Essential Gear for Winter Hiking
Last updated 11/17/2024
A Winter Hiking Guide
Hiking in the winter is a great way to get out in nature during the season of hibernation. As nice as it is to get outside during the cold months, it does come with a unique set of challenges that need to be planned and prepared for. Preparing for a winter hike will mean not only packing the correct specialty gear, but also taking the right steps to prepare the cold and the snow. Due to the risk of exposure, winter hiking does come with more risk than hiking in the summer or the fall. However, by packing the correct gear and taking the right precautions, you can safely experience the joys of hiking in the snow.
View from a section of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado.
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Hiking in the winter is something that used to intimidate me. In a lot of ways, it still does. As I’ve gotten more experience hiking in the winter however, I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy getting out on the trail no matter the season.
The first time I went winter hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with a friend I was surprised how much fun I had! Winter hiking means less crowded trails, the ability to get outside in the cold season, and viewing the woods under a blanket of snow, which is incredibly beautiful.
I did make some mistakes on my first winter hike, such as not packing the correct gear and not taking the time to plan out all the details, and I want to make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes that I did!
To make sure that you are as prepared as possible for your next winter hike, we’re going to go over the following topics in this blog post:
Clothing Layering Essentials
Once you have taken all the steps to prepare the logistics of your winter hike, you’ll want to consider what layers to wear and pack to keep you warm and dry on the trail. Let’s take a closer look at each layer, and we’ll give you our best recommendations for each.
Base Layer
Your base layer, the one closest to your skin, helps retain body heat and wicks away moisture, keeping you warm and dry. For best results, choose a non-cotton material like wool or a breathable synthetic fabric. Aim for a form-fitting long-sleeve top and full-length bottom layer, so you can easily add more layers on top without feeling bulky.
My favorite base layer options include:
Mid Layer
While your base layer keeps you dry, your mid layer is all about insulation to trap body heat. For the top, good options include a puffy jacket, fleece, or Merino wool jacket. For the bottom, try insulated ski pants (waterproof ones can double as an outer layer), a puffy skirt over your base layer, or fitted fleece pants.
Your mid layer should be warm but thin enough to fit comfortably under an outer layer—and easy to pack away if you need to remove it during the hike.
My favorite mid layer options include:
Outer Layer
Finally, protect yourself from wind and precipitation with an outer layer. Choose a jacket with a hood for top coverage, and ensure the pants fit snugly over your boots to keep out moisture.
This layering system will keep you warm, dry, and adaptable as conditions change. Don’t forget proper footwear, socks, and accessories to complete your winter hiking gear.
My favorite outer layer options include:
Extremities
Another important part of your layering system is protecting your extremities. That includes your head, your hands, and your feet. When hiking in the cold, you want to make sure that much of your body is protected from the cold and the wind to reduce the risk of hypothermia and frostbite, so that means wearing gloves, a hat, and a neck gaitor are very important.
As you hike along and warm up you can easily remove a hat or a pair of mittens so you don’t overheat, but packing these items for protection are essentials:
Knit beanie (100% wool is best)
Warm gloves or mittens. I like to pack a pair of gloves that are smart phone friendly so that I can take pictures as I hike without taking on and off my gloves.
Neck gaiter to keep the wind and the cold off of your neck. This is especially helpful on windy days or when you get to an exposed summit.
Insulated hiking boots. Wearing waterproof boots is essential, but if you want to stay extra warm a pair of insulated hiking boots will make all the difference.
The warmer and dryer you are, the longer you can hike.
Specialty Winter Hiking Gear
FREE Winter Hiking Checklist
To help make your life even easier, we’ve curated a list of all the gear you’ll need to go winter hiking, and it’s totally free. Claim your FREE winter hiking checklist below!
Microspikes or Crampons
Traction during winter hiking can be a serious issue. You may encounter ice on a steep slope, and the last thing you want to risk is sliding off the mountain. Having traction on your boots will help prevent this from happening, although there’s never a full guarantee.
There are two main options for traction, microspikes and crampons. Microspikes are more like metal coils that wrap around the bottom of your hiking boot with a rubber gripping material, and are good for iced over snow. However, they do tend to get snow trapped between the coils that reduce the efficacy of their traction. If you’re going up a rocky or steep mountain, I find bringing crampons a better bet.
