What I Wear Hiking in Winter: A Women’s Guide

When I first moved to Salt Lake City 10 years ago, I didn’t know what to wear hiking in winter. The first few times I went out for a snowy hike, I wore my ski clothes and ended up a hot sweaty mess.

Over time, I refined my layering system, and now after a decade of hiking in the Utah winters, I have my winter hiking clothes dialed.

In this post, I share my favorite winter hiking clothes and tips for layering, so you can be warm (but not too hot) and prepared if the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worst.

Winter Hiking Checklist

Get my Winter Hiking Packing Checklist

when you enter your email below

    .formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] *{box-sizing:border-box;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”]{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] legend{border:none;font-size:inherit;margin-bottom:10px;padding:0;position:relative;display:table;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] fieldset{border:0;padding:0.01em 0 0 0;margin:0;min-width:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] body:not(:-moz-handler-blocked) fieldset{display:table-cell;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h1,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h2,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h3,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h4,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h5,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h6{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h2{font-size:1.5em;margin:1em 0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] h3{font-size:1.17em;margin:1em 0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] p{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] ol:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] ul:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] blockquote:not([template-default]){text-align:left;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] p:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] hr:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] blockquote:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] ol:not([template-default]),.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] ul:not([template-default]){color:inherit;font-style:initial;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .ordered-list,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .unordered-list{list-style-position:outside !important;padding-left:1em;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .list-item{padding-left:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][data-format=”modal”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][data-format=”slide in”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][data-format=”sticky bar”]{display:none;}.formkit-sticky-bar .formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][data-format=”sticky bar”]{display:block;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-select,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-checkboxes{width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit{border:0;border-radius:5px;color:#ffffff;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;text-align:center;font-size:15px;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;margin-bottom:15px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:relative;vertical-align:middle;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button:focus,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit:focus{outline:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button:hover > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit:hover > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button:focus > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit:focus > span{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.1);}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-button > span,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit > span{display:block;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;padding:12px 24px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input{background:#ffffff;font-size:15px;padding:12px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;line-height:1.4;margin:0;-webkit-transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;transition:border-color ease-out 300ms;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input:focus{outline:none;border-color:#1677be;-webkit-transition:border-color ease 300ms;transition:border-color ease 300ms;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input::-moz-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input:-ms-input-placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-input::placeholder{color:inherit;opacity:0.8;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”dropdown”]{position:relative;display:inline-block;width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”dropdown”]::before{content:””;top:calc(50% – 2.5px);right:10px;position:absolute;pointer-events:none;border-color:#4f4f4f transparent transparent transparent;border-style:solid;border-width:6px 6px 0 6px;height:0;width:0;z-index:999;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”dropdown”] select{height:auto;width:100%;cursor:pointer;color:#333333;line-height:1.4;margin-bottom:0;padding:0 6px;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;appearance:none;font-size:15px;padding:12px;padding-right:25px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”dropdown”] select:focus{outline:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”]{text-align:left;margin:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”]{margin-bottom:10px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] *{cursor:pointer;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”]:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”] + label::after{content:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]:checked + label::after{border-color:#ffffff;content:””;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] input[type=”checkbox”]:checked + label::before{background:#10bf7a;border-color:#10bf7a;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label{position:relative;display:inline-block;padding-left:28px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::before,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::after{position:absolute;content:””;display:inline-block;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::before{height:16px;width:16px;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;background:#ffffff;left:0px;top:3px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-group=”checkboxes”] [data-group=”checkbox”] label::after{height:4px;width:8px;border-left:2px solid #4d4d4d;border-bottom:2px solid #4d4d4d;-webkit-transform:rotate(-45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(-45deg);transform:rotate(-45deg);left:4px;top:8px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-alert{background:#f9fafb;border:1px solid #e3e3e3;border-radius:5px;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;list-style:none;margin:25px auto;padding:12px;text-align:center;width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-alert:empty{display:none;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-alert-success{background:#d3fbeb;border-color:#10bf7a;color:#0c905c;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-alert-error{background:#fde8e2;border-color:#f2643b;color:#ea4110;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-spinner{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:0px;width:0px;margin:0 auto;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;width:0px;overflow:hidden;text-align:center;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-spinner > div{margin:auto;width:12px;height:12px;background-color:#fff;opacity:0.3;border-radius:100%;display:inline-block;-webkit-animation:formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-84e12abc6c- 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;animation:formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-84e12abc6c- 1.4s infinite ease-in-out both;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-spinner > div:nth-child(1){-webkit-animation-delay:-0.32s;animation-delay:-0.32s;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-spinner > div:nth-child(2){-webkit-animation-delay:-0.16s;animation-delay:-0.16s;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit[data-active] .formkit-spinner{opacity:1;height:100%;width:50px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit[data-active] .formkit-spinner ~ span{opacity:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by[data-active=”false”]{opacity:0.35;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;width:100%;z-index:5;margin:10px 0;position:relative;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container[data-active=”false”]{opacity:0.35;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;background-color:#ffffff;border:1px solid #dde2e7;border-radius:4px;color:#373f45;cursor:pointer;display:block;height:36px;margin:0 auto;opacity:0.95;padding:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-indent:100%;-webkit-transition:ease-in-out all 200ms;transition:ease-in-out all 200ms;white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:190px;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:center;background-image:url(“data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg width=’162′ height=’20’ viewBox=’0 0 162 20′ fill=’none’ xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%3E%3Cpath d=’M83.0561 15.2457C86.675 15.2457 89.4722 12.5154 89.4722 9.14749C89.4722 5.99211 86.8443 4.06563 85.1038 4.06563C82.6801 4.06563 80.7373 5.76407 80.4605 8.28551C80.4092 8.75244 80.0387 9.14403 79.5686 9.14069C78.7871 9.13509 77.6507 9.12841 76.9314 9.13092C76.6217 9.13199 76.3658 8.88106 76.381 8.57196C76.4895 6.38513 77.2218 4.3404 78.618 2.76974C80.1695 1.02445 82.4289 0 85.1038 0C89.5979 0 93.8406 4.07791 93.8406 9.14749C93.8406 14.7608 89.1832 19.3113 83.1517 19.3113C78.8502 19.3113 74.5179 16.5041 73.0053 12.5795C72.9999 12.565 72.9986 12.5492 73.0015 12.534C73.0218 12.4179 73.0617 12.3118 73.1011 12.2074C73.1583 12.0555 73.2143 11.907 73.2062 11.7359L73.18 11.1892C73.174 11.0569 73.2075 10.9258 73.2764 10.8127C73.3452 10.6995 73.4463 10.6094 73.5666 10.554L73.7852 10.4523C73.9077 10.3957 74.0148 10.3105 74.0976 10.204C74.1803 10.0974 74.2363 9.97252 74.2608 9.83983C74.3341 9.43894 74.6865 9.14749 75.0979 9.14749C75.7404 9.14749 76.299 9.57412 76.5088 10.1806C77.5188 13.1 79.1245 15.2457 83.0561 15.2457Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M155.758 6.91365C155.028 6.91365 154.804 6.47916 154.804 5.98857C154.804 5.46997 154.986 5.06348 155.758 5.06348C156.53 5.06348 156.712 5.46997 156.712 5.98857C156.712 6.47905 156.516 6.91365 155.758 6.91365ZM142.441 12.9304V9.32833L141.415 9.32323V8.90392C141.415 8.44719 141.786 8.07758 142.244 8.07986L142.441 8.08095V6.55306L144.082 6.09057V8.08073H145.569V8.50416C145.569 8.61242 145.548 8.71961 145.506 8.81961C145.465 8.91961 145.404 9.01047 145.328 9.08699C145.251 9.16351 145.16 9.2242 145.06 9.26559C144.96 9.30698 144.853 9.32826 144.745 9.32822H144.082V12.7201C144.082 13.2423 144.378 13.4256 144.76 13.4887C145.209 13.5629 145.583 13.888 145.583 14.343V14.9626C144.029 14.9626 142.441 14.8942 142.441 12.9304Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M110.058 7.92554C108.417 7.88344 106.396 8.92062 106.396 11.5137C106.396 14.0646 108.417 15.0738 110.058 15.0318C111.742 15.0738 113.748 14.0646 113.748 11.5137C113.748 8.92062 111.742 7.88344 110.058 7.92554ZM110.07 13.7586C108.878 13.7586 108.032 12.8905 108.032 11.461C108.032 10.1013 108.878 9.20569 110.071 9.20569C111.263 9.20569 112.101 10.0995 112.101 11.459C112.101 12.8887 111.263 13.7586 110.07 13.7586Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M118.06 7.94098C119.491 7.94098 120.978 8.33337 120.978 