As Winter continues to make itself known, a few simple additions to your walking wardrobe will make all the difference to both comfort and performance.

At least 10% of your body heat escapes from an uncovered head so pop on a hat. At the end of the day, your head contains your control centre so it makes sense to keep it warm! Ensure your blood flow is steady around the body to improve performance and aid concentration levels. The new WALX Bobble hats have a fleecy band inside to reduce itching and add extra warmth too

It is also a good idea to keep the neck warm – use a neck sleeve, snood or multi functional buff as these tube like warmers do not involve large knots or loose ends like traditional scarves. Much more practical for walking, especially if carrying a backpack or using poles. On windy days, preventing your scarf from flapping in your face and impeding your view can be an issue too.

Wearing breathable layers helps to trap air and keep you toasty – look for thermal base layers and lightweight fleece mid layers, ideally with sleeves. As our winters in the UK are not always crisp and dry, it is important to make sure you do not get wet. Make sure that top layer is fully waterproof if out in the rain or snow or you will chill down, no matter how many layers you have piled on.

You can use a lightweight shell waterproof which is large enough to put over those layers if you don’t want to invest in a thermal waterproof. The Mac in a Sac ORIGIN is a packable but breathable jacket with a hood and it will keep you bone dry – we never set out without one in the backpack!

For a quick cover up on a changeable day the packable poncho in the same range is a must as it pops over your back pack and will keep you dry no matter how many layers you have underneath. We find it works well with the also packable thermal gilet which also comes in a handy pack bag, is super lightweight but provides that extra warmth when you need it.

Wet feet will not only cause you to feel chilled, they are also far more likely to bister as the skin softens and puckers ( much like if you languish in a bath for hours!) Waterproof walking shoes and boots are worth the investment because traditional leather boots and wellies do not allow for full foot flexibility and may affect your gait. If you don’t want to splash out on waterproof shoes, think about waterproof socks like the sealskins annd protect your trousers with gaiters like the walkers from Milton Keynes in our headline image!

In fact, socks are far more important than you think and we have never found a better brand than Lorpen because they fit perfectly with no bunching at the seams. They are padded in the right places and provide ventilation areas to allow the feet to breathe. We have three new models great for Nordic walking, hiking and daily dog walks. From the super warm merino wool model with soft grip tops (for those who hate tight sock lines on their calves) to the cool shorter sock with compression – these models are technical, comfortable and NEVER seem to wear out!

One thing is for sure, if you stay comfortable, you will enjoy your walk….whatever the weather!

Hop onto the WALX store to check out the products selected by our experts and don’t forget, if you join WALX for only £14.95 a year you save 10% too.