Insulated winter water bottle holders capable of holding 32 oz wide mouth bottles are in very short supply this year. The best-insulated carriers from Forty Below, Mountainsmith, and Outdoor Research are either sold out or back-ordered due to supply chain delays. Here’s …
Read More »Winter Hiking
How to Layer for Winter Hiking
Layering is one of the most important skills that winter hikers must learn. It’s the key to staying comfortable in cold weather and preventing perspiration from chilling you. Perspiration reduces your clothing’s ability to trap the warm air heated by your body heat. …
Read More »Hillsounds or Microspikes? How to Choose
Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras and Kahtoola Microspikes are the most popular winter traction aids for hiking on packed snow, ice, and mixed ice and rock. They’re like tire chains for your feet, with tiny metal spikes and chains that are attached to …
Read More »Sealskinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet Gloves Review
Sealskinz’s Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet Gloves have a high degree of dexterity and warmth. I use them when I need to use an ice axe above treeline in winter and need a warm glove that is flexible enough to wrap around …
Read More »How to Sharpen Crampons
? With winter just around the bend, this is a good time to start thinking about checking your winter hiking gear and sharpening your crampons. Crampons work best when they’re sharp enough to assertively bite into ice. The problem is that they …
Read More »Winter Liquid Fuel Bottle Insulation Hack
In cold weather, the temperature of white gas, or liquid fuel as it is also known, can dip below freezing (0 centigrade) but still remain in liquid form. If it touches your skin, it will evaporate immediately, causing frostnip or frostbite. In …
Read More »When Should You Call Off A Winter Hike?
We called off our hike up to Mt Adams (5774′) this past Monday because conditions were just too severe. With subzero temperatures, -40 to -50 degree (f) wind chills, and winds blowing over 100 miles per hour, it would have been too …
Read More »How to Safely Cross Streams in Winter
Winter stream crossings can be dangerous if you slip off a rock or fall through an ice shelf and get your boots and clothing wet. However, you can often cross safely with a little extra planning or by bushwhacking along the bank …
Read More »Avalanche Beacons and Companion Rescue
If you go into Avalanche terrain, you should always bring an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe with you, and know how to use them so that you can rescue your friends quickly if they’re caught in an avalanche. Learning and practicing companion …
Read More »What is the Rest Step?
There’s a hiking technique called the rest step that winter hikers and mountain climbers use to preserve their energy during a climb. It takes a little practice getting used to it, but after that, it’s a charm. It’s particularly useful for winter …
Read More »Winter Bivy Sack Guide 2021-2022
Winter bivy sacks were first developed as solo shelters for mountaineering and climbing where participants were interested in lightweight and highly compressible camping gear. Bivy Sacks are also an attractive option for backpacking hunters, backcountry skiers, and winter backpackers who want the …
Read More »Winter Hiking Safety Tips
Winter can be a dangerous time to hike or camp in the backcountry, but with planning and proper preparation, a winter hike can be a safe and enjoyable experience. Please keep the following in mind when planning an outing: For safety, never …
Read More »STABILicers Hike Macro Winter Traction Spikes Review
STABILicers Hike Macro Winter Traction Spikes are a traction device in the same vein as Kahtoola Microspikes and Hillsound Trail Crampons but with a very different binding and spike design. Instead of free-floating chains suspended from an elastomer harness, they have a …
Read More »Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range Boots Review
Wolverine ShiftPlus Polar Range Boots are winter boots rated down to -40F with 400-gram Primaloft Aerogel insulation. They’re not specifically designed for winter hiking and lack some of the features found on good winter hiking boots like a curved rockered sole designed …
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