9 Winter Hiking Essentials For The Most Amazing Cold Weather Hike

The snow has fallen and there’s a bitter chill in the air. For some, this is a reason to stay huddled indoors with a blanket by the fire. But for the truly adventurous, it’s a call to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the winter season. 

There’s just something special about winter hiking that provides a sense of fearlessness and accomplishment for braving the elements. When done safely, cold weather hiking can be just as fun and enjoyable as hiking in the summer. 

In this post, we’ll take a look at 9 of the most essential winter hiking items to bring with you. It’s important to recognize the potential dangers of the cold weather and prepare accordingly. 

Also be sure to read through to the end of this list as we’ve got a free PDF download with even more items you can bring along. And don’t forget to check out our 9 Hiking Essentials post for those warm weather hikes. 

1. Layered Clothing

Bundling up on a winter hike is the most essential way to stay safe and warm in the chilly temperatures. It’s also important to have the ability to adjust layers depending on how hot or cold you’re feeling. 

The amount of energy you exert during a hike will vary so being able to conveniently take off or put on layers of clothing is extremely important. The different fabrics of the clothes you’re layering also needs to be done in the right order. 

Start with a base that keeps a thin layer of heat on your body and wicks away sweat. Next, wear a mid-layer that provides insulation and traps the majority of your body heat. 

Finally, a wind and waterproof external shell will help prevent any outside moisture from getting to the body and provide protection from the wind. By layering, you can adjust during your hike by removing or adding clothing to stay safe and comfortable. 

2. Cover Exposed Skin

One of the big dangers of extreme cold weather is frostbite. Did you know that frostbite can occur to exposed skin in 15 minutes at wind chill values of 18º below zero? 

The best way to protect yourself is to cover any and all exposed skin, especially your nose, cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes. These areas are very prone to frostbite which freeze both the skin and the tissue just underneath. 

To protect your hands, wear a pair of lightweight or mid-weight fleece gloves. These should also be worn under waterproof shell gloves or mittens when appropriate. 

Your feet can be protected by wearing a pair of synthetic or wool socks, provided they’re not too tight and cutting off any circulation. It’s good practice to bring an extra pair along just incase the socks you’re wearing get wet. 

When it comes to protecting your face, wearing a neck gator can do the trick to cover up your cheeks and nose. Some gators may even cover your ears but if they don’t a winter hat like a beanie or headband can be worn as well.  

For those really chilly days, adding hand and toe warmers into your outfit can provide an extra layer of protection. These will slip right into any gloves or socks to keep your digits nice and toasty! 

3. Insulated Water / Warm Beverage

Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean hydration should be overlooked. Hiking in the cold and snow requires just as much attention to water intake as hiking during the hot summer. 

The body needs just as much water during winter hikes and in some cases more when trudging through deep packs of snow. Another problem hikers can face in winter is the liquid freezing in subzero temperatures. 

Making sure your water is insulated will prevent your liquid from becoming a solid. There are many products out there that can do this or if you’re looking for a cheap and easy solution, a sock or beanie can be used. 

Also bringing a warm drink like tea, soup, or hot water can not only provide you a source of hydration but warmth in the cold temperatures. These are also less likely to freeze up out on the trail. 

4. Proper Food

On a windy, chilly winter day, do you really want to be stopping to start up a propane stove every time you need food? The best foods to bring along are ones that can be eaten while you’re still moving. 

While you’ll definitely need to stop for longer or multi-day hikes, on short trips, having food you can grab and keeping going will make for a much more pleasant experience. Continuing to move will help keep your core body temperature up and help prevent hypothermia from setting in. 

Foods that work the best for this are protein bars and gel packs that provide all the necessary calories, proteins, sugars, and electrolytes needed while keeping you moving. Another great option is soup as it can be carried in a thermos and provide a warm meal on the go. 

5. Preparation 

Just like in the summer, preparing for any variables you might face on the trail is of the utmost importance. Dangers like weather, gear malfunctions, and directions can all be avoided with proper planning and preparation. 

You should never leave anything up to chance when winter hiking and looking ahead will prevent you from getting stuck in dangerous conditions. Checking the forecast before embarking on a hike helps avoid surprises on the trail, however, even with proper planning weather conditions have the chance of changing unexpectedly. 

This is why making sure you have the right gear along ahead of time is crucial. Gear that’s broken or malfunctioning is useless and won’t help in an emergency. 

Regularly checking up on the condition of your equipment is the best way to know it’s still in working order and ready to assist you when needed. If something is broken, replace it. 

6. Start Earlier

Unlike the endless hours of summer, winter days are much shorter with a late sunrise and early sunset. Unless you want to be hiking in the dark, you’ll have to plan on starting early so the sun doesn’t set on your adventure. 

This hiking essential ties in to the previous point of preparation as you’ll need to figure out the best time to leave for your hike beforehand. Checking the sunrise and sunset time will give you the best gauge for when to leave and when to head back. 

Just incase some unforeseen events happen on the trail, it’s a good idea to bring along a headlamp or flashlight. While most phones have flashlight features, their batteries can be unreliable in the cold and leave you stuck in the dark. 

7. Have A Designated Turn Around Time

Tying into the last tip, knowing when it’s time to turn around for the day is vital for a safe hike. Sometimes the weather can change rapidly or something happens on the trail that takes you off schedule. 

Having the restraint to abandon your hike and head back is not only smart but in many cases lifesaving. It’s ok not to summit the mountain if continuing is dangerous or the light is fading fast. 

While you may have a goal you’re striving to reach on a hike, the overall goal is safety. The trail and the mountain aren’t going anywhere and you can always try again at another time.

8. Prevent Hypothermia 

One of the biggest differences between summer and winter hiking is preparing for the contrasting temperatures. While in summer your goal is to prevent overheating, winter is the exact opposite where you need to keep your core temperature up. 

As stated in our first tip, layering your clothes is one of the best ways to keep warm and comfortable in the cold weather. It’s much easier to stay warm than to get warm and layering your clothes is one of the best way to do that. 

It’s also important to know your limits. Don’t try to tough out a cold weather hike, especially if you start to feel your fingers and toes get cold or numb. Frostbite and hypothermia can happen fast so don’t ignore the early warning signs. 

9. Hike With Others

While there’s nothing wrong with winter hiking by yourself, going with a friend or a group of people is another layer of protection to keep you safe on the trail. Sometimes it’s hard to make the judgement call on whether we’re feeling too cold or are push ourselves too hard.

Having other people along can bring another opinion into the mix and help keep everyone safe. It’s also a worthwhile experience to share a hike with someone else and have a little fun out on the trail. 

If you do still plan to hike alone, as always, you should let people know where you’re going and when you plan to get back. This way, if something happens to you out on the trail, someone will know when to call for help if you haven’t returned.

Conclusion

Winter hiking can be a magical experience filled with beauty and wonder. It’s a unique time in nature that is often fleeting with snow and ice that can change overnight. 

Following these tips and bringing these essentials along will help keep you safe when enjoying your cold weather hike and keep the magic alive out on the trail. 

As promise, we’ve got a free PDF download that contains all the essentials and a few more to bring along with you on your next winter hike!