Winter hiking essentials: tips from an expert
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SNEAK PEEK – 5 KEY TIPS
- Choose the right gear. Number one consideration: warm hiking footwear with a grippy sole, and technical winter hiking clothing layers.
- Use extra protection like gaiters and spikes. Gaiters stop snow from getting into your hiking boots. Spikes make it safer to negotiate icy sections.
- Check the weather forecast and avalanche bulletins and plan your hike accordingly.
- Make sure you plan your timing realistically. Hiking in winter or snow hiking takes longer than hiking in summer and the days are shorter in winter.
- Always take enough liquids with you. A flask full of hot tea will also keep you warm.
Read the full article to find out more.
- What is winter hiking?
- Winter hiking gear
- Where to hike in winter
- Potential risks with winter hiking
- Conclusion: winter hiking is a wonderful activity
“In the wintertime, it used to be the case that most hikers would simply put their hiking boots away for the season. These days, climate change is resulting in an extended hiking season, and not just in lower lying areas,” according to Lukas Rinnhofer. As a certified hiking guide, he’s seeing more people hiking in the mountains during the winter months in his home area of Vorarlberg, Austria. “It’s a wonderful thing, being able to walk through wintry landscapes,” says Lukas, “but unfortunately, many people are not prepared for winter conditions and the challenges these present…”
In this article, Lukas shares his best winter hiking tips. Discover top tips on gear, route planning and safety for cold weather hiking. And a handy winter hiking checklist at the end of the article means you won’t forget anything either.
About Lukas Rinnhofer: He’s a hiking and nature guide and lives in Bregenzerwald, Austria, which means that he’s got a hiking paradise right on his doorstep. In winter, Lukas is a snowshoeing guide, spotting tracks in the snow and explaining what winter means to the flora and fauna. Lukas is also a member of the HANWAG Sole People. Find out more about Lukas in his profile. Photo: HANWAG
1. What is winter hiking?
“I’d say winter hiking is any form of walking in winter that doesn’t require snowshoes,” according to Lukas. “So, it doesn’t matter whether there’s no snow at all, or just enough covering the ground which means I won’t sink in wearing regular hiking footwear; or it’s hiking on a prepared winter hiking trail.”
There are different kinds of winter hiking. Lukas lists three here:
- Hiking without snow: “Lower regions, below 800 metres, might not see any snow even in mid-winter,” says Lukas. “So, you’re then using the same trails as in summer, but they might be frozen and therefore slippery.”
- Prepared winter hiking trails: “Winter sports resorts in particular, often have prepared winter hiking trails where the snow is cleared or compacted by machines,” Lukas explains. “These trails are great when the weather is bad or for snow hiking with kids.”
- Snow hiking: “With a thin layer of snow on a solid base, you can hike without the need for snowshoes,” according to Lukas. “But hiking in snow means you need the right gear, and you need to be surefooted.”
One characteristic of winter hiking is the very varied conditions depending on the orientation of the slope. Lukas explains: “A hiking trail on the sunny south-facing side of the valley might be straightforward to negotiate. But as soon as you get onto a north-facing slope or you have to cross a shadier gulley, then you can suddenly come across frozen, icy or snow-covered ground.” Which means that winter hiking in the mountains requires an added level of experience.
“The kind of winter hiking gear you need depends on the type of trail and the conditions.”
Hiking guide Lukas Rinnhofer2. Winter hiking gear
According to Lukas, the gear you need for winter hiking depends on the style of hike you’re undertaking and the conditions: “If it’s in the mountains and it’s minus 15 degrees and snowing hard, then I’ll need to wear different clothing compared to a winter stroll through the woods in milder temperatures.”
Winter hiking footwear is a particularly important part of your winter hiking gear.
What kind of footwear for winter hiking?
Winter hiking footwear should have the following characteristics:
- Grippy sole with good tread.
- Ankle-high cuff – to support the ankle and prevent snow ingress.
- Upper material that’s sturdy and warm – ideally leather.
- Waterproof membrane – such as Gore-Tex or EcoShell.
Following conventional hiking footwear categories, these boots fall into Category B or above.
