Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Layer Up for Warmth and Wind Protection

When it comes to winter hiking, nothing destroys the experience faster than feeling cold. No matter how scenic the surroundings or enjoyable the company, being chilled to the bone makes even the shortest hike feel endless. That’s why layering up properly for warmth and wind protection is so important.

The key is to wear several thin layers rather than one bulky coat. Materials like merino wool, fleece, and synthetics that wick away moisture are ideal, since sweat trapped against your skin will cool you down quickly. Start with a lightweight base layer against your body to manage perspiration. Insulating mid-layers like sweaters or fleece jackets trap heat without being overly bulky. And a waterproof, windproof outer shell blocks the elements. Having several lighter layers gives you more flexibility to add or remove as conditions change.

It’s also crucial to protect extremities like your head, hands, and feet. A wool hat that covers your ears can make a dramatic difference in retaining body heat. Look for gloves that are water-resistant but breathable. And wear tall socks, as losing heat through your ankles can be significant. Proper winter boots with insulation and traction are a must as well.

When it comes to wind, a shell jacket is your best defense. Be sure to get one specifically designed for wind resistance, with features like a visored hood and adjustable hems and cuffs to seal out drafts. Even a light wind can penetrate layers if your outer jacket isn’t windproof, stealing precious body heat.

Softshell jackets are ideal for highly aerobic winter activities like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, or winter running, since they provide wind protection with more breathability. Hardshell jackets with waterproof membranes excel when you’ll be less active or there’s precipitation. Bring both!

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Choose Footwear With Traction for Icy Surfaces

When icy surfaces lurk underfoot, having the proper traction on your boots is imperative. Slipping, sliding, or taking an icy tumble can occur in an instant if your footwear lacks grip on snowy or frozen terrain. For safe winter rambles, equip yourself with boots boasting lugged soles designed specifically for frozen conditions.

Vibram or other deep, widely spaced lugs with an aggressive tread pattern excel on icy landscapes. Look for boots rated for temperatures well below freezing to ensure the soles stay pliable. Stiff rubber lugs can become slick themselves when subjected to frigid temps. Waterproofing is also key to prevent snow packed into the treads from melting and refreezing into immobilizing ice blocks.

For Mike, an avid winter hiker, switching to boots with a deep lug winter-rated Vibram sole made all the difference on the icy Mt. Garfield trail in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. He was frustrated by slipping repeatedly in his old boots despite trekking poles. After turning around in defeat just 1 mile in, Mike invested in a pair of Sorel Caribou boots. Their sole gripped the icy granite securely, enabling Mike to later summit Mt. Garfield’s 4,500 ft peak on a sunny winter day.

Veronica swears by installing removable aftermarket crampons onto her hiking boots when conditions demand extra traction. For an excursion across a massive frozen lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the tiny steel spikes of her Kahtoola MICROspikes proved invaluable when an inch of powder snow concealed slick ice beneath. She stayed upright while others around her slipped and fell.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Pack Essentials Like Water, Snacks, and Emergency Gear

When heading out into the wilderness, being prepared with the right gear can make the difference between an epic adventure and an epic disaster. For winter hiking, essentials like water, snacks, navigation tools, and emergency supplies deserve prime real estate in your pack.

As hiker Julia learned on an excursion up New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington, packing adequate water and snacks prevents dehydration and caloric burnout. Though her group started out with full water bottles and bellies, the 8-mile round trip ascent took double the estimated time due to deep snow at higher elevations. Ravenous and parched after rationing her limited supplies, Julia vowed to always carry surplus water and high-energy foods like protein bars, nuts, and chocolate on winter treks.

Fellow hiker Damon prioritizes packing a map, compass, and external battery pack after getting lost during a wintry White Mountain hike. Low clouds obscured all landmarks, and Damon’s phone died before he could access the GPS. Wandering in circles trying to find the trail, he finally located a landmark on his paper map using compass bearings. An external battery charger could have prevented losing phone power and gotten help if needed.

