Besides your main trekking clothes, the jacket, trousers and thermal layering, there’s a few extra goodies you can bring to keep warm and comfortable on your trek - not to mention avoiding hypothermia and frostbite if you are going high altitude / winter trekking.
| Trekking Gloves / Mittens / Mitts When do you need gloves for trekking in the Himalayas? Early mornings and high altitude is a cold combination. Especially in the winter months from November to February. Outside this season you can make do without gloves, although they might still be comfortable when it is most cold. Just about anything will do, but the warmest solution is always to wear mittens. If you need to use your fingers for camera etc., even finger-gloves will get in the way. The simple solution is to combine the wooly fingerless gloves with mittens that you take off when you need your fingers. This way will give you the absolute best way of keeping your hands warm! |
| Trekking Hat Like the saying goes: If your hands are cold, put on another hat! This is because a big part of your body’s heat loss actually comes from your head. Like with the gloves, a hat can do wonders for your body heat on a cold, winter morning in the mountains. And for staying warm during sleep, a soft beanie hat or a balaclava over your head is essential. The balaclava is by far the warmest and if you are trekking/sleeping in very cold conditions, this is the one you'll get to love! (And you'll look like someone from the ATF!) Personally I just go with the beanie and never go trekking in the Himalayas without it. Any brand will do fine, although the ICEBREAKER trekking hats have a reputation second to none. Made of fine Merino wool, they are itch-free while providing all the benefits of wool. The only material that keeps its insulating properties while wet. Hail to the Merino sheep! Check it out here --> |
| Trekking Socks Last but not least, it’s important to take good care of your feet on a trek. They are doing a lot of the work after all! Staying warm is the most essential quality, but cushioning your feet when walking on the rough Himalayan trails is another important aspect. It is also basic knowledge that wearing at least two pairs of socks gives you the most comfort, help to stay dry and to avoid blisters. I usually wear a thin polypropylene or nylon sock on the inside and a pair of COOLMAX thermal sock on the outside. Perfect for the Himalayan conditions! And then a spare pair of COOLMAX that I only use when sleeping. The day-socks tend to get a bit smelly and it can be hard to find washing –and specially drying- opportunities when you are on the move in the high Himalayas. I’d say bringing 3 pairs is a good compromise when at the same time trying to go lightweight. |
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