Winter Hiking

There is really no substitute for experience when it comes to winter hiking, backpacking, and camping. You can read about it in books and watch videos, but the best way to learn is to go out with an experienced friend who can …

When you melt snow for drinking water in winter, your stove, if you use a liquid fuel (white gas) stove or an inverted canister stove, is going to get red hot and start to melt the snow it’s sitting on. Melting a …

Do you carry firestarters on winter hikes for use in an emergency if you have an accident and become immobilized or need to hunker down in bad weather? I have news for you. Starting a campfire in winter is devilishly difficult when …

Winter backpacking and mountaineering are great sports. But the cost of winter gear is very expensive, upward of $2000 or more. In my experience, it’s best to acquire winter backpacking gear over a period of 2-3 years, so you can spread out …

If you plan to hike in the White Mountains in winter, it’s important to pay careful attention to the weather forecast so you can avoid hiking in dangerous conditions. High winds, cold temperatures, or deep snow can compromise your safety but can …

There are many ways to attach snowshoes to a backpack, although some of them are more energy-efficient and comfortable than others. How you go about doing this depends on the characteristics of your backpack and the places where you can attach or …

The North45 SureFit Anti-Fog (Non-Magnetic) Balaclava prevents lens fogging when used with a ski mask or glasses. The balaclava is made with merino wool and is available in multiple sizes. It consists of two attached pieces, a regular balaclava that covers your …

There are three kinds of winter boots: insulated winter hiking boots, mountaineering boots, and pac boots. Which kind of winter hiking boot is right for you? Here’s a detailed guide that explains the differences between these so you can pick the right …

REI’s Activator 3.0 Soft-Shell Pants, available for both men and women, are soft-shell pants for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing. They’re water-resistant and highly breathable to prevent sweat build-up, with articulated knees and a gusseted crotch for freedom of movement. They’re rated …

One of the biggest challenges faced by winter hikers is figuring out a clothing layering system that keeps them warm and dry across a wide variety of temperatures, wind chills, and exertion levels. It takes a lot of experimentation to dial in …

Winter hiking gaiters, namely high gaiters, are an important part of a winter hiking clothing layering system but they definitely have some pluses and minuses. While the benefits still outweigh the negatives, this is a piece of gear that could really stand …

Winter boots are usually insulated with 200g or 400g synthetic insulation which is very thin but warm. The insulation varies but is usually Thinsulate, Primaloft, or a comparable synthetic fill or fiber. In addition, winter boots are almost always waterproof with waterproof/breathable …

When gearing up for winter day hiking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains you want footwear, clothing, and traction aids that can be used across a wide range of temperatures, wind speeds, sun, precipitation types, and surface conditions. What you use can be …

Hillsound makes three different types of winter hiking traction aids, which unlike traditional mountaineering crampons, are primarily designed for use with flexible-soled winter boots and shoes. Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra Hillsound Trail Crampon Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro Unfortunately, Hillsound chose to name …