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

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• 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.
• The Arctix Insulated Snow Pants are our top pick because they're rated for use in temperatures down to 20 below zero, yet they are also the most affordable pair we reviewed.

You know what's a lot of fun? Sledding, skiing, snowball fights, and winter hikes. But you know what's not much fun? Legs that are freezing cold and soaking wet and at dire risk of frostbite all because of those inferior snow pants you pulled on before heading out into the cold.

Even in less perilous situations, poor snow pants or no snow pants make everything from shoveling the driveway to trudging your way to work needlessly unpleasant.

We looked at snow pants for men, women, and kids, and we've further organized our picks by activity. So whether you're hitting the slopes or just clearing snow off the top of your car, or whether you're headed out for a winter jog or making your way across town for a meeting, we've got you covered even in the worst weather.

When considering which are the best snow pants for your legs, think about where you'll wear them and what you'll be doing. One common mistake in choosing winter gear over buying. Don't get pants designed for winter mountain skiing if you will primarily use them while walking your dog, for example. There's no need to spend the money, and further if you get snow pants that are too heavily insulated for your needs, you'll end up uncomfortably warm instead of uncomfortably cold.

On the other hand, do invest in a great pair of active wear snow pants if you're a skier, hiker, or runner, because many lower cost pairs can inhibit motion, which can be a downer, and might not provide enough warmth, and remember the whole frostbite thing we talked about earlier.

Now, let's get you geared up with some snow pants!

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

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.
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