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Travel Tips Pack These Winter Trek Essentials For A Smooth Trekking Experience
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Pack These Winter Trek Essentials For A Smooth Trekking Experience

Planning an adventurous winter trek anytime soon? Be ready with your winter packing list & things to carry while trekking.

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By: Shrestha Purkayastha Published: Dec 15, 2022 04:00 PM IST

Pack These Winter Trek Essentials For A Smooth Trekking Experience
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With quite a lot to prepare for when heading for a trek and experiencing every unforeseen challenge, it is necessary to be jam-packed with winter trek essentials to make sure the trekking journey is smoothly adventurous and well-planned. You almost get worked up while going for the perfect trekking essentials list. So, to thoroughly help you with the right basics, here’s the ultimate list of things to carry while trekking; we have everything covered for your winter packing list.

Must-have winter trek essentials to help you have a smooth experience

Trekking is doubtlessly one of the most amazing things to engage in. In fact, some people rightly call it therapeutic. Additionally, with the entire territory of trekkers growing each year, it is inspiring more people to pick up the chance to discover their potential as well as the charm of nature. And, especially, when it’s a winter trek, it gets all the more essential to go for the absolute trekking essentials list. Once you’re sorted with all the required things to carry while trekking, you know that you’re sorted with step one of the most beautiful activity to re-explore yourself. For, heading for a hike not just makes you mindful but also gets you a little close to the wonders of nature. It makes you self-conscious in the most incredible way along with making you aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Indeed therapeutic mentally as well as physically. Now, let us get your winter packing list all ready for you for the best trekking experience you’re going to have.

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Waterproof Jacket

Winter Trek
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A fine comfy covered jacket should be your first weapon of resistance in preventing the unseemly moisture that can surely develop and not dry during the time of winter. This is one of the best things to carry while trekking especially when you’re heading for winter trekking. This wouldn’t cost you that much and would perfectly help you to fight the chilling wind from giving shivers to your body. You should go for something that doesn’t take that much time to dry. That could be anything created with gore-tex or similar technology that does the exact same thing.

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Waterproof – Insulated Hiking Boots

Winter Trek
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Waterproof-insulated hiking boots rank high on the trekking essentials list for all the right reasons. If you’re so not into spending time healing those uninvited frostbites and frozen feet then a pair of top-notch quality boots is a must-have while heading for winter trekking. What your boots would do, your sports shoes wouldn’t. You can go for those boots that are ideal for trekking and hiking only to make sure that the sole of the shoe holds a perfect grip and keeps you from sliding all the way down. Over and above, if you can help yourself with the kind of hiking boots that are totally waterproof, then there’s nothing like it. Even if it’s last minute, do not forget to add this to your winter packing list.

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Waterproof Sunscreen

Things To Carry While Trekking
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Another essential thing to carry while trekking would be a great waterproof sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or above. Whether it’s the winter tide or the summer tide, the sunrays spare no one. In fact, the sun is unpleasant at higher altitudes and hence the possibility of sunburn would be a major concern. When you’re off for specifically winter trekking, the skin tends to behave differently than it usually does while you’re at home. So, a good sunscreen that prevents both Ultraviolet B (UVB) and Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays will keep your skin healthy and safe throughout.

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Rain Pants

Things To Carry While Trekking
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Witnessing rain during winter is quite unlikely but there are destinations that are always in the habit of throwing such surprises. It will pour out of nowhere and even if it doesn’t you might have to cross several water banks during your trekking journey. Also, wearing rain pants helps in keeping your legs comfortable and dry. So basically, no sweat, no trouble. Thereby, having winter pants on your trekking essentials list is mandatory. Your winter packing list can still miss your headbands which you can easily replace with warm hats as your go-to “staying warm during winter trekking” hack but if the list doesn’t include rain pants, that would be problematic for you.

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Durable Sleeping Bag

Winter Trek
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Carrying the best quality sleeping bag is absolutely one of the most essential things to carry while trekking. Mostly while trekking, it is obvious to set a camp in the open. As much as it sounds romantic and adventurous to doze off under the stars it is equally challenging if you forget to add a good quality sleeping bag to your trekking essentials list. Particularly for your winter trekking plans, this sleeping bag will offer you a good night’s sleep amidst the chilling wind all around. A basic waterproof-insulated sleeping bag would be sufficient for mountain treks. Additionally, do take note that your sleeping bag must tally with your height and must be able to go within the range of the temperature of your trekking destination.

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Waterproof Gloves

Trekking Essentials
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One of the crucial things to carry while trekking especially during the winter tide is a pair of sturdy gloves. You will certainly need a good pair that will keep your hands dry and warm. Heading for a winter trek is undeniably challenging for the variation in climate and altitude. In such cases, making sure your skin is breathing, it is comfortable as well as dry is a top priority. This is exactly why going for anything that is breathable and waterproof should work for your gloves. The hands go all numb after a point so make sure your hiking gloves hold an excellent quality and keep your hands comfortable throughout. Hence, a good pair of gloves is extremely important to mark while curating the perfect winter packing list.

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Water Bottle

Trekking Essentials
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Whether you’re going for a summer trek or a winter trek, it is absolutely impossible for you to get started without a sturdy water bottle in your backpack. Because as they say, water has no replacement. So, carrying a water bottle doubtlessly tops the list of things to carry while trekking. Be it an international destination or any such place in India for hiking and trekking activities, this one essential is all-time mandatory. You can go for those bottles that can keep your water warm for a few good hours and especially the ones that do not leak at all. If your trekking essentials list fails to add a water bottle to it, you will certainly have a hard time figuring out solid containers that will at least hold your water for you while you hike.