11.1366V14.893H120.063C119.608 14.893 119.238 14.524 119.238 14.0689V10.9965C119.238 9.66506 118.747 9.16047 117.891 9.16047C117.414 9.16047 116.797 9.52486 116.502 9.81915V14.069C116.502 14.1773 116.481 14.2845 116.44 14.3845C116.398 14.4845 116.337 14.5753 116.261 14.6519C116.184 14.7284 116.093 14.7891 115.993 14.8305C115.893 14.8719 115.786 14.8931 115.678 14.8931H114.847V8.10918H115.773C115.932 8.10914 116.087 8.16315 116.212 8.26242C116.337 8.36168 116.424 8.50033 116.46 8.65577C116.881 8.19328 117.428 7.94098 118.06 7.94098ZM122.854 8.09713C123.024 8.09708 123.19 8.1496 123.329 8.2475C123.468 8.34541 123.574 8.48391 123.631 8.64405L125.133 12.8486L126.635 8.64415C126.692 8.48402 126.798 8.34551 126.937 8.2476C127.076 8.1497 127.242 8.09718 127.412 8.09724H128.598L126.152 14.3567C126.091 14.5112 125.986 14.6439 125.849 14.7374C125.711 14.831 125.549 14.881 125.383 14.8809H124.333L121.668 8.09713H122.854Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M135.085 14.5514C134.566 14.7616 133.513 15.0416 132.418 15.0416C130.496 15.0416 129.024 13.9345 129.024 11.4396C129.024 9.19701 130.451 7.99792 132.191 7.99792C134.338 7.99792 135.254 9.4378 135.158 11.3979C135.139 11.8029 134.786 12.0983 134.38 12.0983H130.679C130.763 13.1916 131.562 13.7662 132.615 13.7662C133.028 13.7662 133.462 13.7452 133.983 13.6481C134.535 13.545 135.085 13.9375 135.085 14.4985V14.5514ZM133.673 10.949C133.785 9.87621 133.061 9.28752 132.191 9.28752C131.321 9.28752 130.734 9.93979 130.679 10.9489L133.673 10.949Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M137.345 8.11122C137.497 8.11118 137.645 8.16229 137.765 8.25635C137.884 8.35041 137.969 8.48197 138.005 8.62993C138.566 8.20932 139.268 7.94303 139.759 7.94303C139.801 7.94303 140.068 7.94303 140.489 7.99913V8.7265C140.489 9.11748 140.15 9.4147 139.759 9.4147C139.31 9.4147 138.651 9.5829 138.131 9.8773V14.8951H136.462V8.11112L137.345 8.11122ZM156.6 14.0508V8.09104H155.769C155.314 8.09104 154.944 8.45999 154.944 8.9151V14.8748H155.775C156.23 14.8748 156.6 14.5058 156.6 14.0508ZM158.857 12.9447V9.34254H157.749V8.91912C157.749 8.46401 158.118 8.09506 158.574 8.09506H158.857V6.56739L160.499 6.10479V8.09506H161.986V8.51848C161.986 8.97359 161.617 9.34254 161.161 9.34254H160.499V12.7345C160.499 13.2566 160.795 13.44 161.177 13.503C161.626 13.5774 162 13.9024 162 14.3574V14.977C160.446 14.977 158.857 14.9086 158.857 12.9447ZM98.1929 10.1124C98.2033 6.94046 100.598 5.16809 102.895 5.16809C104.171 5.16809 105.342 5.44285 106.304 6.12953L105.914 6.6631C105.654 7.02011 105.16 7.16194 104.749 6.99949C104.169 6.7702 103.622 6.7218 103.215 6.7218C101.335 6.7218 99.9169 7.92849 99.9068 10.1123C99.9169 12.2959 101.335 13.5201 103.215 13.5201C103.622 13.5201 104.169 13.4717 104.749 13.2424C105.16 13.0799 105.654 13.2046 105.914 13.5615L106.304 14.0952C105.342 14.7819 104.171 15.0566 102.895 15.0566C100.598 15.0566 98.2033 13.2842 98.1929 10.1124ZM147.619 5.21768C148.074 5.21768 148.444 5.58663 148.444 6.04174V9.81968L151.82 5.58131C151.897 5.47733 151.997 5.39282 152.112 5.3346C152.227 5.27638 152.355 5.24607 152.484 5.24611H153.984L150.166 10.0615L153.984 14.8749H152.484C152.355 14.8749 152.227 14.8446 152.112 14.7864C151.997 14.7281 151.897 14.6436 151.82 14.5397L148.444 10.3025V14.0508C148.444 14.5059 148.074 14.8749 147.619 14.8749H146.746V5.21768H147.619Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M0.773438 6.5752H2.68066C3.56543 6.5752 4.2041 6.7041 4.59668 6.96191C4.99219 7.21973 5.18994 7.62695 5.18994 8.18359C5.18994 8.55859 5.09326 8.87061 4.8999 9.11963C4.70654 9.36865 4.42822 9.52539 4.06494 9.58984V9.63379C4.51611 9.71875 4.84717 9.88721 5.05811 10.1392C5.27197 10.3882 5.37891 10.7266 5.37891 11.1543C5.37891 11.7314 5.17676 12.1841 4.77246 12.5122C4.37109 12.8374 3.81152 13 3.09375 13H0.773438V6.5752ZM1.82373 9.22949H2.83447C3.27393 9.22949 3.59473 9.16064 3.79688 9.02295C3.99902 8.88232 4.1001 8.64502 4.1001 8.31104C4.1001 8.00928 3.99023 7.79102 3.77051 7.65625C3.55371 7.52148 3.20801 7.4541 2.7334 7.4541H1.82373V9.22949ZM1.82373 10.082V12.1167H2.93994C3.37939 12.1167 3.71045 12.0332 3.93311 11.8662C4.15869 11.6963 4.27148 11.4297 4.27148 11.0664C4.27148 10.7324 4.15723 10.4849 3.92871 10.3237C3.7002 10.1626 3.35303 10.082 2.88721 10.082H1.82373Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M13.011 6.5752V10.7324C13.011 11.207 12.9084 11.623 12.7034 11.9805C12.5012 12.335 12.2068 12.6089 11.8201 12.8022C11.4363 12.9927 10.9763 13.0879 10.4402 13.0879C9.6433 13.0879 9.02368 12.877 8.5813 12.4551C8.13892 12.0332 7.91772 11.4531 7.91772 10.7148V6.5752H8.9724V10.6401C8.9724 11.1704 9.09546 11.5615 9.34155 11.8135C9.58765 12.0654 9.96557 12.1914 10.4753 12.1914C11.4656 12.1914 11.9607 11.6714 11.9607 10.6313V6.5752H13.011Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M15.9146 13V6.5752H16.9649V13H15.9146Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M19.9255 13V6.5752H20.9758V12.0991H23.696V13H19.9255Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M28.2828 13H27.2325V7.47607H25.3428V6.5752H30.1724V7.47607H28.2828V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M41.9472 13H40.8046L39.7148 9.16796C39.6679 9.00097 39.6093 8.76074 39.539 8.44727C39.4687 8.13086 39.4262 7.91113 39.4116 7.78809C39.3823 7.97559 39.3339 8.21875 39.2665 8.51758C39.2021 8.81641 39.1479 9.03905 39.1039 9.18554L38.0405 13H36.8979L36.0673 9.7832L35.2236 6.5752H36.2958L37.2143 10.3193C37.3578 10.9199 37.4604 11.4502 37.5219 11.9102C37.5541 11.6611 37.6025 11.3828 37.6669 11.0752C37.7314 10.7676 37.79 10.5186 37.8427 10.3281L38.8886 6.5752H39.9301L41.0024 10.3457C41.1049 10.6943 41.2133 11.2158 41.3276 11.9102C41.3715 11.4912 41.477 10.958 41.644 10.3105L42.558 6.5752H43.6215L41.9472 13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M45.7957 13V6.5752H46.846V13H45.7957Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M52.0258 13H50.9755V7.47607H49.0859V6.5752H53.9155V7.47607H52.0258V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M61.2312 13H60.1765V10.104H57.2146V13H56.1643V6.5752H57.2146V9.20312H60.1765V6.5752H61.2312V13Z’ fill=’%23373F45’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”);}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit:hover,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit:focus{background-color:#ffffff;-webkit-transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);-ms-transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);transform:scale(1.025) perspective(1px);opacity:1;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”dark”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”light”]{background-color:transparent;border-color:transparent;width:166px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit[data-variant=”light”]{color:#ffffff;background-image:url(“data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg width=’162′ height=’20’ viewBox=’0 0 162 20′ fill=’none’ xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%3E%3Cpath d=’M83.0561 15.2457C86.675 15.2457 89.4722 12.5154 89.4722 9.14749C89.4722 5.99211 86.8443 4.06563 85.1038 4.06563C82.6801 4.06563 80.7373 5.76407 80.4605 8.28551C80.4092 8.75244 80.0387 9.14403 79.5686 9.14069C78.7871 9.13509 77.6507 9.12841 76.9314 9.13092C76.6217 9.13199 76.3658 8.88106 76.381 8.57196C76.4895 6.38513 77.2218 4.3404 78.618 2.76974C80.1695 1.02445 82.4289 0 85.1038 0C89.5979 0 93.8406 4.07791 93.8406 9.14749C93.8406 14.7608 89.1832 19.3113 83.1517 19.3113C78.8502 19.3113 74.5179 16.5041 73.0053 12.5795C72.9999 12.565 72.9986 12.5492 73.0015 12.534C73.0218 12.4179 73.0617 12.3118 73.1011 12.2074C73.1583 12.0555 73.2143 11.907 73.2062 11.7359L73.18 11.1892C73.174 11.0569 73.2075 10.9258 73.2764 10.8127C73.3452 10.6995 73.4463 10.6094 73.5666 10.554L73.7852 10.4523C73.9077 10.3957 74.0148 10.3105 74.0976 10.204C74.1803 10.0974 74.2363 9.97252 74.2608 9.83983C74.3341 9.43894 74.6865 9.14749 75.0979 9.14749C75.7404 9.14749 76.299 9.57412 76.5088 10.1806C77.5188 13.1 79.1245 15.2457 83.0561 15.2457Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M155.758 6.91365C155.028 6.91365 154.804 6.47916 154.804 5.98857C154.804 5.46997 154.986 5.06348 155.758 5.06348C156.53 5.06348 156.712 5.46997 156.712 5.98857C156.712 6.47905 156.516 6.91365 155.758 6.91365ZM142.441 12.9304V9.32833L141.415 9.32323V8.90392C141.415 8.44719 141.786 8.07758 142.244 8.07986L142.441 8.08095V6.55306L144.082 6.09057V8.08073H145.569V8.50416C145.569 8.61242 145.548 8.71961 145.506 8.81961C145.465 8.91961 145.404 9.01047 145.328 9.08699C145.251 9.16351 145.16 9.2242 145.06 9.26559C144.96 9.30698 144.853 9.32826 144.745 9.32822H144.082V12.7201C144.082 13.2423 144.378 13.4256 144.76 13.4887C145.209 13.5629 145.583 13.888 145.583 14.343V14.9626C144.029 14.9626 142.441 14.8942 142.441 12.9304Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M110.058 7.92554C108.417 7.88344 106.396 8.92062 106.396 11.5137C106.396 14.0646 108.417 15.0738 110.058 15.0318C111.742 15.0738 113.748 14.0646 113.748 11.5137C113.748 8.92062 111.742 7.88344 110.058 7.92554ZM110.07 13.7586C108.878 13.7586 108.032 12.8905 108.032 11.461C108.032 10.1013 108.878 9.20569 110.071 9.20569C111.263 9.20569 112.101 10.0995 112.101 11.459C112.101 12.8887 111.263 13.7586 110.07 13.7586Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M118.06 7.94098C119.491 7.94098 120.978 8.33337 120.978 11.1366V14.893H120.063C119.608 14.893 119.238 14.524 119.238 14.0689V10.9965C119.238 9.66506 118.747 9.16047 117.891 9.16047C117.414 9.16047 116.797 9.52486 116.502 9.81915V14.069C116.502 14.1773 116.481 14.2845 116.44 14.3845C116.398 14.4845 116.337 14.5753 116.261 14.6519C116.184 14.7284 116.093 14.7891 115.993 14.8305C115.893 14.8719 115.786 14.8931 115.678 14.8931H114.847V8.10918H115.773C115.932 8.10914 116.087 8.16315 116.212 8.26242C116.337 8.36168 116.424 8.50033 116.46 8.65577C116.881 8.19328 117.428 7.94098 118.06 7.94098ZM122.854 8.09713C123.024 8.09708 123.19 8.1496 123.329 8.2475C123.468 8.34541 123.574 8.48391 123.631 8.64405L125.133 12.8486L126.635 8.64415C126.692 8.48402 126.798 8.34551 126.937 8.2476C127.076 8.1497 127.242 8.09718 127.412 8.09724H128.598L126.152 14.3567C126.091 14.5112 125.986 14.6439 125.849 14.7374C125.711 14.831 125.549 14.881 125.383 14.8809H124.333L121.668 8.09713H122.854Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M135.085 14.5514C134.566 14.7616 133.513 15.0416 132.418 15.0416C130.496 15.0416 129.024 13.9345 129.024 11.4396C129.024 9.19701 130.451 7.99792 132.191 7.99792C134.338 7.99792 135.254 9.4378 135.158 11.3979C135.139 11.8029 134.786 12.0983 134.38 12.0983H130.679C130.763 13.1916 131.562 13.7662 132.615 13.7662C133.028 13.7662 133.462 13.7452 133.983 13.6481C134.535 13.545 135.085 13.9375 135.085 14.4985V14.5514ZM133.673 10.949C133.785 9.87621 133.061 9.28752 132.191 9.28752C131.321 9.28752 130.734 9.93979 130.679 10.9489L133.673 10.949Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M137.345 8.11122C137.497 8.11118 137.645 8.16229 137.765 8.25635C137.884 8.35041 137.969 8.48197 138.005 8.62993C138.566 8.20932 139.268 7.94303 139.759 7.94303C139.801 7.94303 140.068 7.94303 140.489 7.99913V8.7265C140.489 9.11748 140.15 9.4147 139.759 9.4147C139.31 9.4147 138.651 9.5829 138.131 9.8773V14.8951H136.462V8.11112L137.345 8.11122ZM156.6 14.0508V8.09104H155.769C155.314 8.09104 154.944 8.45999 154.944 8.9151V14.8748H155.775C156.23 14.8748 156.6 14.5058 156.6 14.0508ZM158.857 12.9447V9.34254H157.749V8.91912C157.749 8.46401 158.118 8.09506 158.574 8.09506H158.857V6.56739L160.499 6.10479V8.09506H161.986V8.51848C161.986 8.97359 161.617 9.34254 161.161 9.34254H160.499V12.7345C160.499 13.2566 160.795 13.44 161.177 13.503C161.626 13.5774 162 13.9024 162 14.3574V14.977C160.446 14.977 158.857 14.9086 158.857 12.9447ZM98.1929 10.1124C98.2033 6.94046 100.598 5.16809 102.895 5.16809C104.171 5.16809 105.342 5.44285 106.304 6.12953L105.914 6.6631C105.654 7.02011 105.16 7.16194 104.749 6.99949C104.169 6.7702 103.622 6.7218 103.215 6.7218C101.335 6.7218 99.9169 7.92849 99.9068 10.1123C99.9169 12.2959 101.335 13.5201 103.215 13.5201C103.622 13.5201 104.169 13.4717 104.749 