What to Wear on Mount Washington
Layers, gloves, hat and traction for the summit of the Northeast's highest peak, in every season. By Nick Dube, NH 48 finisher. Updated October 2026.
Mount Washington is a different mountain at the top than at the trailhead. A mild morning at Pinkham Notch can be freezing fog and a gale on the summit by noon. This is what to wear and carry so the summit, not the parking lot, sets the plan.
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Right now on the summit: 19°F, wind 45 mph gusting 63, feels like -3°F, observed at 4:56 am by the Mount Washington Observatory.
Summit forecastLayers
Dress for the summit, not the parking lot. The top is usually 15 to 20 degrees colder than Pinkham Notch before you count the wind, and the wind is what makes it dangerous: the summit has recorded hurricane-force gusts in every month of the year. Wear layers you can add as you climb.
Merino or synthetic base layer
Moves sweat off you on the climb so you don't chill at the top. Never cotton: it holds sweat and rain and stops insulating. Backcountry takes 20% off when you buy three base layer pieces, through February.
Base layers · Backcountry.comFleece midlayer
Warmth that still breathes, for when you leave the trees and the wind finds you.
Fleece midlayers · AmazonInsulated puffy jacket
For every stop and the summit, in every season. I hike in Mountain Hardwear; any synthetic or down jacket with a hood works.
Insulated jackets · Backcountry.comHardshell jacket and pants
Wind is the real danger above treeline. A waterproof, windproof shell blocks it; a light windbreaker won't.
Waterproof shells · Backcountry.com
Hands, head and face
Hands and face go first in the wind. Carry these even in summer, when the summit can still be near freezing.
Liner gloves
Thin enough for zippers, straps and your phone. I use Outdoor Research.
Outdoor Research liner gloves · AmazonInsulated mittens
Much warmer than gloves above treeline. Keep them in a pocket, not at the bottom of the pack.
Insulated mittens · AmazonWarm hat
One that fits under your hood. Turtle Fur is mine.
Turtle Fur hats · AmazonBuff or balaclava
Covers your face when the wind picks up and the wind chill drops below zero.
Balaclavas · AmazonGoggles (winter)
In winter wind and blowing snow, sunglasses aren't enough to see the cairns.
Goggles · Amazon
Feet and traction
The upper trails are boulder fields. From late October to May they are often icy too.
Waterproof hiking boots
The rock above treeline is rough on ankles and on trail runners, and the upper trails stay wet.
Hiking boots · Backcountry.comWool socks, plus a spare pair
Dry socks at the summit are worth their weight.
Hiking socks · Backcountry.comMicrospikes (late October to May)
For packed snow and ice on the trails below and above treeline. See whether hikers need them this week on the microspikes page.
Kahtoola Microspikes · Backcountry.com ($89.95)Crampons (winter, above treeline)
For the steep, hard, wind-scoured ice up high in winter and spring. Only if you know how to use them.
Crampons · Backcountry.com
In the pack
Weather on the summit can turn in an hour. These are for when it does.
Headlamp and spare batteries
Descents take longer than you plan, and fall and winter days are short.
Headlamps · Backcountry.comMap and compass
Cairns disappear in fog, and phones die in the cold.
White Mountains trail maps · AmazonEmergency bivy
Weighs almost nothing and can get you through an unplanned stop out of the wind.
Emergency bivies · Amazon
Common questions
What should I wear to hike Mount Washington?
Layers you can add as you climb: a wicking base layer, a fleece, an insulated jacket and a windproof shell, plus a hat and gloves even in summer. The summit is usually 15 to 20 degrees colder than the trailhead before the wind, and the wind is what makes it dangerous.
How windy is the summit of Mount Washington?
Windier than almost anywhere you will hike: hurricane-force gusts have been recorded on the summit in every month of the year. Check the summit forecast the morning you go, and turn around at treeline if the wind is building.
Do I need microspikes on Mount Washington?
From late October into May, usually, and crampons on the steep, icy upper trails in winter. In summer, no.
Can I hike Mount Washington in cotton or jeans?
No. Cotton holds sweat and rain and stops insulating, and that is how summer hikers get hypothermia on the summit.