What should I wear Snowshoeing? Gear Deep Dive.

Sojourner Mountain Guides
Jan 13
4 min read

One of the most common questions we get from newer snowshoers: "What should we wear". It's a great question! Here is what we recommend and why from head to toe:

On your Head

Beanie (or a head band or ear warmers) - This keeps your head warm in the cold!
Brimmed Hat (baseball cap, etc.) - Offers sun protection, the sun is very bright when it reflects off of the snow!
Sun Glasses - Sun protection
Ski Goggles - Protects you from wind and blowing snow which happens regularly in the mountains.
Buff or Scarf - Protects your face from the cold and wind and also from the sun

On your Upper Body

Base Layer - Usually a quick-drying sport t-shirt that can be either long or short sleeve. Both synthetic fabrics and wool work well but we recommend you stay away from simple cotton shirts as they absorb a lot of water.
Light Fleece or Mid-Layer - This can be a light fleece hoodie or an athletic style pull-over. Generally you want to be able to stay at a comfortable temperature while moving without having to take this layer off.
Insulation Layer - This layer can be a down or synthetic "puffy" jacket or a heavier weight fleece jacket. On moderately cold days this may be your outer-most layer and on warm days it may stay in your backpack just in case.
Water-Resistant Shell-jacket - This can be a light rain-shell or a ski shell. It's primary purpose is to give you protection from the wind and snow and keep you dry. Heavy winter coats are often too warm but are better than nothing.
Gloves - Our guides generally carry 3 separate pair! One light weight pair for hiking, one medium weight water resistant pair for hiking in snowy weather and colder conditions and one pair of heavy-weight warm gloves or mittens for emergencies!

On your Lower Body

Base Layer - This can be long-under wear or leggings, as always we recommend you stay away from cotton materials
Mid or Insulation Layer (only when REALLY cold, think negative temperatures) - A mid-layer for your legs is going to be way too warm on most hikes you would do, but if it is going to be really really cold you might want to consider it!
Water-resistant Soft Shell or Snow Pants - You really want a water resistant outer shell on your legs when hiking through the snow. This makes sure your legs stay nice and dry and gives you the option to sit down without getting wet when needed. Our guides really like soft shell pants for a good balance of weather resistance, durability and warmth. Ski pants can often be a bit too warm but are better than something that will soak up water.

On your Feet

Warm Socks - Wear a good pair of socks - non-cotton is best!
Water-resistant Hiking Boots - This is one of the most important things! You really want to wear a good water-resistant high-top boot. Your boots going to be in the snow all-day and need to keep your feet dry on the inside. You do not necessarily need true snow boots but a high ankle is important to keep the snow out of the boot as is a good water resistant exterior to keep them from soaking through. Low-top shoes and soft sneakers will get soaked and your feet will get wet and cold.
Gaiters - for extra weather protection you can wear gaiters to seal the opening between your pant-cuff and your boot.

Other Stuff

Backpack - Its nice to have a place to put water, snacks and extra layers! You really should have one per person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear denim jeans, Carhart style work pants or BDU pants snowshoeing? The short answer is, yes, you can but we don't recommend it. All of these are made of mostly of cotton and absorb a lot of water. They tend to freeze up around the ankles and calves and get cold and uncomfortable. If the weather forecast is good, you can get away with them but snow pants work much better and softshells are the best!
Can I just wear leggings snowshoeing? In nice warm weather, you can get away with just wearing leggings, but we don't recommend it. Wearing just leggings gives you no protection from wind or snow and will not give you any insulation without something else over the top of them. We require a shell pant on our guided hikes.
Can I wear sneakers or running shoes snowshoeing? You can get away with sneakers or running shoes in warm weather but they give you no protection from the snow and your feel will get soaked.
Can I wear Uggs or similar boots snowshoeing? Uggs are made from very soft suede that has no water-resistance and they soak through with water very quickly. Even though they are high-top and insulated they are not a good shoe for snowshoeing.