Winter Hiking Kit - Jarrod Blundy
What I bring as a guide into the High Peaks of the Adirondacks.
Jarrod Blundy's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
Products in this list
- Exped Men's Lightning 45 Pack by Exped — Lightweight, comfortable, great airflow, and roll-top closure to keep the snow out. Paired with the Exped Flash Pack Pocket for quick external storage.
- Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad by Therm-a-Rest — 3/4-length pad that's perfect for keeping your butt dry while eating lunch, and a literal lifer-saver in an unexpected overnight situation.
- La Sportiva G-Summit Mountaineering Boots by La Sportiva — Technically, I wear the G5 Evo boots, but you can't get them anymore. These are what I'm eyeing up next, and think they make the best upgrade from the Evos. I won't go back from BOA, and they climb and hike super well. I've done many 12+ hour days in them.
- BLUE ICE Harfang Crampons by BLUE ICE — Incredibly compact and lightweight, these don't make me regret packing them even if they don't get used.
- Hillsound Trail Crampons by Hillsound — Easy on/off, good traction for firm and sporadically icy trail conditions.
- Smartwool Men's Performance Hike Full Cushion Crew Socks by Smartwool — I love a thick-cushioned sock — I get fewer blisters with them. Always have a backup pair in my pack.
- Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker by Adventure Medical Kits — Good size, quality, and organization.
- MSR Men's Lightning Explore Snowshoes Green by MSR — Lightest weight, most traction, easy on/off binding, and simple heel riser. The Revo Explore would be a good second option that's a little cheaper and more durable.
- Black Diamond Expedition 3P Whippet Ski Pole - Single by Black Diamond — Whippet-compatible pole that allows you to always have an ice axe option with you. (Whippet not included.)
- Black Diamond Whippet Pick Ski-Pole Attachment by Black Diamond — The easy on/off spike that attaches to a whippet-compatible pole. Never be without your ice pick for getting up and down steep, icy terrain.
- Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles - Pair by Black Diamond — You'll only need one if you carry your whippet pole, but these are a solid, durable option.
- Julbo Fury Sunglasses Black Reactiv Performance by Julbo — Incredibly lightweight and comfortable, these glasses take care of 90% of situations for me. I wear them hiking, skiing, and biking in both light and dark conditions with the Reactiv lenses.
- Lightyear Goggles by Julbo — Reactiv lenses change opacity to match brightness intensity. To prevent fogging (so important with hiking!) the lenses pop out slightly with magnets to allow air flow.
- iPhone 17 Pro by Apple — The best camera, mapping, and backup satellite communicator solution out there — with incredible battery life. With Airplane and Battery Saver modes on, mine can last days while doing GPS tracking and lots of photography.
- Gerber Dime Keychain Multi-tool by Gerber — So small and yet so handy. It has basically every tool I need, none that I don't, and lives in my pocket every single day. Is it the most durable? No. But the Gerber Lifetime Warranty is the real deal.
- Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm by Sun Bum — Chapped lips are awful. Sunburned, chapped lips are even worse.
- Osprey Ultralight Pack Liner by Osprey — Stop messing around with pack covers. They're annoying, slip off, and don't work well. Just put a waterproof pack liner inside your bag (thick contractor bags works great too) and stop worrying about things getting wet in your pack.
- Suunto A-10 NH Compass by Suunto — Always carry a map and compass. But let's be real, they're your backup and unless you know how to use the extra features on a fancy compass, they're just extra.
- Black Diamond Cirque Gloves by Black Diamond — Two-in-one gloves/mittens! Been hiking, skiing, and climbing in these gloves a ton. They offer good grip, and the thin mitten pull-over provides surprising warmth. They're my go-to winter gloves for anything except for the coldest days. For colder conditions, I'd bump up to the Helio Tour Gloves.
- Black Diamond Helio Tour Gloves by Black Diamond — Okay, I haven't actually tried these outside yet, but I've tried them on and am convinced they'll be my next purchase for the glove/mitten quiver. More insulated that the Cirque Gloves, I think these will cover the cold hiking days.
- Black Diamond Soloist Gloves by Black Diamond — My current cold day gloves. They offer better dexterity than BD's Guide Glove, and are more comfortable too. Never had them get soaked through!
- Black Diamond Men's Mercury Mittens by Black Diamond — The "oh shit" mitts. When the hands get dangerously cold or wet, these will save the day.
- Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts by Black Diamond — More for my clients than for me, I'll pull these out if their gloves are less waterproof than they thought. So light and packable that I never mind carrying them.
- Black Diamond Lightweight Screentap Gloves by Black Diamond — The most comfortable lightweight liners I've ever used. I use them on the drive to the trailhead, and on warm days that I still want my skin covered.
- Buff Merino Lightweight Multifunctional Neckwear by Buff — Paired with a headband or on its own, it provides plenty of warmth while preventing my head from overheating like it does with a beanie. Pulled up over my chin, it's prevent wind burn and frostnip when above treeline.
- faceGlove FLEX by Outeru — Frostnip on my nose is a thing of the past with the faceGlove! It's comfortable, pairs well under glasses or goggles, and even has a little pocket for the tip of your nose. I never hit the trail without it anymore.
- BANDITS Bandana by BANDITS — Once you start carrying a handkerchief for blowing your nose, you'll never go without one again.