These are typically metal spikes that have a better grip on the bottom of your boot than the microspikes, and they have long almost fang-like spikes on the ball of your foot, so that you can dig into thick and steep ice if needed. While crampons are often used in mountaineering, I still think they’re worth brining on a hike, just in case.
Whether to go with microspikes or crampons is up to the individual hiker. Some hikes may find the microspikes overkill, while others may feel unsafe hiking with a piece of gear that offers light traction
Micro spikes or crampons are a MUST for winter hiking!
Ice Ax
An essential piece of mountaineering gear, an ice ax may be overkill for a small winter day hike. An ice ax is traction gear that can help save a hiker from slipping off the mountain and causing injury or death when hiking in the winter.
Paired with a pair of crampons, an ice ax is held in each hand as the hiker slams one ice ax into a slope of ice, while the other ax and each foot is also gripping on the ice. This is a required piece of hiking gear for anyone thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and is especially helpful navigating the treacherous San Jacinto peak.
However, for the average day hiker, an ice ax may be overkill. As your skills and experience progress however an ice ax may have its place in your gear stash.
Trekking Poles with Snow Cup
Just as we use a pair of trekking poles for a summer or fall hike, trekking poles can be used during the winter as well. Most trekking poles designed for hiking come with a pair of snow cups, so a single purchase of trekking poles becomes all season.
I find that the trekking poles are incredibly helpful during a hike in snow or ice, and the snow cup at the bottom of the pole prevents me from losing my pole in deep snow and being thrown off balance. When hiking through deep snow or across slippery surfaces, having an extra piece of support holding you to the mountain is an incredibly helpful way of staying balanced and upright through it all.
More information on how to use trekking poles here:
Trekking poles make a huge difference when hiking in the snow-you need these!
Snow Shoes
Snow shoes are another way to make walking through fresh powder easier, and can be paired with gators or snow pants for the perfect winter hiking gear set up. Although not necessary for every winter hike, snowshoes make it easier to walk though fresh powder and offer traction over ice.
Pro Tip: start by getting a pair of snowshoes, that way they include the traction you need so you can skip the crampons for now, and they can help you hike through deeper snow. Since they take up quite a lot of room, it’s best to lash these to the outside of your pack until you’re ready to use them.
Insulated Water Bottle
Winter hiking can bring freezing temperatures, so you’ll want to take precautions to make sure that you have non-frozen water for your hike.
Making sure that your drinking water doesn’t freeze is important as hydrating along your hike will prevent dehydration and health complications. To keep your drinking water liquid, pack it in an insulated stainless steel bottle.
Thermos
In addition to drinking water on your hike, I like to pack an insulated thermos of a warm liquid such as tea or coffee along the way. Drinking the warm liquid will warm you from the inside out, which will be especially appreciated during breaks.
I’ve had this Thermos for about a decade and it still works great!
Gaiters
Not every hike will be in deep snow, but when you do venture into deep powder you’ll be glad to have a pair of gaiters in your pack. Gaiters are like waterproof leg warmers that go over the top of your boots and secure under your knee, allowing you to walk through snow that’s taller than the top of your boot without getting snow in them, keeping your feet warm and dry as you hike along.
These are awesome not just for hiking, but also for casual strolls, shoveling snow, or any other time you want to keep your feet dry without committing to a pair of snow pants.
For the women: gender doesn’t matter here. I’ve used “mens” gaiters with no issues before.
Hand and Toe Warmers
Single use hand warmers are an affordable hack to keep your toes and fingers warm as you hike along in the freezing temperatures of winter.
Simply shake them right before you’re ready to use them and put them in your boots (toe warmers) or your hands for instant relief. These can also be used to keep a bottle of water warm if you don’t have an insulated water bottle.
Insulated Water Bladder
If you like to hike with a bladder to store your water, you might consider getting a winter rated version. The winter rated water bladder has insulation wrapped around the hose part of the bladder so that the water sitting on your shoulder that’s exposed to the elements won’t freeze. This way you can still have reliably drinkable water that is easy to access.
If you don’t want your bladder to turn into a block of ice, you’ll need this insulated version.
