How to dress for walking in the snow: 7 fundamental tips

Walking in the mountains in the snow, perhaps with snowshoes on your feet, is a perfect activity to come into contact with winter nature. Let’s see what clothing is most suitable for tackling the snow outdoors

In recent years, trekking is taking on more and more space in the world of winter activities, in particular thanks to equipment that is becoming commonly used among all winter outdoor enthusiasts.

We are speaking of snowshoes or snowshoes, a tool that allows us to experience the beauty of the woods and mountains covered in snow while crossing enchanting panoramas.

One of the most successful reasons for this activity is also due to its affordability, in fact it is sufficient to buy or rent a pair of snowshoes to immerse yourself in winter nature, with costs that are decidedly lower than its cousin skiing.

Also because all trekkers probably already have many of the items of clothing needed to tackle this activity.

But let’s see in detail what you need to have to be able to enjoy this relaxing and engaging experience in the snow with peace of mind.

_ If you want to know more about how to choose snowshoes, read this article

1 – Underwear and base layer: the first layer

It’s better as an underwear layer avoid cotton t-shirtsbecause it is a hydrophilic fibre, it therefore tends to soak up sweat and retain it.

When walking in harsh winter temperatures it is important to always stay dry.

Otherwise, at the first stop, perhaps to admire the landscape, the trapped sweat will cool down, transmitting an unpleasant sensation to your body.

The main task of the underwear layer is precisely to carry body sweat towards the outermost layers, therefore passing through the mid layer, through the waterproof “shell” until arriving, together with the humidity, towards the external environment.

_ If you want to know more about choosing outdoor underwear

Here are some recommended products:

_ Thermal shirt Helly Hansen HH Lifa

_ Haines underwear set

_ Gore base layer

2 – The onion technique is also valid in winter

The main purpose of outdoor clothing, particularly in cold environments, is to maintain a correct thermal balance throughout the excursion.

That’s why it’s important wear several layers to allow us to adequately react to possible thermal changes due to weather conditions and physical effort at any time.

In fact, our thermal comfort depends on many factors, the actual temperature matters, but a lot also depends on the difficulty of the route we are facing.

If we have a significant difference in altitude ahead of us and the day is sunny, we could lighten our clothing by eliminating a few layers.

Storing the shell in the backpack could be a solution, but if it’s windy you could sacrifice the middle layer.

In short, the important thing is to respect the legend of onion clothing, having many layers on to be able to regulate our body temperature as the conditions of the route and the weather change.

A valuable technique in the spring and autumn, but even more important in winter on a trek in the snow.

_ Read this article to know everything about the onion technique

Here are some recommended products for the middle layer:

_ Helly Hansen W Crew thermal jacket

_ Helly Hansen W Crew Hooded women’s thermal jacket

_ The North Face 100 thermal fleece

_ Columbia Fast Trek thermal fleece

_ Salewa Puez Grid thermal fleece

_ Salewa Puez Aqua 3 thermal fleece

3 – Winter outdoor trousers

Like any piece of technical clothing, ski trousers have also been designed with specific characteristics for downhill slopes.

Sure, it’s waterproof, but usually the fabrics they’re made with make them particularly rigid and bulky.

In fact, one of their main tasks is to protect the skier from abrasions and impacts with the snow in case of falls during the descents.

Ph.: Gettyimages/Uwe Moser

With snowshoes it is important to have wide freedom of movementso the trousers will have to accommodate these needs.

We therefore recommend using a pair of technical winter trekking trousers, with performances that are decidedly more suitable for snowshoeing in the snow, in terms of comfort, waterproofness and protection.

However, jeans or corduroy trousers should be absolutely avoided, unless you want to walk with your legs immersed in two blocks of ice after the first fall into the fresh snow.

_ Read this article to know everything about choosing trekking trousers

Some products recommended by us:

_ Pants Salewa Puez (Dolomia)

_ Pants The North Face Exploration

_ The trousers North Face M Diablo

_ Salewa Pedroc 2 (women’s model)

_ The North Face Exploration (women’s model)

4 – The right boots for snowshoes

Snowshoes attach to the boot and have the effect of increasing the support surface allowing you to walk on fresh snow without sinking excessively.

This is why choosing the right shoe is essential.

The first thing to do is to use winter trekking boots, which are high, rigid and wrap around the ankle, since they will also have to support the structure and the friction resulting from walking with snowshoes.

Furthermore, they will have to guarantee perfect thermal insulation and water repellency, because it will be easy to sink into the fresh snow despite wearing snowshoes and, in these conditions, the foot must remain very dry.

Winter trekking shoes must also be resistant to impacts and abrasions, which is why their construction structure is solid and suitable for attaching snowshoes.

_ Read this article if you want to know everything about choosing trekking boots in the snow

Some recommended products:

_ La Sportiva Trango TRK women’s boots

_ Lowa Renegade GTX boots

_ Mammut Kento Tour High GTX boots

_ Salewa boots Ms Rapace

_ La Sportiva Nepla Evo Gtx boots

_ Columbia Bugaboot Plus III boots

_ Salewa MS Mountain Trainer boots

5 – Gaiters, often underestimated but essential in the snow

They are small and, therefore, may seem unimportant but trekking gaiters are an essential tool for keeping your feet dry.

There are all types and prices on the market, but in any case it is money well spent, absolutely necessary when you go snowshoeing or walking in the snow.

_ Read this article if you want to know everything about trekking gaiters

Some products recommended by us:

_ Ferrino Zermatt gaiters

_ Salewa Hiking Gaiters

_ Ferrino Cervino gaiters

_ Salewa Approach gaiters

_ Ferrino Stelvio gaiters

6 – Trekking socks, to take care of your feet

They are the first point of contact with our foot, trekking socks wrap and protect it, making it perfectly adherent to the boot.

This avoids the onset of annoying blisters and abrasions, furthermore technical socks are a precious ally for keeping the foot warm and dry even during snowshoe trekking in the fresh snow.

Here are some recommended products:

_ X-Socks Trek Outdoors socks

_ Caterpillar Cat4 socks

_ Yuedge 5 socks

7 – The jacket to protect yourself from the cold and snow

It may seem obvious to say it but it is worth repeating. Since we are walking in a snowy environment, “floating” on the fresh snow thanks to the help of snowshoes, we must not forget the last, but fundamental, item of clothing

We are referring to the outdoor shell!

These technical jackets respond perfectly to the fundamental needs of those who play sports in the outdoor environment: prevent water or snow to penetrate from the outside and allow the humidity generated by physical activity to escape outside.

Trekking jackets are divided into two large families. There are soft shells, created with lighter and more comfortable membranes but less protective against the elements.

Then there are hard shells which, as the name suggests, are designed for the most extreme weather conditions, such as those we can encounter in winter during a snowshoe hike in a snowy valley.

These products guarantee complete protection from wind, rain and snow. Thermal insulation is also excellent, without sacrificing excellent breathability.

Their only limit is their lightness, to benefit from these performances you have to pay a small price in terms of weight and rigidity, but nothing excessive.

_ Read this article if you want to know everything about choosing a waterproof jacket

Some products recommended by us:

_ Mammut Kento jacket

_ Marmot Trail Wind Hoody Jacket

_ Salewa Puez TW jacket

_ Helly-Hansen Crew Hooded Jacket

_ Jacket Marmot Wm’s Evodry Torreys

_ Read the other articles on trekking clothing and equipment

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