Winter hiking essentials you can use for the whole season
Your next walk through the forest will feel like a breath of fresh air. We have you covered with everything from cold weather apparel and accessories to what gear and snacks to pack.
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Winter hiking is a staple in daily routines across the country. Whether you’re venturing out for a leisurely stroll in the snow or heading to the backcountry for an icy adventure, we have you covered with this list of top hiking essentials for adults that will make your day safe and enjoyable.
APPAREL
The first step to staying warm outdoors is layering your clothing. This technique will help protect you from the winter elements like wind, freezing temperatures, and wet snow. Your apparel plan should include a base, mid, and outer layer. Next, add your waterproof snow pants, wool socks, and quality boots to ensure you're dressed appropriately for the forecast.
Under Armour Women’s Base Crew-Neck
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Under Armour has a reputation for offering high-quality performance wear for layering. The Base Crew 3.0 can be used as an all-season base layer that’s ideal for cold temperatures. It features a soft brushed-grid interior that traps air against your skin, closely managing your body’s microclimate to keep you warm and comfortable. The material is also moisture-wicking and quick-drying, with four-way stretch for mobility.
Stanfield’s Men’s Two Layer Long Sleeve Shirt
Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Add this base layer to your cart because it’s made in Canada by well-known brand Stanfield’s. Designed for crisp days and winter activities alike, this shirt consists of an inner layer that’s 50 per cent cotton and 50 per cent polyester for a soft feel next to your skin and an outer layer that’s Merino wool for exceptional warmth. With a relaxed fit, this layer is the ultimate in comfort.
Helly Hansen Women’s Varde 2.0 Fleece Jacket
No current ratings on Atmosphere.ca
Build up your warmth with this layer from Helly Hansen that’s perfect for skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking. It features a full-zip closure for cold weather protection and two additional zipped pockets to secure any small items you carry. This fleece can be worn as a standalone jacket or a versatile mid-layer and features quick-drying properties.
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Helly Hansen Men’s Daybreaker Fleece
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This ideal second layer by popular sporting brand Helly Hansen is comfortable and lightweight. It’s a pullover, half-zip style that you can easily remove if you are too warm on your hiking adventure. This fleece is machine washable and available in a multitude of colours to suit your personal style.
The North Face Women’s Carto Triclimate Jacket
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Atmosphere.ca
This versatile jacket from The North Face is the perfect winter investment, especially for outdoor adventurers. It has a three-in-one system for all-weather protection, with a waterproof outer shell, insulated inner jacket, and adjustable hood for extra comfort in any of the elements. Available in classic black to match any accessories or snow pants.
Helly Hansen Men’s Patrol Parka
Rated 4.3 out of 5 on Atmosphere.ca
This jacket from Helly Hansen has everything you’re looking for: style, comfort, and warmth. In fact, it’s inspired by Arctic professionals who perform in extreme climates. The lightweight, puffer-style jacket is constructed with recycled materials, soft insulation and it’s treated with a water-repellant finish to help keep you as dry as possible. The decently-sized cargo pockets add extra space for you to stash some items when you’re on the go.
Helly Hansen Women’s Switch Cargo Insulated Pants
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Atmosphere.ca
You’ll be ready to embrace fresh powder with these waterproof, windproof, and breathable snow pants. They will keep you dry and comfortable no matter what the conditions are like. The additional features that make them worth the price point include articulated knees, which allow for optimal mobility when you’re on the move. Plus, the boot gaiters with silicone gripper keep the pants in place even when you’re trekking through deep snow.
The North Face Men’s Freedom Insulated Pants
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Atmosphere.ca
These functional waterproof snow pants have added hook and loop closure cargo pockets to carry your snow gear in style. Made with a special insulation, they’ll help keep you warm in wet weather conditions and their breathable with a well-constructed ventilation system. They’re suitable for any outdoor activity such as hiking, skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling, or everyday wear.
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Unisex Hiking Socks
Rated 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Designed with a COOLMAX fabric, these socks will not only help keep your feet dry from sweat but also the outdoor elements. The material does not add bulk or sacrifice any comfort, as the boots are lightweight with a cushioned sole. They are ideal for daily wear, outdoor sports, camping, or hiking. These waterproof socks are sized extra-small to large with measurements available in the product description on Amazon.ca and they come in a selection of 39 colours.
Sorel Women’s Joan of Arctic Boots
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
These trusted boots by Sorel will make all of your winter activities more enjoyable with extra-grip traction, insulation, waterproof materials, and overall comfort. They include a removable, washable recycled felt inner boot pad for extra warmth. These are the boots that will never let you down, no matter the weather.
UGG Men’s Butte Snow Boots
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Weather rated to -20°C, these UGG boots are crafted to handle the harshest winter elements and will take you stylishly through anything from gentle flurries to heavy snow. The waterproof construction will help protect your feet from getting wet and cold, and the UGGpure wool lining adds an additional level of comfort and warmth.
