NEW Gear For Winter Backpacking

What's some NEW WINTER GEAR you've recently picked up for cold weather Backpacking? What's something you won't hit the trail in Winter without??? 🥶 👇Let Us Know Down Below!👇

If you are winter camping up in mountains and all water is frozen, you'll need a bigger pot for melting snow. A rule of thumb for the ratio of snow to water is 10 liters of snow will make 1 liter of water. You'd need to fill and boil your 750ml pot 13 times to get 1L of water. I do group camping in winter and we bring a 3L aluminum pot, (which nests in the bottom of my backpack so doesn't take up space), for melting snow so that we can make a lot of water for cooking, drinking, and for making hot nalgene to put inside sleeping bag at night. You can combine this with a white gas stove like Whisperlite, or a propane stove. (Propane boils at <-40F (remains a gas)), so won't have problems like butane or isobutane fuel has at subfreezing temperatures. Also, we don't typically use a trowel for winter snow camping because there may be 4 feet of snow between you and the soil, and if you just bury your turds in the snow with your trowel, you'll contaminate the water sources when the snow melts in spring. Better to bring some WAG bags instead.

A great trick I’ve learnt for staking in the snow - find sticks and bury them in the snow as a deadman anchors. Then you can pull the guylines through when you pack up. A ton of time and effort digging out your stakes when the snow is rock hard in the morning.

It's a good sign When Darwin is upgrading to the gear you recently upgraded to. See how it performs this winter and great videos as always!

I feel like its an upgrade... I finally washed my down quilt and its fluff is back and feels like a new quilt all over again. 😂😂 Great vid, Darwin.

I can't believe it, we're actually pretty closely aligned on this! Great choices, durable and reliable stuff in my experience.

Two ideas for shoes from Montana: Kennetrek insulated boots work well sheep hunting in the Beartooths or elk hunting anywhere in the mountains. For winter walking in sneakers, put a gorilla tape over the toe box to reduce airflow which will keep out some snow as well. Then put a toe warmer on top of your toes over the wool sock. The reduced airflow works well by itself from the tape, but it’s really helpful to regulate the airflow to the toe warmer so you don’t burn yourself and they last longer. Toe warmers can be cut open when you’re done, and composted on trail in your cat hole, just take the sack with you. I add gaiters, and costco $10 ice chains to my sneakers as needed. The gorilla tape stays on good til about Easter. If you use knee high gaiters on the kennetreks, it will help keep your shins from the snow and cut the wind, ultimately keeping your feet warmer. Thanks for tip about stove. I was just about to get a pocket rocket.

I have been v happy with the Slingfin Portal. The trekking poles can be used as a cross brace to hold up the tent when covered in snow.

I love the pot design! Has all the features you could ever want! I always hated the little metal ring you’d need to pick up to remove the lid. Quite literally the reason I stopped using a stove and started cold soaking. The wooden knob is such a great solution! My only worry is packing it down in my bag. I hope the lid stays flush with the top of the cookpot when you invert the lid (so the knob is down) just so that little bit of extra volume is saved 🙂 I’ll happily be buying one when it launches to try it out.

Nice to see you in a Norrøna sweater! As a scandinavian guy its great to see you use a Norwegian brand. We cut our clothes differently. Most nordic people like me are thin and tall and you seam to have that build! I always use there jacket (GTX) because those are the only ones that fit good. All the american brands are to short in the back and cant cover the but and the arms are always to short for the right size. 🤘🏻

I did not read through most of the comments... The venerable UCO candle lantern. This is a 4 season "must" for me. 9 hr Citronella candles for 3 seasons. 12 hr beeswax candles for light & additional warmth during the winter.

Putting a pour spout on the pot is a great idea, and you're right, they should have been doing that all along.

So excited to follow your winter backpacking journey this year. I've been trying to figure out my gear for winter backpacking over the last few years, based on my own comfort level. It's been a LONG process for me. I feel like this might be the year that I finally get to sleep overnight in my tent on snow without freezing my butt off. Thanks for the inspiration to continue figuring out how to hike in and camp on snow comfortably. :)

2:01 - need a 10 hour loop of that phooo 🌬

Love to hear about the new ventures and gear. Like your cook pot. For my past few hikes I’m enjoying sleeping in a liner w my quilt.

You'll laugh at how I sleep in -20° weather. I have a -0 CampMor rectangular sleeping bag. I use a 3/4 length TermaRest sleeping pad. Normally I sleep on the floor in a shelter because no one is there except for my older sons. Done this for many years. A couple of years ago I'Cowboy camp with a friend of mine. I slept like a baby. My friend froze. In the morning the snow was easily shaken off of my bag. In my bag I sleep in my T-shirt. Sometimes I'll throw a couple of hand warmers in the foot box. I'm stung as a bug in a rug. Enjoy your journey.

Upgraded the gloves to Showa 282 with the surplus wool gloves as liners. Helps with drying things out more easily and having options in different conditions. They block wind and rain and keep heat in when it's super cold. Probably also the option that gets more bang for the buck.

Thanks for sharing. I have been working on my winter skills I use the Whisper light Stove For winter camping .I struggle with canister stoves.also 1000ml pot larger pot helps if you need to melt snow ❄️

I'm in the same situation about winter footwear... Something beefier than a trail runner, but not as beefy as an insulated winter boot. I'm going to give a pair of lightweight, uninsulated, waterproof hiking boots with thicker wool socks and high gaiters a try. I ordered the Adidas Terrex AX4 Mid Gore-Tex. Their Terrex line has worked for me in the past. May try insulated waterproof socks too. I'm hoping these will work in snow up to just below where snow shoes would be useful. That's a great pot design, especially the wood knob. I'll probably grab one next year.

percentage of your own stuff going up nicely. Wouldn't be surprised to see you advertising your own tent sooner or later.