If you frequently go hiking in winter or feel the cold keenly in your feet, then it’s advisable to get special winter hiking boots. The best hiking boots for snow could be anything from a hiking boot with winter-specific features through to an expedition boot for extreme conditions. Find out more in our winter boot advice pages.
An overview of HANWAG winter footwear models
Model name
Area of use
Click the image to find out more
HANWAG Bluestrait ES
Active everyday winter use, walks and leisurely hikes in the colder months.
HANWAG Banks Winter GTX
Winter hiking in the lowlands and low-level mountains, also in snow.
HANWAG Banks Snow GTX
Winter hiking in the lowlands and lower-level mountains, plus snowshoeing.
HANWAG Alaska Winter GTX
Strenuous winter hiking and mountain hiking, plus winter trekking.
HANWAG Fjäll Extreme GTX
Strenuous winter trekking and snowshoeing.
HANWAG Abisko GTX
Expedition-grade winter boot for extremely cold conditions.
HANWAG Grünten Winter
Winter walks, stylish through the colder months.
HANWAG Grizzly Top
Winter nature walks, through deeper snow and on slippery trails.
HANWAG Räven II
Winter nature walks, through deeper snow and on slippery trails.
“In the mountains, spikes are an essential piece of kit. They make it safer to negotiate ice and can be a lifesaver.”
Hiking guide Lukas Rinnhofer
For Lukas, spikes, also known as snow grips, ice cleats and walking crampons, are an essential piece of kit for winter hiking. “Spikes are like a smaller version of mountaineering crampons. They pack down small in your backpack and you can simply pull them on over your boots when you need them. It’s like having snow chains or winter tyres with spikes on your feet. Spikes make it safer to negotiate ice and can be a lifesaver because they prevent falls.” And in spring they are useful too, when you might come across old patches of snow.
Lukas advises against spikes with straps as these can become frozen and then loosen. “The best ones are fitted with a stretchy rubber outer band.”
The best clothing for winter hiking
For the best winter hiking clothing, Lukas recommends using a layering system – with multiple layers on top of each other, which can be added or taken off as required:
- Technical underwear – merino wool is especially well suited to winter hiking.
- Warm hiking socks.
- Warm, water-repellent hiking pants.
- Fleece pullover as a midlayer.
- Insulated jacket as an outer layer in dry weather, or worn under a weatherproof jacket in cold weather.
- Waterproof, weather shell jacket.
“In winter, the technical functionality of hiking clothing is even more important than in summer.”
Hiking guide Lukas Rinnhofer“In winter, the technical functionality of hiking clothing is even more important than in warmer weather,” explains Lukas. “I would strongly advise against hiking in a T-shirt, or pants made from pure cotton, and no jeans. Cotton is absorbent and dries very slowly in cold temperatures, which means it will quickly lead to undercooling.” Functional materials like merino wool, synthetic fibres or a blend of the two are a much better option.
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Examples of winter hiking apparel
We’ve put together some useful product recommendations for your winter hiking outfit from the HANWAG range and its sister company FJÄLLRÄVEN.
- Technical baselayer: Fjällräven Abisko Wool LS (women’s version).
- Long johns / thermal leggings: Fjällräven Bergtagen Thinwool Long Johns (women’s version).
- Warm hiking socks: HANWAG Thermo Sock.
- Warm hiking trousers: Fjällräven Keb Agile Winter Trousers (women’s version).
- Fleece pullover: Fjällräven Keb Fleece Hoodie (women’s version).
- Insulated jacket: Fjällräven Expedition Lätt Hoodie (women’s version).
- Waterproof weather shell: Fjällräven Bergtagen Lite EcoShell Jacket (women’s version).
- Gaiters: Fjällräven Singi X-Gaiters.
Essential accessories
- Gloves.
- Hat.
- Headband.
- Neck warmer/ snood/ Buff.
- Sunglasses.
Technical hiking gear
- Backpack: “This must be big enough to hold your jacket, first aid kit and everything else you need,” explains Lukas. “In winter, this should be 20 litres minimum. And your backpack should have attachment options for trekking poles.”
