Winter Hiking Gear Essentials
Hiking in the winter is totally doable, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. That’s where winter-ready hiking gear comes in handy. From all-weather maps to warm, cozy jackets, here’s the latest gear to keep you safe, comfortable and having fun on the trail during the colder months of the year.
These are the top 11 hiking gear essentials you need for winter.
1. Salomon Toundra Pro CSWP
Disaster winter scenario: Frozen toes on an icy trail.
How it’ll help: Improves traction and protects your feet in extreme weather conditions.
For the coldest winter weather conditions, these hiking boots from Salomon featuring Aerogel technology will keep your feet warm and toasty all the way down into negative 40-degree temperatures. A tough, rugged exterior also provides excellent protection on the trail while maintaining good stability and comfort for longer hikes.
Where to buy: $200 at salomon.com.
2. MSR Lightning Snowshoes
Disaster winter scenario: A steep, snow-covered trail.
How it’ll help: Lightweight snowshoe perfect for difficult treks in the snow.
Built with intention for steep, rolling terrain, this extremely lightweight snowshoe from MSR has a low-profile for performance and maintains stability for long hikes. This model offers excellent comfort and control thanks to DuoFit bindings, and is available in men’s and women’s styles to suit a narrower gait. When venturing out in the snow, add these to your pack.
Where to buy: $219 at msrgear.com.
3. SealSkinz Winter Hat
Disaster winter scenario: High winds and horizontal rain on a cold day.
How it’ll help: This hat will keep your head dry and warm in changing conditions.
Featuring a 100 percent water and windproof polyester exterior, this is a great winter hat to have on hand when trail conditions turn nasty. The bill helps to keep water out of your eyes and can be folded back for added visibility when the storm subsides. On the inside, a micro-fleece lining improves warmth and comfort while controlling moisture.
Where to buy: $45 at SealSkinz.com.
4. Mammut Astro Glove
Disaster winter scenario: You need to use your phone for an emergency, but dread taking your gloves off and exposing your fingers in the freezing temperatures.
How it’ll help: Touchscreen compatibility and windstopper material for protection.
What we like about this glove from Mammut is that it’s warm enough to be used alone in temperatures down into freezing but also thin enough to be worn under a heavier glove for extreme winter conditions. In addition to being touchscreen compatible, these gloves are lightweight and quick drying, which further improves versatility across seasons.
Where to buy: $55 at mammut.com.
5. The NorthFace Thermoball TriClimate Jacket
Disaster winter scenario: Your warm, puffy jacket is restricting your trail movement and isn’t keeping you dry in a sudden downpour.
How it’ll help: Lightweight with less bulk, this jacket will keep you warm on the inside and dry on the outside, negating the need to layer your jackets.
This three-in-one jacket offers protection from the elements without restricting your range of motion, making it ideal for hiking in less than ideal weather. The DryVent outer fabric is similar to what you’d find with high-end rain jackets, providing protection against rain and snow. Inside, ThermoBall insulation traps body heat, retaining warmth without adding significant bulk. With this NorthFace staple, you won't need both an inner and outer jacket on the trail.
Where to buy: $299 at thenorthface.com.
6. Columbia Titan Ridge II Pant
Winter disaster scenario: A tear in your pants on the way to the summit brings in a brutal draft that makes your core temperature drop.
How it’ll help: These tough pants will stand up to wear and tear while keeping you protected from the elements.
Articulated knees and two-way comfort stretch fabric make these pants a prime choice for hikers who want additional protection without compromising freedom of movement. Omni-Heat and Omni-Shield technology will shield you from wind and rain, while reinforced fabric on the knees and seat durability make rips and tears less likely while you’re navigating the trail.
Where to buy: $160 at columbia.com.
7. Black Diamond Sprinter Rechargeable Headlamp
Winter disaster scenario: The return trip from the summit leaves you with less daylight than you expected, and now you have to find your way back to the car in total darkness.
How it’ll help: This headlamp provides the battery power and lumens to navigate the night.
This all-weather 200-lumen headlamp will give you plenty of power on the trail during those early morning and evening adventures. At its highest output, you’ll get 50 meters of visibility and a burn time of four hours. At the lower output, you’ll get about 2 meters of visibility but a run time of 42 hours. The ergonomic straps fit a variety of head shapes to maximize stability.
Where to buy: $59 at blackdiamondequipment.com.
8. Thermos Stainless King Steel Food Jar 16oz
Winter disaster scenario: Hunger pains at the turn-around point.
How it’ll help: Keeps your food fresh and warm.
Rather than settling for cold trail mix or hard energy bars when you’re hungry on a chilly winter hike, you can opt for soup or oatmeal topped with fruit. This classic 16-ounce vacuum insulated food jar from Thermos will keep your hiking fuel warm for up to nine hours and also includes a built-in serving bowl and spoon for eating ease on the go.
Where to buy: $25 at thermos.com.
9. Osprey Mutant 52 Backpack
Winter disaster scenario: You left essential winter tools at home because there wasn’t room.
How it’ll help: This winter-ready backpack has interior room and exterior attachments for all your hiking and emergency scenario essentials.
This winter adventure pack provides enough space to bring extra clothes and food. But we really like this Osprey staple for its bonus ice tool attachments, reinforced A-frame ski carry, and multiple exterior wand/picket pockets that make retrieving your other hiking toys convenient in any weather. And though this is one of the larger hiking packs, it’s extremely stable and includes a three-point haul system for more difficult pitches.
Where to buy: $200 at osprey.com.
10. SOG Baton Q2 Multi Tool
Winter disaster scenario: You packed canned fruit for a mid-hike treat but can’t open it.
How it’ll help: This multi-tool has all the basics for any adventure need.
Even though it’s a day hike, you may need a few tools for back-up. When you want to avoid extra weight, this three-ounce multi-use tool from SOG fits easily in a pocket and will provide you with all the basics, like a straight blade, a bottle opener and a screwdriver. You’ll also get an LED flashlight, which can come in handy when attempting to make equipment repairs in the dark.
Where to buy: $49 at sogknives.com.
11. Rite in the Rain All-Weather Paper
Winter disaster scenario: Your maps are wet from the rain... and your electronics don’t work.
How it’ll help: This paper holds up under any conditions.
When you’re headed for a high summit, electronic reliability might not be an option. Whether you want to print maps or take notes, this all-weather paper will hold up in the harshest of wet, rainy conditions. Though you won’t be able to use with ink-jet printers, pencil, pens, wax markers and laser printers can all be used without issue. Each pack consists of 50 sheets.
Where to buy: $14.95 at riteintherain.com.
