Must-Have: 3 Gear Items Essential for Winter Hiking

When winter rolls around, most people hang up the hiking boots and store their backpacks until spring, waiting for sunshine and warmer weather to get outside. But even when there's snow on the ground, you can still get outside. There are a few simple pieces of gear that open up your world to year round adventure.

Traction spikes

Traction spikes are instrumental in freeing up hiking in all sorts of conditions. They provide traction on the trail when snow turns to hardpack and ice.

Want to know more about traction spikes? Check out my video!

It's a simple item. But they make a world of difference. A cheap, light, and very packable tool, traction spikes simply strap onto any hiking boots you already own and add massive amounts of traction. They allow hikers, backpackers, and runners to keep moving at their normal pace, and to...ya' know...not fall off cliffs or slip and bust your ass.

A couple weeks ago I went on a winter backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon. It was a simple overnight at Phantom Ranch, a classic hike. I used Kahtoola's MICROspikes–there are a handful of solid options from various brands out there. But Kahtoola is from my hometown, so I'm a bit partial to them.

Photo by Kenneth J. Hamilton Photography

In the winter, the top two miles of trail can be a brush with death without the proper gear. The trail stays in the shade all day, so a little bit of snow quickly gets compacted and turned into a sheet of ice that can potentially send hikers slip-sliding right off the edge of the Grand Canyon. Not exactly bueno.

I've seen people slowly tip toe and dance their way down icy trails. Hell, I've been the guy tip toeing and dancing down these trails, praying I don't slip at any moment. But one, it's dangerous. Your likelihood of slipping is high. And while falling off a cliff is a pretty big thing to avoid, a slip can easily lead to a knee injury or a bruised ego.

Not only am I trying to avoid a slip and fall, I really just want to be able to hike at a normal, fast, efficient pace. Without microspikes, this is almost impossible. You inevitably have to slow down to stay safe. But with microspikes, depending on the conditions, you can hike with speed and confidence. The trail almost gets BETTER with everything being smoothed out by the ice — if you can confidently grip to it that is.

Now, this isn't advice that's only suited for the Grand Canyon. This is good for anywhere the trails get icy and dicey. Although, if you do plan on any Grand Canyon hiking November - March, you better bring a pair of these babies.

Trekking Poles

Trekking poles go a long way too. I used to think trekking poles were super lame, and only good for the elderly and infirm. AAAND then... I actually used them. Only then did I understand that trekking poles can relieve so much of the stress that hiking and backpacking puts on your body. Yes, trekking poles make you more stable. Three or four points of contact with the trail will definitely do that.

But more importantly, trekking poles reduce the impact on knees and ankles, quads and calves. Backpacking and hiking are accumulative sports. And hiking ten-fifteen miles can be brutal on your body. If a tool like trekking poles are able to reduce the stress on your body by 15-20 percent, that's a huge savings in energy. Instead of the last few miles of a trail kicking your ass, you can keep moving and do so with vigor, that's a big win.

Trekking poles are great for snow and ice conditions. As you can imagine, they help you in icy, tricky spots. And you can probe snow depths if you have to break trail after a big snowstorm. They will definitely help you on the trail. Plus they can be helpful tools in emergencies (ie braces for broken bones), or simply to help prop up your tent or string out guy lines.

Gaiters

Gaiters are another often overlooked hiking tool. Some may think they're only for super hardcore activities, like big mountaineering objectives. But gaiters are great for many scenarios. Of course, if you're hiking through deep snow, gaiters will keep the snow out of your boots and help keep your feet dry. They can allow you to hike in regular pants, instead of super technical gear, saving you money and keeping you more comfortable.

But gaiters aren't just for deep snow. I wear them when conditions are dewey, as hiking through wet grass soaks your shoes just as much as fording a river. If a trail is rather muddy, gaiters keep the mud out of my boots, off my ankles, and usually preserve my hiking pants too. They take the brunt of the gunk so you don't have to.

Also, even if conditions are dry and dusty, gaiters help keep pebbles and sand and all sorts of no-nos out of your shoes, thereby helping you stay blister-free.

Side bonus, you'll look really cool in them.

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you have an excuse to stay inside. The trails are calling. See you out there!