By Patrick Gensel
Backpacking is a very rewarding and adventurous activity, but can be quite gear intensive, from stoves to backpacks and beyond, each piece of equipment plays its part in the experience. Winter backpacking takes the adventure and dumps a whole new set of challenges on it, requiring special gear. the following is a blow by blow of some of the best types of equipment for winter backpacking and some examples of the top products in each category.
Backpack
Whats a backpacking trip without a backpack, and not just any backpack, but a comfortable one that fits your body just right. take care in selecting a backpack that fits your budget but also your needs. take into consideration how often you will be backpacking, and for how long. these factors will help you determine capacity needed. be sure to try a few on with some weight in them or if you can rent one to see what works best for you, and never hesitate to ask questions when at your local gear shop or outfitter. packs are commonly measured in Cubic Centimeters, and this size should be taken into consideration when buying a pack. the longer you plan to stay out, and heavier the load you plan to carry, the larger you want your pack to be in cubic centimeters. an example of a great mid-size multiple day pack is The North Face Primero 85 Pack (Spring 2010)
Clothing
Keeping warm and dry is probably the most important part of an enjoyable winter backpacking experience, so having the right gear is essential to this. a good set of base layer clothing is vital to trapping heat. i recommend getting a set of Under Armour Cold Gear, orPatagonia Men’s Merino 2 Bottoms (Fall 2009)and Patagonia Men’s Merino 2 Crew (Fall 2009)
it is important that your base layer wicks moisture away from your body to prevent chill, and both of these suggestions do just that.
for your feet i suggest wool socks or Under Armour socks. Smart Wool socks are also a great choice, also don’t forget to pack a fleece hat that will cover your head and ears.
once you have a good set of Base Layer items established you can move on to gloves, boots, pants and jacket. for gloves i suggest a pair that are waterproof gauntlet style gloves that can be cinched tight over the sleeves of your jacket, if it is going to be particularly cold it may be a good idea to bring along a pair of glove liners. you want to make sure you don’t skimp in the area of boots, since you will be doing a lot of walking you want to make certain that your boots are extremely comfortable and keep dry. i have been wearing the Asolo Men’s Fugitive GTX Boot (Spring 2010) for the past few months and i must say they have broken in quite well, and have stayed super dry in even the wettest conditions, thanks in part to the gore-tex lining. finally you want Pants and a Jacket that will keep you warm and dry, more often than not, on shorter trips i will wear ski pants and jacket, but there is a wide variety of technical clothing available and i fully intend to do a pants and jacket buyer guide at a later time.
Asolo Fugitive GTX
Stove and Cookware
as breathtaking and exciting the the scenery may be, everyones got to stop and eat, so make sure you have the proper gear to cook that back country meal. in the winter having the right stove is essential due to the generally sub-freezing temperature. cannister stoves commonly do not fair to well when the temperature is near or below freezing due to the fact that the compressed liquid has to change into a gaseous state as it exits the fuel cylinder and through the stove in which case i recommend a white gas or multi-fuel stove. white gas and multi-fuel stoves burn liquid fuel that is primed and pumped through the stove allowing them to function at much lower temperatures. peronally i currently only own a canister stove, but i have heard good things about the multi-fuel burning MSR XGK EX Stove (Spring 2010) weighing in at roughly 16oz the stove is a bit on the heavy side, but that seems to be one of the only down falls. as far as cookware goes, if you are going it alone, or each member will be carrying there own cookware, you can’t go wrong with the GSI pinnacle soloist cook set which features a pot, lid, collapsible spork and insulated mug.
GSI Pinnacle Soloist
Sleep System
this is what makes or breaks the night in terms of comfort. for most winter backpacking excursions you probably want something with a temp rating between 0 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably down filled to cut down on weight. sleeping bags are available in a variety of styles, but one highly regarded, fairly priced mummy bag is the Marmot Never Summer Reg 0 Degree Sleeping Bag (Spring 2010) in addition to a warm sleeping bag, it is probably not a bad idea to carry a sleeping bag liner for an additional 10 – 12 degrees of warmth, if you feel it may get cold. and lastly the sleeping system is not complete without a sleeping pad. i recommend an inflatable mattress as they are commonly lighter, adjustable, and pack away tighter. thermarest makes some quality products in the inflatable air mattress department.
Thermarest Trail Lite
that covers the major components of a backpacking system. the following list comprises other odds and ends that are need, and of course don’t forget the obvious such as light/matches, bath tissue, etc.
Additional Items
headlamp
flashlight
spare batteries
solar charger(Solio)
chap stick
stuff sack
compass
earplugs
2 nalgene bottles
first aid kit
If i have missed any essentials, or there is something you think should be added, please by all means comment and let me know, or email me: patrick@campthesummit.com
and as always, hike safe, hike often.
