How to Dress for Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking

As much as we'd love to be RVing in the southwest right now, until we're making enough mobile income to live off of, we'll be here in the Rockies. It's not all bad and we’re not about to let the snow and cold keep us cooped up all winter. Having the right clothes for snowshoeing and winter hiking is pretty important to our lifestyle out here. We realize that everyone is different so what's ideal for us may not be ideal for you. Still, we hope you find something here that helps or inspires you to get outside this winter.

Here's how we bundle up: 

Base Layer Top: If it's good and cold, we wear thermal tops. On slightly warmer days, a short sleeve athletic shirt or even aregular T-shirt works fine. Looking for a recommendation? 

Steve wears this
Tess wears this
 
Base Layer Bottoms: For pants Steve and I usually opt for running tights but thermal bottoms are another great choice.
Steve wears these
Tess wears these

​Socks: We wear wool socks because they help wick away moisture. A Nylon Poly Blend would also work. We just try to stay away from cotton socks which feel soggy and cold.
Steve wears these
Tess wears these
 
Insulating Layer: A simple fleece, sweatshirt or hoodie is great.
Steve wears this
Tess wears this
​

---

Shell: This outer layer helps to keep the wind and water out.  If you're like Steve and you get pretty toasty, try a jacket with pit zips. Venting your pit zips will help you avoid that muggy feeling inside your jacket. 

Steve wears this
Tess Wears this

Snow Pants: I (Tess) usually wear a pair of snow pants over my running tights because the snow pants block the cold breeze. If It’s a little warmer out, I  may even skip a base layer on the bottom and just wear my snow pants. Steve gets toastier than I do so he's content with running tights only. To each their own!

I L-O-V-E my snow pants but unfortunately, they're not making them this year. They're by Columbia. They're water and wind proof with a little bit of stretch and material has a thin layer of fleece fused to the inside.  They don't have built in gaiters and I prefer this because regular gaiters are better for hiking anyway.
 
Coat: We often bring lightweight puffy jackets. If it's especially cold, we start out wearing our jackets and then peel them off after the first mile. Even if we don’t start out wearing them, they can still come in handy. It’s crazy how toasty we feel while we’re moving but within seconds of stopping, our teeth start to chatter. We recommend that you keep a warm coat where you can easily get to it so you won’t hesitate to bust it out for even those 1 or 2 minute breaks.

Mine is no longer available but Steve has this. If you prefer something lighter wight, try this one.

Hat: We all know that we lose a lot of body heat through our head. A beanie or insulated headband is a must for both of us.

Steve wears this
Tess wears this
 

Gloves: Some folks might need a well insulated ski or snowboarding glove to keep their digits warm. Others may prefer a mid or lightweight fleece glove. Steve usually wears winter mountain biking gloves. I currently sport some inexpensive fleece gloves.

​Steve wears these
Tess wears these

Waterproof hiking Boots: You may already have a pair of these for all the alpine hiking you do in the summer. In my case, I do all my summer hiking in trail runners so I bought a pair of hiking boots made just for winter hiking. The only difference between my boots and other waterproof hiking boots is an extra bit of insulation. The Sorels you wear to shovel your driveway are probably not the most comfortable choice for snowshoeing since they weren’t made to be walked in for several miles at a time.

Steve wears these
Tess's are no longer made

Gaiters: Gaiters keep snow out of your boots and pant legs so you stay warm and dry. While most snowboarding pants have built in gaiters, we don’t recommend this option for snowshoeing since the friction from your snowshoe bindings will put a lot of wear and tear on your pants.
 
 Here's what we're wearing
 
 
 
​Neck Gaiter (Optional): A neck gaiter, or neck-warmer is a tube of fabric you slip around your neck for a bit of extra warmth. It can also be pulled up over your mouth and nose to keep your face warm.

 We both wear these
 
Headlamp (Optional): With these short winter days, 90% of our snowshoeing is done by lamplight; we get home from work in the evening, we gear up and we hit the trail. You can spend $100 on a nice lamp with 200 lumens or pick up something inexpensive that will do the trick. Night hiking in the snow is such a peaceful experience, so don’t miss out on it just because the sun goes down early.

Steve uses this one
​Tess uses this one
 
 
So layer up, round up a few friends and get out there this winter. It's still hard for us to get out the door sometimes but we never regret doing it.

What do you wear to keep warm outside in the winter?

---

Quick Tip:  It's easy to get in the zone and start putting the miles behind you, but try to pay attention to how warm your body is. You want to avoid sweating as much as possible. Even a little sweat will bring your body temp down in a hurry once you stop moving. If you think you can shed a layer and still be comfortable, do it.  And you want to be quick about it or you’ll get cold before you can get moving again. It’s a constant game of shedding and adding layers to keep your body at an optimal temp but once you learn to play the game, you’ll be glad you did.