Winter Hiking Gear for the White Mountains
What to carry in the Whites from November to April. By Nick Dube, NH 48 finisher. Updated October 2026.
Winter in the Whites runs from November into May, and the right gear depends on the day: ice one week, three feet of fresh snow the next, and wind above treeline that can turn a nice morning dangerous. This is what to carry, and when you need each piece.
Paid links: store links on this page go to Backcountry.com, which pays me a commission if you buy. A few items Backcountry doesn't carry link to Amazon instead; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Nobody pays to be listed. How I pick gear
Spikes or snowshoes today? Every peak's conditions are rated each morning from trail reports and summit forecasts.
Check today's conditionsTraction
Most winter days in the Whites are decided by what's on your feet. Check the trail conditions the morning you go: packed and icy calls for spikes, deep or unbroken snow calls for snowshoes, and many days you'll want both.
Microspikes
The default for packed snow and ice on the approach. Light enough to carry every trip from November to May.
Kahtoola Microspikes· Backcountry.comSnowshoes with heel lifts
For fresh or unbroken snow. Heel lifts save your calves on the long climbs, and wearing them keeps you from postholing the trail for everyone else.
Hiking snowshoes· Backcountry.comCrampons (above treeline)
For steep, hard ice above treeline, such as the Presidentials. Only if you know how to use them.
Crampons· Backcountry.comTrekking poles with snow baskets
Balance on ice and on snowshoes. Small summer baskets sink in powder.
Trekking poles· Backcountry.com
Layers
You'll sweat on the climb and freeze on the summit, often within the same hour. Layers you can add and remove quickly beat one warm jacket.
Merino or synthetic base layer
Moves sweat off your skin. Never cotton: wet cotton in the cold is how hypothermia starts.
Merino base layers· AmazonFleece midlayer
Warmth that still breathes while you're moving.
Fleece midlayers· AmazonInsulated puffy jacket
For every stop and the summit. Synthetic keeps working when it gets damp.
Insulated jackets· Backcountry.comHardshell jacket and pants
Wind is the danger above treeline. A real shell blocks it.
Waterproof shells· Backcountry.com
Hands, head and face
Fingers, ears and noses go first. Carry spares, because gloves get wet on the way up.
Liner gloves
Thin enough for zippers, straps and your phone.
Liner gloves· AmazonInsulated mittens
Much warmer than gloves for the summit and any long stop.
Insulated mittens· AmazonWarm hat and a buff or balaclava
Covers your face when the wind picks up.
Balaclavas· AmazonGoggles
Above treeline in wind and blowing snow, sunglasses aren't enough.
Goggles· Amazon
Feet
Cold, wet feet end more winter hikes than anything else.
Insulated winter boots
Warm, waterproof and stiff enough for spikes or snowshoe bindings.
Insulated winter boots· AmazonGaiters
Keep snow out of the tops of your boots.
Gaiters· AmazonWool socks, plus a spare pair
Dry socks at the summit are worth their weight.
Hiking socks· Backcountry.com
Water and food
Water freezes and cold appetites fade. Plan for both.
Wide-mouth bottles with insulated sleeves
Bladders and hoses freeze. Carry bottles upside down so the lid doesn't ice shut.
Insulated bottle sleeves· AmazonInsulated thermos
A hot drink on the summit is a real morale boost.
Insulated thermoses· AmazonFood that doesn't freeze hard
Nuts, cheese and chocolate beat bars that turn to rock.
Safety kit
Daylight is short and rescues in winter take hours. Carry enough to spend an unplanned night if something goes wrong.
Headlamp and spare lithium batteries
Lithium keeps working in the cold. A December day has about 9 hours of light.
Headlamps· Backcountry.comEmergency bivy
Weighs almost nothing and can save your life if you're stuck overnight.
Emergency bivies· AmazonChemical hand and toe warmers
For hands, feet, and keeping your phone battery alive.
Hand warmers· AmazonPhone battery bank
Cold drains phones fast, and your map is on it.
Power banks· AmazonSatellite messenger
Calls for help where there's no cell signal, which is most of the Whites.
Garmin inReach Mini· AmazonMap and compass
For when the phone dies or the trail disappears under snow.
White Mountains trail maps· Amazon
Common questions
Do I need microspikes or snowshoes in the White Mountains?
Usually microspikes from November to spring for packed snow and ice, and snowshoes after fresh or deep snow. Check current trail conditions on the morning you go, and carry both when reports are mixed.
When do you need crampons in the Whites?
Only on steep, hard ice, mostly above treeline on peaks like Washington and the Presidential Range. Most below-treeline hikes are fine with microspikes.
What's different about hiking above treeline in winter?
Wind. Summit wind chills can be far below zero even when the valley feels mild. Bring a hardshell, goggles, a face covering and mittens, and turn around if visibility goes.