What to wear for winter hiking: layering basics
You look out the window. There’s snow everywhere. The temperature reads below zero. Why the heck would anyone want to leave the house?
I hear you. When it feels like you’re freezing even in your own living room, the last thing on your mind is going outside for some “winter fun.”
But winter doesn’t have to leave you locked up in your house until the first signs of spring appear. In fact, winter hiking can lead to some of the most breath-taking experiences in your life.
When you’re standing in the middle of a white landscape, it feels like time stands still. The world around is quiet, hiding under a blanket of snow. The only thing you can hear is the crunching sound of ice crystals rubbing against each other as you walk in the crisp winter air. Also, did you notice that there are no bugs and mosquitoes to bother you? 😉
But to be able to enjoy winter hiking, it’s crucial to stay warm and comfortable even in the harshest of conditions.
This guide will take you step by step through the basics of layering for winter hiking, from how to stay dry and warm to the individual pieces of clothing you’ll need. As the saying goes, there’s no bad weather — only bad clothes.
Proper clothing is crucial for an enjoyable winter hike
Table of Contents
A good winter hiking outfit boils down to two things: keeping you warm and keeping you dry — both from the inside and the outside.
Staying warm is a no-brainer. But the less obvious one, staying dry on a winter hike, is equally as important. Why is that?
As you move, your body produces sweat. When cold wind hits, the perspiration evaporates, leaving you — sometimes quite literally — chilled to the bone.
Sometimes all those layers make you feel like a Michelin man
Now that we understand the objective of a good winter hiking outfit, let’s look at how we achieve this.
The one-word answer is pretty simple: layers. The trick is to know what your layers should be made of and how many you need.
As you move, your body gets warmer. Wearing too many layers can make you overheat and sweat, and when you stop, all that sweat will cool you down way quicker than you’d want.
It does require a bit of practice to know what is enough layers and what is too much for a given day. If you’re not sure, just start with less and throw some extra layers in your backpack to put on when you stop. As they say, be bold and start cold.
Now, what exactly are all these layers that I’m talking about? Let’s unpack that.
Base layer is the one right on your skin after underwear. Its main job is to wick sweat and keep you dry.
Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester or polypropylene, or merino wool are both a good bet for your base layer. Get a long-sleeved top and long pants to make sure your entire body can stay dry.
One fabric to avoid is cotton. Once it gets wet, it stays wet and leaves you feeling cold until you take it off.
Mid layer is all about warmth and your comfort. It retains body heat and shields you from the cold outside. Depending on the temperature and how much you’re moving, you can add or remove mid layer(s) as needed.
Your mid layer will generally be a fleece or an insulated puffer jacket (or both — and you can put them on and take them off as needed). While fleece provides moderate warmth and wicks sweat, a puffer jacket is great for colder temperatures.
When choosing an insulated puffer jacket, you can choose between a down one or synthetic insulation. A down jacket is compressible and very warm but if it gets wet, it loses its insulating property and can ultimately make you cold.
Puffer jacket is perfect to keep you warm — as long as it stays dry
Synthetic insulation is better for more humid conditions or activities where you know you’ll sweat a lot. It dries faster and keeps you warm even when it’s wet. The downside is that it’s not as light or compressible.
A synthetic puffy vest can also be a good option to keep your core warm.
For the bottom, some people like to go for lightweight fleece pants or thermal tights as their mid layer. Unless it’s extremely cold, I’d just go for two layers of pants.
That can be your base + outer layer, mid + outer layer, or — an option I went with on my recent winter hikes in Slovakia — base layer + winter running leggings. This one is pretty good for a dry, sunny day.
Outer layer is like your protective shell. It shields your body from rain, wind, and snow — and keeps you dry. This means you want to go for clothes that are waterproof and wind proof, but at the same time breathable.
Look for a Gore-Tex jacket or a jacket with other waterproof breathable technology. You’ll also want something you can easily pack in your backpack. A nice-to-have is armpit openings that you can zip up and zip open as needed.
