Clothes for Cold Weather Hiking
The events of 2020 have created a whole new crop of hikers this year and many of you are spending more time than ever outdoors and on trail. But now that Fall and Winter are fast upon us, you newbies might start to wonder if you’re up to the challenge of continuing on out in the cold weather. Feeling a tad timid about trekking in the tundra? A long as you can commit to layering up, you’ll stay toasty from your nose to your toes and still get that sense of peace and solace that brought you out there to begin with. Below are a few tried and true layering techniques as well as some pro-tips to ensure that you’ll feel fine in the frost. Got a tip of your own to share with your fellow hikers? Be sure to leave a comment below!
On your head: winter hat or ear warmer + scarf or neck warmer
When the thermometer drops, your head and face are often the first places to feel it. The best way to hold on to your heat and block out the wind is to keep your ears under a hat and your neck tucked in with a scarf or a neck warmer. Not only will your nose thank you for being covered, but so will Covid-conscious hikers walking in the opposite direction. A built in bonus of neck warmers (a.k.a. balaclavas, neck gaiters or Buffs) is that their shape naturally lends itself to safe social distancing as they can be easily raised and lowered as needed.
On your body: keep your core warm with Layering
It’s all about the layers. Stay warm on top when the temps drop with a base layer, an insulating layer and an outer, or shell layer, and chances are you already have some clothes at home that will work. Best bets for under layers are synthetic materials like polyester blends or natural fibers wool and silk, all of which are great insulators, even when wet. Avoid cotton or cotton blends come Winter, as they take waaaay too long to dry out from sweat and snow and will not keep you warm while they’re at it. Base layers can be long or short sleeved and should fit fairly snug to the body — think long underwear or a synthetic work out shirt. Your insulating layer could be a fleece hoodie, a down or synthetic puffy jacket or vest, or a classic wool sweater. Top it all off with a shell layer like a rain jacket or wind breaker to keep your body heat in and the wind and wet weather out.
*** Pro-tip — Don’t be afraid to de-layer and re-layer throughout your day. Depending on the outside temps and how tough the terrain is that you’re traversing, you may find yourself working up a sweat, especially on the uphills. No need to soak straight through your underlayers, simply shed some off to regulate your heat. It’s easy enough to zip that hoodie back up or pull that sweater over your head once you’re expending less energy on a downhill or catching a chill when wind picks up — just tie that jacket around your waist or stuff it in an exterior pocket of your pack to keep it handy.
on your legs & Feet: Dryness is key
For your legs, a base layer and an outer layer will usually suffice and the same materials apply as what to wear on your core — synthetic or insulating natural fibers. But check the weather before you hit the trail – if it’s not super cold out there, thermal bottoms may leave you feeling too hot and humid. On the other hand, if it’s windy, there’s a lot of snow, or if you’re hitting a lesser travelled trail, you may want the addition of waterproof rain or snow pants to keep your legs dry. Keeping your feet warm is the key to comfort in the cold and wearing two pairs of socks inside some waterproof or insulated boots is a great way to do it. But make sure you still have room to wiggle your toes in your shoes — if it’s too tight, all the benefits of layering are reversed, so size up your shoes if you need to. Having a bit of space in your shoes actually traps the warm air inside and keeps those toes toasty. For ultimate protection, add in tall gaiters (ankle covers) to keep snow from sneaking down into that space between your boots and your ankles.
***Pro-tip —Don’t have any long johns or a layer thin enough to fit under your regular hiking pants? Pantyhose make a great base layer and work well for doubling up on the feet without your shoes feeling too tight. If your shoes aren’t waterproof, bring an extra pair of dry socks or two to switch into on the ride home.
On your Hands: its a balance
Do you hike with trekking poles? If so, gloves are great for keeping the dexterity needed to hang on to the handles. But depending on the outside temps, you may want to opt for mittens, since they keep your fingers warmer on the whole. Want the best of both worlds? Opt for a combo of glove liners and mittens. If you’re someone that suffers from Reynaud’s or just tends to get cold hands, bring along some single-use hand warmers like HotHands to help keep that circulation flowing.
***Pro-tip — Your own body heat does an amazing job at keeping your body warm out in the elements, but your extremities (hands and feet) are the first to cool off when stopped, since your body’s main purpose is to keep your core pumping. Instead of one long lunch break on trail, take shorter but more frequent snack breaks to limit the time staying still. To warm up quickly after a break, do a set of jumping jacks or run in place for 10 seconds and soon enough your fingers will be back to normal.
In summary:
You won’t know how your body will react in the cold until you’ve opted to spend some time out there, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading outside! Until you’ve had some experience with dips in the weather, err on the side of caution and bring extra layers — just remember to regulate! Un-zip or de-layer if you’re feeling sweaty to keep your clothes dry and simply pop them in your pack if you find out you don’t need them.