Seven tips to stay warm hiking on cold days

If you hike or play outside in winter, you know the key to a good time is staying warm.

It seems so simple, but is also one of those skills you can spend a lifetime dialing in. Keeping toasty on a sunny day snowshoeing around the Methow is a different prospect than staying warm on a rainy river ramble in the Olympics.

A sit pad, warm layers like a hat and a hot beverage all help. Photo by Matthew Johnson

Preserve, generate or add heat

To stay warm, think about how to preserve heat, generate heat or add heat. With those three goals in mind, you can mix and match a menu of approaches that fit the day, your budget and who you’re trying to keep warm.

Layer up

A science and an art, layering perfectly to preserve heat takes trial and error, but the basics remain the same.Wear a thin wicking wool or synthetic base layer (including and especially socks) to pull moisture away from your body. A cozy, insulating mid-layer like a fleece or sweater will keep you warm. On the outside, a waterproof layer keeps you dry. The trick? Don’t overheat and get sweat-soaked.

If you hike or play outside in winter, you know the key to a good time is staying warm. It seems so simple, but is also one of those skills you can spend a lifetime dialing in. Keeping toasty on a sunny day snowshoeing around the Methow is a different prospect than staying warm on a rainy river ramble in the Olympics.

Pack gloves, hats and bonus layers

In winter, always pack gloves and a warm hat. It doesn’t hurt to have extras to replace layers in case something goes sideways (like an accidental river dunk or downpour).

Move!

The best way to keep warm on a winter hike is to move. You can dunk your feet in a snow-fed river, and they’ll still warm up if you’re wearing wool socks and you work hard enough. Go fast, go steep or, if that’s not your style, just keep going.

If you need to move slower (if, say, you’re with your hiking buddy who moves at an, ahem, meditative pace) do some lunges along the way. Stopped for a snack break and cooling down? Jumping jacks or the boot dance will stoke your fire and remind you that yes, silliness does belong on trail.

Insulate your bum

Pack a small foam pad to keep the ground from leaching heat from your body when you stop. Or sit on your pack.

food is fuel

One of the most overlooked ways to generate heat on your hike is food. Go for calorie-rich and fat-full foods. You can add heat by packing hot food in an insulated thermos. Or, bring a stove and make hot food on the trail.

Hot drinks

From savory broth to steaming teas, spiced cider to hot coffee or cocoa, there is nothing more satisfying than sipping liquid heat and feeling it warm you up from the inside. (Read: Hot drink ideas for winter hikes)

Use technology

Hand warmers like HotHands stashed in your pack are a light, fast way to add heat on cold days. There are also disposable and battery-powered reusable options. If your fingers go numb, tuck a warmer inside your gloves. If your hands are always cold, gear companies are coming out with swanky gloves with built-in rechargeable heating packs. You can DIY the effect if you bring a stove along and pour hot water into a Nalgene or other (very) well-sealed hot water bottle.