The Ultimate Gift Guide for Winter Hiking

A true classic, Patagonia’s Retro-X Sherpa Pile Fleece Jacket will keep them toasty warm on the mountain and in the pub. This wind-blocking, heat-trapping fleece jacket has a windproof barrier bonded to a cozy 85% recycled polyester fleece exterior. Y-Joint sleeves provide mobility through the shoulders and arms while the vertical-zippered chest pocket and zippered handwarmer pockets provide plenty of storage for snacks and valuables. Available for men and women.

The Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody is a highly breathable and lightweight softshell jacket that excels as a wind shirt and protective garment against light precipitation. Ideally suited for cold-weather pursuits, it provides excellent breathability without the weight of a heavier technical shell. Made with Schoeller stretch-woven fabric, it’s perfect for dynamic activities such as winter hiking, mountaineering, ice climbing, or XC skiing you want a highly breathable wind layer with an adjustable helmet-compatible hood, stretch cuffs, and zippered chest pocket. Available for men and women.

The Black Diamond LT1100 is a high-powered, long-burning headlamp with a removable and USB-C rechargeable battery, so you can carry a replacement battery if needed. While you may never need all 1100 lumens, the LT1100 has a very long burn time which is good because most winter hikes begin and end in the dark. This lightweight light has a headband pivot and is also helmet-compatible. Headlamps like this used to weigh a ton and require an external battery pack, so this 3.8 oz headlamp is a real innovation and a great addition to your winter kit.

Oboz Bridger 10″ Winter Boots are lined with a waterproof membrane and insulated with 400 gram Thinsulate. The uppers are covered with synthetic leather for added protection, along with a beefy toe cap, and snowshoe-compatible heel cup. An arched sole and front D ring provide gaiter compatibility, while aggressive lugs provide excellent traction on snow. The Bridgers have a PU midsole and nylon shank for added undercarriage protection and come with a wool-covered reflective insole for added warmth. They’re available in wide sizes. A 9″ women’s model is also available.

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 is a pocket-sized satellite messenger that can send an SOS message to Search and Rescue in an emergency when you’re out of cell phone range. It can also send email messages and text messages to friends and family, whenever you want to update them or share your GPS coordinates. It has an easy-to-use push-button interface but can also pair with a smartphone via Bluetooth to display GPS maps and navigational information. Weighing just 3.5 oz, it’s small enough to tuck into your pants pocket.

Dachstein Extreme Warm Wool Mittens are very warm boiled wool mittens made in Austria that are popular with mountaineers. Made from very dense boiled wool, they’re windproof and virtually waterproof because they’re so dense. When the mercury drops to near zero or below, these are the mittens you want to be wearing. They’re also ideal for people who get very cold hands in winter or who suffer from Raynaud’s Disease.  They’re not itchy at all and can be worn alone or with an outer shell mitt in extreme winter weather.

The Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Extreme Sleeping Pad is a High R_value (R+6.2) winter sleeping pad suitable for winter camping and backpacking. It’s extremely comfortable with a full 4″ of insulation and dimples which mimic the air-sprung action of a spring mattress. The Extreme includes an inflation sack and is covered with a thick 40d/30d cover for enhanced durability and protection. Men’s and Women’s models are available.

The Feathered Friends Snowbunting ES 0 is an exceptionally warm down sleeping bag insulated with 900 fill power premium goose down. A favorite bag for mountaineering on Mt Rainier, in the Rockies and Nepal, it has a waterproof Pertex Shield EX exterior shell fabric and a generous side draft tube.  Continuous baffles let you reposition down where you need it most while the unique draft collar has waterproof/breathable facing to prevent breath condensation from entering the bag. A true winter camping and touring classic.

The outerU faceGlove is an ingenious face mask that prevents frostbite on your nose and cheeks while helping to eliminate ski mask fogging. It’s perfect for winter hiking or skiing and covers your nose and upper cheeks, which are the most sensitive to sun and wind damage. OuterU is a cottage manufacturer located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where the faceGlove was developed and is manufactured.

