I am new to winter hiking/climbing. I am also new to the forum. I need some help with a few clothing items.

First is a breathable windproof shell. I have my eye on two coats and wonder if either will do or if one is better than the other? Mountain hardware Transition jacket or Mountain Hardware Dragon jacket.

The second thing i need still is a warm coat for stops emergency and overnight camping. So do i go synthetic or down. I want to get what will do the job in any condition as i will prob get carried away with this as i do everything physical and wanna do big peaks or multi day trips in not so good weather.

Third is a bag. For just day trips what can i get away with for a emergency. And for multi day overnight trip what do i need? 0% -20 -40?

Thanks for the help i just dont wanna waste money or get stuck out to cold or to warm and wet.

When you say breathable windproof shell im assuming that you dont need waterproof, so im going to reccommend the montbell tachyon anorak, it was just reviews on by bpl. Super light and windproof.

On bag, it depends on where you are going. Are not many places where you would need the -40 bag. I have a 15 degree bag and hoping it will do good.

Clothing wise, depends what you have and how much you spend. My dad used to do camping in as low as -40 in alaska and canada and he never wore down jackets, just lots of wool and fleece. Obviously this would be a lot heavier though. If your in a really wet environment then you will probably want a synthetic insulation.

Information on where you'll be doing this hiking and climbing would be very useful. What kind of conditions are you expecting? This will determine answers more than anything else...

Sorry guys, i had written a long ass post and thought it was a bit much so hear it is lol. I live outside boston and will be doing most if not all my hiking/climbing in the north east, New Hampshires White Mountains, vermont and maine. I also need stuff to be able to be used in more mild climates as i also hike or rather walk my dogs in the woods all winter on and off trails local to me 3-6 hours a day 5 days a week... weekends i head north to the mountains.

One to two days a week i am goona go without the dogs and try and do some gnarly stuff along with take some ice climbing lessons and figure that out. Once a week i will try taking my dogs with me to the mountains and seeing what i can get them to do in cold and snow. If not much i will leave em behind but i think they should be good for day hikes in the winter. They hiked local with me in the snow all last winter down to 10% and all spring summer and fall up to 5000 ft. I mention the dog thing as we can move real fast at times going from a jog to a full on run. With that said we also have to stop and be still at times as they are dogs and need a break so i need to be able to both breath when on the move and stay worm when stopped.

Hope that helps.. Ow i will try stuff like Washington on and other presidentials on my own "no dogs" i imagine the weather can be pretty nasty all the sudden and you better be prepared!!

So i need a good down on synthetic coat to stay warm in for when it is really really cold. I dont want something that is gonna take up a ton of room if i can help it as i carry a lotta stuff with the dogs "mostly a ton of water" and my pack gets heavy quick even in good weather. I will carry what i need to be safe though so tell me what i need.

The shell or wind coat i imagine is to be worn over a base layer and in the real cold a base layer and fleece and maybe a mid weight thermal base? I metions MH Transition, and MH Dragon as they are both breathable and cost affective have pit zips and a hood.

And a bad most times will be a emergency item but being new to this and traveling with dogs and possibly getting injured i will carry it at all times. Not sure again if i go down or synthetic and what temp in needs to be rated for. I dont have one for spring summer or fall so it would be great if i could get away with using the same bag in every season but summer.

Cheers!!

Hi Patrick, and welcome. There is alot to address on this subject, so here goes ...

On the clothing subject, most members here use a similar system. A base layer with a windshell over it, and then adding layers to accomodate given conditions. The exact pieces depend very much on individual needs and preferences. For daytime conditions between 10*F-30*F I personally wear an Icebreaker 260 zip-t, powerstretch facemask, and a MYOG hooded windshirt in Epic(comparable to Wild Things hooded windshirt). I believe a hooded shell is crucial in cold, windy conditions, and I like the facemask because I haven't been able to purchase or build a hood that seals as well around my head. To these pieces I add a silkweight tshirt under the zip-t if I know it's going to be on the colder side. I also carry a light microfleece windstopper vest I can wear over everything. For the coldest days, I will sometimes wear a light fleece pullover over the zip-t. For reference, I'm 6'1" 155 lbs and get cold pretty easily.

