Winter Backpacking Checklist (Gear List): Ultralight Winter Snowcave Camping

2014 Update

Update: This article was originally published in January 2004, and was updated in December 2014. This update reflects changes that I’ve made since the original gear list was published, based on changes in my personal preferences and/or significant evolutions of material technology or design.

These changes have resulted in impactive benefits for me:

• A simpler kit that requires less fiddling to use;
• A warmer kit for less weight that reflects changes in choice and performance of materials in clothing and sleep systems;
• A lighter pack – in fact, a pack that is about five pounds lighter today than it was ten years ago.

Of course, more experience gives me more confidence to use lighter gear. That realization shouldn’t be overlooked when analyzing your own progress as a lightweight backpacker over a period of years.

Context

Seasons: Winter, Early Spring
Length of Trip: 3-Day Weekend

The gear list provided below is one example of how a lightweight backpacker might select equipment for a 3-day weekend outing in temperate mountain ranges in the winter. Inherent assumptions in this list include:

• Several feet of unconsolidated snowcover on the ground;
• Overnight low temperatures of zero to fifteen degrees;
• Daytime highs not above freezing;
• Relatively flat terrain free of avalanche risk.

Gear Notes

This list focuses on camping inside a snow cave. With enough snow cover, snow caves are the fastest, warmest types of snow shelters available. Properly built, a snow cave gives you the flexibility to use three-season gear to remain warm, which can save a tremendous amount of weight. However, this approach requires an exceptional level of skill in locating a site for, and properly building, a snow cave. In addition, snow caves can be wet enough to warrant the use of a highly water-resistant sleeping bag shell or bivy sack if you are using a down sleeping bag. Finally, digging a snow cave is wet business: waterproof raingear, or all-synthetic insulating clothing, may be warranted. An important disclaimer: if you are caught with an equipment kit like this and are unable to build a snow cave, or you build one improperly, you will subject yourself to severe risk of hypothermia if conditions are extremely cold. In context, it is important to note what constitutes an improperly built snow cave. Primarily, a properly built snow cave is one that is just large enough for the number of occupants (less volume to maintain a thermal mini-climate), has thick enough walls for proper insulation (generally, considered to be two feet), has a properly located entrance (below the level of the ground surface so warmed air doesn’t escape), and proper blocking of the entrance (with packs, a hung jacket, etc. to minimize cold air exchange).

In a snow cave, conditions are very damp. They tend to be quite humid, gear has no ability to dry, and dripping walls tend to get sleeping gear wet.

In 2004, when this list was originally published, I wrote:

Consequently, I have selected synthetic insulation in my clothing and sleeping bag, and have added a water resistant bivy sack to shed some of the external moisture. I have specified an insulated clothing and sleep system that will allow me to survive a night outside the snow cave, if a cave cannot be built. This system has been used to comfortably sleep at winter temperatures down to minus 10 degrees F outside of a tent. If the risk of spending a night in the open is very small, and you are a competent snow cave builder, I recommend that you save further weight with a lighter sleeping bag. I have spent nights down to zero degrees using the clothing specified in this list in combination with a two-pound synthetic bag rated to 40 degrees F (Integral Designs Andromeda Strain).

With advances in the moisture resistance of down, and the increase in breathability of water-resistant fabrics, I’m more inclined to go with a down bag with a highly water-resistant shell on it, and to skip the bivy sack (unless I know there is a very high likelihood of being caught in the open outside the shelter of a snow cave in stormy conditions).

In addition, the 2004 list included a white gas stove, as originally written:

I have elected to bring a white gas stove over a canister or alcohol stove, for its improved efficiency in melting snow. Snow cave environments are usually warm enough such that both white gas and alcohol stoves work well; however, a white gas stove has the power to melt several liters of snow quickly, and if I need to melt snow while still traveling at midday, and conditions are cold, I appreciate the power of a white gas system.

Significant advances in both inverted canister (i.e., liquid-feed) and integrated canister stoves have been made since then, and they now occupy standard spots on my winter gear list. In particular, my favorite solo winter stove is the MSR WindBoiler – a tiny little thing that has enough juice to rapidly deliver hot water from snow for a hot drink or meal in an emergency. Because it boils a small volume so rapidly, it’s a successful stove for a solo traveler, even in very cold conditions. In the warmth of a snow cave, or even an 18-inch deep “snow pit” out in the open, the warmth of the stove maintains plenty of thermal feedback to keep the canister from freezing and slowing down the boil.