Michelle never hits the winter trail without emergency gear like a headlamp, fire starter, space blanket, and first aid kit. When a snowstorm blew in during an afternoon hike around Quebec’s Mont Tremblant, darkness fell fast. Michelle fired up her headlamp so her group could safely descend. The hand warmer packets and emergency blanket in her pack warmed up two underprepared hikers who joined them shivering along the route. And Michelle’s first aid kit came in handy for treating a blister.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Check Conditions and Dress Accordingly Before Heading Out

Heading out unprepared for the conditions can quickly turn an enjoyable winter hike into misery. Checking the forecast and dressing accordingly ensures you stay warm, dry and safe all day on the trail.

Jim, a Boston local, used to just throw on whatever clothes seemed warm and head for the mountains. But after shivering violently in soaked cotton and nearly getting lost during a winter storm, he now checks mountain weather reports religiously. For a recent trek up New Hampshire’s Mt. Willard on a sunny 25 degree F day, Jim wore wool base layers, fleece pants, a down puffy, and a windproof shell per the forecast. Though others were underdressed when icy gusts picked up, Jim stayed toasty warm.

Weather reports only cover ambient temperature, so Colorado hiker Sarah also researches recent snow and trail conditions posted by other hikers. For a 10-mile winter trek near Aspen, multiple skier trip reports described thigh-deep, unbroken snow on the peak. So in addition to packing extra layers, Sarah brought snowshoes to glide over the top layer powder on her hike. Without them postholing through deep snow would have been exhausting.

When Mike oversees winter expeditions for college outdoor programs, students often arrive wearing cotton, sneakers and light jackets. Checking everyone’s clothing, Mike insists underprepared hikers add wool and fleece layers, waterproof boots, gloves and hats for safety. Though some grumble at first about the “extra” gear, all are thankful on the wind-whipped summit. Mike stresses dressing for the coldest temperature expected, not just departure point temps.

Proper layering and footwear also helps prevent injuries in winter. Hypothermia and frostbite are risks, as are sprains and muscle strains from slips and falls on snow and ice. So Leon, leader of an Atlanta hiking club, coaches new winter hikers on stability techniques like wide penguin-style stepping, planting trekking poles securely, and leaning into inclines for traction. And he teaches layering principles, having learned the hard way after suffering minor frostbite and taking a few icy tumbles in his younger days.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Stay Visible With Bright Colors and Reflective Gear

When snow blankets the landscape, it's easy to blend right into the white surroundings. Staying visible to others on the trail with bright colors and reflective gear can prevent accidental collisions or becoming separated from your group.

Avid snowshoer Becca admits she used to wear muted neutrals that provided camouflage while hiking among the aspens. But during a solo snowshoe trip near Leadville, Colorado, she strayed from the track and became disoriented. Dressed in white and gray, she feared searchers would have difficulty spotting her if she couldn't find her way back. After safely returning, Becca stocked up on eye-catching winter wear. She credits her bright magenta jacket with helping rescuers locate her quickly when she sprained an ankle on a later trip.

Reflective elements on clothing and gear also increase visibility exponentially in low light. As mountain biker Tyler discovered while biking after work, the extra glow provided by reflective strips and logos hugely boosted how far away drivers could see him. Chilly evening rides home along twisty roads became much less tense. Now Tyler only buys winter biking wear with built-in reflective detailing, and he adds reflective tape to his helmet.

For winter trail runs near home, Rob wears a flashing LED vest and headlamp to stand out in the dusky woods. The bright pulsing red lights act like a safety beacon broadcasting his location to others. Rob tried natural color trail shoes once but felt nearly invisible at dawn and dusk. The glaring LEDs give him peace of mind running alone on snow dusted paths.

To keep kids visible during family winter excursions, Lisa outfits everyone in bright jackets she scores on clearance each fall. She complements the coats with inexpensive clip-on flashing LED pins from the pet section of outdoors stores. Her active brood then glows happily like a pack of roving Christmas trees in the winter light.

