Winter layering is an art that can only be perfected through personal trial and error. From picking the perfect wicking material for your base layer, to finding an insulating layer that keeps you warm – but not so warm that you sweat – and selecting an all-in-one shell layer that can not only withstand the test of wind, rain, snow, sleet, and hail but also be light and breathable. The whole process can be frustrating and overwhelming. We put together a comprehensive list of layering basics as well as a breakdown of our current layering systems to help you get a jump start on preparing & perfecting yours.
To read more about our winter backpacking trips check out our Appalachian Trail section hikes through the AT Southern Terminus & Great Smoky Mountain National Park!
Layer Breakdown:
The optimal winter system has three layers:
- The base layer
- The insulating layer
- The outer shell layer
Base Layer: This layer keeps you dry by wicking sweat away from your skin.
Insulating Layer: This layer keeps you warm and helps you retain body heat.
Shell Layer: This layer protects you from wind, rain, and other elements that could make you cold.
As you put together your own layering system, keep these three unique layers & their functions in mind – this is the basic recipe for any good system. REI also has a super-helpful, in-depth breakdown of layering for all types of weather if you’re interested in learning about each layer in greater detail.
Tips & Tricks
In addition to selecting the appropriate layering items, there are a few other things you should keep in mind while planning out your clothing for a winter adventure. (REI also has additional tips for winter gear & hiking if you want to know more!)
Cotton Kills
Do not wear any clothing made of cotton – synthetics & wool only. Cotton holds moisture and sweat to your skin robbing you of the precious body heat you need to stay dry and comfortable.
Stay Dry
Getting wet and/or sweaty can cause you to lose body heat quickly from the damp clothing holding the cold & wet material to your skin. This can cause hypothermia and be downright deadly in cold temperatures.
To stay dry while being active, it’s important to wear wicking clothing & take lots of breaks to keep your temperature in check. We’re the first to admit that staying dry while exerting yourself a challenge – but it’s definitely something to be aware of and monitor as well as you can.
Cover your skin at all times
To prevent heat loss and/or frostbite, try to cover as much of your skin as possible. This means a neck gaiter, tall socks, a warm hat or buff, and gloves at all times. (even if you’re getting warm!)
Fresh Socks
Socks get sweaty, cold, and matted after a long day on the trail. Having fresh socks every night keeps your feet dry and toasty throughout the night. Fresh socks aren’t a necessary, must-have item, but they are definitely a moral booster after a long, cold day on the trail!
Prepare for the Worst
On any trip in the outdoors you need to be properly prepared for rain, snow, wind, and extreme temperatures. However, on a winter trip the stakes are much higher in comparison to the summer. Unpreparedness in the warmer months can be more manageable and forgiving but unpreparedness in winter can result in hypothermia, frostbite, exposure, and even death much quicker than in warmer temperatures
Make sure to evaluate and take the proper precautions before hitting the trail and definitely don’t be afraid to over pack (within reason) on your first few trips until you get comfortable with your gear & the different weather patterns.
Selecting Your Own Layers
Before you head to your favorite outdoor store to drop hundreds of dollars on winter gear, we highly recommend looking in your own closet first. Organize & test a few layering combinations to evaluate performance and comfort level before making any big purchases. Once you have a solid understanding of your needs and preferences, you can start to make strategic upgrades as needed/wanted. It’s important to figure out what you like/don’t like in an item of clothing (material, sizing, performance, etc.) otherwise you could waste a ton of money by making purchases before you fully understand how your body responds to cold weather & various exertion levels.
A warm & comfortable layering system is essential to any outdoor adventure, however, it definitely doesn’t need to consist of new, name brand, or expensive items. To start, the majority of our layering systems comprised of items we already had in our closets – athletic wear from discount stores, fleeces from outdoor sales racks, cheap accessories from Amazon. We just started looking at these clothing pieces holistically as a strategic part of our layering system – not stand-alone pieces.
As we gained more outdoor experience & completed more winter camping and hiking trips we started to invest in a few high-quality items that could drastically improve our outdoor experience, such as: Under Armor base layers, a Patagonia Synchilla fleece, and a Marmot down puff jacket.
Layering Categories
When we pack for a big backpacking trip, we break down our layering systems into three categories: active layers, camp layers, & sleeping layers. Each category fulfills a different need while on an overnight trip & we usually try to pick clothing that can serve in multiple areas.
Active Layers:
The clothing we wear during the day while we are physically active and constantly moving. These layers need to keep us dry by wicking sweat away and warm by insulating our body heat and protecting us from the elements.