Other important changes since 2004 (strike-outs indicate what was originally written):

• I have selected wide mouth water bottles for their ability to resist freezing in the opening, and the wide mouth caps are easy to handle with gloves or mittens. I’ve seen (and experienced) enough failures of Nalgene Cantenes in the field that I am hard pressed to recommend them. However, aside from using hard-sided bottles, they still seem to be the “best of what’s available” for soft-sided wide-mouth bottles, and have enough durability to at least last for short trips…
• I’ve chosen a hybrid LED headlamp with a high-power (1-watt) LED to give me the flexibility of navigating after dark, not an uncommon occurrence in the winter. There are so many good LED headlamp options that I can’t cover them all here, but the age of hybrids is over. I’ve simply selected a high-performing, bright, 1-LED lamp that can be fueled by lithium batteries for cold weather performance.
• The clothing system has been simplified to three layers for the torso and two layers for the legs. This assumes two states of being in cold, foul weather: moving hard (traveling) or being still (camping). If your level of fitness is below that which might be required to stay warm on the move by moving fast, an extra traveling layer should be considered.

Some examples of brands and models/styles are listed below for reference only. They neither represent an endorsement of that particular product nor a suggestion that the product listed is the best choice in the context of any particular situation.

Changes from 2004 to 2014 are indicated by strike (2004) and bold (2014).

