Winter is a beautiful time to enjoy the countryside, but it also provides you with some of the most adverse conditions, which can make walking a really unpleasant experience. Snow, rain, bitter winds and the early onset of the night can make getting out a daunting prospect. Thankfully though, this can be easily corrected with a few winter walking essentials.
We’ve collected together some lightweight equipment which is essential to have in your pack, just in case. Some items you might use every time you walk, some things only once and some things hopefully never – but they all have their place and are of high importance.
1. Best for light: Petzl Tikka Headlamp
2. Best for warmth: Reusable Hand Warmers
3. Best for support: Black Diamond Trail Trek Poles
4. Best for emergencies: Lifesystems Survival Bag
5. Best for hot food and drinks: JetBoil Flash 2.0 Cooking System
6. Best for hands: EDZ Merino Wool Thermal Gloves
7**. Best top:** Sub Zero Men’s Factor 2 Base Layer
Best for light
An exceptional, lightweight, long-burning solution for hikers.
It runs off of three AAA batteries, or you can upgrade with the rechargeable Petzl Core battery pack and pumps out 200 lumens - a good amount for spotting your path.
Best for warmth
These are great for those super cold days plus they can be reset.
Activate these little pouches, throw them in a pocket along with your tucked-up hands and they will pump out 54 degrees of heat for 90 minutes.
Best for support
The height is quickly adjustable and the tips can be simply changed to suit the terrain.
These are some highly reliable trekking poles which keep you upright and moving forward in poorer weather conditions while on less-than-ideal pathways.
Essential
Hopefully, you'll never have to use this and it can hide in the bottom of your bag forever more.
In case something untoward should occur, then it's an invaluable bit of kit. It will keep you warm as it's windproof and waterproof and it's brightly coloured too so people can see you.
Best for hot food and drinks
Lunch breaks on a hike are always welcome and loved but take it the extra mile with a JetBoil Flash.
It's lightweight and compact, and it'll give you hot food or drink in minutes. A most valuable friend on a frozen hillside. Just in case the ignition fails, it's good to have a backup disposable lighter or two.
Best for hands
The Merino wool will keep your hands at an equitable temperature.
The fingertips will let you use your touchscreen device and the rubberised grip will help you not drop it. Perfect!
Best top
A thermal mid-layer to keep you warm when you're walking - and it works.
It's comfortable to wear as an external layer in milder climes and keeps that way when layered. The women's version does the same job but unfortunately doesn't have a high neck.