Wear in winter

I am often asked what I wear in the winter on a long mountain day to keep warm and dry. It does take some time to hone kit and clothing to find exactly what does and doesn’t work for you and it will involve trial and error, money, time, a bit of effort and some research. Walking clothing is expensive, but it’s designed to last and the fabrics are specifically and technically designed for their purpose. It also comes in bright colours and that’s so you can be seen in murky, misty and wet conditions, so do try to avoid grey, navy and black in winter. Orange, red and yellow are particularly effective.

Hats : Invaluable and worn on all our winter walks from late October through to the end of March. They are warm and comfortable under a hood in the rain and really do prevent a great deal of valuable heat loss.

Neckwear : I don’t tend to wear a scarf as most of my tops have a zip which does up just under my chin, as does a down or waterproof jacket, but a neck warmer such as a Buff does prevent nasty drafts and drips down the back of the neck. 

Baselayers & Fleeces : I favour a long sleeve zip neck merino wool baselayer under a down jacket. I find it’s enough to keep me warm even on a cold day. I’ll add a Tshirt if it’s really cold, or cold and windy. If it’s going to be cold and wet, a wicking Tshirt with a fleece under a waterproof jacket will suffice, adding a down jacket if it’s freezing.

Jackets : I love a down jacket and have several that are really effective without being bulky. Most of the time in winter, I wear my waterproof jacket which keeps me warm and dry and is really comfortable to wear all day. Waterproof jackets really do need to be Gore-Tex if you’re planning to be out for long days as they will keep you pretty dry. They are also extremely good at keeping you warm in really cold wind.

Gloves : I have a few pairs of gloves in various thicknesses from thin summer weight to full on Gore-Tex gauntlets and take whichever is appropriate; even in summer. Mittens are a good idea when it’s cold as you can make a fist inside the glove to keep fingertips warm. You can’t beat a Gore-Tex gauntlet when it’s pouring and freezing though.

Trousers : Fleece lined trousers are wonderful when it’s really cold, otherwise I wear standard walking trousers and put on waterproof overtrousers if it’s wet or windy. I have a thin pair of long johns which I have also worn under trousers which was very effective.

Boots & Socks : A good pair of comfortable, well broken boots are a walking staple and their value cannot be underestimated. Your feet need to be warm and protected and suitable for the terrain you’re tackling. There are lots of good, lightweight options, so there is surely something for everyone. We wear winter weight trekking socks and find one thick pair is sufficiently warm enough. My walking boots are about a decade old now and are beginning to split, so I do get wet feet which can get cold. I carry a change of socks which I do half way through and I am in the process of breaking in a new pair of boots.

If you choose your clothing wisely, you should be able to enjoy your days out, whatever the weather throws at you.