Winter Hiking Clothes Layers

Winter wanderings four layer system for even colder and wetter activities such as skiing snowboarding ice climbing or moderate mountaineering 4 layers work best to allow you to cool off during the hard aerobic parts of your day and stay warm during the slow or stormy periods.

Winter hiking clothes layers.

Layering is a three part system that includes a base layer that wicks perspiration away from your skin a mid layer that insulates you from the cold and a shell layer that keeps wind and moisture out. Do not layer clothes with two layers. While assembling a wicking base layer insulating mid layer and waterproof windproof shell is the foundation for a layered clothing system experienced hikers employ a number of temperature regulation techniques beyond adding or removing their shell or mid layer to avoid sweating or getting cold as their level of activity changes during a hike or snowshoeing trip. Layer clothes wrong your too hot and sweat and then die or you are freezing and then you die.

The layering system is most useful in cool to cold weather in warm weather a light top and bottom usually suffice. Most winter hikers wear a wool or synthetic base layer consisting of a long sleeve jersey long underwear and some kind of boxer or bikini underwear under that. Layers can be removed and added as needed throughout the day. Here s how to stay warm and safe on the trail during winter.

It is supposed to keep you safe and comfortable in a broad range of temperatures and environmental conditions wind rain sleet and snow. There s one certainty about the clothing layers we use in winter. Outer layer shell layer. Layering for winter hiking is vastly different than any other time of year.

Middle layer insulating layer. Shields you from wind and rain. While a rain shell or puffy jacket may rarely or even never come out of our pack on a summer hike or climb we almost invariably wear every article of clothing we carry when backcountry nordic or downhill skiing snowshoeing snowboarding climbing or trail running in winter. Home appalachian trail at continental divide trail cdt pacific crest trail pct.

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. Retains body heat to protect you from the cold. It s important that all of your base layers by synthetic or wool and not cotton because they ll dry faster. You can peel off layers if things heat up but you can t put on layers that you didn t bring along.

A layering system is really just a set of good hiking clothes. Even if you don t wear all three layers at the outset it s a good idea to take all layers on every outing.