On a solo winter camping trip in Michigan's Porkies National Park, Jordan wore muted neutral tones to stay low profile around wildlife. But he layered his navy parka with a blaze orange vest purchased for hunting and hung a blinking red bike light inside his tent. Jordan could spot the glow himself if disoriented hiking nearby at night. Yet his shelter remained inconspicuous to passing creatures.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Prevent Hypothermia By Avoiding Cotton and Staying Dry

Though nothing feels cozier than slipping into your favorite worn-in cotton hoodie, sweats, or flannel shirt before a winter hike, seasoned outdoor enthusiasts know that cotton kills. Avoiding cotton clothing in favor of moisture-wicking wool and synthetic fabrics is crucial for staying warm and preventing dangerous hypothermia.

Cotton’s comfort comes from its breathability and soft hand against the skin. But what makes cotton so airy is that its fibers absorb and retain moisture exceptionally well. As hiker James learned the hard way, once cotton clothing gets wet from snow or sweat, it turns cold and clammy, stealing body heat rapidly. After working up a sweat snowshoeing in his trusted cotton hoodie in Vermont, James was soon shivering uncontrollably when moisture in the fabric chilled.

Wool and synthetic base layers and mid-layers provide warmth without the risk. Both materials wick moisture away from the skin while retaining insulating properties even when damp. On a winter hike up Mount Katahdin, Maine, Holly wore a merino wool base layer under her jacket. Though dripping with sweat by the summit, the wool kept her toasty by whisking moisture to the fabric's outer surface. A cotton shirt would have turned into a sodden mess.

For ultimate wind and water protection, hikers rely on outer layers made with laminated membranes like Gore-Tex and proprietary synthetics like Patagonia's H2No. During an all-day trek across the exposed Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Jordan was glad he had packed his 3-layer Gore-Tex hardshell pants and jacket. Despite ongoing freezing rain, Jordan stayed bone dry beneath the waterproof, breathable gear. Without it, hiking all day in soaked cotton would have brought on hypothermia.

Even the most waterproof layers can wet out eventually though. So backpacker Alex prioritizes packing synthetic layering pieces that will retain some insulation value when damp on multi-day winter camping trips. Alex always carries extras he can cycle into the rotation while the others dry out. After regretting cotton on his first winter overnight, Alex now exclusively packs synthetics like fleece and polyester thermals for such outings.

Wet feet are one of the fastest ways to get chilled to the core. Cotton socks act like sponges, absorbing sweat and snowmelt, shrinking and getting constricting while offering little insulation. Thick wool hiking socks are infinitely better at wicking moisture while retaining loft and warmth. Sergio will suffer through any other discomfort on the trail except cold, wet feet. After experiencing miserable multi-day treks with sodden cotton socks before he knew better, he now layers wool hiking and liner socks religiously.

Staying hydrated with ample drinking water seems counterintuitive in the cold. But dehydration accelerates heat loss, making you more prone to hypothermia. So be sure to keep water handy, even if it means stopping to carefully break through surface ice layers on streams. Disposable chemical hand warmers in pockets can keep water from freezing. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which increase dehydration. And replenish electrolytes lost while sweating.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Bring Hand and Foot Warmers for Extra Insurance

Gloved hands numb from hours of snowball making with the kids. Toes frozen into blocks of ice inside sodden boots. We've all experienced the bone-chilling misery of icy fingers and feet when playing outdoors in the winter. While it's easy to dismiss discomfort and plow ahead seeking adventure, having instant warmth at the ready in your pack provides a welcome physical and mental pick-me-up.

Tucking chemical hand and foot warmers into your winter hiking gear acts like an insurance policy against cold extremities. Their easy heat gives you the power to banish the shivers whenever they strike. These inexpensive disposable pouches offer up to 10 hours of gentle warmth through a simple exothermic reaction when exposed to air. Tossing a pair into boots or mittens at the first sign of chill quickly restores feeling to frozen fingers and toes. They make a welcome morale boost for kids and chronically cold companions struggling to embrace winter's wonderland.

