How To Dress For Cold Weather Hikes
As most of you know, I love to go hiking on my days off. Even though I feel incredibly blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the country, it does also come with rain and cold weather during 7 months out of the year. Today I would like to talk about some tips and tricks for cold/wet weather hiking. If you live in Oregon, Washington or Alaska, all of which have frigid and wet temperatures, this should be helpful, especially if you are new at this type of recreation.
Layering is the most important part of dressing for cold/wet weather hikes. Layering clothing helps keep you dry, and it also traps your body heat inbetween the layers and lets you regulate your temperature. For bottom layers you want to keep it thin, tight fitting, and it must be made of a wicking material. If you are not familiar with the term wicking, I will explain it now. Wicking material is made out of synthetic fibers such as polyester blends, which wicks the moisture off of your skin and brings them to the surface so they can evaporate. Material like cotton, actually soaks up the moisture and traps it on your body, which then makes you more likely to feel cold and encounter potential hypothermia. For my under layers, I usually wear a wicking material sports bra, a wicking long sleeved shirt, and some wicking leggings. They even make wicking underwear!
Water poof top layers are also extremely important, since the underneath wicking layers will let the wind right through and even though you feel dry, you will get cold very quickly. This top layer doesn't have to be very thick (although I do wear a coat that does have a removable liner in it as well, which adds another layer), but it should be waterproof if you are hiking in climates where the weather can change quickly like Alaska, or where it is just moist in general like the Pacific Northwest. These water and wind proof layers are generally made out of a breathable material unlike rubber raincoats which will cause condensation on the inside and you will get wet from your own sweat. As well as keeping you dry, these top layers will also keep out the wind and cold air. Tip: when laundering waterproof clothing, do not use fabric softener because it decreases waterproofness.
Keeping your extremities warm is also very important because it is quite uncomfortable to hike with cold wet feet, freezing hands and a cold head. You actually lose the most amount of body heat from your head, so when hiking in below freezing temperatures it is very important to have a hat. Wool hats are great because even if they get a bit damp, they still keep your head nice and warm. If it is raining, I would suggest that you get a coat with a hood (mine is detachable), so that you can just put that up over your hat and then you won't get wet at all. As far as your hands go, if you're hiking in temperatures in the 30's and 40's, just some simple wool gloves or mittens will work. But if it is any colder than that or windy, I do recommend protective gloves that can go over the wool mittens, or a larger glove that is more meant for skiing type conditions where you have a cozy fleece inside, with a wind and waterproof shell. Your feet are the most important part to keep protected, since that's how you're getting around on the trail. It is easy to step in puddles and to brush up against wet foliage along the trail and get them instantly wet. I recommend a pair of SmartWool socks. These are a special blend of wool/wicking material to help keep your feet extra warm and dry. SmartWool can be purchased at places like Dicks Sporting Goods, Cabela's and REI, or any local outfitter shop, and they have various styles and thicknesses. For shoes, I know everyone has their own preferences and what they think is important for their feet. I just recommend something sturdy and something leather so it can at least be water resistant. If you want to add a little bit more water proofing, you can always spary some water resistant shoe spray onto the leather, and the water will bead right off.
Don't stress too much about dressing for your hike, but keep these few key points in mind, which will help you stay safe in the elements. I have been hiking, backpacking and camping for many years, and I look forward to sharing more knowledge with all of you who are interested. Later I will talk about necessary gear, dressing for warm weather hikes, how to pack a day pack and overnight pack, etc.
Happy Hiking!
Water poof top layers are also extremely important, since the underneath wicking layers will let the wind right through and even though you feel dry, you will get cold very quickly. This top layer doesn't have to be very thick (although I do wear a coat that does have a removable liner in it as well, which adds another layer), but it should be waterproof if you are hiking in climates where the weather can change quickly like Alaska, or where it is just moist in general like the Pacific Northwest. These water and wind proof layers are generally made out of a breathable material unlike rubber raincoats which will cause condensation on the inside and you will get wet from your own sweat. As well as keeping you dry, these top layers will also keep out the wind and cold air. Tip: when laundering waterproof clothing, do not use fabric softener because it decreases waterproofness.
Keeping your extremities warm is also very important because it is quite uncomfortable to hike with cold wet feet, freezing hands and a cold head. You actually lose the most amount of body heat from your head, so when hiking in below freezing temperatures it is very important to have a hat. Wool hats are great because even if they get a bit damp, they still keep your head nice and warm. If it is raining, I would suggest that you get a coat with a hood (mine is detachable), so that you can just put that up over your hat and then you won't get wet at all. As far as your hands go, if you're hiking in temperatures in the 30's and 40's, just some simple wool gloves or mittens will work. But if it is any colder than that or windy, I do recommend protective gloves that can go over the wool mittens, or a larger glove that is more meant for skiing type conditions where you have a cozy fleece inside, with a wind and waterproof shell. Your feet are the most important part to keep protected, since that's how you're getting around on the trail. It is easy to step in puddles and to brush up against wet foliage along the trail and get them instantly wet. I recommend a pair of SmartWool socks. These are a special blend of wool/wicking material to help keep your feet extra warm and dry. SmartWool can be purchased at places like Dicks Sporting Goods, Cabela's and REI, or any local outfitter shop, and they have various styles and thicknesses. For shoes, I know everyone has their own preferences and what they think is important for their feet. I just recommend something sturdy and something leather so it can at least be water resistant. If you want to add a little bit more water proofing, you can always spary some water resistant shoe spray onto the leather, and the water will bead right off.
Don't stress too much about dressing for your hike, but keep these few key points in mind, which will help you stay safe in the elements. I have been hiking, backpacking and camping for many years, and I look forward to sharing more knowledge with all of you who are interested. Later I will talk about necessary gear, dressing for warm weather hikes, how to pack a day pack and overnight pack, etc.
Happy Hiking!
*Disclaimer: The trail descriptions, mileage, GPS tracks and difficulty ratings depicted on this website are never 100% accurate. Always hike at your own risk, using your own knowledge, equipment and common sense. Franziska Weinheimer/Hike Oregon are not responsible if you or anyone in your party gets injured or lost while attempting one of these or any other hikes.