I love hiking in the winter and I love taking my kids along for the fun. I have enjoyed winter hiking for many years and learned about the importance of dressing correctly, bringing the correct winter hiking gear, and being vigilant and mine and my kids’ safety.
I always make sure I have the essentials to keep us safe and items to keep us comfortable. When you look at the list, it can seem like a ton of things you have to bring and you might wonder how you’ll carry it all. But a lot of these items are small and don’t weigh much. They also can be inexpensive depending on the brand and where you shop.
If you are packing for a winter hike, don’t forget to assess your personal situation, like the temperature, who is coming with you, any health concerns, and make sure you have everything you need for you and whoever you are bringing with you.
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The 10 ESSENTIALS
The 10 essentials are items that every hiker should carry, regardless of the length or location of their hike. The original list was created in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers. The list has changed over time to a systems approach that includes:
- Navigation: Map and compass to keep your bearings and avoid getting lost.
- Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat can protect against sunburn and eye damage.
- Insulation: Extra clothing to stay warm in case of changing weather conditions or an unexpected night out.
- Illumination: Headlamps or flashlights (with extra batteries) for when it gets dark.
- First-aid supplies: A basic first-aid kit to handle minor injuries or illnesses.
- Fire: Waterproof matches, lighter, or a fire starter can be vital for cooking and warmth.
- Repair kit and tools: Multitool, knife, duct tape, etc. for unexpected gear repairs.
- Nutrition: Extra food in case your hike goes longer than planned.
- Hydration: Extra water and/or a way to purify water. Check out this post on How to Get Clean Water When Hiking/Backpacking.
- Emergency shelter: Tent, space blanket, tarp, bivy, or an emergency shelter to protect against the elements.
What’s In My Backpack For a Winter Hike
The hiking kid carrier I use is the Osprey Poco Plus. I’ve had it for 4 years and love it! I did a whole review on it and you can check that out here: Osprey Poco Plus | The Best Child Hiking Carrier. If you decide to purchase it, I highly recommend buying it from REI over Amazon because you have a full year to return it if it doesn’t work out (and you still get free shipping).
- Water and Snacks: It’s important to stay hydrated and fueled on any hike, but in the winter it’s important because it helps keep your body warm. The act of digestion produces heat, so keep the snacks coming for you and your little one!
- First Aid Kit: A first aid kit is always important to bring while hiking. I like to just have some basics on hand like
- Bandaids
- Antiseptic wipes
- Gauze
- Medical tape
- Moleskin or Lukotape
- Medication like Ibuprofen
- Satellite Communicator: I have the Garmin InReach Mini and always bring it on my hikes, especially in the winter. It allows me to send texts when I have no service and it has an SOS button that alerts Search and Rescue when pressed. This gives me a lot of peace of mind when I’m out on a trail that has very few people and weather conditions can change quickly.
- Hand Warmers: These are great to have on hand (lol) because sometimes my hands just cannot warm up on their own, especially when I keep having to take my mittens off and on getting out snacks and helping zip up snow suits. Hand warmers are great to just quickly warm my hands back up. And they’re great for emergencies.
- Knife: It’s always important to have a knife on your for emergency situations. You can use it to cut clothes, get wood shavings for a fire, cut food up, whatever you might need.
- Poncho: A cheap, plastic rain poncho doesn’t weigh much, but it can go a long way to help insulate you since plastic is not a breathable material.
- Emergency Blanket: Another lightweight piece of gear that can help insulate you especially if you are stuck out longer than expected.
- Headlamp: Daylight hours are much shorter in the winter. I always have a headlamp in case we are on the trail longer than intended. It’s especially important when you are carrying a child to be safe and make sure you can see the trail.
- Fire Starter: I don’t rely on a lighter in the winter because makes them very temperamental and they often times don’t work. A striker with flint will always do the trick. I also like to bring a ziplock bag with some kind of fire starter like laundry lint or cotton balls soaked in vaseline. This will help get your fire going in an emergency.
- Sunscreen: While it may seem surprising that you should wear sunscreen when it’s cold out, it’s actually very easy to get sunburned in the winter. The sun reflects off the snow and you’re often times up in higher altitude where the atmosphere is thinner and the sun is stronger.
- Extra Layers: This might include an extra beanie or jacket for you or your child in case it gets colder than expected.
- Microspikes: In the winter I usually start off wearing these but if you are on a hike that is in and out of shade, it’s always handy to have a pair of microspikes in your pack incase there are icy patches on the trail.
Winter Hiking Gear for Kids That I Carry
- Diapers and Wipes: I prefer to do diaper changes at the car but I bring a small pack and a diaper along just in case
- Child Carrier Rain Cover: I love using the carrier’s rain cover in the winter because it does a great job of blocking the wind and adding another layer of insulation. It adds so much warmth that sometimes I have to take of my kid’s beanie or jacket they warm up so much.
- Kid Microspikes: I only got these this year for my 4 year old and they are great! They are still a little big on his size 9.5 boot but they don’t fall off. He loves to wear them and they really help him hike uphill in the snow.
- Sit Pad: You don’t only have to use this if you have kids, but I mostly use it to sit on to nurse my baby. It insulates me from the frozen ground so I’m comfortable and don’t get cold. I also like to sit on it when my kids inevitably want to stop to play in the snow.
- Skin Salve: This is mostly for my baby because her cheeks get really dry and chapped in the wind and cold. I like to apply this if we’re out for a long time. Aquaphor or Badger Baby Balm are my two favorites. Just make sure to warm it up on your hand first.
- Extra Snacks: I like to make sure I have plenty of snacks to keep my kids happy and fed. When you eat, your metabolism is working and helping to warm up your body. So I always have a snack or two in my hip belt pocket for easy access.
Winter Hiking Gear That I don’t Carry in My Backpack
These are the items that I use on my winter hike, but I don’t carry them in my backpack. Some items I will stick in my backpack if it doesn’t make sense to have them on but, for the most part, I am either wearing or carrying them.
- Microspikes: In the winter I usually start off wearing these but if you are on a hike that is in and out of shade, it’s always handy to have a pair of microspikes in your pack incase there are icy patches on the trail.
- Snowshoes: I use my microspikes more often because I am usually hiking already packed down trails. But if we’ve had a huge storm or I’m doing a less traversed trail, then I will get use my snowshoes. They are great for keeping me on top of the powder or on trails that are starting to melt and causing my shoes to sink through.
- Trekking Poles: Trekking poles are great in the winter because they give you that little bit of extra balance on the snow. It also helps when you’re carrying a big pack and you can put some of that weight on your arms and upper body.
- Buff: A buff is a very versatile piece of clothing. It can be worn around your neck like a scarf. You can bring it up onto your head and wear it like a balaclava. You can wear it around your ears like a headband. I always have a buff on me. Just make sur eyou don’t get a cotton one. I prefer merino wool or fleece.
Winter hiking is incredible and with a few extra safety items, you can enjoy it safely and responsibly. If you want to know more about winter hiking, you can check out my posts here.
If you found this post helpful, here are a few more posts you might enjoy
- The Best Winter Hiking Layers for Babies and Toddlers
- How To Start Winter Hiking for Beginners
- 5 Ways to Stay Safe When Hiking Alone
