The Biggest Winter Hiking Mistake: Why Too Many Layers Makes You Colder

When it comes to cold weather layering, common sense isn't always the best approach. In fact, there's one pretty big mistake that a lot of new winter hikers make that could be making you colder, leaving you wondering why. Today, we'll talk about how cold weather layering is supposed to work and how doing it wrong could actually make you colder.

I. The Core Purpose: Managing Moisture

Layering is about more than just putting on more clothes to stay warm; it's about regulating your heat and managing moisture. Everybody knows that if you get soaking wet when it's cold out—whether from falling in a stream or from working up a really good sweat—you're going to be pretty miserable. In fact, managing sweat is the main purpose of a successful layering system.

II. The Beginner's Over-Layering Mistake

The mistake a lot of new winter hikers make is putting on too many layers, believing that more layers equals more warmth. They end up drenching their base layers in sweat. The moment they stop, even for a small break, all that sweat ends up making them colder than if they had just put on less layers to begin with. The solution isn't simply to wear fewer layers, as you are bound to sweat when hiking uphill. The key is not just about the *number* of layers, but having the *right* layers and knowing how they work to actively manage sweat.

III. Understanding the Three-Layer System

The system is built on three components: the base layer, the mid-layer, and the outer shell. The two most critical layers for moisture management are the base layer and the outer shell.

The Base Layer (Wicking)

The base layer is the layer that is closest to your skin. Its primary function is to wick moisture away from your skin to the next layer and so on, until the moisture is evaporated away into the environment.

The Mid-Layer (Insulation)

The mid-layer is the layer that's supposed to keep you warm.

The Outer Shell (Protection)

The outer shell is the layer that's meant to protect you from the elements, like wind, rain, and snow.

IV. The 'Start Cold' and Micromanagement Strategy

The problem with over-layering is that if you put on too many layers while you're at the car, before you start moving, you will get overheated quickly. You won't want to stop to take off layers because that means taking off your pack, your outer shell, your gloves, and everything else. You'll end up convincing yourself that you aren't sweating that much. You'll sweat into your layers too much, they won't be able to wick moisture fast enough, they'll get overwhelmed, eventually drenched in sweat, and the moment that you stop, you will be cold—colder than if you had just worn less layers to begin with. But if you feel a little bit chilly while you're at the car, you will be in a better position once you start moving uphill.

From then on out, especially if you plan to spend the night out there, you need to micromanage your sweat. If you're sweating a lot, take off a layer. Open up your pitzips in the front of your jacket. If snow isn't coming down hard, you might just hike in your mid-layer or even in just your base layer. Remove your gloves and your hat to vent heat from your extremities. Whatever you have to do to manage sweat is what is ultimately going to keep you the warmest.

V. Protecting Your Down and Final Tips

Finally, what you need to keep in mind is that once down gets wet, it can't keep you warm anymore. So, you need to protect it from getting wet. Thank you Moojaw for sponsoring this content. Don't forget that you can save 10% by using code MLO MJ; some exclusions do apply. If you found this information helpful, please like and subscribe.