What to Wear Hiking in the Winter
Hiking in the winter can be a serene, peaceful and beautiful experience, or it can be one of the most miserable and cold experiences of your life (and also dangerous if the temperature drops and you’re not prepared). So what makes the difference between serenity and misery on your winter hikes?
It’s all in the gear! That’s why we’ve compiled our winter hiking must-haves to keep you warm from head to toe — just read below.
Head:
Beanie: Wear a warm, but breathable beanie that covers your ears. A merino wool sock cap will do the trick! Outdoor Research has a great Biscuit Beanie that’s perfect for your winter hikes.
Neck Gaiter: A neck gaiter is vital to keeping the cold out. It’s a connecting piece between your coat and beanie so all the chilly air doesn’t seep in. Discrete Clothing has our favorite super soft and seamless “neckbeards” that are made for those cold winter days!
Hands:
Gloves: Your hands are usually the first thing to get cold. Even if you don’t end up wearing gloves, make sure to pack a pair; well, preferably two pairs! We’d recommend being prepared with lightweight fleece gloves to put underneath waterproof shell gloves.
Hand-Warmers: Pack a pair of hand-warmers in your bag on every cold-weather hike you go on. They’ll keep your fingers nice and toasty, and you nice and happy!
Top: Layer up!
Layer 1 - Merino Wool Zip-Up (Moisture and sweat wicking material will dry faster and keep you warmer longer,)
Layer 2 - Down Puffy Jacket or Vest (Take it off when you start to sweat and stuff it in a small backpack.)
Bottom
Option 1 - Quick Dry Hiking Pants are great for chilly temps, but not snowy temps. Choose a pair that has at least 3% spandex so you feel like you can stretch over a log without ripping your pants. Our favorite is the Prana Halle Pant.
Option 2 - Cold Weather Leggings are the perfect option when you’re going on a quick hike through the foothills and want to feel lightweight and warm. One of our favorite is the North Face Winter Warm High Rise Tight.
Option 3 - Backcountry Skiing/Hiking Pants are a great option if you are going on a long hike, and snow is on the ground. They’ll keep you warm without making you melt when you start to get sweaty! We’d recommend the Ortovox Piz Duleda Pant, which is water and wind resistant and highly breathable! A win-win.
Feet
Socks: The right pair of socks is vital to happiness of your hike. You’re going to want a pair of socks that keep your feet warm, but get the sweat out! We’d recommend a pair of moisture-wicking mernio wool socks like the Bridgedale Hike Midweight Merino Endurance Boot Sock.
Shoes: If you are going to be spending a lot of time hiking in the cold, you’re definitely going to want a warm pair of water-proof hiking boots. If you’ll be trudging through the snow, make sure to purchase a pair that is built fo the snow. We love the Salamon Outblast TC CS WP Boot.
Gaiters: Gaiters are important to protect you from from branches and thorns; prevent mud and snow from entering the top of your boots; and can sometimes protect you from snake bites. We’d recommend a pair like Women’s Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters, which are waterproof, windproof and breathable!
Bring the Ten Essentials
Learn about the ten essentials and other hiking tips in our previous blog post How to Stay Safe as a Solo Female Hiker.
Enjoy your cold-weather hikes and tag us on Instagram @womens.epic in your cozy gear!