are built to last and get the job done. The same trend applies for its ski gear.

The folks at Powder Magazine love the Purist jacket, a hardshell that can withstand long days on the slopes. It has vents in both the armpit and arm area in order maximize breathability, and thanks to the reinforced ripstop construction of the shell, this is a jacket that won’t rip or tear easily.

The hardshell is a bit longer than most so that your bottom stays covered, which I’ve found to be particularly useful when you take an inevitable fall or two. It also fits remarkably well. The drop hood is also compatible with a helmet.

The North Face is also not quite as expensive as other brands, which means you can buy a whole set of ski gear without breaking the bank. Reviewers love their Freedom Insulated Pants, which offer both wind and water protection, and come with adjustable waist tabs, zippered hand pockets, inner-thigh vents, and reinforced kickpatches. Plus, I love that North Face offers “short” sizes for more petite women.

Pros: Affordable, straightforward, extremely functional, great sizing options

Cons: Less availability of patterns and colors

Shop The North Face women’s ski collection

Why you'll love it: If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a ski jacket, you better be able to use it for more than just skiing, and Arc’teryx agrees.

Arc’teryx makes great ski gear that is so great you won’t want to wear it exclusively on the slopes. And you certainly don’t have to. Thanks to the brand’s multifunctional jackets and gear, you’ll find that spending a small fortune can be well worth it if you wear said jacket just about every day in every occasion.

I’m a big fan of the Sentinel jacket — it’s a longer cut that covers your bottom and more of your torso, but most importantly, it’s somehow extremely soft and flexible despite being appropriate for rough weather.

It features three layers of Gore-Tex for the ultimate in wind and waterproofing, and weighs in at just 560 grams — not nearly enough to weigh you down, but plenty to keep you warm. And thanks to this minuscule weight, you can take this jacket anywhere and make great use of it in just about any environment, much like many of Arc’teryx’s other ski jackets.

Take, for example, the eternally trusty Beta SV Jacket. The SV, in this case, stands for "severe weather," which is what this jacket is designed to withstand. Extremely versatile thanks to its N80p-X 3L Gore-Tex Pro construction, this jacket is durable, waterproof, and windproof, though still surprisingly flexible. Because it’s designed specifically for severe conditions, you can expect to have this jacket in your closet for years to come.

Arc’teryx also has a wide range of extremely light snow pants that come in handy for a wide range of winter sports, as well as base layers and boots for all your outdoor needs.

Pros: Versatile, durable gear, appropriate for all weather and activities, great quality

Cons: Expensive

Shop women's ski gear at Arc'teryx Shop Arc’teryx women’s collection on Amazon

The best beanies you can buy

The word "beanie" is kind of one of those catch-alls that encompasses a ton of different styles, from slouchy cuts to ultra-fitted ones with a variety of embellishments and fabric variations. The sheer number of options is overwhelming. After all, when you can buy a beanie anywhere, how do you narrow it down?

You could do a ton of research on the topic. Or you can read on for our top five favorite picks for men and women from around the Internet.

Here are the best beanies you can buy:

• Best beanie overall: The North Face Shinksy Beanie, $30
• Best under-$20 beanie: Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat, $12.99
• Best cashmere beanie: Naadam Signature Ribbed Cashmere Beanie, $65
• Best pom-pom beanie: Patagonia Vintage Town Beanie, $45
• Best high-tech beanie: Tenergy Wireless Bluetooth Beanie, $24.95

The best places to buy scarves online

Your choice of scarf can make or break your comfort level in the wintertime. Opt for one that's wooly and warm and you'll be toasty. Choose a too-thin fabric and you, well, won't. Scarves are also a great opportunity to infuse a bit of personality into your winter wardrobe. And when you get bored with your outerwear, you can always pick a new scarf to mix things up.

These five brands are your best bet for warm, attractive options that will keep you cozy all winter long.

Here are the best places to buy scarves:

• Best scarves overall: J. Crew
• Best affordable scarves: Uniqlo
• Best stylish scarves: Topshop and Topman
• Best plaid scarves: Barbour
• Best warm scarves: Patagonia

The best thermal gloves you can buy

A good pair of thermal gloves can make all the difference on a cold winter day. We did the research to find the best thermal gloves you can buy to keep your hands nice and toasty for the rest of this winter and for many more winters to come.

Here are the best gloves you can buy:

• Best overall: Ozero Thermal -20°F Suede Leather Winter Gloves
• Best for men: Carhartt Men's W.P Waterproof Insulated Gloves
• Best for women: The North Face Women's Etip Gloves
• Best touchscreen gloves: Vbiger Winter Warm Touch Screen Gloves
• Best for working: Ergodyne ProFlex 817WP Thermal Waterproof Utility Gloves
• Best affordable women's gloves: Il Caldo with its Thicker Warmer Weather gloves
• Best Gore Tex gloves: Burton Gore Tex Gloves

The best places to buy winter hats for men, women, and children

Your body loses a significant portion of its heat through your head, so keep yourself warm this winter with a great winter hat.

The winter hat makers we're featuring today offer hats in myriad styles, so once you've narrowed down the type of winter cap you need, you should be able to find several fine options from each brand.

Here are the best places to buy winter hats:

• Best winter hats overall: Columbia Sportswear
• Best winter hats for kids: The North Face
• Best stylish winter hats: J. Crew
• Best winter hats for sports fans: New Era at Macy's
• Best low-cost winter hats: Amazon

The best mittens you can buy

Mittens keep your hands warmer than gloves, so if it's cold where you live, work, or play, slip a pair on and keep the chill out.

Yes, you will lose a measure of dexterity when choosing mittens versus gloves. But you won't risk losing a finger to frostbite, or simple suffering from frigid digits, to be a bit less dramatic. Today we've lined up some of the best mittens on the market, including mittens for babies, kids, adults, and some specialty pairs, too.

Here are the best mittens you can buy:

• Best mittens overall: Marmot Expedition Mitts
• Best mittens for women: Columbia Whirlibird Mitten
• Best mittens for men: REI Co-Op Gauntlet GTX Mittens
• Best mittens for babies: Stonz Infant/Baby Mittz
• Best mittens for kids: N'Ice Caps Kids Thinsulate Waterproof Reflector Mittens
• Best mittens for parents: 7 A.M. Enfant Polar Warmmuffs Stroller Hand Muffs
• Best convertible mittens: Hot Headz Polarex Glommitts Gloves

The best snow pants you can buy for men, women, and kids

Make the most of that winter wonderland this year by keeping yourself warm and dry with well-made snow pants when you're skiing, sledding, or generally romping about in the snow.

Here are the best snow pants you can buy:

• Best snow pants overall: Arctix Insulated Snow Pant for men and women
• Best snow pants for women: Patagonia Snowbelle Stretch Pants
• Best snow pants for kids: REI Co-Op Timber Mountain Pants
• Best snow pants for active wear: Columbia Ridge to Run II Pant
• Best snow pants for skiing: Trailside Supply Co. Insulated Ski/Snowboard Pant