Clothing Types for Cold Weather Hiking
Just because the sun has packed up for the winter, it doesn’t mean that hiking season is over! You can safely go on long hikes through the cold weather if you’re wearing the right clothes to keep you warm.
Keeping dry is just as important as keeping warm. In fact, water cools your body 25x more quickly than air does. Ensure you’re wearing a waterproof outer shell to protect yourself from rain, snow, puddles and any other wintery wetness. The other thing to keep in mind is that sweat can also be dangerous, since it will cool your body down when you stop moving. The goal is to pick clothes that keep you comfortably warm, but not so hot that you begin sweating.
So, if you want to enjoy hiking in the crisp winter air (with fewer crowds!), here are some of the best clothing types to make it a pleasurable experience:
Pick a base layer to wick moisture away. Your innermost layer should be made of a fabric like Merino wool or another synthetic which wicks sweat away from your body. This will also do a great job of insulating your body by containing your body heat.
Add more insulation with a middle layer. After your breathable inner layer, you want to add a puffy jacket and/or a fleece. These will provide extra protection from the cold weather by trapping even more of your body heat closer to your body.
Wear a waterproof and windproof outer shell. Cold wind is as dangerous as water, so you want to be sure that your outer coat does a great job of protecting yourself from high winds.
Merino wool socks. Don’t forget your feet! They’re the likeliest part of your body to get wet and cold in wintery weather. A great pair of Merino socks will help your feet retain heat and keep out the moisture.
Beanie hat and gloves. Keeping your head and hands warm are also really important for a comfortable winter hike. Insulated gloves are great if the weather is very cold, or it’s raining out.
Waterproof boots. Pair your socks up with a pair of waterproof boots. The last thing you want on your winter hike is soaking wet boots!
Don’t forget that you should also bring a day pack which can hold any layers you feel you don’t need. If you’re starting to overheat in the winter sun, you can remove one of your middle layers to avoid excess sweating.
Written by Jack Vale in partnership with leading stethoscope distributors, Stethoscope.com
