Winter Hiking, Camping and Backpacking
Latest Winter Hiking, Camping & Backpacking Articles
What’s Up With The Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Jacket – Review
What is a Hiking Mid Layer?
How to Choose a Winter Backpacking Tent
11 Tips for Winter Backpacking
Understanding Base Layer Hiking Clothing
What’s Up With The REI Base Camp 4 Tent – Review
What’s Up With The Big Agnes Rapide SL – Review
Winter Hiking, Camping, and Backpacking Clothing
Base Layers
Mid Layer
The mid layer is all, or part of your insulation layer. It can be made of anything from fleece to down, but for winter hiking and backpacking I would go for something light and sweat wicking, which can be paired with a puffer jacket. A mid layer with a full zipper is best to be able to adjust your temperature on the go, to minimize sweat accumulation.
If you're performing exertional hiking with just your base layer, or your base layer/shell combo, and still feel cold, it's time to put on your mid layer. Otherwise save it for when you're not moving, or are at camp.
I go over mid layer basics in my 'What is a Hiking Mid Layer?' article.
Puffer Jacket
You're puffer, or puffy jacket is your main insulating layer. It's good for when you're resting, or at camp, not working up a sweat.
Down is usually your best choice here, especially when backpacking, to maximize your warmth to weight ratio. Just make sure your down jacket has a DWR rating, meaning it has some water resistance properties. And make sure you have a rain shell. Down fails when it gets soaked and clumps up.
Check out my review of the Cotopaxi Fuego hooded down jacket, which is a good winter down jacket for weather in the mid 20°F to mid 60°F range, depending on your layering.
Rain Shell
Your rain shell keeps you and your inner layers dry, during rain and wet snow precipitation. It also can act as a wind breaker, if the wind is penetrating your other layers.
If you're getting cold, just hiking in your base layer, try adding your rain shell, before resorting to your mid layers, to keep them from getting sweaty.
I personally use a cheap Columbia rain shell. But there are more technical ones made of breathable Gortex, or other materials, and which have arm pit zips for better ventilation. If you're thinking of doing some serious backpacking, don't go cheap like me, and get a real shell.
Winter Hiking, Camping, and Backpacking Tips and Tricks
Tips for Winter Backpacking
4 Season (Winter) Backpacking Tents
Where 3-season backpacking tents are built to be light, their winter counterparts are built to withstand harsh wind and snow loads. You can have light, or you can have strong and weather hardy. And thus most of these tents are in the 8+ pound weight range.
Check out my article on what characteristics to look for in a winter backpacking tent.
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