Hiking in near freezing temperatures and when there’s snow or ice on the ground is completely different from other seasons of the year. The biggest difference is that you need to be a bit more purposeful with the gear that you use.
In this article, you’ll learn about the different techniques for how to dress and what to wear for hiking in the winter.
Read more about winter adventures
- Unique Winter Getaways in Ontario
- How To Plan A Trip to Banff in Winter: A 6 Day Itinerary
- 3 Day Calgary Itinerary
- Best Weekend Trips from Toronto
- How to Find The Perfect Cottage in Ontario
- 9 Getaway-Worthy Northern Ontario Resorts
Looking for deals on travel?
- Latest travel deals – Bookmark the travel deals page which is updated daily.
- Car rentals – Stop getting ripped off and learn about car rental coupon codes.
- Hotels – Use corporate codes or get Genius 2 tier with Booking.
- Flights – Have you ever heard of the “Everywhere” feature?
- Insurance – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about where to buy the best travel insurance.
Guide To What To Wear for Hiking in the Winter
Everyone has a different approach to winter weather gear for hiking. There’s the technical way to do it and the more casual way to do it. I’m somewhere in the middle as someone that appreciates quality gear while making sure that it’s as practical as possible.
Beanie/Toque
To stay warm, you have to look at getting yourself covered from head to toe. My first choice is to go with a really nice and warm toque (pardon my Canadianism). I’ve gone through my fair share of toques over the years but I’ve learned that the key to it all is that it has good coverage around the ears. Keeping your head warm is a good part of the winter battle.
Insulated vs Shell Jacket
I don’t know how this phenomenon began but I’m sure it had something to do with Canada Goose. Everywhere you go in the winter (at least in Canada), everyone’s rocking some sort of poofy down feather jacket with furry hoods. Wanting to at least try to keep up the fashion trends, I made it a mission of mine to find something that would fit the bill for what I wanted to do this winter.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Columbia. In fact, I was pretty much fully outfitted with their clothing and gear for my recent trip to Peru. So with that, I knew that’s where I would look. One thing that really caught my eye this year was the Barlow Pass 550 Turbodown Jacket.
What really stood out to me was the fact that it incorporated their signature silver foil reflective layer on the inside (Omni-Heat) to keep you warm while also using their super fancy waterproof and breathable outer layer (Omni-Shield) that I had with my Columbia backpack and shoes. Beyond the fact that you get all of the features you’d expect from a jacket like this with uber warm down insulation, removable fur hood, and more pockets that you have use for. If you’re a snowboarder like me, this is the perfect balance of style and winter activity versatility.
Keeping Your Feet Warm
One thing I’ve always lacked year to year has been a solid pair of boots that look good. I don’t mean the crazy bulky boots that you’d go trekking with nor the super utilitarian construction worker’s boot but just a plain old leather you-got-some-style kind of boots.
It took a little bit of digging but I finally found a pair that I was looking for. It ended up coming from Territory Ahead again and a brand that I’ve never even heard of.
These boots you’re looking at are from Børn and called the Jax Chukka Boots. These guys are artisan crafted footwear where the focus is on using an age-old hand-stitching technique called Opanaka where the upper, insole and bottom of the shoe are sewn together. I was very happy to support an “back to the roots” shoe company and style wise, I love the rugged look of the full-grain leather uppers in combination with the burnished toes. I can finally make those skinny jeans look GOOD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best winter shell jackets?
One of the best in the industry is Arc’teryx which was started in Vancouver, Canada. They make excellent outershell jackets with Gore-tex fabrics.
What you should read next
Travel Resources For Your Next Trip
If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.
Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.
Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.
Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.
Rideshare: For new Lyft users, use code WILLIAM4825 to get 50% off your first 2 rides (max $10 USD per ride). Offer valid for 14 days after you take your first ride. For new Uber users, use code psuqbjg4d7rn for the same offer except it’s valid for 30 days.
Airport Parking: You’ll need a spot to leave your car at the airport so why not book a spot at a discount. Use code AWESOME7 to get at least $5 off at Airport Parking Reservations or Park Sleep Fly packages.
eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.
- AmigoSIM – Use GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 25% off. Code is re-useable.
- Gigsky – Use TANG149 to get $3 USD when you sign up, then use code GOINGAWESOME to save 20% on all eSIM orders.
- KnowRoaming – Use code GAP10 to save 10%.
- AloSIM – Use code GOINGAWESOMEPLACES to save 15%.
- Airalo – Use referral code WILLIA9500 to get $3 USD credit on your first purchase.
- Ubigi – AWESOME10 to save 10% on your first order.
Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.
Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.
Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).
Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.
Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.
- HeyMondo – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks. By booking through our link to get a 5% discount!
- RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
- SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
- Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
- InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.
If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.
