Must-Have Cold Weather Hiking Gear: Top 10 Picks for Winter Hikers

As the temperatures start to seriously drop and the snow starts to fall, it's time to change out your gear! Cold weather hiking is a bit of a different beast and requires some extra thought when it comes to getting your backpack all set!

Whether you are a die-hard winter hiker, or someone who's curious about winter hiking, you've come to the right place for a quick rundown of the best cold weather hiking gear. From classic pieces to gear you may have never thought about, you're sure to find something worth checking out for your next chilly hike.

Get Your Cold Weather Hiking Gear On!

PAKA Original Crew

A warm top is essential for cold weather hiking. Sweat-wicking and breathable are also key aspects to a great cold weather top! Here at Southwest Hikes we really love PAKA for their sustainable alpaca wool clothing that is absolutely perfect for hiking in any of the Four Corners states! And for cold weather hikes, their Original Crew is clutch.

This unisex crewneck can be worn on its own, or layered up. It's super soft and never itchy. And to top it off the Original Crew has a nice relaxed fit that manages to look very nice and put together. At 13.6 ounces it's a lightweight top and because it's made from alpaca wool, it's extremely warm. This top is available in a nice array of colors, and as mentioned above, it is a unisex fit. This typically means men will order their usual size and women will size down.

Whether you're hiking in the snowy mountains or frigid desert, this top is a perfect layer to keep you cozy.

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp

Safety is important when setting out on cold weather hikes. And carrying a light is an important way to ensure you can see if you're unexpectedly out later than you planned on. Daylight hours are typically pretty short in the winter after all!

Black Diamond's Spot 400-R Headlamp is a phenomenal little light that offers reliable battery life, brightness and a comfortable fit. Bonus features of this headlamp are that it's waterproof and has red night vision settings. Black Diamond also makes great use of their exclusive Digital Lock technology with the Spot 400-R Headlamp, which safeguards against accidental use when stored in a pack or pocket.

Mammut Passion Gloves

A solid, versatile pair of gloves is essential for your cold weather hiking kit. It's astounding how quickly things can go sideways if you aren't prepared to keep your hands toasty! Mammut's Passion Gloves are a great adventure glove that are up for hiking, backpacking, mountaineering and anything else you might like to wear them for when the going gets cold.

The Passion Gloves are a wool glove with a fleece interior. Thanks to the wool exterior, these gloves are naturally water-repellent and have wind-repellent properties. They feature touchscreen-compatibility that allows you to wear the gloves when using your phone or smartwatch.

These gloves are built tough with leather reinforcements on the palm. The fleece lining is super soft, and the breathability is excellent for when the cardio gets intense!

LEKI Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles

Trekking poles are a great tool year-round, but can be especially great to have on cold weather hikes when conditions might be icy or unstable. And if post-holing is a possibility, trekking poles are a must! LEKI's updated Makalu Cork Lite Trekking Poles are a great option that wont break the bank, while being super durable, comfortable to use and lightweight.

The cork handles are great for absorbing sweat and reducing vibrations. The aluminum build is lightweight at 9 ounces, while being nice and sturdy even if you apply all your weight to them! These are a collapsible pole, so they stash away easily if you decide trekking poles aren't necessary when you're in the throws of an awesome hike. LEKI's speed Lock lever system allows for easy and infinite pole height adjustments, ranging from 110-135 cm.

Ortovox 120 Comp Light Short Pants

When things are frigid and you simply have to layer up, great baselayer bottoms are essential. But quite honestly, they can get a little bit too warm if you're really exerting. Here at Southwest Hikes we absolutely love the 120 Comp Light Short Pants from Ortovox! These are a knicker length baselayer bottom and they are available for both men and women. Having a shorter length baselayer can seriously make a difference to comfort and temperature regulation!

The 120 Comp Light Short Pants are produced using almost entirely seamless circular knitting, so different material strengths can be used in different areas. A fine ribbed structure made from 120 g/m² merino gives them elasticity for maximum freedom of movement, while a very breathable mesh structure ensures optimum air circulation in the areas of the body that generate the most heat. They're quick drying and super durable, making them an excellent choice for any cold weather hike that requires lots of layering.

Outdoor Vitals Skyline 30 Fastpack

Typically when you're hiking in cold conditions, you carry a bit more gear along. Layers and food and traction, oh my! It's important to have a comfortable backpack that keeps all that gear organized. Outdoor Vital's Skyline 30 Fastpack does this well!

With a running vest inspired shoulder harness, you can keep gear you'll use often up front. The spacious exterior stretch pockets and very roomy main compartment offer plenty of space for all your other gear. Available in three sizes, the medium weighs in at a scant 20.6 ounces. The Skyline 30 is water-resistant, extremely durable and has thoughtful touches like ice axe loops. It's a solid pack for basically any cold weather pursuit you can dream up!

Stio Fernos Insulated Vest

An insulated vest is a great layer for all of your winter adventures. One of the most versatile vests out there is Stio's Fernos Insulated Vest, which is available for both men and women.

Here are a handful of reasons we love the Fernos Insulated Vest! The highly aerobic, highly efficient Fernos insulates while allowing for ample airflow with 40 grams of PeakFill™ Active Insulation. It layers smoothly under your rain shell, soft shell or ski shell due to its slim fit. This vest weighs in at just 8 ounces!

Whether you're got mountain town errands to run after a brisk river walk, are camping deep in a freezing cold desert or heading up, up, up for dawn patrol, Stio's Fernos Insulated Vest is made to handle it all!

Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth with Flex Chug Cap

Everyone loves a nice Hydro Flask and the 32 oz Wide Mouth is a great size for water, coffee or tea. This eco-friendly bottle comes in a bunch of great colors, too!

This bottle is leak-pro0f, easy to drink from and made from super burly stainless steel. It keeps your cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for about a day! This makes it so you can warm up during winter adventures with some hot sippin' on trail, or back at the trailhead after your outing.

Years ago I did a months long experiment comparing all the big names in insulated bottles and Hydro Flask beat almost all the competition and ended up in a three-way tie for first place!

Skida Alpine Hat

A cold weather hiking essential that seems obvious is a good warm hat! But not all hats are created equal. A good cold weather hat should be lightweight, breathable, comfortable and wind-resistant. Here at Southwest Hikes we absolutely love the Alpine Hat from Skida.

Not only does the Alpine Hat come in an awesome selection of colors and patterns, it's also UPF 50+ and fits the bill when it comes to everything a good cold weather hiking hat should be! It's a poly-blend outer, lined mid-weight fleece that's super cozy. It wicks moisture, cuts the wind, and always leaves you dry. Even when you're really exerting!

Bajio Sunglasses

Sunglasses go a very long way when the temperatures plummet and hikes get cold! Not only do they protect your eyes from wind, but snow and ice reflecting the sunshine gets beyond bright! Glacier glasses are great for alpine and snow, but in the Southwest we deal with many more conditions than that, which is why a super versatile pair of sunglasses is key to happy eyes.

Over the years, Bajio has proven itself to be a company creating perfect sunglasses for winter hiking in the Southwest. So much so that I rarely find myself reaching for a different frame than my Eldoras, even in the summertime. They allow me to see perfect in bright conditions, super cloudy conditions, and really any pther conditions! And over time, my family has become a Bajio family, with my husband loving his Chelems.

Bajio offers a ton of customization, including RX lenses. I find that the purple lenses are the most versatile between seasons, activities and conditions in the Southwest!

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