It is easy to stay warm when you’re fishing in the winter. Layer, layer, layer. You can always add another pair of long underwear bottoms or an additional fleece top. This will keep your core toasty in the most brutal conditions.

But the fact of the matter is that regardless of how warm you core is, cold fingers and toes make fishing miserable.

You can’t layer, layer, layer gloves and still tie flies on or feel a rod grip well. You can’t pile on socks and still fit your feet in wading boots. The solution is to fish with better gear. And that doesn’t mean $150 yak wool balaclavas or  battery operated copper-infused beanies. It means picking gear designed for use in the outdoors that is built to mitigate the unavoidable cold of winter.

Here are four pieces of gear that will immediately keep you warmer, which will keep you fishing happier and longer, for under $40 each:

Socks

The science of warm, comfortable feet is important to understand. To stay warm, your feet need to be surrounded by a layer of warm air. To stay dry, your socks need to contain a material that will wick moisture away from your skin. This means that a well-made sock, like one made of thick form-fitting wool, is better than a bulky sock. Wool won’t compress down to nothing like a synthetic, which will maintain some warm air around your foot in a neoprene bootie. Add in a ultra-thin liner sock, and you’ll be as comfortable as you possibly can be.

Duluth Trading Co. 7-Year Heavyweight Merino Boot Socks ($27) are an excellent option for wading. They’re thick, but not so thick that they won’t fit in your waders. They have the right blend of natural and synthetic fibers, too.

Gloves

There is no perfect pair of fly fishing gloves. True waterproof gloves  limit your dexterity. True fingerless gloves aren’t waterproof. So making a choice is all about tradeoffs. Submerging your hand does happen from time to time, but it occurs less frequently than the need to untangle nymph rigs or deal with icy guides. A foldover mitt (fingerless gloves with a mitten “cap”) is a great way to keep your hands warm and dry until you need to use your fingers. Plus, all the open space in the mitten portion allows for the insertion of a handwarmer.

Simms Freestone Foldover Mitt ($40)  are an incredible deal for the price. They’re not built for submersion, but they’ll handle cold and snow well.

Hat

Everyone’s mom told them that they need to wear a warm hat when they go out to play in the snow. Not only do you loose heat from your exposed head, but cold ears and foreheads can be painful. A form-fitting and wind-resistant beanie might be all you need. It covers your head, ears, and forehead. It isn’t bulky (which can bother some people). It can go over your favorite fishing cap, so you still get the glare-blocking benefits of the bill.

LL Bean Mountain Classic Fleece Beanie ($25) is a simple, wind-resistant hat that you can keep stashed in your pack. It will fit under your hood, will breathe as you hike, and won’t break the bank.

Mask

When the temperature really drops, a mask will seal up the last exposed parts of you. The priority here is something that will breathe – as you’ll literally be breathing into it. The more it breathes, the less it will fog up your sunglasses. Fit matters too, It should stay put when around your neck, when over your mouth, and when over your nose.

Cabela’s GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper Neck Gaiter ($35) combines a soft, fleece interior with a waterproof shell. It is very warm and very comfortable; perfect for long days outside.

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Do you have a favorite cold-weather accessory? Let me know in the comments below.