Category: Winter Review & Guides

Cold weather rewards preparation and punishes guessing. The gap between gear that keeps you warm at twenty degrees and gear that claims to is the difference between an enjoyable day out and one you need to cut short.

Staying dry matters more than staying warm, which is the part people get backwards. Most winter discomfort comes from sweating on a climb and then cooling at a stop, so the goal is dressing slightly cold, venting before you sweat, and adding a layer the moment you stop rather than after you feel it.

This category covers base layers, insulating midlayers, shells, hats and gloves, winter footwear and traction, sleeping systems for cold nights, and the small items like hand warmers and insulated flasks that make a long day easier.

Avalanche terrain, technical ice, and anything requiring an axe or crampons need proper instruction rather than a gear list. Guides here cover trail and camp use.