Camp Layers:
A hybrid of active and sleeping layers that we wear when we are done hiking for the day but are not ready to climb into our sleeping bags. These layers are meant to get you out of your damp active clothes and keep you warm and dry before retiring for the night.
We wear camp layers while we are setting up for the night, cooking dinner, and sitting around a fire. We usually try to bring camp layers that serve a double purpose either as an active or sleeping layer. This helps save on space & weight in our packs.
Camp layers are indicated below with asterisks.
Sleeping Layers:
The clothing we wear to sleep at night. These layers need to be insulating to keep us warm in cold temperatures while we are inactive.
It’s important to have different clothing for day activity & sleeping at night ensure you will always have dry, warm clothes. A separate set of sleeping clothing also helps to prevent dirt & oils from wearing down your sleeping bag. In the backcountry, it’s also best practice to not sleep in the clothes you cooked & ate in to avoid attracting bears & other animals.
A Breakdown of Our Layering Systems:
Our clothing choices and layering systems are not perfect for every situation, but they are very easy to adapt and customize for each trip. Below we have outlined our tried & true cold weather layering systems that we have used for two winter backpacking trips on the AT as well as a few weekend trips around the Midwest.
Active Layers: Stephanie
Active Base Layer
- Cold Gear Leggings (Kohl’s Weather Tek Leggings)
- Long Sleeve Wicking Shirt (Under Armour 1/4 Zip Heat Gear)
Active Insulating Layer
- Long Sleeve Fleece (Patagonia Synchilla Fleece)
- Merino Wool Buff (Amazon)
Active Shell Layer
Depending on the weather, we either use a winter jacket OR rain jacket to best fit conditions & the needs of our trip.
- Winter Jacket Shell (Columbia)
- For snow/extreme cold temperatures
- Rain Jacket (Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket)
- For rain/cold temperatures
Accessory Layers
- Buff (Amazon)
- Merino Wool socks (Amazon)
- Warm Hat (Carhartt)
- Light/Mid-weight Gloves (Adidas)
- Waterproof Gloves or Mittens (Dakine)
Active Layers: Travis
Active Base Layer
- Hiking Pants (The North Face)
- Long Sleeve Wicking Shirt (Under Armor/ Weather Tek)
Active Insulating Layer
- Fleece Sweatshirt (Eddie Bauer Fleece Pullover)
- Merino Wool Buff (Amazon)
Active Shell Layer
Depending on the weather, we either use a winter jacket OR rain jacket to best fit conditions & the needs of our trip.
- Winter Jacket Shell *for extreme cold (The North Face)
- Rain Jacket *for warmer temperatures (Patagonia Torrentshell Rain Jacket)
Accessory Layers
- Buff (Amazon)
- Merino Wool Socks (Darn Tough)
- Warm Hat (Columbia)
- Light/Midweight Gloves (The North Face)
- Waterproof Gloves or Mittens (Dakine)
Sleeping Layers: Stephanie
Sleeping Base Layer
- Long Underwear Leggings (Under Armour Base 3.0 Leggings)
- Long Underwear Shirt (Under Armour Base 3.0 Crew Long Sleeve)
- Merino Wool Socks *fresh* (Amazon)
Sleeping Insulating Layer
- Down Puff Jacket * (Boston Store)
- Fleece Sweatshirt* (Patagonia Synchilla)
- Merino Wool Buff* (Amazon)
- Heavy Wool Socks (Amazon)
- Warm Hat (Carhartt) *
- Warm fuzzy Mittens (Isotoner)
- Warm Sweatpants (Optional)
Sleeping Layers:Travis
Sleeping Base Layer
- Long Underwear Leggings (Under Armour Base 3.0 Leggings)
- Long Underwear Shirt (Under Armour Base 3.0 Crew Long Sleeve)
- Merino Wool Socks *fresh* (Darn Tough)
Sleeping Insulating Layer
- Down Puff Jacket* (Marmot Ares Jacket)
- Fleece Sweatshirt* (Eddie Bauer Fleece Pullover)
- Merino Wool Buff* (Amazon)
- Heavy Wool Socks (Amazon)
- Warm Hat (Columbia)
- Warm Mittens (Dakine)
Conclusion:
And there you have it! Our layering system for winter hiking, backpacking or camping trips! Again, winter outfitting will always be a work in progress, but hopefully this gives you a good start to developing your own layering systems & customizing it for each winter adventure!
Do you have any additional winter layering tips/tricks/recommendations? Leave a comment below!