For Chris, keeping grab-and-go warmth on hand was key to helping his 6-year-old twins develop confidence during winter outings. Their tiny fingers always seemed to freeze first, making any activity outside unenjoyable within minutes. Tucking small hand warmers inside their mittens gave Chris' kids toasty relief on demand when their hands started to hurt. The instant fix let them keep sledding and building snowmen with smiles instead of complaints.

Having backup foot warmers at the ready also proved invaluable recently for Paige, who battles poor circulation that leaves her feet painfully cold even in insulated boots. When Paige joined some college friends for a winter hike up New Hampshire's Mt. Major, she worried her frozen feet would cut the journey short. But each time her toes started to ache with cold, Paige took a break to activate a fresh set of foot warmers and place them inside her boots. The regular warmth infusions kept Paige trekking upward pain-free with the group to an incredible iced-over summit view.

Michelle routinely packs extra sets of hand and foot warmers when leading winter survival courses for kids to prevent dangerous cold injuries. Placing them inside the glove liners and boot liners of any child showing signs of numbness quickly stabilizes body temperature until the group can get indoors. And dropping hand warmers into pockets filled with chemical ice packs helps keep water from freezing. The hand and foot warmers have helped Michelle safely lead hundreds of young adventurers through the thrill of sleeping in quinzhees under the winter stars without a single case of frostnip or frostbite.

Baby, It's Cold Outside! Gear Up for Winter Hiking Fun With These Top Tips - Reward Your Efforts With Apres Hike Cocoa and Campfire

After braving the elements on an invigorating winter hike, you’ve earned some apres adventure indulgences. Nothing caps off a day in the icy outdoors better than getting cozy by the fire with a steaming mug of hot cocoa or cider. The marvelous smell and warmth will thaw you from the inside out.

My most memorable post-hike treats came after snowshoeing 10 miles to Greenleaf Hut in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on a sunny 5 degree F day. My college friends and I staggered in utterly exhausted, only to find the hut croo had hot chocolate waiting. Cradling the mugs’ warmth between our stiff gloves, we chugged while thawing near the woodstove. The rich, velvety cocoa replenished spent calories from hours of trailbreaking. Its nostalgic chocolatey aroma instantly transported me back to childhood.

After a thigh-burning winter hike up the icy Lion Head Trail on New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington, my wife and I drove straight to the Mountain View Grand Resort. We snagged seats beside the enormous fireplace and sank into the plush leather armchairs with sighs of relief. A friendly server appeared with piping hot mugs of “liquid s’mores” —scrumptious hot cocoa with melted marshmallows, chocolate drizzle, graham cracker sprinkles. The over-the-top drink perfectly rewarded our big winter hike accomplishment.

When my buddy James finished his first presidential traverse during a wintry week in New Hampshire, crawling over the peaks of Madison, Adams, Jefferson and Washington, we celebrated back at the cabin with Irish coffees by the fire. That heat-packing combo of coffee, whiskey and cream went down like liquid heaven. James sighed, letting the warmth course through his weary bones after 8 cold hours on the trail. The alcohol hit his bloodstream as the fire’s golden glow soothed away the day’s trials.

Growing up in Minnesota’s arrowhead region, my best winter memories were made on nights after long days spent sledding, skiing or skating. My brother and I would help my dad start a bonfire in the backyard firepit. As sparks crackled toward the inky night sky, we’d bring out supplies for s’mores. Sharpening sticks with our pocket knives to spear marshmallows, we'd jockey for prime spots around the dancing flames. With frozen fingers and windburned cheeks, devouring the melted chocolate and marshmallow between crunchy graham crackers tasted better than any fancy dessert.

On a recent winter camping trip in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains, my college friends and I roasted veggie packets and made hobo meals of meat, veggies and potatoes wrapped in foil over the campfire. After cooking up a feast, we brewed some peppermint tea to enjoy around the fire before retiring to our tents. The fragrant steam from the mugs warmed our faces as we gazed at the moonlit snowy landscape. The simple pleasure reminded us to slow down and savor the atmosphere winter brings.