For your bottom, go for wind and water-resistant soft-shell pants, or use rain pants. Ski pants can also be an option. They’re good for waterproofness but can be too warm for hiking, so keep that in mind. After all, you don’t want to overheat.
Socks are an important part of your winter hiking outfit and they definitely shouldn’t be overlooked. Similarly to the base layer, it’s best to go with wool, merino wool, or synthetic materials that wick sweat.
Wearing good pants and good shoes should ensure that your socks stay dry. But it’s always good to bring an extra pair in case that doesn’t work out.
Just like with the outer layer, you want hiking boots that are waterproof and keep your feet dry for the entire duration of the hike.
TIP: You may need to size up to leave enough space for the thick socks. It’s important to avoid having your feet tight and constricted on a winter hike, as that can restrict your blood flow and leave your feet feeling cold.
I would recommend higher-cut boots with good grip as opposed to low-cut ones to keep the snow out.
High-cut boots are great for winter hiking
You can also consider getting a pair of gaiters — a piece that slips over your shoes and is intended to keep snow out of your shoes and socks.
Did you know that you can actually lose a lot of heat through an uncovered head? A hat is therefore a winter hiking must. There are hats for all face shapes and style preferences so just find one that works for you.
If you’re planning to do activities that require wearing a helmet, consider a toque or a headband. A thicker headband that covers your ears and forehead is a nice hat alternative if it’s not crazy cold outside.
Now that you’ve sorted your head, it’s time to turn to the neck. A wool or fleece neck gaiter (buff) is an item you should definitely bring with you. You can not only wear it around your neck but also as a headband or over your nose and mouth.
I’m personally a big fan of scarves, so I might wear one on a winter hike but that’s not a must and might not be everybody’s favourite.
Gloves are a must for winter hiking
Took my head band off only for the photos!
Last but not least, don’t forget about gloves or mittens. Again, there are different types and styles. Mittens are great for letting your fingers warm each other, and touchscreen-compatible liner gloves are perfect if you want to use your phone without having to take them off.
Whichever you choose, it’s nice to have an extra pair in case one of them gets wet. Ideally, one would be a bit thinner and one a bit thicker.
And finally, remember to bring a pair of polarized sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunburn in the winter is a thing, as the white surfaces all around you reflect sunlight right into your face.
Check the weather forecast and trail conditions. This will help you to know how many layers you should bring and if you’ll need any other equipment. Keep in mind that conditions can change very quickly in the mountains. Check for avalanche risk as well.
Hiking in the winter is more strenuous than hiking in the summer. You’ll most likely be moving more slowly, so allow yourself enough time to complete the hike before it gets dark.
Set a turnaround time. You don’t need to make it to your intended destination at all costs. If a trail is too difficult or too long to complete, just turn back.
Drink plenty of water (or tea) and snack often. Your body burns a lot of calories when you’re hiking in the cold.
Know the signs of hypothermia. These include pale skin, shivering, exhaustion, confusion, mood changes, disorientation, slurred speech, and deterioration of mental status.
Mild hypothermia can be treated by getting the hiker indoors or — if indoors isn’t possible — to a sheltered environment (out of the wind and off snow). Swap any wet clothes for dry ones, and make sure they consume food and water so that their body can keep shivering and producing heat.
Severe hypothermia can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
When you read about all the layers you need to wear on a winter hike, all the things you have to keep in mind, and see how much all these high-quality gear costs, it might feel a little overwhelming.
Maybe you’d love to go on your first winter hike, but all of this just seems so out of reach!
My tip for you is to start small. Look inside your closet and see what clothes you already have. Maybe those running leggings can be put to good use, or maybe you have gym tops that wick sweat and can be used for layering.
Do not set off on a 20-kilometre hike the first time you try out winter hiking. Start small and close to your home. When you plan a winter trip to the mountains, try one short hike for 2-3 hours to see if it’s something for you.
Educate yourself but do not let all the information overwhelm you. The most important thing is to stay active and keep moving.
Have you tried winter hiking? Where do you hike and what clothes do you normally go for?