If there’s one thing I dread about living in New York City (aside from subway delays), it’s the brutally cold winter. On some days, it seems like no matter how thick my coat is or how many layers I wear, it’s still not warm enough. But that’s especially true for my legs, as I can’t really wear multiple pairs of pants like I can double up sweaters and vests.
While it’s still pretty warm in NYC right now, I recently went on a trip to Iceland where it was definitely not warm. Luckily, I packed these Judy Blue thermal jeans, and they totally saved the day.
Real Simple
Judy Blue Daisy ThermaDenim Classic Bootcut
- Straight-Leg Jeans: L.L.Bean Denim Straight-Leg Fleece-Backed Pants, $90; llbean.com
- High-Rise Jeans: L.L.Bean High-Rise Straight-Leg Fleece-Lined Jeans, $100; llbean.com
- 50% Off: Lee Legendary Single-Layer Warming Straight Jean, $30 (was $60); lee.com
- Thousands of Five-Star Ratings: Yehopere Fleece-Lined Skinny Jeans, $40; amazon.com
- Black Jeans: Heipeiwa Fleece-Lined Skinny Jeans, $36 (was $40); amazon.com
- Dark-Rinse Jeans: Duluth Trading Co. Heritage Hi-Rise Lined Jeans, $77 (was $110); duluthtrading.com
Kimberly Vintage-Wash ThermaDenim Straight Fit Dark Wash
I wore the ThermaDenim jeans to walk around in the rain, wind, and 40-degree temperatures in Iceland, and my legs never felt cold—even when I got soaked by the rain. Made of a cotton-spandex blend, the denim is stretchy enough for all-day comfort.
They weren’t too stiff or tight, even though I had them on for around eight hours (or more) each day. And that even includes time spent sitting on a tour bus; they didn’t dig into my stomach at all.
Not only are the jeans comfy, but the brushed interior is also so soft that it feels like wearing cozy sweatpants. Although the inside feels like fleece, the jeans aren’t thick or bulky, like you might expect lined pants to be; they look just like regular jeans. I didn’t get overheated while wearing them, either, so there’s no need to worry about being too hot and sweating.
Real Simple
Kimberly Vintage-Wash ThermaDenim Straight Fit Light Wash
When it comes to the silhouettes I tried, bootcut and straight, the brand recommends choosing one size down from your typical size. I usually wear a 26 or 27, and the 26 was perfect. The jeans also come in plus sizes to fit a variety of body types.
The ThermaDenim styles only come in one length, but other Judy Blue jeans are available in short and long inseams. I’m 5-foot-9 with long legs, and regular-length pants are always—always—short on me, but I tried one of the Judy Blue long options and loved the length. Plus, because I wore mainly boots for this trip, the normal length on these ThermaDenim pairs wasn’t even that noticeable.
To go out to dinner in the evenings, I wore the dark straight-leg jeans with suede ankle boots for a dressier look. During the day, I opted for the light-wash bootcut and straight styles while visiting waterfalls and geysers. I think the bootcut silhouette would look so cute with heels, too, for a girls’ night out. I also plan to style the dark-rinse jeans with ballet flats or loafers this fall and winter.
I know these thermal jeans will be some of my most-worn pants this winter. Grab a pair for yourself if you’re prepping for cold weather, and check out more fleece-lined and insulated jeans below, starting at $30.
L.L.Bean Denim Straight-Leg Fleece-Backed Perfect-Fit Pants
L.L.Bean High-Rise Straight-Leg Fleece-Lined True-Shape Jeans
Lee Legendary Single-Layer Warming Straight Jean
Yehopere Fleece-Lined Skinny Jeans
Heipeiwa Fleece-Lined Skinny Jeans
Duluth Heritage Hi-Rise Lined Straight-Leg Jeans
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