Thermal Phone Case
Ask any skier about how long their phone battery lasts in the cold and you might get a chuckle. Phones in the cold temperatures don’t last nearly as long as ambient temperatures, and if you don’t get a thermal case to keep your phone warm as you hike, you might not make it to the end of the hike with a working phone.
Putting your phone in this simple, affordable pocket will help extend the battery life.
Pro tip: lay out everything that you need before you start to pack.
Essential 10
The ten essentials to pack on every trip:
Navigation – Map, compass, and GPS system
Sun Protection – Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat
Insulation – Jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell, and thermal underwear
Illumination – Flashlight, lanterns, and headlamp
First Aid Kit
Fire – Matches, lighter and fire starters
Repair Kit and Tools – Duct tape, knife, screwdriver, and scissors
Nutrition - Food
Hydration – Water and water treatment supplies
Emergency Shelter – Tent, space blanket, tarp, and bivy
Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm
Plus:
Water
Food
Tips for Planning a Winter Hike
Make a Plan
Winter hiking can be very dangerous if you are not prepared with the correct gear or you don’t take the right precautions.
Preparing for a winter hike has several components that include:
Making a plan where to hike
Checking the weather
Plan out an itinerary
Share the itinerary with a trusted person
Understanding the Risks: Information on Hypothermia
Planning for emergencies
Making a plan where to hike
Where you decide to hike is the first step in planning all other aspects of your winter hike. Since winter hiking means less daylight, more ice, and slower pacing, I prefer to keep my winter hiking trips low and short.
Meaning, I like to keep the altitude low and the mileage short. I also prefer to choose hikes that have less rocky sections so that I don’t have to worry about additional gear, such as ice axes.
So some tips on picking a hiking trail for winter hiking:
Short milage
Low elevation (stay below tree line)
Avoid rocky and steep mountains
Check the Weather
The next step in planning a winter hike is determining if the weather will allow it. You do not want to get to the trail only to find yourself in the middle of a snowstorm. Or worse; make it to the top of the mountain only to find a storm has begun that will make your descent back to safety dangerous.
Make sure that you check the weather at the peak as well as the valley, as the difference in temperature, precipitation, and wind speeds often vary greatly. I like to check the weather for my planned date and trail on the website below:
If the weather report notes that a storm coming or the winds are projected to be dangerous I don’t go hiking that day.
For winter hiking I’m very picky about the weather and only hit the trail on a day with reasonable temperatures (above 0 degrees) and low wind speeds with no chance of a storm.
Plan out an itinerary
Because there’s less daylight available for hiking in the winter, I like to take the extra step in coming up with an hourly itinerary to make sure that I’ll make it back to my car with plenty of daylight.
I suggesting breaking down the hiking trip like this:
Milage Calculation
How long is this trip? Know how long your hike is round trip.
How many hours do you average per hour? Once you know the mileage of the trail you’ll need to estimate how long it will take to hike the full trip. Keep in mind that winter hiking is usually slower than hiking in snow-free seasons. For winter hiking I plan on taking 1 hour to hike 1 mile, which is half my typical pace.
Multiply your total tip distance by your average estimated pace.
# Miles x Miles per Hour = time needed to complete
Example: 3 Miles x 1 Mile per Hour = 3 hours to complete
Hourly Itinerary
While looking at the weather you should have been given a time that sunset and sunrise will occur which will tell you when you should start and end your hike. If sunrise is a at 7 and the sunsets at 4, you’ll want to have an hour or two of sunlight left when you get back to your car.
So using the example above, the hourly itinerary would look like this:
9:00 - Begin hike
12-1:00 - Return to Car
Still leaving 3 + hours of daylight in case of an emergency.
Breaking down the hike by the hour like this ensures that you will have enough time to complete your hike, and will allow you to change plans if the math doesn’t work for your preferred trail.
Image from a section of the CDT in Colorado.
Share your Itinerary with a Trusted Person
Once you know where, when, and for how long you’ll be hiking, you need to share that itinerary with someone else. Before hitting the trail, make sure your trusted person knows the following information:
Where you’re your hiking (trail name(s))
How long you intend to be gone for
A time to alert the authorities if they haven’t heard back from you.
Also, don’t forget to give them a call to let them know that you’ve made it back to safety!
Understanding the Risks: Information on Hypothermia
Hiking in the winter has one big risk; hypothermia.
