With the right gear, you can still reach the highest peaks. Here are 15 top-rated things you’ll want to make sure you have before attempting to hike during the winter.
Not only are face masks recommended to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, but they provide an extra layer of warmth, making them the ultimate winter accessory.
While sneakers will normally suffice for a not-too-strenuous 3-mile hike, during the winter, you’re going to want to upgrade to a pair of hiking boots.
Despite the weird name, these things are essentially a chain of spikes that attach to your hiking boots, making it possible to walk on ice without slipping.
If you find yourself in the woods after the sun goes down, you’re going to want to have a headlamp on you.
Warm gloves are important to keep feeling in your fingers, but you also want the ability to use your phone to snap a quick picture or respond to a text during your hike.
When it comes to covering your ears, you want a hat that’s warm but breathable.
When it comes to hiking in extremely cold temperatures, you need to layer up. Throw on a pair of thermals under your hiking outfit for some well-deserved warmth.
The thicker the socks are, the more insulation you'll have. Just make sure they’re not too tight with your boots or you could cut off circulation.
It’s always good to layer up. While it always gets colder at the top of the mountain, you can easily rip off the pullover if you get too hot while descending.
When you’re bundled up, it’s especially hard to grab a water bottle from your backpack and take a sip. That’s where a hydration backpack comes in handy.
Wearing sunscreen is just as important on sunny hikes as it is in the winter—especially with the increased altitude, as it’seasier to get sunburntsince there’s less of earth's atmosphere to block sunlight.
Even if you have gloves, a hat, and a warm jacket, you still need to make sure your neck doesn’t freeze. PSA: it doesn’t replace the effectiveness of a face mask in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
If you have really cold hands, then you know gloves and thick socks alone aren't going to cut it during a chilly hike. That's where hand warmers come in.
You’ve heard of neck gaiters, but did you know that there are boot gaiters to ensure no snow sneaks in while hiking? They also add a bit of warmth.
Cold weather can kill your phone battery quickly. If you’re worried about being stuck in the woods with a dead phone, it’s a good idea to bring along a portable battery pack.