13.2424C105.16 13.0799 105.654 13.2046 105.914 13.5615L106.304 14.0952C105.342 14.7819 104.171 15.0566 102.895 15.0566C100.598 15.0566 98.2033 13.2842 98.1929 10.1124ZM147.619 5.21768C148.074 5.21768 148.444 5.58663 148.444 6.04174V9.81968L151.82 5.58131C151.897 5.47733 151.997 5.39282 152.112 5.3346C152.227 5.27638 152.355 5.24607 152.484 5.24611H153.984L150.166 10.0615L153.984 14.8749H152.484C152.355 14.8749 152.227 14.8446 152.112 14.7864C151.997 14.7281 151.897 14.6436 151.82 14.5397L148.444 10.3025V14.0508C148.444 14.5059 148.074 14.8749 147.619 14.8749H146.746V5.21768H147.619Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M0.773438 6.5752H2.68066C3.56543 6.5752 4.2041 6.7041 4.59668 6.96191C4.99219 7.21973 5.18994 7.62695 5.18994 8.18359C5.18994 8.55859 5.09326 8.87061 4.8999 9.11963C4.70654 9.36865 4.42822 9.52539 4.06494 9.58984V9.63379C4.51611 9.71875 4.84717 9.88721 5.05811 10.1392C5.27197 10.3882 5.37891 10.7266 5.37891 11.1543C5.37891 11.7314 5.17676 12.1841 4.77246 12.5122C4.37109 12.8374 3.81152 13 3.09375 13H0.773438V6.5752ZM1.82373 9.22949H2.83447C3.27393 9.22949 3.59473 9.16064 3.79688 9.02295C3.99902 8.88232 4.1001 8.64502 4.1001 8.31104C4.1001 8.00928 3.99023 7.79102 3.77051 7.65625C3.55371 7.52148 3.20801 7.4541 2.7334 7.4541H1.82373V9.22949ZM1.82373 10.082V12.1167H2.93994C3.37939 12.1167 3.71045 12.0332 3.93311 11.8662C4.15869 11.6963 4.27148 11.4297 4.27148 11.0664C4.27148 10.7324 4.15723 10.4849 3.92871 10.3237C3.7002 10.1626 3.35303 10.082 2.88721 10.082H1.82373Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M13.011 6.5752V10.7324C13.011 11.207 12.9084 11.623 12.7034 11.9805C12.5012 12.335 12.2068 12.6089 11.8201 12.8022C11.4363 12.9927 10.9763 13.0879 10.4402 13.0879C9.6433 13.0879 9.02368 12.877 8.5813 12.4551C8.13892 12.0332 7.91772 11.4531 7.91772 10.7148V6.5752H8.9724V10.6401C8.9724 11.1704 9.09546 11.5615 9.34155 11.8135C9.58765 12.0654 9.96557 12.1914 10.4753 12.1914C11.4656 12.1914 11.9607 11.6714 11.9607 10.6313V6.5752H13.011Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M15.9146 13V6.5752H16.9649V13H15.9146Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M19.9255 13V6.5752H20.9758V12.0991H23.696V13H19.9255Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M28.2828 13H27.2325V7.47607H25.3428V6.5752H30.1724V7.47607H28.2828V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M41.9472 13H40.8046L39.7148 9.16796C39.6679 9.00097 39.6093 8.76074 39.539 8.44727C39.4687 8.13086 39.4262 7.91113 39.4116 7.78809C39.3823 7.97559 39.3339 8.21875 39.2665 8.51758C39.2021 8.81641 39.1479 9.03905 39.1039 9.18554L38.0405 13H36.8979L36.0673 9.7832L35.2236 6.5752H36.2958L37.2143 10.3193C37.3578 10.9199 37.4604 11.4502 37.5219 11.9102C37.5541 11.6611 37.6025 11.3828 37.6669 11.0752C37.7314 10.7676 37.79 10.5186 37.8427 10.3281L38.8886 6.5752H39.9301L41.0024 10.3457C41.1049 10.6943 41.2133 11.2158 41.3276 11.9102C41.3715 11.4912 41.477 10.958 41.644 10.3105L42.558 6.5752H43.6215L41.9472 13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M45.7957 13V6.5752H46.846V13H45.7957Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M52.0258 13H50.9755V7.47607H49.0859V6.5752H53.9155V7.47607H52.0258V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3Cpath d=’M61.2312 13H60.1765V10.104H57.2146V13H56.1643V6.5752H57.2146V9.20312H60.1765V6.5752H61.2312V13Z’ fill=’white’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”);}@-webkit-keyframes formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-84e12abc6c-{0%,80%,100%{-webkit-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);}40%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);-ms-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);}}@keyframes formkit-bouncedelay-formkit-form-data-uid-84e12abc6c-{0%,80%,100%{-webkit-transform:scale(0);-ms-transform:scale(0);transform:scale(0);}40%{-webkit-transform:scale(1);-ms-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);}}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] blockquote{padding:10px 20px;margin:0 0 20px;border-left:5px solid #e1e1e1;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .seva-custom-content{padding:15px;font-size:16px;color:#fff;mix-blend-mode:difference;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-modal.guard{max-width:420px;width:100%;} .formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”]{max-width:700px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] [data-style=”clean”]{width:100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-fields{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:0 auto;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit{margin:0 0 15px 0;-webkit-flex:1 0 100%;-ms-flex:1 0 100%;flex:1 0 100%;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-powered-by-convertkit-container{margin:0;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-submit{position:static;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] [data-style=”clean”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] [data-style=”clean”]{padding:10px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”],.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”]{margin-left:-5px;margin-right:-5px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit{margin:0 5px 15px 5px;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-field{-webkit-flex:100 1 auto;-ms-flex:100 1 auto;flex:100 1 auto;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”700″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit,.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”][min-width~=”800″] .formkit-fields[data-stacked=”false”] .formkit-submit{-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;} .formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-background{opacity:1 !important;}@media only screen and (max-width:500px){.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-background{background-size:contain !important;background-repeat:no-repeat !important;}.formkit-form[data-uid=”84e12abc6c”] .formkit-header{margin-top:-51px !Important;}}