ACCESSORIES
Once you have your apparel layers on to retain warmth, it’s time to accessorize for the best winter hiking experience. You’ll need gloves, a neck warmer, and a hat as well as spikes, goggles, and poles depending on the conditions in your area.
The great thing about layering and accessorizing is you can always take something off if you work up a sweat on your walk.
SUNCUBE Unisex Snow Gloves
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Plan on packing a snowball during your hike? These thermal gloves will get the job done with built-in waterproof durability and adjustable straps to lock the snow and water out. For your added convenience, they also have a wiper on the thumb, which allows you to easily scrape off any snow buildup from your goggles or other outdoor gear. These gloves are available in three different colours.
Buff Original Neck Tube
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Atmosphere.ca
Shield your neck from cold temperatures and chilly wind so you can go the extra mile with this multi-functional tube. You can add this to your hiking attire by wearing it in a number of ways for adaptive coverage because it's stretchy and seamless. Plus, it's quick-drying for maximum comfort.
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Smartwool Patch Beanie
No current ratings on Atmosphere.ca
We know cold weather activities call for cold weather gear! This dependable winter beanie has a unisex fit and is made with a blend of responsibly sourced Merino wool and recycled polyester, which will allow for optimal temperature regulation, breathability, and durability. The double-layer design adds extra warmth.
Oakley Line Miner Ski and Snowboard Goggles
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Goggles aren’t only for skiing and snowboarding! For better visibility during active weather conditions on your hikes, swap out your shades for these protective goggles. Reputable brand Oakley designed this pair with a mid-sized fit, which provides the ultimate in peripheral vision. The lens is engineered to help you see contrast in challenging conditions and they are prescription eyewear compatible.
Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction Device Unisex
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
If you’re venturing off the trails or hiking up hills, these spikes will secure your grip and reduce the risk of slipping on ice. Eight spikes at the forefoot and four spikes at the heel ensure optimal traction that aggressively bites into challenging terrain. You can effortlessly slip these over hiking shoes or boots for a multitude of winter activities.
Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles
Rated 4.2 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
These poles will help you keep your footing on four-season hikes with adjustable height and a comfortable ergonomic grip. Their extended length is 51 inches making them versatile no matter what your height is. Black Diamond poles feature SmashLock technology for quicker deployment and collapsibility, plus they’ll likely attach easily to the backpack you’re carrying along with you on your hike.
WHAT TO PACK
Bringing a small backpack on your hike will allow you to tote some items with you while leaving space for those extra layers you might need to take off. It’s reasonable to pack your cell phone, camera, snacks, and a few emergency items.
Columbia Unisex Adult MaxTrail Backpack
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
This backpack is touted as the perfect-sized bag to hold your gear and lunch on longer hikes and includes loops to attach your poles, as mentioned above. It also features a hydration reservoir so you can take water with you without needing to pack an extra water bottle. Columbia thought of everything when they designed this bag as it also comes with a built-in rescue whistle for emergency situations.
Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.
Hothands Heatmax Variety Pack
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
With most customers giving the Hothands Variety Pack a five-star rating, this is an easy addition to your cold-weather preparedness plan. The pack includes 10 hand warmers (five pairs), five body and hand warmers, and six toe warmers (three pairs). Plus, they are incredibly convenient to use. All you need to do is remove them from the package and shake to activate. The warmth will increase within 30 minutes.
YETI Rambler 18 oz Bottle
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
The YETI Rambler has an added Hot Shot Cap that’s designed to keep your beverage piping hot. All you need to do is twist the cap in either direction until it clicks and it’s 100 per cent leakproof so you can carry this bottle with confidence. It’s available in eight different colours and you can always order one for every hiker in your family!
4 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit
Rated 4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Wintertime can be a paradise for the keen-eyed shutterbug, and later model smartphones have astoundingly good cameras for their size. Featuring a 22X telephoto, 235° fisheye, 0.62X wide angle and 25X macro, you’ll be all set to capture whatever kind of winter scenes you like, whether it’s a sweeping landscape, or a close-up. Simply attach your preferred glass to your phone with the included clip, and you’re ready to capture the best of the season.
KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Hikers need sustenance! Be kind to your body and keep this gluten-free, low-sodium snack in your backpack. Available in a variety of flavours like this customer favourite: Almond Sea Salt Dark Chocolate. These bars are known to be gluten-free and made with no genetically engineered ingredients.
S.O.L. Survival Outdoors Blanket
Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
We recommend keeping an emergency blanket like this one in your backpack or emergency kit. When severe cold weather strikes, this blanket is a meaningful tool in your survival plan whether you’re winter hiking, camping, on the road, or stuck in your house without power. This reliable option is large, lightweight and durable, plus it can reflect 90 per cent of your body heat inward when used correctly.
Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.
Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
With files from Daniel Martins
Thumbnail image courtesy Oleksandr Pidvalnyi/Pexels
