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 …
Read More »Backpacking Skills
10 Winter Hiking and Backpacking Hacks
There is really no substitute for experience when it comes to winter hiking, backpacking, and camping. You can read about it in books and watch videos, but the best way to learn is to go out with an experienced friend who can …
Read More »Winter Backpacking on a Budget: Gear Up without Breaking the Bank
Winter backpacking and mountaineering are great sports. But the cost of winter gear is very expensive, upward of $2000 or more. In my experience, it’s best to acquire winter backpacking gear over a period of 2-3 years, so you can spread out …
Read More »Wool Baselayers vs Synthetic Baselayers: How to Choose
Wool vs synthetic baselayers: which is better? Wool baselayer garments feel warmer than synthetic baselayers, but synthetic baselayers dry more quickly than wool. What are the pros and cons of each and which should you buy for winter hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing? …
Read More »Winter Hiking Gaiters: Benefits and Pitfalls
Winter hiking gaiters, namely high gaiters, are an important part of a winter hiking clothing layering system but they definitely have some pluses and minuses. While the benefits still outweigh the negatives, this is a piece of gear that could really stand …
Read More »Ultralight Bivy Sacks 101
Ultralight bivy sacks are used by backpackers for cowboy camping or under floorless shelters, such as tarps or pyramids, to protect their sleeping bags/quilts and sleeping pads from wind, insects, mice, and other creepy crawlers. Most are not waterproof and function more …
Read More »Flat Tarps vs Catenary Cut Tarps
The lightest weight ultralight backpacking shelters are tarps, including flat tarps and catenary curve tarps, sometimes called “flat cut” or “cat cut” tarps for short. They both have their pros and cons as we discuss below, but if your goal is wilderness …
Read More »Recommended Winter Hiking Gear List: 2022-2023
When gearing up for winter day hiking you want footwear, clothing, and traction aids that can be used across a fairly wide range of temperatures, wind speeds, sun, precipitation types, and surface conditions. For example, typical winter weather includes: Temperatures: from 40 …
Read More »What is an Inverted Canister Stove?
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 …
Read More »Grazing on Winter Hiking Food
Winter hiking burns a lot more calories than hiking the rest of the year because your body has to work harder to stay warm in the cold; you have to wear more clothing layers and heavier insulated boots; you need to carry …
Read More »How Breathable are Waterproof/Breathable Winter Hiking Boots?
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 …
Read More »The Science of Clothing Layers for Winter Hiking
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 …
Read More »Dirtbag Crampon Bag Hack
Here is a crampon bag hack I’ve been using for the past few years to protect the front mesh pocket of my winter pack from sharp crampon and microspike teeth. It requires the use of a simple poly bubble mailer (those white …
Read More »Short Length Ultralight Sleeping Pads
Switching to a shorter torso-length sleeping pad is a good way to reduce the weight of your ultralight backpacking gear because your legs don’t need the same amount of insulation as your core in three-season conditions. If you have a short torso-length …
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