Winter Hiking

The North Face Chilkat 400 II is an insulated waterproof/breathable winter hiking boot rated to -40F/-40C. Available for both men and women, these boots come up to mid-calf for maximum heat retention and feature metal lacing hardware for durability, a gaiter ring …

I’ve been a serious winter hiker for close to 15 years and I’ve never owned a pair of single-layer, insulated waterproof/breathable winter hiking boots that didn’t leave my socks damp or wet from foot perspiration. I’ve used 400g and 200g insulated winter …

I go the extra mile to avoid blisters when winter day hiking and backpacking because I don’t want to sit on the bench for 2-3 weeks while they heal.  Everyone has a different system for winter blister prevention because everyone has different …

Norrona’s Falketind Flex1 Softshell Pants are technical mountaineering pants that are ideal for winter hiking and climbing. They’re stretchy, wind-resistant, and highly breathable to keep your legs cool and dry during high exertion activities. Feature-wise, they have four zippered pockets, two long …

CAMP XLC 490 Crampons are lightweight aluminum crampons with a universal binding that are compatible with most mountaineering and hiking boots. They’re designed for low-angle hiking on ice and packed snow, often called glacier travel. While aluminum crampons aren’t as durable as …

Snowshoes are heavy, weighing between four and five pounds a pair, so most winter hikers are happy when they don’t have to carry them on a winter hike. But how can you tell when they won’t be needed? This is a question that …

Wearing multiple clothing layers for winter or cold weather hiking keeps you drier and warm by moving moisture away from your skin. Sounds simple, right? It is, but many people struggle to understand the scientific principles behind layering and how they can …

Marmot’s Minimalist Shell Mitts are waterproof/breathable shell mitts insulated with a lightweight liner that can be worn alone or layered over insulated gloves or mittens. They are made of Gore-Tex Paclite with reinforced leather palms and are seam-taped for leak-proof protection from …

The Baffin Borealis Winter Hiking Boot is a lightweight insulated hiking boot rated to -20 degrees with a removable liner, similar to a plastic mountaineering boot, but much more comfortable for hiking in. It’s also suitable for winter backpacking since you can …

The Kovea Spider Inverted Canister Stove is a four-season backpacking and camping stove that has many advantages over fully integrated and component canister stove systems. Chief amongst these is the fact that it can burn canister fuel in liquid form, with the …

Feathered Friend’s Down Booties are goose-down socks that have a removable weather-resistant shell so you can wear them in your sleeping bag or outdoors when winter camping. I like wearing mine in the cabin or on winter backpacking trips after removing my …

An inverted canister stove is a canister stove that can burn canister gas (an isobutane/propane mix) in lower temperatures than a regular canister stove. It’s good for winter camping when the nighttime temperature drops below 15 degrees (F). That’s the temperature at …

Winter hikers carry several pairs of gloves and mittens and layer them in different combinations for warmth, wind protection, increased dexterity, and moisture management. No one pair of handwear can satisfy all of these needs, so it’s best to carry of collection …

Kahtoola’s KTS Crampons are a winter traction aid designed for use with soft-soled shoes. This is important in spring when the base of peaks have no snow, but you need to bring along traction to deal with lingering ice on high ledges …