    The Importance of Layering for Winter Hiking

    The key to dressing for winter hiking is to wear layers that will keep you both warm AND dry – that means from the elements as well as your sweat. Depending on the difficulty of the trail and weather conditions, you may find yourself needing to take off and put on layers throughout the hike in order to stay comfortable.

    For example, on the uphill sections, I usually start to sweat. When this happens, I immediately stop and shed a layer before I get too clammy. This is important because sweat can make you feel wet and cold when it’s time to go downhill.

    Once I reach the high point of my winter hike and start going downhill, I typically put my layers back on. You don’t produce as much body heat on the downhill, and you need those extra layers of clothing to stay warm.

    The exact layers you should wear on your winter hike depends on the temperature and conditions. However, you should always be prepared for the worst by having extra layers in your backpack. I will go through every single layer I wear next.

    Upper Body Layers

    For my upper body, these are the layers I always pack on my winter hikes.

    • Next to skin base layer: A moisture-wicking shirt made of synethic material or wool
    • Mid-layer: A warmer layer like a fleece
    • Insulated Jacket: A heavier jacket such as a down or synthetic puffy
    • Waterproof shell: A rain jacket or winter shell in case it starts to rain or snow

    I will always bring these layers, but the combination of ones I actually wear will vary throughout my hike. For example, I may start with a base layer, a mid-layer and my insulating jacket and take off my mid-layer when I get warm. Or if it starts to rain or snow, I’ll add my waterproof shell. It just depends on the conditions and my body temperature.

