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Winter Climbing Essentials: Gear We’re Loving This Snowy Season

We're confident you'll love your new climbing gear all the way until the next snowy season too

With winter in full effect, many of us as spending time swinging ice tools into fat ice or scratching our way up technical drytooling lines.

To help you get the most out of these winter conditions, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite winter climbing essentials.

Best for climbers seeking fast and easy placements and excellent holding strength
Black Diamond Express Ice Screw

Black Diamond Express Ice Screw

A time-tested high-performance ice screw

The Express Ice Screws, with their now ubiquitous coffee-grinder knob, were revolutionary when they were first introduced. Not only did they provide exceptional holding strength and durability, but they also allowed for effortless one-handed placements. Over the years, the screws have been updated with subtle design and geometry tweaks, making them even more user-friendly and secure. The result is that Express screws are now the standard by which all other ice screws are judged. Just get some, you won’t be disappointed.

Best for climbers seeking to save weight and increase versatility
Blue Ice Alpine Runner

Blue Ice Alpine Runner

A lightweight alternative to traditional runners

The innovative Blue Ice Alpine Runner is an excellent alternative to traditional loop runners. Consisting of a durable Polyethylene core with a UV and abrasion-resistant sheath, the Alpine Runner reduces weight and bulk when compared to traditional slings. The design also simplifies racking and deployment, and allows for easier and faster anchor building. The Alpine Runner is available in three sizes ranging from 35 cm all the way up to 110 cm and should be a part of every multi-pitch and alpine climber’s rack. Get some; you won’t be disappointed.

Best for climbers seeking a low-bulk beanie that fits under a helmet
Smartwool Merino Beanie

Smartwool Merino Beanie

A lightweight Merino beanie

With its form-fitting shape and low-bulk construction, the Smartwool Merino Beanie is ideal for strenuous aerobic approaches and for wearing under a helmet. The beanie is constructed with a lightweight Merino jersey fabric that features a recycled nylon core that is wrapped in Merino wool. This savvy construction provides additional durability (thanks to the nylon) while keeping the cozy Merino wool next to your skin. The beanie’s minimal bulk also allows you to easily keep it in a pocket ready for deployment when the temps drop.

Best for climbers seeking low weight without sacrificing strength and clipping performance
Trango Quantum Alpine Draw

Trango Quantum Alpine Draw

A lightweight and versatile alpine draw

Consisting of two Quantum carabiners and a burly 60 cm Atomic sling, the Trango Quantum Alpine Quickdraw is surprisingly strong, light, and easy to clip. Much of this balanced performance can be attributed to the Quantum’s generous gate opening, which allows for easy clipping, as well as the Atomic sling’s proprietary weave, which is 20 percent lighter and stronger than traditional Dyneema. The combination results in the perfect alpine draw for cold winter climbing.

Best for climbers seeking additional warmth for belaying in frigid conditions
Black Diamond Mercury Mitts

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts

A warm, durable mitt for winter climbing

If you are looking for warm, durable, and waterproof/breathable mitts for cold conditions, check out the Mercury Mitts. Built with a rugged shell and removable liner, the Mercury Mitts are ideal for cold-weather belaying. After a long day of climbing, climbers can pull out the Priomaloft insulated liners to help speed up drying, ensuring you’re ready for the next day’s session. BD has spec’d goat leather palms with additional reinforcement layers for exceptional abrasion resistance when belaying or rapping. The mitts’ four-way stretch shell allows for easy movement, and the long gauntlet shape with drawcord closure prevents snow and moisture from entering. These are solid cold-weather mitts and should be a top choice for any winter climber.

Best for climbers seeking a lightweight headlamp with automatic brightness adjustment
Petzl Swift RL Headlamp 1100

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp

A super-bright headlamp

Weighing in at just 100 grams and providing up to 1,100 lumens of light, the Swift RL is perfect for pre-dawn approaches and post-dusk raps that are the norm during winter climbing. While the brightness specs alone make the Swift RL an ideal climbing headlamp, it’s also worth noting that Petzl has added a unique light sensor that, when employed, allows the Swift RL to automatically adjust the brightness of the lamp based on ambient light. The result is extended battery life while still retaining the visibility necessary when trying to find the next rap station. If you want to control the brightness yourself, the Swift RL also offers three manual settings. A comfortable and easy-to-adjust headband and USB recharging round out the features of this impressive headlamp.

Best for approaches or as a liner in colder weather
Smartwool Merino Glove

Smartwool Merino Glove

A lightweight merino wool glove

Constructed from a lightweight Merino jersey fabric, the Merino Glove is perfect for long aerobic approaches. The fabric consists of 88 per cent wool that surrounds a 12 per cent nylon core, resulting in exceptional warmth and breathability while still maintaining a reasonable level of durability. These minimalist gloves feature a touchscreen-compatible thumb and forefinger, allowing you to easily access your phone. In colder weather, these are ideal as a liner under a heavier mitt or glove.

Products reviewed in this article:

Best for climbers seeking fast and easy placements and excellent holding strength

Black Diamond Express Ice Screw

Black Diamond Express Ice Screw

Buy Now - $84.95

Buy Now - $69.95

Best for climbers seeking to save weight and increase versatility

Blue Ice Alpine Runner

Blue Ice Alpine Runner

Buy Now - From $17.95

Buy Now - From $14.95

Best for climbers seeking a low-bulk beanie that fits under a helmet

Smartwool Merino Beanie

Smartwool Merino Beanie

Buy Now - $31.00

Buy Now - $25.00

Best for climbers seeking low weight without sacrificing strength and clipping performance

Trango Quantum Alpine Draw

Trango Quantum Alpine Draw

Buy Now - $38.95

Buy Now - $27.95

Best for climbers seeking additional warmth for belaying in frigid conditions

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts

Buy Now - $149.95

Buy Now - $119.95

Best for climbers seeking a lightweight headlamp with automatic brightness adjustment

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp 1100

Buy Now - $174.95

Buy Now - $129.95

Best for approaches or as a liner in colder weather

Smartwool Merino Glove

Smartwool Merino Glove

Buy Now - $40.00

Buy Now - $30.00

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

Winter Climbing Essentials: Gear We’re Loving This Snowy Season

We're confident you'll love your new climbing gear all the way until the next snowy season too