Cold Weather Clothing
A Guide to Choosing Clothing for Cold Weather Camping and Hiking
As much as I am not a fan of cold weather, I have lived in the midwest my entire life, and have tent camped below freezing far too much for my liking. But, if you like hiking and enjoying nature all year round, it is unavoidable. Therefore, warm hiking and camping gear is extremely important to me. I am always trying to figure out how to stay warm and searching for the best insulated gear, even if it means weighing my pack down. I will always choose comfort and warmth over weight when backpacking, as getting a good night sleep is very important when you have to hike a mountain the next day. I am not affiliated with any of the brands that I mention below, I chose these items because of their quality, functionality, and the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
Top Layer
Jacket: I have been wearing my Patagonia Nano Puff on every cold weather hike and camping trip for over a year now on and absolutely love it. I originally purchased it for backpacking, as it packs up super small in one of the pockets, and is lightweight. It is is perfect by itself in the fall or great for layering in colder winter weather.
Pants: I have a lot of brands of pants that I wear while hiking. For cooler weather and more rugged hikes, where I might snag my pants, I like the REI Trailsmith Jogger Pants, seen below. Otherwise, I usually wear Girlfriend Collective’s leggings, due to their sustainability efforts (they are made from plastic water bottles) and the fact that they are super high quality and very comfortable. They also fit nicely over a base layer, where the REI Trailsmith pants do not have the stretch to fit over base layers well.
Boots: For years I really liked Adidas hiking boots, as they were lightweight and almost like wearing tennis shoes, but when I started hiking more rugged terrain, I looked for something that would have better grip and comfort. I have been wearing my La Sportiva Trango’s for over a year now, and have been super pleased with how comfortable they are and the stability of the sole. They are actually mountaineering boots; I bought them for their versatility. I can wear them on pretty much any trail, if I am hiking in snowy or icy conditions, I just need to strap on some crampons. The soles are not as flexible as hiking boots however, so if you want something super lightweight, I would recommend something such as the Terrex Trailmaker Mid Cold.Rdy Hiking Shoes. I have not personally tried this one, as mine were a much older model, but they are meant for cold weather conditions.
Mid Layer
Fleece: I don’t wear a lot of mid layers, as I typically am warm enough hiking with my base layer and my Nano Puff, but on days like this (below 30 degrees), I like to wear another layer. My current favorite is my Patagonia Fleece, as it is super warm and cozy. Often I will just wear this as my top layer, in warmer weather, but I would not take it backpacking (unless it was going to be in the 30s or below), as it does not pack down as light as the Nano Puff.
Base Layer
Pants: I have recently been wearing REI’s Midweight Base Layer Tights I did not wear a base layer for years, not realizing how essential it was for cold weather tent camping. Now I can not imagine camping without them. I wear them under my Girlfriend Collective leggings and they are super soft, warm, and are comfy. They are not compressive, so they are perfect for sleeping in.
Top: Again, I really like REI’s clothing. They are made well, yet affordable. Below, I am wearing REI’s Midweight Base Layer Half-Zip Top. You can purchase this in a crewneck as well, but I like the option to unzip if I am getting too warm. Just like the tights, it is super soft and comfortable and fits nicely under my mid layer and my jacket.