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Portable Water Purifier

Things To Carry While Trekking
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One more essential thing to add to your list of things to carry while trekking is a portable water purifier for all the obvious reasons. Once you run out of drinking water that you would be already carrying in your water bottle, you would have to stop by some place to refill it. But as easy as it sounds, the challenging part is when you’re not sure if the water is healthy for drinking or not. Be it a sparkling river or a running water tap, health concerns are always there. This is why a portable water purifier is a must. Especially during winter hikes, even if you’re melting pristine white snow to get water out of it, the snow comes with its share of germs. Thereby, do make it a point to add this to your trekking essentials list.

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Head Lamp

Trekking Essentials
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During hiking and trekking, packing a light source is extremely important. They come under must-have equipment in case of an emergency. In case you’re lost or hurt or you can barely see due to lack of light or you got stranded in fuzzy weather, carrying a headlamp is never a wrong decision. A headlamp is a faithful source of light to carry along with you. Whether you’re hiking at night or camping out after sunset, anything is convenient with headlamps. They’re solid, hands-free and easy to carry. Significantly, when you’re going for a winter trek and the nights are comparatively longer, this equipment will give you a hand.

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Pocket Swiss Knife

Trekking Essentials
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Carrying a pocket swiss knife while trekking is one of the wisest decisions you could make. This multi–purpose gadget serves most purposes and is extremely profitable compared to other things you would think of carrying to help you with making your way through lush greenness, chopping veggies, meat or wood, cutting any sort of edible etc while trekking. Sparing a little space for this tool would be totally beneficial.

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Waterproof Backpack

Winter Packing List
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To load all the trekking essentials mentioned above along with bits and pieces of your own additions, an excellent quality backpack is what you need. Neither you can carry a trolley bag or a handbag while you’re heading for a trek. And exclusively, when it’s a winter trek, essentials are simply much more than you think. You’ll need a good stout waterproof backpack to stuff all these things in and carry it on your back throughout your journey. You can go for the ones that are relatively big in size, have a good depth, enough space, and have quite a number of compartments. This way, it is easier to carry everything in an organised manner. Thus, you cannot afford to not bookmark this in your list of things to carry while trekking.

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Is trekking in winter safe?

We are riding the mid-December boat already and the chilling wind has taken all over the atmosphere. With almost every destination boasting its exclusive winter season locations, especially the mountainous places with snowy backdrops, the traveller in each one of us is bound to get tempted. On top of it, if you happen to have a thirst for trekking, there’s nothing like it. Going for a trek throughout the year is far different from going for one during the winter tide. The freezing fun adds more fuel to the joy of trekking. Lock all your concerns away because trekking during winter is absolutely safe and comfortable. If you’re wondering about the possibility of a harsh time while trekking in the snow, then having the right equipment, efficient boots and clothing and following just the right tips wouldn’t stop you from having all the fun during the winter tide. So, the next time you think about your trekking plans during the season of frost, make sure you include all the above-mentioned items in your winter packing list.

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Related Article: 20 Best Places To Visit In January In India To Make The Most Of Winters

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Question: Which trek is best in winter?

Answer: Of the innumerable places in India with the best trekking trails, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Munnar, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, Shimla, Auli, Kashmir, Kasol, and Manali are some of the best trekking places in winter.

Question: Is trekking safe in December?

Answer: Going trekking exclusively during the winter season is favourable. It is especially during these winter months that the trekking adventures get all the more fun and exciting. It is absolutely safe for trekking during the months of winter.

Question: What are the essential items for trekking?

Answer: Waterproof Jacket, Waterproof Insulated Hiking Boots, Waterproof Sunscreen, Rain Pants, Durable Sleeping Bag, Waterproof Gloves, Water Bottle, Portable Water Purifier Head Lamp, Pocket Swiss Knife, Waterproof Backpack

Question: What purpose trekking equipment are essential?

Answer: During hiking and trekking, packing a light source is extremely important. They come under must-have equipment in case of an emergency.

Question: What should you carry in the mountains?

Answer: Waterproof Jacket Waterproof - Insulated Hiking Boots Waterproof Sunscreen Rain Pants Durable Sleeping Bag Waterproof Gloves Water Bottle Portable Water Purifier Head Lamp Pocket Swiss Knife Waterproof Backpack

Question: How many layers should you wear for winter hiking?

Answer: What is usually advisable is to wear three to four layers while setting for a winter trek.

Question: How do you stay warm during a snow trek?

Answer: There are diverse ways to stay warm during a winter trek. Primarily, wearing three to four layers of clothing, wearing warm and thick hiking gloves, waterproof boots, a thick face mask, warm hat are some of the tips to staying warm.

Question: Can I wear sneakers on trek?

Answer: Top-quality sneakers could be worn during trekking but hiking boots help you with a much better grip. However, if you have sneakers that have the best quality sole for a good grip and prevent slipping and sliding, then you can go for such sneakers too. Otherwise, hiking boots are always safe and good to go.

Question: Are sneakers okay for hiking?

Answer: Top-quality sneakers could be worn during trekking but hiking boots help you with a much better grip. However, if you have sneakers that have the best quality sole for a good grip and prevent slipping and sliding, then you can go for such sneakers too. Otherwise, hiking boots are always safe and good to go.

Written By

Shrestha Purkayastha

Shrestha Purkayastha

Digital Writer

With a well-built background in English Honours and Mass Communication, Shrestha is a writer who holds a fair experience in understanding and creating content in terms of writing. Previously, her professional exposure counted working with Curly Tales as a content writer. Besides the routine designation, she\'s a photographer and an artist by passion, ..Read More

     
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