The coldest season of the year is fast approaching, and it’s finally time to dig out the down jacket from the back of your wardrobe. If you plan on heading out winter hiking on the hills, it might be worth getting a checklist together to ensure you have everything you need. A little extra organisation goes a long way and could decide whether you have a good or bad trip!

At Trekitt, we often preach that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong kit. So, today, I’ll be taking you through our top five essentials that you’ll need for exploring when temperatures drop, plus a few added extras for good measure.

1. Merino Wool Baselayers

Merino wool is renowned for its fantastic performance properties, being naturally soft, breathable, fast drying, and odour resistant. It’s also effective at regulating temperature, keeping you warm during the winter and cool during the summer. These qualities make the wool ideal for wearing all year round, and especially good for winter hiking; an undoubtedly good reason to invest in Merino-based products. It’s likely you’d only need one or two of these baselayers in your entire wardrobe, saving you storage space whilst being more sustainable, too!

We’d recommend opting for a 100% Merino wool baselayer where possible. You may also spot brands that use a ‘Merino wool blend’, like Artilect, or Tierra, which often contain cotton, nylon or polyester. Blending the yarn helps to increase longevity and durability, meaning your product will last longer, even with regular use. It may also lessen some performance properties, such as breathability. However, blended products make great alternatives if you’re on a tighter budget, as pure Merino products can come with a higher price point. A great 100% Merino option would be the Icebreaker 200 Oasis LS Crew, or, if you’re looking for a Merino blend product, why not try the Artilect Boulder 125 Crew?

You can pair your baselayer tops with a set of long johns to keep your legs warm. We have a range of long johns for both men and women, and even some ‘short johns’ too!

2. Midlayers

To clarify, a midlayer is a layer of clothing that goes between your baselayer (baselayers sit next to the skin) and your jacket. A common midlayer option is a fleece, but sometimes, when the cold bites, some prefer to wear an insulated jacket as a midlayer instead. For this example, we’ll go with a classic technical fleece.

Technical fleeces are great for keeping warm during winter. Often, they have less bulk, allowing them to fit more comfortably underneath your outer layer, and are more breathable, usually due to the materials or type of construction used. There’s an array of fleeces to suit every need and activity, from chunkier ones that work nicely for casual outings, to super lightweight garments with minimal features, for those adventures where every gram counts. We’ve chosen some of our favourites for winter hiking that you can shop below. Alternatively, check out our entire range of midlayers by clicking here.

Men’s

Women’s

3. Insulated Jackets

There are two types of insulated jackets, both of which work well for winter hiking – down and synthetic. Down insulation uses small down feathers that usually come from ducks and geese. It’s incredibly warm, super lightweight, and packable. However, pure down insulation can often lose its heat once wet, so if you get caught in a heavy downpour when wearing it, you’re pretty much screwed until it dries out. Some products contain hydrophobic down, which is water resistant, giving you a little extra protection in rainy conditions, depending on how long you’re exposed to the elements for. Synthetic insulation uses man-made fibres that trap insulation almost as effectively as down. It can be beneficial in unpredictable conditions, as synthetic insulation stays warm when wet. Synthetic also makes a great vegan alternative to down. However, some synthetic insulation can weigh more and may be less packable.

The best way to choose an insulated jacket is to consider what you’ll be using it for. If you’re generally using it for dog walking or casual weekend hikes, you probably don’t need it to be super lightweight and packable. Therefore, a synthetic option would work well. However, a down jacket may suit you better when carrying lots of kit on a multi-day adventure, as they come with minimal weight and pack size. We’ve chosen some great insulative options for winter hiking that you can browse below. Alternatively, check out our entire range of insulated jackets here.

Down Jackets

Men’s

Women’s

Synthetic Jackets

4. Waterproof Jackets

This might seem obvious, but even on the sunniest-looking days, a waterproof jacket wouldn’t go amiss, especially during winter! Not only do they protect you from rainfall, but they often provide shelter from the wind, too, which is a game-changer when you stop for lunch on the summit. Plus, let’s not forget how unpredictable the weather can be when venturing above the tree line.

We commonly see our waterproofs carry a big Gore-Tex® badge, which provides peace of mind that the jacket will perform correctly. However, in recent years, we’ve seen more proprietary membranes emerge as an alternative. These membranes work just as well as Gore-Tex®! Proprietary membranes are basically designed by the brand and belong to that label. For example, Fjallraven often uses its own Hydratic® waterproof membrane, whilst Haglofs uses its three-layer PROOF® membrane. Below are some great options to shop, or if you’d like to browse our full range of waterproofs, click here.

5. Waterproof Footwear

Owning a pair of waterproof boots, or even shoes, is essential for the wintertime, whether hiking in the mountains or even exploring the city. It’s pretty self-explanatory and can save you from enduring a whole day of suffering soggy feet and cold, damp socks. Like the jackets, some waterproof footwear comes with a Gore-Tex® membrane, providing the classic ‘Guaranteed To Keep You Dry’ promise. Others are available with proprietary membranes, such as Scarpa’s HDry® or Keen’s Keen.Dry membrane. Though waterproof, these types of footwear will still offer ample breathability to help prevent sweat build-up inside – especially when wearing a good pair of technical socks! Take a look at our top picks for waterproof boots and shoes below, or shop the entire range here.

Men’s

Women’s

So, there you have it. Trekitt’s top five winter essentials to keep you warm, protected and happy, no matter the weather. A few little extras that are worth considering when venturing out would be gloves, to keep the frost from biting at your fingertips, warm headwear, to protect your ears, technical socks, for temperature regulation and blister prevention, and snacks (of course) to keep your energy up and your body warm.

As usual, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch! Reach out to us on our social media channels, whether Facebook or Instagram, via email at [email protected], or call our friendly customer service team on 01432 263 335. If you’re local to Hereford, why not visit us in-store? You can speak to one of our lovely staff members in person, and get some hands-on assistance with finding the right product.

Did you enjoy this blog? If so, why not check out our other wintry article that features our top ten tips for winter hiking – click here to give it a read.

Written by Rachel Tooley.