What Do I Need For A Winter Hill Walk?

Bright cloudless skies, the crunching of snow underfoot and seeing your breath appear before you, are a few of the elements that make a hill walk over winter so special. As idyllic as this setting sounds, bad weather can quickly move in creating a scenario where your only goal is to safely navigate off the hill.

These varying conditions mean you're going to want to strike a balance between warmth/protection, freedom of movement and breathability; but most importantly you want to be prepared for any eventuality.

This kit list will set you in good stead for a winter walk. However, it is not all-encompassing and should be adapted to your needs. If you want any more advice or have any questions, please feel free to drop into one of our stores for a chat or speak to one of the outdoor experts in customer service.

These low-profile pants provide warmth and comfort, sitting under your outer pants. They are made from synthetic or natural (wool) fabrics that trap air between the fibres while wicking away moisture to keep you dry and warm. For a winter walk you want to choose a pair that have a high weight/gm (200 or above) for warmth.

Merino wool is a great insulating fabric as it is effective at wicking and efficient at warmth; it's also naturally odour free so you can get away with wearing the same pair for longer.

A waterproof jacket acts as the outer shell of your layering system, protecting you from wind, rain and snow while remaining light and breathable. The beauty of a shell jacket is that you can pack down the jacket in to your rucksack then quickly and easily put it on if the weather gets worse.

Because this type of jacket is breathable you can continue to wear it on strenuous sections of a walk while remaining comfortable. In addition to the high levels of breathability you’ll find GORE-TEX and other membrane-based jackets have tough and durable outers that are resistant to tears and abrasions.

You are going to take a lot of steps on a winter walk so having warm & comfortable socks is a must. Socks that can wick away moisture are going to keep your feet dry, warm & prevent blisters. Any socks that have merino in them are going do this and have the added bonus of minimising odours.

Other features to look out for in a sock that will make your walk more comfortable are a flat seam toe box (avoids rubbing), cushioned high impact areas (heel and toes) and some elastane or support that holds the sock in position.

A pair of well-fiiting Hiking boots are paramount to a comfortable and safe winter hike. Hiking boots are classified into three categories: B1, B2 and B3.

B1 boots are the most flexible and generally comfortable for use in summer and winter across a variety of terrain. B2 boots have slightly stiffer soles and midsole along with indents at the front for B2 crampons. B3 boots are the stiffest boot you can get and offer more ankle support for technical winter walking and mountaineering.

B1 and B2 boots will be the best options for most people who want to walk in summer and winter – providing enough support and without being too uncomfortable.

Different brands of boots will high varying volumes, widths and lengths so it is a good idea to try on several pairs and get a feel for what best fits. For more information about selecting the right hiking boots for you have a look at our walking footwear buying guide.

Crampons attach to the bottom of your walking boots and should be used when hiking on hard packed snowy or icy terrain. The spikes penetrate the snow giving you grip and support to safely progress.

They are classified as C1, C2 and C3. C1 is the most flexible and walking orientated pair, C2 is slightly stiffer and features more aggressive spikes for technical routes and C3 is the stiffest and should be used for ice climbing or technical mountaineering.

The crampon rating should match the rating of your boot (a C1 crampon with a B1 boot and so on). C1 or C2 crampons and B1 and B2 boots are most suitable for winter hill walking.

For more information about crampons have a look at our crampons buying guide.

A winter backpack should be lightweight, durable and adaptable. It’s also important that it is comfortable for long days on the hill - offering support and venting for your back. Correct sizing and ensuring the straps are adjusted to your frame greatly influence the level of comfort; and are worth taking the time to do properly.

For more technical routes, ice axe and walking pole attachments are a useful features along with hydration bladder compatibility leaving your hands free.

For more information on sizing and much more take a look at our backpack buying guide.