Essential Winter Hiking Gear

For years, we felt we had to “get through” winter. It’s cold, dark, and miserable, so we would hunker down and wait for it to be over. Going for a short walk around the neighborhood, never mind going on an actual hike, was out of the question.

All that changed when we decided to invest in proper cold-weather hiking gear. It is no exaggeration to say having the right clothes reshaped our relationship with winter.

Now, with the right apparel, hiking in the winter has become its own unique outdoor experience we look forward to as much as summer hiking!

In this post, we’ll go over the basics of layering, tips to keep warm and dry, clear up a few misconceptions and offer our recommendations for our favorite cold-weather hiking gear. 

The number one rule of winter hiking: Stay dry! 

Most people think winter clothing should keep them warm. But that is only part of the equation. Good winter clothing needs to keep you warm AND DRY. 

Being a little cold is one thing. But being cold and wet can become very dangerous, very quickly. Water conducts heat away from the body 25x faster than air.¹ That rate of cooling can rapidly become unsustainable and deplete your core temperature within minutes. So the name of the game is to stay dry! 

The good news is there are only two ways to get wet: from the outside and from the inside.

The external factors are pretty obvious. Rain, melting snow, stepping through the ice, or a slushy puddle. Basically, anything around you that is wet or can become wet if exposed to the heat of your body (i.e., snow & ice). You want to select clothing that will keep that water moisture out. 

The less obvious factor is getting wet from the inside. Physical exertion will cause you to sweat. You might have a perfectly waterproof shell on the outside, but you’re still getting wet if you’re overheating and sweating under your layers. And once you stop moving, all that sweat will start cooling your core body temperature very quickly.

So the goal is to be comfortably warm but not so warm you sweat. Since hiking has variable levels of exertion (hiking uphill is more taxing than going downhill) you’ll need to be able to adjust your clothing accordingly.  This brings us to our next point….

Layering for cold weather and winter hiking 

This often misunderstood concept is the basis for how to dress for every winter outdoor activity.  

You want to be able to adjust your layers to match your current level of exertion. 

Start with a base layer, which traps a thin layer of heat against your body and wicks away any moisture if you do begin to sweat. Synthetics or Merino wool are ideal materials. Cotton needs to be avoided as it holds onto moisture.

Next is a mid-layer, which provides the bulk of your insulation, trapping your body heat to keep you warm. Common mid-layers are down or synthetic puffy jackets. You can also break your mid-layer into two parts: a fleece and a light puffy jacket. This will give you more layers to progressively scale through as your body temperature changes throughout your hike.

Finally, you should have a waterproof and windproof external shell. This will keep external moisture out and block the wind—wind rapidly accelerates cooling the same way water does (even more so if moisture is present). If it’s a calm, clear day, you might not need to wear it at all, but having it with you is always recommended. 

The #1 layering tip everyone forgets: Keep Adjusting!

Layering isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it system! The moment you feel yourself getting a little too warm, you need to stop, open a zipper, push up your sleeves, or strip down a layer.

Conversely, the minute you start feeling a bit chilled, you should add a layer—it’s far easier to stay warm than it is to get warm.

This process should be easy, quick, and convenient. If you’re covering terrain with a lot of variation in elevation, you want to really make a habit of adjusting your layers frequently. 

One commonly overlooked part of the layering system is having someplace convenient to put your layers when you don’t need them—which is why having a large daypack with you is so important.

If you don’t have enough room to store your layers, you’ll be tempted to keep them on and just push through. (We have been guilty of this in the past!) 

What to wear for hiking in winter

Below, we’ll cover—from head to your toes—all the winter hiking apparel you want to consider before heading out into the cold.

Starting at the top 

Beanie

A good Merino wool or synthetic beanie is invaluable. We’re not sure exactly how much heat you lose through your head, but personally speaking, our feeling of warmth is directly correlated to wearing a cozy hat. 

Earmuffs or Headband

If your beanie doesn’t cover your ears, or if you wear your hair in a ponytail and want to forgo the full beanie, then earmuffs or a headband can be a good option to have as well. 

Neck Gaiter, Buff, or Scarf

A wool or synthetic gaiter is a great way to trap warmth from escaping up your collar. You can also pull it up over your mouth and nose to cut down on the wind.