- Smartwool Men's Everyday 6" Knit Boxer Briefs by Smartwool — If you're out for multiple days, you'll be glad that they're made of merino wool. Soft, comfortable, no smell.
- Smartwool Merino 250 Reversible Headband by Smartwool — My favorite activewear headband from Black Diamond appears to be discontinued, so this one looks like a close match. I never want a beanie in the winter — a headband keeps my ears warm while allowing my head to dump heat. If I get cold, I have multiple layers of hoods to do the job.
- MSR Switch Stove System by MSR — In case we get stuck out unexpectedly for a night, this will boil water and cook my emergency food (ramen).
- MSR IsoPro Fuel Canister by MSR — I carry two canisters in the winter because it'll stop working when the canister gets too cold. Having another lets you swap back and forth with one warming up in your jacket.
- SOL Emergency Bivvy with Rescue Whistle and Tinder Cord by SOL — Paired with puffy pants and coat, or a sleeping bag, this will protect you from the weather and help keep you warm on an unexpected night out.
- Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool by Vargo — When you gotta go, you gotta go. Doesn't get a lot of use in the winter cause digging cat holes is so much easier, but it just stays in my bathroom kit.
- BlueWater 7 mm x 30 ft. Accessory Cord by BlueWater — I prefer more like 50-60ft, but a little cordage will go a long way for getting you out of sticky situations. This 7mm cordalette is quite strong for its size.
- Petzl Actik Core Headlamp by Petzl — My go-to headlamp for all activities. I prefer it's one-button operation, rechargeable battery (that also takes AAAs for backup), and ideal brightness settings.
- Petzl Swift LT Headlamp by Petzl — The backup headlamp in case my partner forgets theirs, or I have an issue with the primary one. It's so small and light that I often forget that I packed it!
- Ignik Toe Warmers - Multipack by Ignik — Stop buying hand warmers and just use these toe warmers for both hands and feet. They're smaller and thinner, so they actually work better in gloves. The adhesive side lets you stick them in place — they won't fall out of your gloves!
- Rechargeable Hand Warmer / 10,000mAH Battery Bank by Amazon — For quick hand warmth and a backup battery for your devices, this hand warmer/battery bank combo is hard to beat.
- 3-way Braided Charging Cord (USB-A to USB-C/Micro/Lightning) by Amazon — Paired with the hand warmer/battery bank, this one small cord will charge up all your devices.
- Garmin inReach Mini 2 by Garmin — It's expensive, but the peace of mind is priceless. I use it mostly for checking in with my wife when reaching milestones, but I've also got it set up so that she can see my movements online whenever she wants. So if I'm unresponsive, she can still see my GPS track. Plus, extra map in case my phone gets smashed!
- G2 Mountain Men's Pant by Mountain Equipment — I wear these pants almost every winter day (that it's not raining) in the mountains — ice climbing, hiking, and skiing.
- Conduit Tights - Men's by Rab — My favorite wicking baselayer bottom. Warm, but not too warm. Comfy. (Wish it had a fly.)
- Conduit Crew by Rab
- Men's Vapour-Rise™ Summit Jacket by Rab — Technically I wear the Mountain Equipment Kinesis, but this is a near match since the Kinesis has been discontinued. It's my go-to winter midlayer as it sheds wind and water quite well, and is both warmer and more breathable than you'd expect. Another every day layer.
- Mountain Equipment Men's Makalu Jacket by Mountain Equipment
- Men's Mission Down 3000M Hoody by Black Diamond
- Patagonia Men's Houdini Jacket by Patagonia — On warmer days that you still need some wind or snow protection, nothing beats a Houdini. So small and light that you won't mind carrying it.
- Black Diamond Men's First Light Hybrid Vest by Black Diamond — I can be stingy when it comes to carrying extra layers, so a vest really fits the bill. Extra warmth that pairs with any layer, without a lot of bulk in your pack. Plus, too many layers on your arms limits movement.
- Mountain Hardwear Men's Compressor Alpine Insulated Pants by Mountain Hardwear — For most days, I bring these insulated pants and my puffy coat in lieu of a sleeping bag. I find them more versatile and packable, and provide enough warmth when paired with a bivy in an emergency.
- Nalgene Wide-Mouth Ultralite Water Bottle by Nalgene — Hard to beat a Nalgene in durability. Paired with an insulated sleeve to keep it from freezing.
- Nalgene Wide Mouth Insulated Sleeve by Nalgene — Pairs with a 32 fl. oz. Nalgene bottle and keeps it insulated from the cold to prevent freezing. Still best if they're kept inside your pack!
- YETI Rambler Vacuum Travel Bottle with Leakproof Commuter Cap by YETI — For hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, this is the holds the elixir that will get you through long days and is totally leakproof while still being operable with gloves.
- GRANDTIES Insulated Food Jar for Hot Food with Carry Handle Bowl Cap & Foldable Spoon by Amazon — Cheap and works great. Has in integrated spoon so you'll never forget it, and the cap doubles as a cup to share your tea or coffee. Keeps food warm for hours.
- Voile Strap with Aluminum Buckle by Voile — Worth their weight in gold for fixing problems in the backcountry. Broken poles, separated boots, limbs that need splits — it can secure them all. I keep one strapped to each trekking pole.