Here are some key points about hypothermia to keep in mind when winter hiking:
Why Hypothermia Is a Risk When Hiking in the Winter
Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, leading to a dangerously low body temperature. This can be a serious concern for winter hikers because cold, wet, and windy conditions accelerate heat loss.
What Causes Hypothermia
It’s caused by exposure to cold temperatures, especially if you're wet from snow or sweat. Wind can make things worse by stripping heat from your body.
How Long It Takes to Set In
Hypothermia can develop in as little as 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on conditions, so preparation is key. Make sure to pack lots of warm layers, and add and subtract them as you go along.
Pro tip: when taking breaks make sure you put an extra layer on so you don’t get too cold. It’s easier to stay warm than it is to warm up again after getting cold.
Recognizing Symptoms of Hypothermia
Look out for uncontrollable shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and exhaustion. These are warning signs that your body is shutting down.
What to Do if You Get Too Cold
If you or a hiking partner are getting too cold, add layers, move to a sheltered spot, and drink warm fluids if possible. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
Preventing Hypothermia
Wear moisture-wicking base layers, insulating mid-layers, and a windproof, waterproof outer layer. Stay dry, take breaks, and pack plenty of warm gear to keep hypothermia at bay.
The most important safety consideration when hiking in the winter is to stay dry and warm.
The fun of hiking doesn’t have to stop in the winter!
Planning for Emergencies
Not every emergency can be planned for, but you can stack the deck in your favor by coming prepared. Make sure that you pack the essential ten of hiking to prepare for an emergency, should it ever come up.
The ten essentials to pack on every trip:
NAVIGATION – Map, compass, and GPS system
SUN PROTECTION – Sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat
INSULATION – Jacket, hat, gloves, rain shell, and thermal underwear
ILLUMINATION – Flashlight, lanterns, and headlamp
FIRST-AID SUPPLIES – First Aid Kit
FIRE – Matches, lighter and fire starters
REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS – Duct tape, knife, screwdriver, and scissors
NUTRITION - Food
HYDRATION – Water and water treatment supplies
EMERGENCY SHELTER – Tent, space blanket, tarp, and bivy
What Food and Snacks to Pack for Winter Hiking
Deciding on the menu for a summer or fall hike can be hard enough, but during winter it can get even more overwhelming. To keep things simple, here are some ideas on foods to bring for a winter day hike.
Pro Tip: Food freezing while hiking is a serious concern. Your favorite granola bar will likely turn into a tooth chipping bar of frozen oats, and the water in your apple slices will turn it into a mission impossible level of chewing. That’s why we suggest getting a thermos in the gear list above, so that you can ensure the life saving food you pack is actually something that can be consumed in the freezing temperatures. Below is a short list of our favorite snacks and meals for a winter hike that are warm, nutritious, and packable, even in the winter.
Chili and Corn Bread
Warm up a serving of your favorite style chili and store it in an insulated thermos. I love this style from Amazon:
It includes a small, foldable spoon and a cup to pour your meal into.
And don’t forget to pack the cornbread in a reusable ziplock bag to add a hearty serving of carbs to your hiking meal. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you could whip up some flavored butter to go along with the cornbread when it’s time to eat your delicious lunch.
Chicken noodle soup
Using the same Thermos, pack your favorite chicken noodle soup to keep you warm on the trail. I also like to pack some dunkable bread for serving.
GORP
Short for Good ‘Ol Raisins and Peanuts, GORP or trail mix is a hiking classic for a reason. Even in the winter, the blend of peanuts, raisins or craisins and some candy will stay edible even in subfreezing temperatures.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese
Another meal for the Thermos, I love to make a fresh grilled cheese in the morning along with a hearty bowl of my favorite tomato soup. When you get to the top you have a warm and delicious lunch to enjoy along with the view. I like to wrap my grilled cheese in tin foil to keep it warm and fresh.
Another view of a section of the CDT from Colorado.
We hope that this guide to the essential gear for winter hiking helps you feel less overwhelmed and even more excited to get out on the trails and start exploring, and that you no longer feel like you can’t hike once the snow start falling. To help make your life even easier, we’ve curated a list of all the gear you’ll need to go winter hiking, and it’s totally free. Claim your FREE winter hiking checklist below!
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