Polarized Sunglasses

A bluebird day might be great for a winter hike, but bright white snow can quickly become blinding. Polarized sunglasses do a great job of cutting down the glare. Snug-fitting goggles might be a good option if it’s particularly cold and windy. 

Balms, salves, and sunscreen

The dry winter air can wreak havoc on your skin and as always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure, so make sure to apply (and reapply) chapstick and lotion to exposed skin. Also, sunscreen! Sunlight reflecting off snow can burn your skin quicker than on a hot day on the beach. So stash these in your day pack and apply them regularly!

Winter Hiking Jackets, Shells, and Base Layers

Base Layer Top

A base layer top traps heat close to your body and wicks moisture away, but it should also be something that’s soft, cozy, and flexible. Merino wool or synthetic are ideal materials as they are both moisture-wicking. Wool is known for its anti-microbial & odor-preventing ability, while synthetics dry out faster.

Insulating Mid-layer

Your mid-layer is where the bulk of your insulation will come from. The most common forms of insulation are down and synthetic (usually PrimaLoft). They both have their pros and cons, but it basically boils down to this: Down weighs less but will stop insulating if wet, and synthetics weigh more but will (kinda) continue insulating if they get wet. Again, ideally speaking, this layer should never get wet.

Here are a few of our go-to mid-layers for different conditions.

Outer Layer Shell Jacket

A weatherproof shell is designed to keep all external moisture (and wind) out. Look for synthetic materials with a waterproof membrane, stretch fabric, zipper vents, adjustable hoods. Your shell also needs to be large enough to go over your mid-layer, so you might want to consider sizing up. 

Gloves / Mittens

You will absolutely want a pair of gloves when hiking in the cold!

Day Pack

The day pack is the MVP of the whole layering system! You want a pack that is large enough to hold all your layers, in case you need to strip down, plus snacks and water. Depending on your size and how many layers you’re carrying, you want something roughly between 20-40 liters. There are a lot of options to choose from.

Water Bottle / Hydration System

Even though you shouldn’t be sweating, winter air can be very dry and you’ll lose a lot of moisture through your breath. So you will want to bring water with you to stay hydrated. Whether you bring a bottle or a reservoir, you’ll want to make sure that your water doesn’t freeze, so opt for insulated versions.

Winter Hiking Pants and Baselayers

Base Layer Pants

Depending on the temperature, you may want to wear base layer bottoms. Most are designed to be worn without underwear. This is good because most underwear is cotton-based, which you don’t want to be wearing.

Mid-Layer Bottoms

Mid-layer bottoms are more common for downhill skiers and snowboarders, but they can come in handy for hiking and snowshoeing, too.

If it’s really cold out, we’ll wear our ski pants with wool base layer bottoms, or these Insulated pants from REI. And if it’s really really cold out, we’ll stay home and play checkers. 

Winter Hiking Pants

A good pair of winter hiking pants should be, at a minimum, water and wind-resistant. Pants with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating on the fabric means that water will bead off, though in a downpour waterproof pants would be a safer choice–or pack a pair of rain pants to put over your hiking pants if you encounter rain.

Winter Hiking Boots and Footwear 

Waterproof Boots

If your hike will take you through any amount of snow, it’s essential to have waterproof boots. Snow might not seem wet, but before long the heat from your feet will melt it. So it’s essential to have some type of waterproof system. 

→ View all top-rated waterproof hiking boots at REI

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to spring for a pair of winter boots, you can Scotchgard your summer hiking shoes the night before your hike to keep moisture out. It’s not as foolproof as actually buying waterproof boots, but it will work in a pinch! 

Wool Socks

Resist the urge to wear super thick hiking socks! Those might be fine around the house, but putting thick socks into already snug-fitting boots is a recipe for loss of circulation. Your feet will stay warmer if there’s a little bit of space in your boots. You may want to pack an extra pair of socks to switch into if your first pair gets wet.

Microspikes or crampons 

Slipping on a patch of ice is one of the fastest ways to turn a pleasant winter hike into a trip to the emergency room. You might think your boots have good tread, but once you’ve worn microspikes you’ll have a whole new appreciation for good traction. In slippery, icy conditions they are absolute game-changers.

Snow Shoes

If you live in an area where there is a lot of deep snow cover during the winter, snowshoes might be the only reasonable way to “hike.” 

Choosing a pair of snowshoes is worthy of its own separate guide, but there are lots of options to choose from if you’re looking to get started.

Sources

¹ https://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml