Clothing for February on the Appalachian Trail

Considerations for winter clothing

Climate

Taking a look at AccuweatherTemperatures in the Smoky Mountains during February range from 20 degrees to 40 degrees (Fahrenheit). This gives me a good idea of ​​what to expect next year. I couldn’t find a great source, but the all-time low seems to be -32F at the top of Mount LeConte in January 1986. In practical terms, I’m going to plan for 0F. If temperatures are in the all-time low range, I’m going to quit. My winter clothing plan for the Appalachian Trail will withstand down to 0F.

Budget

My budget is $6000. I plan to stay within budget and not buy new equipment unless it offers a spectacular benefit. For example, you could cut 10 to 16 ounces if you spent a few hundred dollars on a high-quality puff. The cheapest quilts don’t weigh much less than my fleece. And the high range, well… a few. Hundred. Dollars. That’s a lot of money. So I’ll use what I have.

T-shirts / Shirts

Appalachian winter trail through peaks hiking.

In the photos you can see everything I have to choose from and what I chose. I plan to wear five (5!) layers if it gets really cold, not counting my wind layer. Yes, I can still move!

Most of my top layers are aged. The oldest is the black and white Brooks running shirt, circa 2010.

The top blue vest is gone, definitely not needed and ended up for donation as I haven’t worn it since I got my black fleece. The black fleece and long sleeve summer weight are year-round layers. We’re actually looking at the bottom three layers. Generally speaking, I went with the lower weight. The only exception is my wool base layer. I expect the wool to be significantly warmer than the next closest option, warm enough to justify another three ounces.

I’ve already tested this setup in a humid 35 degrees F and it’s too hot. I’m confident Wisconsin will give me at least one single-digit day to test before February. If it’s still too hot, I’ll cut out the running shirt and the gray long sleeve, in that order.

So with a rain/wind layer, six layers on top. It’s maybe a little silly. But saving money on clothes allows me to spend money elsewhere. It is also a reality to decide to walk now, not at some ideal future time.

Bottoms/Pants

Gray Fox Winter Pants for the 2026 Appalachian Trail Hike

Lower body options for winter on the Appalachian Trail.

My legs tend to get hot when I hike, so I don’t have many options in my closet.

My outermost layer is a pair of lined sweatpants. They are primarily used for shoveling snow in sub-zero temperatures or shoveling snow in sub-zero temperatures and will stay at home.

Next, the choice is obvious, as my lightest pair of hiking pants weighs almost five ounces less than the heaviest ones. This really shows how much clothing has changed. My heaviest and lightest pants are the same brand and basically the same style. However, the couple over 10 years weighs much more.

For leggings, I’m going to see how REI’s 10+ year old silk leggings perform. I have options, including a super heavy pair of thermal pants, but I want to start with the lightest one I have.

Hat/Gloves/Socks

There really were no decisions to make when it came to hats and gloves. I have hand-knit wool garments made by Snow Fox. I tested my gloves hiking in deep snow and sub-zero temperatures in Wisconsin. Thick double-ply wool is “too warm” for temperatures above 20°F. Snow equipped me with some serious cold weather gear.

For socks, I plan to take two pairs of long, mid-weight hiking socks. If necessary, I can add pointy toe socks underneath to provide additional blister protection and warmth. We’ll see how the trail treats my feet in February.

With the exception of the Smartwool lined gloves, all were handmade by Snow.

That’s all the winter gear for my 2026 Appalachian Trail hike. I’ll be field-testing this gear as soon as we hit single digits in Wisconsin and post the results.

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