Abstract This review concentrates on the characteristics of wind processes and products in cold lowland deserts. Its main aims are: to show how difficult it can be to separate wind-generated from water-generated processes and features without detailed study of lamination types; to suggest cold aeolian interpretations for some ancient pre-Quaternary rocks; and to encourage students to revisit many ancient deposits with such interpretations in mind. Although upper Quaternary and Recent cold-climate aeolian deposits have been studied for many years there are very few older examples described. Martian features are included since Mars is now one of the most exciting areas of study for geologists.