    Ideally, you want to choose layers that are light and packable so you can stuff them in your backpack if you decide to take one off.

    Once you have a few winter hikes under your belt, you’ll see how much heat your body generates, and then you can adjust your cold-weather hiking clothes accordingly.

    Base Layer / Shirt

    Your next-to-skin winter hiking base layer is all about regulating your body temperature while also wicking sweat. You sweat when you’re active, and in winter months it’s extra important that your winter hiking clothes help move the sweat away from your skin so you stay dry, rather than damp and cold.

    Base layers should be made of synthetic fabric or merino wool that wick moisture and dry quickly. Avoid anything cotton (cotton t-shirts, cotton sweatshirts) because cotton stays damp and heavy and loses its insulating properties when wet. This also applies to your sports bra.

    The thickness of your next-to-skin base layer depends on how cold it is outside and is also based on personal preference. Some people prefer to wear a lightweight synthetic hiking t-shirt underneath a mid-weight base layer. Others are fine with a single lightweight base layer. You may have to experiment a bit until you find the system that works best for you.

    Here are my go-to base layers for winter hiking:

    • Icebreaker 200 Oasis Crewe Thermal Top: This Icebreaker top is made of merino wool. It’s very soft, and isn’t itchy at all. It is good at wicking sweat, and I can wear it many times before it needs to be washed. These run small, so I always size up, and you have to follow the washing directions carefully to avoid having it shrink.
    • REI Long-Sleeve Midweight Top: This is a great budget-friendly lighter-weight base layer shirt for warmer winter days.
    Woman wearing Icebreaker Oasis 200 base layer drinking coffee from Aeropress in the doorway of her Sprinter van
    Wearing the Icebreaker 200 Oasis Top

    Mid-Layer Top

    On top of my base layer, I’ll wear a mid-layer, such as a fleece or another mid-weight base layer. I usually choose a mid-layer that covers my neck . Here are my favorite options:

    • FarPointe Alpha Cruiser (90gsm): Everytime I put this on, I’m surprised by how warm it is. Made of Polartec Alpha, a moisture-wicking, lightweight fabric, this fleece weighs less than 5 ounces, so you won’t notice it in your pack if you don’t end up needing it. it also has a hood that can be cinched up around your face. My only gripe about this is the material snags easily, so you have to be careful if you have dogs that like to jump on you. These are very popular, so they quickly go out of stock…so keep your eye out on the Garage Grown Gear site for restocks.
    • Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody: This is a bulkier mid-weight layer, but I love how cozy it is. It’s stretchy, has pockets, and a warm hood, and can be worn alone or layered under a winter jacket.
    Kristen Bor wearing the Arcteryx Kyanite Jacket near Passo Valparola in Italy
    Wearing the Kyanite Hoodie

    Insulated Jacket

    Having an insulated jacket is critical for maintaining body heat by trapping air close to your body. Generally, a warm insulating layer will be made of down or synthetic down.

    Keep in mind that down isn’t warm if it gets wet, so if you live in a wet climate, a synthetic jacket will be more versatile.

    These are my favorite winter hiking jackets.

    • Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody: Made of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, this synthetic jacket is lightweight, yet warm, wind-proof, and water-resistant. At 5’5″ and 140 pounds, I can fit into a medium, but the large size gives me more room to layer underneath. For more thoughts, read my Patagonia Nano Puff Review.
    • Outdoor Research Helium Down Hoodie: This 800-fill down jacket is very warm, and I feel like I’m wearing a cloud. With waterproof shoulders, it can withstand a little bit of snow, and it’s highly compressible in your pack if you don’t end up needing it.
    Kristen Bor on a winter hike
    Wearing the Outdoor Research Helium down hoodie

    Waterproof Shell

    If there is a chance of sleet, snow, rain, or wind, you’ll want to add a weatherproof hardshell over your winter hiking clothes. This will protect you from the elements and keep your other layers dry.

    You’ll want an outer layer that is waterproof but still breathable, as well as packable so you can stuff it in your backpack when you aren’t wearing it. A rain jacket or a backcountry ski shell are both good choices. I’d avoid wearing a super heavy insulated ski jacket which will cause you to overheat. Plus, a ski jacket is bulky so if you end up wanting to take it off, you’ll have a hard time cramming it in your pack.

    I prefer weatherproof shells that have armpit vents that zip open when you get hot in order to provide better airflow. You’ll also want to take into account the layers you might be wearing underneath when figuring out what size shell you need.

    Here are my go-tos:

    • Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket: This is a lightweight waterproof, windproof jacket with pit zips, an adjustable hood, and three layers of Gortex to keep you protected from the elements. While this is a pricey jacket, it can be used in all 4-seasons for hiking and backpacking. For more details, read my Arc’teryx Beta SL review.
    • REI Rainier Rain Jacket: If you aren’t ready to drop a bunch of money on outerwear or you aren’t even sure you like winter hiking, this rain jacket will keep you dry if it starts to rain or snow, plus it’s lightweight and packable. It’s not necessarily intended for winter climates, but as long as you layer properly underneath, this jacket will do the trick.
    Kristen Bor wearing a red Arc'teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket on during a rainy hike. She is zipping up the zipper

    Lower Body Layers

    Here is what my layering system looks like for my legs that I’ll adjust based on conditions:

    • Next-to-skin base layer: A pair of synthetic or wool long-johns
    • Hiking pants: Normal or fleece-lined
    • Weatherproof Shell Pants: Rain pants or non-insulated ski pants

    Base layer Bottoms

    Just like on your upper body, the next-to-skin base layer on your lower body should help keep you warm while wicking sweat. As with all of your winter hiking clothes, you’ll want to stick to synthetic fabric or merino wool and avoid cotton.