In winter, you need to insulate your water to prevent it from freezing. These Forty Below Neoprene Water Bottle insulation sleeves are designed to work with 1L wide-mouth Nalgene bottles and can be attached to a backpack hip belt in order to keep your water within easy reach. These Insulators are a favorite with winter hikers and high-altitude mountaineers on Mt Everest.

Outdoor Research’s Prevail Heated Gore-tex Mittens are designed for people who get cold hands or need extra warmth on extreme winter adventures. With three heat settings, you can customize the level of warmth to fit your needs;  the low setting provides 8 hours of warmth, the medium setting lasts for 5 hours, and the high setting lasts for 2.5 hours. The mittens are lined with synthetic insulation and have a waterproof and windproof Gore-tex insert that protects your hands from the elements. Note: Do not use this heated glove in conjunction with avalanche beacons.

The NEMO Switchback is a folding closed-cell foam pad that you can sit on to rest or lay on if you’re injured and waiting for help to arrive. It has a high enough R-value to prevent the cold ground from robbing your body’s warmth and causing hypothermia. Many hikers strap them to the outside of their backpack, especially in cold weather, because it’s considered a wilderness first aid essential to insulate a patient from the cold ground.

A hiker favorite, the ultralight CAMP USA Corsa excels at ski mountaineering, adventure racing, low-angle glacier travel, and winter peakbagging. Built from 7075-series aluminum for dependable service and minimum weight, Corsa is hardly noticeable when packed. A hot-forged, aluminum head delivers a solid bite, and the rear adze adds chopping power.

Outdoor Research’s Crocodile Gaiters are hands down the most popular winter gaiters available today and with good reason because they are nearly indestructible and tough as nails for winter hiking and snowshoeing. Their waterproof/breathable Gore-tex uppers will keep your legs dry and warm when plowing through snowdrifts and down winter trails. Heavy-duty velcro front closures provide a secure and adjustable fit while hooks at the bottom assure compatibility with many kinds of boots.

Some winter adventures require a lot of gear, and rather than carrying it, some people drag it into the backcountry on a pulk. Made by SkiPulk, the Paris Pulk is vacuum molded from 1/8″ high-density polyethylene.  Its signature orange color is easy to find in a whiteout. Its wide rims provide torsional rigidity and its design has proven to be effective in hundreds of expeditions and trips from the South Pole to the Canadian Rockies. Each Paris Pulk includes the base sled, secure straps, full-length poles, and channel kit (the channel kit includes the aluminum channels and backing plates, stainless steel nuts, bolts, and washers as well as the nickel-plated wirelock pins used to attach our poles to a sled). Wearable harnesses are sold separately.

The Polar Buff can be worn as a helmet liner, balaclava, mask, scarf, hood, or hat to give you warmth where you need it when you need it. One side is covered with an original Buff while the other is covered with a layer of Polartec fleece to help minimize heat loss. Super warm and comfortable, the value of this item is its versatility in winter conditions.

Weighing just 10.6 oz, the Feathered Friends EOS Hooded Down Jacket excels at keeping you warm on its own when conditions call for moving light and fast. Filled with premium 900+ fill power down, Feathered Friends’ down clothing and sleeping bags are prized by hikers and backpackers around the world. A women’s model is also available.

Cold feet sleeper? These GooseFeet Gear Down Socks are the perfect solution. Made from your choice of lightweight nylon fabric and filled with 850+ power premium goose down treated with DownTek for water resistance, these socks are designed to keep your feet warm and comfy all night long. They also make great back-country hut footwear. Elastic ankle cuffs ensure they stay put and keep the warmth in. These socks are conveniently packed into a small stuff sack (included).

The Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra is a necessity for added traction when you’re out hiking on local trails or deep in the backcountry. Their heat-treated carbon steel spikes are strong and durable providing years of use. The elastomer harness ensures compatibility with most shoes and boots and makes the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras easy to get on and off.

Darn Tough’s Over-the-Calf Mountaineering Socks are seriously warm. They have a streamlined performance fit (which means they won’t fall down) that is chock full of merino wool for superior wicking and all-day warmth. Guaranteed for life, Darn Tough will replace them if you ever wear them out!