How to Layer for Winter Backpacking

When planning your clothing system for backpacking in the winter, you have to strike the perfect balance between being warm enough and not packing too heavy. In this blog post, I'll share with you my secrets for the perfect winter backpacking layering system.

You may have heard of terms like base-layers, mid-layers, and shells. I'll go into what each of these layers are, when you where each of these layers, and what specific types of clothing I recommend for each layer.

Skip to the bottom for a printable checklist.

The Perfect Clothing System for Winter Backpacking

When I first started backpacking in winter time, I couldn't understand why other more experienced hikers stressed the importance of complicated layering systems. Prior to backpacking in the winter, my primary experience being outdoors in the snow had been when I had gone skiing, during which I only needed 3 sets of layers: underwear, a base layer, and an insulated outer layer.

However, a 5-set layering system is critical for backpacking during winter time, because it allows you to mix and match for every possible harsh environment you may encounter, while also ensuring that you have redundancy in case of emergency.

1. Underwear

What is underwear?

Not to be confused with your base layer, which is often called hiking underwear, in this section, I do mean underwear. This includes a sports bra and panties for women and boxers for men.

When should you wear your underwear?

All the time, 24/7. Make sure to pick something comfortable. Specifically, for women, make sure to choose a sports bra comfortable enough to sleep in, because it may be too cold to remove it at night.

Specific winter camping underwear clothing recommendations:

• Sports Bra: Look for options that are going to be comfortable for you to wear for multiple days on end, even when sleeping. I have an awesome sports bra that I bought from Victoria's Secret years ago that is no longer available, but rather than having an underwire, it has padded support. I've accidentally worn sports bras with underwires while camping in the past, and every time, it would be incredibly uncomfortable at night.

• Underwear (Panties/Boxers): I recommend that you select a non-synthetic option, since synthetic fabrics have a tendency to get smellier faster that organic options. If you can afford merino wool underwear, it's my favorite odor-resistant option. If merino wool is outside of your price range, cotton will do for short trips.

2. Base Layer

What is a base layer?

The base layer, sometimes called hiking underwear, is the bare minimum set of clothing that you will ever be wearing while hiking in the winter.

When should you wear your base layer? All the time, 24/7. If the trek is warmer than expected, your base layer may be your only layer. However, you will never change out of your base layer. When I discuss other types of layers, I recommend that all the other layers are worn over your base layer.

Specific winter camping base layer clothing recommendations:

• Base Layer Shirt: I use the same base layer for winter backpacking as I do for skiing. A good long-sleeve merino wool shirt is a great odor-resistant base layer shirt for multi-day wear. My favorite brand is Helly Hansen.

• Base Layer Pants: Ideally, every item in your base layer should be merino wool (or other organic materials) for maximum warmth and odor resistance, but I use the same rotating sets of synthetic-blend yoga pants that I use for summer backpacking in winter-time. I've found that my legs typically don't stink as much as my armpits do, so using synthetics for my base layer pants have been perfectly acceptable substitutions.

• Socks: One more time for the people in the back -- merino wool! If you choose to splurge on merino wool on just one new piece of clothing, make it socks. One of the key qualities of wool is that it is warm when wet. In situations where snow permeates your boots, you have to make an unexpected creek crossing, or your feet sweat a ton, your socks may get soaked! Wool will ensure that your feet stay warm, and merino in particular is an itch-free lightweight blend of wool.

3. Camp Pajamas

What are camp pajamas?

This is not a common layer that you'll hear about from other winter athletes, but it is crucial for comfortable winter backpacking experience. Camp pajamas are a comfy insulated layer that you wear to sleep. These also serve as emergency dry clothes in case your mid-layer or your base-layer get wet.

When should you wear your camp pajamas?

Only put on your camp pajamas when you've settled into your tent for the night. While it may be tempting to put on your camp pajamas as soon as you get to camp, resist the urge! It's so important that your camp pajamas remain as dry as possible (tucked away in a dry bag preferably) until you're ready to sleep.

Specific winter camping camp pajama recommendations:

• Beanie: Wear a beanie at night to help retain heat. Something without a pom-pom will be lighter-weight and more packable.

• Neck Gaiter or Balaclava: Having a neck gaiter or a balaclava pulled up to protect your nose and mouth can help keep you insulated at night. I'd recommend avoiding scarves, because they aren't as mass efficient.

• Fleece Top: Fleece is a thicker, cozier type of wool than merino. This is ensures that you stay warm at night in case your down jacket is compromised.

• Fleece Bottom: Just another cozy layer to keep your legs warm.

• Extra Pair of Socks: Worst case, if your base-layer socks get wet during the day, you change into your dry socks at night. Best case, you get to wear two layers of socks to sleep!

• Liner Gloves: Wearing a thin set of gloves at night will help keep your extremities warm.

4. Mid-Layer

What is a mid-layer?

A mid-layer is also called the insulating layer. This is the layer that will be most effective at keeping you warm.

When should you wear your mid-layer?

You will typically want to wear your mid-layer at the start of a hike, once you get to camp, and when you take a long break in the middle of the day. You may also wear your mid-layer at any point in the day if you start to feel chilly. However, I've found that I usually warm up after 15 minutes of hiking to tuck my down jacket and accessories away. If all elements of your mid-layer remain dry throughout the day, you may also wear your mid-layer to sleep for added warmth.

Specific winter camping mid-layer recommendations:

• Down Jacket: Down (goose feathers) are one of the most mass-optimized ways to stay warm in the back-country. Some cons to down is that it's less effective when compressed (for example, when you're asleep) and it's significantly less effective when wet. For that reason, it's important that you bring a shell layer as well

• Ski Pants: This doubles as both my mid-layer and shell pants. Because my legs don't sweat nearly as much as my upper body does, I wear my ski pants the entire time I'm hiking in snow. If I get too warm, I can modulate my body temperature by adjusting layers for my upper body.

• Accessories: Beanies, neck gaiters, and liner gloves from the camp pajamas section can also be worn as part of the mid-layer.

5. Shell Layer

What is a shell layer?

The shell layer is the outer-most set of the perfect winter camping clothing system designed to keep you protected from snow. These are typically made of lightweight waterproof synthetic materials.

When should you wear your shell layer?

You will want to wear your rain jacket when it's actively rainy or snowy. Eye protection is also great when it's actively snow or when crossing a snow-field. Shell-gloves are optional but can be great if you're using trekking poles during a storm.

Specific winter camping shell layer recommendations:

• Rain Jacket: Bring a synthetic rain jacket. It is crucial that the rain jacket is truly water proof so that the other layers underneath can remain dry. To test this, spray your rain jacket with some water ahead of your trip and see if the water beads up. If the water doesn't bead up, you may be able to redeem its water-resistant qualities by spraying it with some DWR. Make sure that the rain jacket you have has a hood. If it also has unzippable armpit vents, that's a great way to make your rain jacket more breathable.

• Ski Pants: Same as what I've mentioned in the mid-layer section.

• Ski Goggles: There are a lot of good reasons to have eye protection while camping in the winter. Snow-blindness can be triggered by sunlight reflecting off the snow back into someone's eyes. Having eye protection can also be helpful for insulating your eyes from high winds and active snowfall. I use ski goggles, because I happen to already own them. For lighter-weight options, consider investing in a pair of glacier goggles.

• Shell Gloves or Mittens: These are insulated, waterproof gloves. Having this option allows you to save your liner gloves for your camp pajamas. They're also great for snowball fights!

Printable Checklist