For a warm coat, my choice would be a Feathered Friends Hooded Helios. 9 ounces of 850+ down in a sub 20 ounce coat is very efficient from a fill weight:total weight standpoint, and at $289 it's less expensive than comparable coats. There is also a choice of shell fabrics; my choice would be Epic. I really like the performance of Epic for clothing shells in winter, though I wouldn't choose it for a sleeping bag shell or bivy sack because of other members' poor experiences in this circumstance. On a down coat however, Epic should mitigate the need to wear a shell on top for moisture protection, at least in winter.

One thing you didn't mention is footwear/lower extremities, but I'll touch on it. For inexperienced winter travellers it's worth the price of subscription to access the articles on winter footwear alone. There is a wealth of info there, and a number of solutions for dealing with the problems of multi-day winter trips as regards footwear/footcare, as well as systems and strategies for dealing with various conditions. Winter overnights present some big problems regarding footwear. Drying shoes/boots overnight outside is problematic, and keeping feet dry and warm both while moving and stopped is difficult as well. Feet become wet and cold more easily in winter, so drying/warming and blister prevention become more important. Get some down booties for camp (I like the Feathered Friends modular booties) and consider VB socks, which a number of members here have found success with.

For the lower extremities, you're going to need insulated pants. As Dr. Nisley has explained in numerous posts, it will be nearly impossible to stay warm in camp for your expected conditions wearing only an insulated coat. Insulated clothing covering your entire body is necessary in places like the Whites in winter. Insulated booties and pants will also help you stretch your sleeping bag's capabilities.

For a sleeping bag, there are a number of variables. You can get away with a lighter bag rated 15*F-30*F at lower elevations in NE, but the big peaks will require something warmer, even using insulated clothing. I use a WM Antelope SMF; it's rated to 5*F standard, mine has 3 oz. overfill, so 31 oz. total, as compared to the typical 20 oz. fill of 15*F bags. Nearly 8 inches of loft by my measurement, and it would be the lightest bag I would take for a NE winter trip above treeline.

Lots to think about, and you've found IMO the richest source in the world for the knowledge you seek. Tell us a little more Patrick about your build and metabolism, and what gear/clothing you're currently using. And prepare to be overwhelmed; there is alot of great gear out there, and even more opinions about it!

I was a Pro cyclist for many years, i gave it up at 30 and am now 33. I did a bunch of long distance running after the cycling.. probably a good 40 miles a week... nothing major but not bad for a guy with bad knees and having never run a day in his life. I burt out on that and got more into yoga as i had been doing that while running 5-6 days a week also.

I am 5-10 145 in shape and 155 on the couch for a few months. I started hiking when i was a kid with my family. My moms BF was a avid hiker and we would do multi day and week long trips summer spring into late fall. Winter we skied mostly.

I got a couple dogs "pit bulls" after i gave up cycling. These dogs need tons of exercise to be happy animals. I Have had em for two years now. They inspired me to hike as i was walking them on the street and average of 40-50 miles a week. Last winter we headed into the woods "local" for hikes 3-6 hour 5-10 miles at a time. This last spring we started heading north and doing some real climbing. maybe we did a average of 1 mountain a week and nothing over 5000 ft so far as to get them in shape and make sure they where never above their head. They did great, most hikes that would say take 1:45 min up hill would take us about 1 hour give or take a few minutes. Many times we would jog or run from the bottom to the top. They get around real well on rock and ledge and move great. I am concerned they may no be going above the tree line in winter but i should still be able to do a fair amount with them. They are my bavies and go everywhere i go. I assume i will have to leave them behind 1-2 days a week if i am gonna tackle some of the bigger peaks and better hikes in the whites in New hampshire.

This winter will be more day trips and lessons learning to ice climb. I will attempt Washington on my own out in back in a day and prob do a 3 day guided tour to get a feel for winter camping. mostly a learning season for me.

IMO it's a good idea to use this winter as a time to educate yourself; "dip a toe in" rather than "dive right in" if you will. I've spent a number of years now working, playing and camping in frigid conditions, and I still learn something new every trip. Search the forums for posts from guys like Dr. Jordan and Mike Clelland!; both have a pretty extensive base of knowledge regarding winter trips.

As I just mentioned on another winter camping thread here I'd pick up a copy of "Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcuntry Ski Book". Lots of info on clothing and camping techniques, besides the skiing stuff.

There is enough information in that slim book to last you a lifetime of winter camping. And when you get bored reading it for the 20th time you can always get out your crayons and color the illustrations.