Shape Editor's Top Picks: Essential Winter Wellness Items

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When you go to bed on Halloween, you wake up, and *poof* Thanksgiving and Christmas are in full swing. Amidst the lingering Halloween candy, pumpkins, and costumes, we can’t help but embrace the crisp, cool November air here in NYC—though a few of our lucky team members are eternally soaking up the California sun.

For many of us, colder weather means more time outdoors, whether for brisk walks or long runs. Gone are the sweaty days on steamy sidewalks—we’re now savoring the crunch of leaves in Central Park and the cool breeze near our Battery Park offices. To inspire you to join us outside, we’ve gathered our top picks for colder-weather activities. Gear up and get moving!

lululemon to the rescue, again. Call me crazy, but winter is one of my favorite times to run. As my old cross-country coach used to say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. So, on winter runs, I've been trained to layer. My go-to outer layer is this down jacket that keeps you super warm and toasty, no matter how chilly it is outside. Plus, you can easily throw it in the washer/dryer when it gets a little sweaty— no need to dry clean. I love the thumbholes, zippered pockets for stashing your phone, and the reflective details that add extra safety to early morning runs (although I still look crazy with lots of flashing wristbands). — Eliza Savage, Commerce Editorial Director

I'm a big proponent of sauna blankets any time of year, as I love the idea of sweating out toxins and bringing the luxury of the sauna to my bedroom. During the winter months, I find them especially helpful to my winddown routine at night, so I can fall asleep with a feeling of warmth in my bones— because is there anything worse than getting into a cold bed? After a full 50-minute session, I'm relaxed and all warmed up to get a restorative night of sleep. I've tried a ton of different sauna blankets, but the CurrentBody Skin Infrared Sauna Blanket is my favorite because it's incredibly comfortable to lie in. The towel insert is a game-changer, so you don't have to worry about cleaning out the blanket after each use, and I can trust the infrared technology behind this leading brand that has pioneered at-home beauty and wellness technology. — Jill DiDonato, Associate Editorial Commerce Operations Director, Beauty & Style Group

I've had this SAD lamp for 4+ years and rely on it during dark winter days. The super-bright lamp reaches a 10,000 LUX brightness (read: it's very bright) that helps regulate sleep, increase focus, improve mood, and boost energy. I find that it helps a lot during afternoons when I feel like I need a nap more than air. It wakes me up and gives me the energy I need to finish the work day strong. Plus, the design is super thin, so it doesn't take up a lot of shelf, desk, or table space. — Summer Cartwright, Senior Commerce Editor

Whether I'm heading to the corner store to grab a few things or need comfy shoes to wear while commuting to workout classes around the city, these cozy Bearpaw slippers are ideal for keeping my feet warm. They're easy to slip on and off, yet prevent me from tripping because of the boot design and tread on the sole. — Maddie Barber, Commerce Writer

I'm a huge fan of the post-work walk: Shut off my brain, turn on a podcast, and stroll off my stresses of the day. I discovered the FP Movement Hit the Slopes fleece during Fitness Awards testing last year, and it was my most worn item from last fall and winter. A little oversized and easy to layer with spacious pockets for keys, phone, and lip balm. The bold color block design is so happy that I actually want to put it on, even when tired, hangry, and cranky. Plus, it looks great in a selfie. — Shannon Bauer, Associate Editorial Director, Commerce

I prefer to run outdoors once the temperatures start to cool down. That’s why I'm all about layering when it comes to running in the winter, even down to my fingers. Cold, numb, and dry hands are my biggest pet peeve while exercising, so I rely on these Simari gloves from Amazon to avoid that. They keep my hands comfortably snug with its warm, thick, and plush interior. The best part? I can freely track my progress, shuffle through songs, and check messages on my phone while running without ever taking them off, thanks to their touchscreen function. — Taylor Jeffries, Beauty & Wellness Commerce Writer, News & Deals

When the weather gets chilly, and the leaves start falling, I know that paddle tennis season isn't too far off. A mix of squash, tennis, pickle, and padel, paddle tennis (or platform tennis) is an awesome winter racket sport that you can play outside in any type of weather. TBH, some colder, snowier nights are the best for this special sport. I love this smartly designed Wilson racket, which is lightweight and comfortable to grip. It's a must-have for keeping me active on winter evenings and weekends—plus, it has a bottle opener at the base (IKYDK, a beer, or your favorite beverage is a common paddle accompaniment). — Eliza Savage

Winter running is hard enough — ease your mind with this reflective vest from Brooks that I love. It's a comfy, warm layer that fits over long sleeves or sweatshirts (I advise sizing up) and reflects any light in your area. It helps me be safe running the streets of New York after work on winter nights, and it looks cute. What more could you want? — Summer Cartwright

Winter in NYC, at least for the past few years, is more slushy than snowy — which is particularly frustrating when my go-to self-care activity is a long walk. I started to opt for rain boots over snow boots, and in my search, I came across the Hunter Diana Waterproof Lace-Up Boots. I love that these boots look like combat boots but have the functionality of rain boots, which makes it easy to continue my 'hot girl walk' style into colder weather (AKA, check out why we love a 'chilly girl walk'). They're roomy enough that I can wear thick, insulated socks on particularly frigid days, and I can clean off salt stains and mud by simply running them under warm water and wiping them clean with a paper towel. I give them most of the credit for helping me stay active in the winter. — Christina Oehler, Senior Commerce Editor, Beauty & Style

I LOVE to shop for winter clothes, but now that I live in Southern California, I rarely need to bundle up. So, instead of buying this best-selling Orolay coat, I opted for the brand's short-sleeve gilet. I can layer it over my favorite set after an early morning workout or pair it with a long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans for a casual night out. I love the green color so much, I bought two. — Bronwyn Barnes, VP, Commerce, Health & Beauty

These are the ultimate basic layering pieces, suitable for everything from daily dressing to the office to wearing under workout jackets with leggings during cold weather walks. They're lightweight enough to prevent you from sweating and come in the perfect neutral shades like off-white and beige. — Maddie Barber

I can't remember a time when The North Face wasn't considered cool. In high school, girls and guys wore TNF puffers to class. Everyone wore the fleece with their low-rise jeans and hoop earrings. Fast forward several (several) years later, and I'm still gravitating to this look, whether biking my five-year-old daughter to school (shout out to Yuba cargo bikes for the safest ride in town) or heading to Prospect Park for a brisk walk. Whenever my heart rate gets going, I'll most likely break a sweat, so I need something sweat-wicking, and the recycled poly lining works for me. It provides enough warmth that I don't overlayer on those sunny winter days when you can easily end up with a chill if you don't dress appropriately during an outdoor workout. — Jill DiDonato