Winter Gear Guide

“Oh my sweet summer child,” is a phrase Dylan would consistently use during our early dating years when I would make comments that referenced rain or snow on an adventure being fun. Said in jest, he was entirely right, my Southern California based roots made me woefully unprepared to grasp the implications of such weather events in the mountains. The phrase became a bit of a joke between us, but it also fueled a 10 year journey to outfit me with all of the gear that would keep me warm because, (real shocker here), I was always cold on our fall and winter adventures.

As a result we have tried, tested and compiled a list of cold weather gear that will keep you warm in a range of temperatures, in the rain, snow, wind and lightly blustery days. This set of gear is designed to help you make the best decisions on what gear to buy for hiking, overlanding, car camping and general outdoor recreation throughout the winter months.

Best Jackets For Winter

The Fjallraven NUUK Parka - Women’s and Men’s

We absolutely love this parka, after 5 years of wearing it still looks new and has been our go to jacket for the majority of our cold weather activities. We have used it while snow camping, snowshoeing in extreme cold conditions and for our nights around the firepit at our favorite local food garden. Watch our review and don’t miss out on owning one for yourself.

The Fjallraven Skogso Padded Jacket - Men’s

This jacket has proven to be an excellent mid layer for most of Dylan’s winter recreational endeavors. For the guys that run warm, this has allowed Dylan to be warm at the start of snowshoeing treks but not overheat him throughout the remainder of the hike. Watch our full review of this jacket and get one for yourself.

North Face Carto Mono Triclimate Hooded Jacket - Women’s

This 3 in 1 jacket has been a staple in my hiking jacket wardrobe for years. It combines the need for a soft shell and hard shell jacket into one ingenious zipper system that makes layering simple and adjustable warmth while hiking and snowshoeing easily achievable. It is a must have for hikers who do most of their hiking in rainy climates as it is streamlined enough to not feel bulky while still keeping you warm and dry in cold, wet weather.

Stio Hometown Down Hooded Jacket - Men’s

If you are in need of a puffy that actually, and I mean really, really keeps you warm, the Stio Men’s Puffy should be your next purchase. This puffy is a great fall, winter and spring option for the days when it’s not cold enough for a parka but too cold for a light fleece or hoodie. With its stuff sack, it is a true multi purpose jacket that is hearty enough to use for hiking, skiing and general winter recreation and stylish enough to travel with.

Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie W - Women’s

For my ladies who are always cold but love to snowshoe, cross country ski and get outside in the winter, this puffy is for you. It is light weight yet incredibly warm and does not hinder your ability to move with ease. I love this puffy because it has eliminated my need to wear 3+ layers for winter recreation, I can wear a warm base layer and take this jacket and I am good to go without overheating or needing more layers for particularly cold days.

Best Hand Warmers and Gloves for Winter

Ocoopa Rechargable Handwarmer

We have raved about this before and it is still our go to re chargeable hand warmer for all cold weather activities. It fits easily into pockets and if used on an inside layer helps to keep your core warm with radiant heat. It can be thrown into the bottom of your sleeping bag and will keep your toes toasty warm on the colder winter camping nights and its battery is incredibly long lasting. We have left this on for 10 hours and it still had some juice left in it the next morning to warm out hands as we crawled out of our sleeping bags. Watch our full review on this hand warmer.

Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Gloves - Men’s and Women’s

These gloves have been the best combination of warmth and maintaining dexterity that we have tested and tried over the years. They are cozy warm for the majority of the winter activities you might engage in while still being breathable. They are flexible enough to adjust bindings on snowshoes while not compromising on warmth. Watch our full review and get a pair for this winter.

Best Shoes for Winter

Northface Thermoball Booties - Men’s and Women’s

These booties have been a campsite and winter favorite for several years. While not waterproof, these booties have been great in compacted snow around a campfire. Layered with a thick pair of socks they have kept our feet warm with temperatures dropping into the high 20’s. Check out our full review on these booties and pick up a pair for yourself!