The post 9 Great Tips For Winter Backpacking appeared first on Footloose.

If you’re Backpacking at all, it’s likely you’re on a budget and will skimp on a few luxuries of the road. Sadly, that cannot be the case in case you’re planning on going somewhere with snow in the Winter. The pluses of winter backpacking are many – you won’t encounter bugs, snow is always pretty, the air is crisp and delicious – but all that won’t really matter if you find yourself dying of hypothermia in your wet clothes just because you forgot to pack an extra layer for the trip. Here are 12 useful tips from the pros for surviving a winter backpacking.

1. Carry the right gear

Carry even more than you think you’ll need, because it doesn’t have to rain for your things to get wet – you are surrounded by frozen water with all that snow, wet is part of the deal the whole time. Also, don’t skimp out on the shoes. It’s fine if you’re the kind who says to hell with the corporate sports equipment industry trying to sell me things I don’t need. But you do need them to get the right shoes.

2. Three warm layers are better than one thick layer

Your body generates heat from within. That heat escapes out unless you have something trapping it in. Air is a poor conductor of heat and serves that job of trapping very well. To have more layers of air between your body and the outside, wear more layers of clothing. Simple.

3. Avoid cotton

Cotton is great for summers because it absorbs the sweat and then allows the air to evaporate it, thus cooling you down. Cotton is horrible for winters because it absorbs the sweat, and since you are wearing layers of clothing with all that air trapped between them, your sweat just kind of stays there, doesn’t get evaporated, and leaves you uncomfortably wet and cold. Synthetic materials are better because they transmit the moisture out better.

4. Carry water

Melting snow for drinking water on a winter backpacking trip sounds very romantic and adventurous, but you really don’t want to risk dehydration in case something goes wrong, like the snow just refusing to melt for any reason. Melt snow to add to your reserve, not as a first measure.

5. Pack food wisely

There’s a reason why whale blubber is an essential part of the diet near Arctic Circle. Food helps generate body heat, some food more than others. Fats are great for this purpose, for example, proteins not so much. Make sure to pack things like cheese, olive oil, corn chips etc.

6. Keep your sleeping bag dry

This must be done at all costs. Whatever the temperatures in the daytime, the night is sure to get worse, and the chances of a medical emergency increase. If your sleeping bag is not dry, it’s really quite useless, especially if it has down feathers. These don’t work when wet. No matter how tempting, don’t breathe inside the bag as you sleep to prevent introducing moisture. In the daytime, stop for an hour or so when the sun is strong to sun out your bag and make it crispy dry. Carry a separate pair of socks that you use only for sleeping, keep them dry at all times.

7. Get warm before you tuck in

At home you can get inside your cozy blanket with freezing toes only to wake up in the morning to find the toasty and warm. That does not happen outdoors. The frigid toes remain frigid throughout the night and ruin your sleep. Do some exercises like sit ups, push ups, chicken dance, whatever it takes to get the blood running to your extremes before getting inside your sleeping bag.

8. Versatility is key in winter backpacking

Your end purpose is to be comfortable and avoid emergencies – not to be warm or bundled up. Getting too warm is also not desirable as you risk sweating. So if you stop to rest, wear an extra layer of clothing to avoid losing heat. If you find yourself sweating, make sure your outer layer has plenty of vents like front zippers, armpit zippers etc. to help release the moisture.

9. Learn to start a fire

If there’s only one skill you learn before you set out, let it be the skill to start a fire with whatever materials you have at your disposal. Be sure to have waterproof matches at your disposal.

Follow these rudimentary tips and have a great adventure with winter backpacking! Also check out our independent travel section to plan your next trip.

Do you have any further tips on the subject? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 9 Great Tips For Winter Backpacking appeared first on Footloose.