Clothing Worn
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
thin hat	thermal headwear for active conditions	thin PowerStretch balaclava	1.5 oz
active shirt	bicomponent wind shirt	Rab V-Trail Top Patagonia R 0.5 Hoody – lighter, more breathable	12.0 oz 8.5 oz
underwear	trim-fitting support shorts, boxer-style	Nike Spandex Running Short Tights	3.0 oz
active pants	soft shell stretchwoven long pants	Arc’Teryx Gamma MX Patagonia Simple Guide Pants – lighter, more breathable	18.0 oz 15.2 oz
gloves	windproof waterproof, insulated gloves	Cloudveil Icefloe Gloves Arc’Teryx Beta AR Gloves (warmer, waterproof)	5.0 oz 7.2 oz
snow socks	ultralight thin, ski-style sock	Smartwool Ultralight Ski Socks	4.0 oz
gaiters	breathable gaiters	Outdoor Research Flex-Tex none – not needed with overboots (see below)	4.5 oz 0.0 oz
boots	insulated snow boots	Baffin Tundra Inov-8 Roclite 286 GTX Boots + Forty Below LIght Energy TR Overboots – lighter and warmer system	48.0 oz 42.0 oz
Other Items Worn / Carried
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
ski poles	one piece adjustable, carbon fiber, with snow baskets	Stix X1 with Nordic handles Black Diamond Razor Carbon with snow baskets – more durable for long term use	8.0 oz 21.0 oz
snowshoes	large deck model for deep snow	Northern Lites Backcountry 30″	43.0 oz
whistle	pealess whistle on Spectra cord	Fox 40 Mini Whistle, AirCore Plus lanyard	1.0 oz
watch	compass / altimeter watch	Suunto S6 Casio Pro-Trek PRG-270B – easier to use, esp. with gloves on	1.3 oz 2.1 oz
Other Clothing
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
storm jacket	soft shell stretchwoven hardshell jacket	Cloudveil Icefloe Patagonia M10 – lighter, less restrictive	20.0 oz 8.1 oz
insulating jacket	synthetic down high loft insulating, hooded pullover	Integral Designs Dolomitti Parka Feathered Friends Helios Hooded Jacket with Pertex Endurance Shell – lighter, warmer	23.0 oz 19.0 oz
insulating pants	synthetic high loft insulating pants with side-zips	Integral Designs Denali Pants Patagonia DAS Pants – lighter	20.0 oz 15.3 oz
warm hat	wool beanie cap	PossumDown Beanie	1.5 oz
warm mitts	insulated mitts	Integral Designs Down Mitts MLD eVENT mitten shells to go over gloves, extra pair of dry fleece glove liners – same weight, more versatile system with less duplicity	5.0 oz
Sleep System
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
snow shovel	suitable for digging a snow cave	SnowClaw Backcountry Snow Shovel	5.4 oz
bivy sack	waterproof bottom, breathable top none	Bozeman Mountain Works Quantum X Bivy Gossamer Gear Polycro Ground Cloth	6.5 oz 2.0 oz
sleeping bag	synthetic down, rated to 10 °F	Integral Designs North Twin PrimaLoft sleeping bag Englightened Equipment 10 °F winter quilt – lighter	23.0 oz
sleeping pad	full length closed cell foam inflatable pad	Cascade Designs Ridge Rest NeoAir Xtherm Sleeping Pad, Full Length – warmer, more comfortable	14.0 oz 15.0 oz
sleeping pad	torso sized inflatable mattress – not needed	Bozeman Mountain Works ComfortLite	10.0 oz 0.0 oz
Packing
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
backpack	backpack with 30-lb carry capacity	Granite Gear Vapor Trail Hyperlite Mountain Gear Porter 4400 – more comfortable, simpler, better snow and water shedding with less water absorption	32.0 oz 34.0 oz
stuff sack	250 ci 700 ci for clothing	Bozeman Mountain Works SpinSack Hyperlite Mountain Gear XL Cuben Fiber	0.25 oz 0.5 oz
stuff sack	250 ci 700 ci for clothing	Bozeman Mountain Works SpinSack Hyperlite Mountain Gear XL Cuben Fiber	0.25 oz 0.5 oz
stuff sack	500 ci for sleeping gear 700 ci for sleeping gear	Bozeman Mountain Works SpinSack Hyperlite Mountain Gear XL Cuben Fiber	0.25 oz 0.5 oz
Cooking and Water
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
stove	white gas inverted canister	MSR SimmerLite with pump and windscreen WindBoiler – faster, easier to use	11.0 oz 15.3 oz
fuel container	titanium 8 oz net canister	MSR Titan Fuel Bottle, 0.6L (empty weight of canister)	3.5 oz
cook pot	2L cookpot (large enough for melting snow) 1L pot included above in stove weight	AntiGravityGear 2L Pot with lid & cozy	8.0 oz 0.0 oz
drinking mug	16+ oz capacity drinking mug	Snow Peak 21 oz titanium mug Stove pot works great as an insulated drinking mug	2.8 oz 0.0 oz
utensil	spork	Vargo titanium spork Light My Fire Titanium Spork	0.5 oz 0.6 oz
lighting	matches & 2 lighters	Bic lighters (2) & storm matches in 4″ x 7″ Aloksak	1.5 oz
water bottles	1.5L soft bottles with wide mouth lids	Two 48-oz Nalgene Cantenes	5.0 oz
food storage	waterproof bag	12″ x 15″ Aloksak	2.0 oz
Other Essentials
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
maps	custom printed on waterproof paper	National Geographic Topo!	2.0 oz
light	LED headlamp, suitable for nightime navigation	Princeton Tec Yukon HL with lithium AA batteries Fenix HL22 – lighter	7.0 oz 3.0 oz
first aid	minor wound care & meds	assorted wound & blister care and medicines	2.0 oz
firestarting	emergency firestarting – waterproof	Sparklite & firestarter in 4″x7″ Aloksak	1.0 oz
sunglasses	100% UV blocking, plastic lenses/frames	Julbo Native Dash SS – lighter, more comfortable	1.0 oz 0.5 oz
goggles	lightweight ski goggles for blizzard travel	Bolle Zoopla	3.0 oz
anti-fog	for glasses & goggle care	anti-fog balm, cleaning cloth	1.0 oz
sunscreen	100% UV blocking, waterproof, paste	Dermatone	1.0 oz
personal hygiene	assorted toiletries	toothbrush, soap, toilet paper, non-alcohol hand gel, in 4″ x 7″ Aloksak	2.0 oz
Consumables
FUNCTION	STYLE	EXAMPLE	WEIGHT
fuel	white gas canister fuel, 2.5 days	6 3 oz / day	15 oz 8 oz
food	2.5 days	32 oz / day	80 oz
water	average carried	1.5 quarts	48 oz