- Spikes (see above).
- Gaiters: “These seal the gap between your trousers and your footwear to prevent snow from getting in.”
- Trekking poles: “If hiking through snow, you need snow baskets on the bottom of these, so that the poles can’t sink in. Ideally these would be modern folding or telescopic poles that you can stash on your pack when hiking through easier, snow-free, or wider sections of trail.”
Safety equipment
- First aid kit.
- Space blanket.
- Mobile phone.
- Power bank: in case the cold impairs the battery life of your phone.
- Bivvy bag: On longer, more demanding hikes, like in the mountains. “If there are two of you, make sure your bivvy bag is big enough to fit you both.”
Head torch: According to Lukas “this is essential, in case you end up hiking into the dusk or dark – and for locating you in an emergency.”
“Drinking plenty of fluids when you’re winter hiking is just as important as in summer.”
Hiking guide Lukas RinnhoferOther items
- Snacks and/ or energy bars.
- Hydration: “During cold weather hiking you don’t feel as thirsty as in summer,” explains Lukas. “But it’s just as important to drink plenty of fluids when you’re winter hiking as it is in summer. A hot flask of tea can hydrate and keep you warm at the same time. Beware of hydration bladders with a tube, as these can freeze in cold temperatures.”
- Sunscreen and lip balm with UV protection.
3. Where to hike in winter
“Essentially, you can hike in winter in many regions,” says Lukas. “To experience a winter wonderland kind of scene, you’re best off in the lower mountain ranges like the Black Forest or in the Alps.” The Kleinwalsertal Valley and the Allgäu region of Bavaria are popular winter hiking destinations – both of which are not far from where Lukas lives.
Lukas feels that being environmentally responsible is important when winter hiking, in particular: “Not going into any wildlife protected areas, sticking to the path, and not hiking in the twilight hours so as not to disturb the wildlife.”
There are numerous winter hiking guides covering various hiking regions available from specialist publishers such as Germany’s Bergverlag Rother. You can also find hiking routes on apps & websites such as Komoot and OutdoorActive. Tourist boards also have information on specific hiking trails and marked winter hiking trails. A detailed map (ideally 1:25.000 scale or bigger), e.g. from an alpine or mountaineering club, is useful for route planning.
Everything you need to know for your next outdoor adventure – the HANWAG BOOTCAMP. And check out our ‘how to’ videos on our YouTube channel.
4. Potential risks with winter hiking
As wonderful as winter hiking can be, and usually is, “many people underestimate the risks of heading out in winter,” warns Lukas. “Snow and sheet ice make the going more challenging, which is why it’s important to factor in additional time compared to hiking in summer. Without the right equipment, things are even harder still, and if the weather unexpectedly changes, I might be at greater risk of hypothermia, for instance.” And if hiking in the mountains you also have to consider the risk of avalanches. “If I’m on a winter hike and snow conditions are precarious, then I avoid steep snow slopes. Otherwise I could trigger an avalanche,” says Lukas.
Lukas offers the following route planning tips:
- Check the weather forecast – refer to a reliable, good-quality source like the German Alpine Club’s weather report.
- Check avalanche bulletins – the higher the avalanche danger level, the more care is required in route selection.
- Don’t blindly follow GPS trails from an online source – always cross-check your chosen route with other sources and ask people with local knowledge too. Many summer trails on the hiking apps & websites are not suitable in winter without snowshoes
- Allow a realistic amount of time – hiking in winter will almost always take longer, and daylight hours are shorter in winter. You should always factor in some extra time before the sun starts to set.
One very common problem with winter hiking is cold feet. Find out how to beat cold feet or warm them once they get cold in our winter hiking footwear advice pages.
5. Conclusion: winter hiking is a wonderful activity
“Whether it’s snowy or not, hiking during the winter months is a wonderful way to enjoy nature in all its wintry glory,” Lukas sums up. His tips on what to take and how to plan your winter hike make it that bit easier to get out there and enjoy winter hiking. “Enjoy the fresh air”, says Lukas – “and keep those feet warm”.