    Here are my favorite long johns for winter hiking:

    • Icebreaker 200 Oasis Thermal Leggings: These are my all-time favorite merino wool long johns for both winter hiking and skiing. They retain their shape and don’t stretch out, so I can wear them for weeks without having to wash them. They are warm and very soft.

    Hiking Pants

    For hiking pants, I waver between normal hiking pants paired with the long johns mentioned above OR a pair of fleece-lined winter hiking pants where I can skip the extra layer underneath. Here are my favorite hiking pants specifically designed for winter.

    • Craft Adv Nordic Training Pants: These are actually cross-country skiing pants, but I like them a lot for winter hiking. They have an elastic waistband which makes them comfy to move in. Plus, they are water-resistant and are very effective at keeping me warm with the fleece lining. They have a slimmer cut, so I wouldn’t want to wear long johns underneath and the cuffs are narrow so I have to tuck them into my boots.
    • REI Activator Pants: Unlike the Craft pants above, you can comfortably layer underneath these as needed, and they have lots of pockets for your essentials. While these are button-up, the waistband is stretchy and moves with your body. They are water-resistant and can handle light rain and snow, and the cuff is big enough to stretch over your winter hiking boots. These do run a little big, so if you are in between sizes, I’d suggest sizing down.
    Bearfoot Theory founder Kristen Bor winter hiking with her mini aussie dog on a snowy trail in Utah
    Wearing the Craft nordic pants

    Weatherproof Shell Pants

    If it’s sunny and there’s no chance of rain or snow, I’ll skip the weatherproof pants, especially if I’m wearing one of the water-resistant winter hiking pants I just mentioned.

    However, if it’s raining or snowing, I will add a pair of rain pants or even snow pants to make sure my legs stay dry.

    Here are some good choices:

    • REI Rainier Rain Pants: Like the REI Rainier Rain Jacket I mentioned above, these aren’t designed for winter and will not keep you warm. But they will keep you dry, and they are budget-friendly if you aren’t ready to drop a few hundred dollars on hard shell pants. Just make sure you wear layers underneath that will provide enough insulation.
    • Arc’teryx Sentinel Pants: These are the pants I wear skiing, and they also make a great waterproof layer for winter hiking. They are made of 3 layers of Gortex, have thigh vents that you can open if you get hot, and have big pockets for your essentials. I wouldn’t invest in these just for hiking, but if you like to ski too, these can serve as dual purpose.

    Winter Accessories

    You lose most of your body heat through your head and extremities, so having the right accessories is important for keeping you warm on your winter hikes. I always have these with me:

    • Polar Buff Neckwarmer: I always pack a buff to keep the wind, cold air, and sun from hitting my neck and face directly. The polar version is lined with cozy fleece which also makes it great for skiing.
    • The North Face Etip Gloves: My hands tend to get hot when I’m hiking uphill, but as soon as I turn around and start to go down, my fingers get really cold. These fleece-lined gloves keep them warm, and they are touchscreen compatible allowing me to take photos on my phone without having to take them off.
    • Columbia Bundle Up Beanie: A hat is especially important because you lose a significant amount of heat through the top of your head. This cute, fleece lined pom beanie keeps my head very warm.
    • Sunski Treeline Polarized Sunglasses: Sunlight reflects off the snow, so I prefer sunglasses with side shields when I’m hiking in winter. These also keep wind and snow out of your eyes.

    Winter Hiking Footwear

    My toes get really cold when I’m hiking in snow, so I always wear insulated boots and wool socks. I also will wear microspikes if the trail is icy.

    • Oboz Bridger Insulated 9″ Boots: These are the warmest winter hiking boots I’ve ever tried. The 9″ cuff is great because it helps keep snow out of the boot.
    • Darn Tough Winter Mountaineering Socks: Just like the rest of your winter hiking clothes, you’ll want to avoid cotton when choosing socks. Instead, pick wool or synthetic material that wicks sweat. Darn Tough is my favorite sock brand – their Mountaineering Socks go over the calf and are thicker than normal hiking socks for added warmth.
    • Outdoor Research Helium Gaiters: Depending on how high your boots go and how deep the snow is, you may want to wear a pair of gaiters. They slip over your shoes, and their purpose is to keep the snow out of your shoes and socks.
    • Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System: If you’re anticipating the trail being icy, I highly recommend packing microspikes. These easily attach to the bottom of your shoes and help grab on to slick and icy terrain to help you feel more confident. You can purchase burlier crampons, but those are typically only needed for mountaineering or ice climbing.
    • MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes: I don’t always wear snowshoes, but if I’m hiking in deeper, ungroomed snow, they are a must. Snowshoes are designed to keep you on top of the snow rather than post-holing with each step. These are budget-friendly and a great choice for non-technical winter hikes.
    Save this post to Pinterest

    I hope these tips and recommendations for winter hiking clothes help you plan and prepare for an awesome cold-weather hiking adventure! Got questions? Leave them below in the comments.

    The post What I Wear Hiking in Winter: A Women’s Guide appeared first on Bearfoot Theory.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *