Winter is here! It’s the season of short days and taking ages to get out the door. I’ve seen a handful of new posts each day looking for winter gear, whether it is in my local parenting or outdoorsy Facebook groups. There’s no denying that you want quality winter gear for your family. We live in a climate where winter is here for half the year, so we need long-lasting gear! I’m going to cover all the layers we use and love daily that actually work. Many of these brands have amazing warranties too. This is my recommendation for the best winter gear for the whole family.

Base Layers

When hiking in winter, it’s crucial to start with solid base layers. You want to choose a material that is going to wick away moisture, so not a cotton base. Our personal favorites are merino wool layers, they are soft, warm, and durable. Smartwool is our go-to option and we love their 2 year warranty program. Other good materials to look out for are polyester, bamboo, and other synthetic materials. Cotton holds onto moisture, whether it’s sweat or wet from the natural environment. With most kids clothing being made from cotton, this is crucial to keep an eye out for. You don’t want your kids, or you, to stay wet and cold on the trail, especially in freezing temperatures.

Mid Layers

Mid layers are great for hiking in extremely cold temperatures or higher elevations. I always choose to wear a mid layer because I usually end up ditching my coat and sticking to my mids and base layers, depending on the day. My favorite mid layer is a fleece lined zip up from Spyder. There are a lot of wonderful mid layers, you just need something that you can wear underneath your jacket. In winter, it is always better to be able to remove layers than to not have enough.

Weather Proof Layer

It’s not always sunny in winter. Chances are you will be hiking with some form of precipitation. Some form of a shell is always nice to have in winter! Waterproof gear is made to insulate and keep water out, so it doesn’t breath well, you will want to keep this in mind based on the activity you are doing. If you plan to go snowshoeing, then a rain jacket might be all you need. It would be lighter weight and easier to take off should you start to get too warm. On colder temps, you might want a thicker snow jacket like I use.

For younger kids that are in the carrier, you can wrap them in a blanket and put the rain cover on any framed carrier to keep them insulated. If you are hiking with them in a wrap, baby will be close to you and absorbing your body heat, so keep that in mind with layers. For soft carriers, you can get a soft, fleece lined cover to keep baby nice and warm.

Extremities

After getting yourself nice and toasty, don’t forget about your hands, head, and feet. They are all very important parts of the body to consider! Nothing stops a hike faster than your child having cold hands or feet, or even you for that matter.

Head

Your head releases a lot of heat, so your headwear may change depending on the weather. For really cold or windy days, I love to wear my fleece lined beanie. During warmer days, I may just wear a wool head band to cover my ears. Both are light weight and easy to shed or swap out if needed. Having a neck cover on hand is super great too, though I don’t hike as much during extremely cold weather anymore because of the kids.

Hands

Whether you are a mitten or a glove type of person, adding hand warmers can help keep your hands nice and toasty. I am personally a mitten gal, so the girls and I use our woolen mittens to keep our hands nice and warm while on the trail. My husband tends to gravitate towards really well insulated, leather gloves.

Feet

Footwear is crucial to a safe hike! Although everyone’s feet and ailments may differ, I suggest heading to a store and trying on a few pair first. I love my Merrell hiking shoes for both warmer months and the winter months. My husband loves his Wolverine boots and has two pair!

Just like your base layers, a good wicking pair of socks is a must. We love our Smartwool and Darn Tough socks for the whole family. Again, wool helps retain heat and wick away moisture. So in snow gets in your boots, step in a creek, or your kids explore a little risky play, everyone’s feet will stay nice and warm.

Winter Hiking Traction

Lastly, a good pair of traction makes all the difference in the winter. Showshoes and microspikes are the most common choice for hiking snowy or icy trails. Each hike may be different, trails may require different shoe options, and you may prefer one over the other. I recommend reading the difference between the two and testing a few through a rental program.

Winter is not an excuse to avoid getting out in nature! If you are properly equipped and know what to expect, there can be no such thing as bad weather. Make sure you are properly layered for your family’s winter hike and enjoy getting out of the house this winter.

What to Wear Hiking in Winter for the Whole Family