In this post, we’re going to be talking about one investment that every landscape photographer should make, and it’s all about your clothing. We’ll get into the four layers of cold-weather clothing system I use to stay warm, safe, and happy when shooting in the field.

So, if you ever find yourself having no idea what you’re going to wear on a landscape photography session in the mountains and how many layers you have to wear, I wanna give you a couple of ideas and show you some products that I’ve really enjoyed using over the last few years.

As a landscape and travel photographer, I spend a lot of time outdoors, and you know, if you don't feel comfortable over there and you’re cold, that’s absolutely terrible.

Being a little cold is unpleasant. But being wet is downright dangerous. So, clothing should not be overlooked. Investing in good outdoor gear that’s gonna keep you warm and protected from the elements is often more important than the camera and lenses.

Another important thing to consider is that snow, ice, or rain is not the only way to get wet. The other way is sweating. Overdressing is just as bad as underdressing. Once you’re not physically active, your sweat will quickly chill you to the bone.

In winter or cold weather in general, clothing it’s all about layers. So, you should never forget this word: Layers! The point of layered clothing is to be able to adjust your layers to match your current needs so that you won’t become cold, or overheated. That way, whether you’re hiking or photographing, you’ll always have the perfect amount on.

Base Layer

We’re going to start looking at base layers. So, a base layer is of course your next-to-skin layer, and since it’s against your skin, it needs to be comfortable and fit well. A big misconception about the base layer is, people think that it’s for insulation, but its main purpose is to wick moisture or sweat off your skin to keep you dry.

There are generally two fabrics for the base layer, merino wool or polypropylene. I’m a merino fan, and I always use my Icebreakers Anatomica Merino T-shirts, super lightweight, and durable, and they dry in no time. They’re very good at moisture-wicking in the summer. I’ve had this one for four years now, and it’s still doing well.

But, for the fall and winter seasons, I use the long sleeve, and this year I’ve been using the new Vallerret Merino Wool Long Sleeve Tee, and it’s just brilliant. For every long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt I buy, the length is fine but the arms are way too short. I've had this problem with almost every brand. But, this Vallerret tee is absolutely perfect. I’m 1.86m tall for 86kg and it fits perfectly. It’s 150gsm, it’s very comfortable, is soft, and because of the superfine merino wool fabric, it does not cause any itching or irritation, and it’s also antibacterial. So, no bacteria means no stink! You can wear it for like four or five days in a row, and it still doesn’t smell awful. It frankly doesn’t smell at all.

Merino wool shirts are a little bit more pricey than those made of synthetic materials, but they’re really a good investment if you wear them all the time.

I want to mention one more thing and that is to avoid anything made out of cotton. Cotton absorbs moisture and stays damp and heavy, and it’s typically a very bad insulator. If it gets wet, then you're going to be in trouble because it's just going to make you colder. It clings to the skin when you sweat. It takes forever to dry and it can be very uncomfortable. So, there are no hard rules but definitely, for winter, cotton is a no-no.

As a base layer for my legs, I use the Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis Thermal Leggings. They are fantastic and they don’t weigh anything. They give me extra warmth when I need it on really cold days. Putting these on underneath windproof trousers, you’re gonna be toasty warm, but when you’re hiking you’re not going to get too hot because they’re breathable, and they help encourage the evaporation of sweat.

Underwear

Mid-Layer

The next layer we’re gonna look at is the mid-layer. I use the **Vallerret Merino Wool Zip Jersey**. The idea with a mid-layer is that it retains body heat to protect you from the cold. The great thing with layers is when you start a hike you start with just one or two layers, and then when you stop and break out your camera, you’ve put on another layer to keep you really nice and warm.
I love this Vallerret merino jersey which is very thin, super lightweight, and well-fitted. You want your mid-layer not too baggy. You want it tight so that there’s less air for your body to have to insulate. So, it really does keep you warm and what’s important is it offers incredibly breathable insulation that helps regulate body temperature during hiking.

Vallerret added to the Merino Jersey a nice extra feature. Two handy zipped chest pockets where you can stash your batteries close to your body heat keeping them warm, and in a position that they stay out of the shoulders and chest straps without too much bulk.
Another great addition is a microfibre cloth hidden on the inside of the shirt, which can be very handy to clean your lens from dust spots on the go.

For my legs, I use the **RevolutionRace** pants. They are both wind and water-repellent (not waterproof). They are pretty heavy and thick with loads of reinforcements. The stretch panels ventilate beautifully, giving you a very comfortable fit, while zippered ventilation panels mean you can open things up when you’re working hard on the trail.

Insulation Layer

If it’s really cold and you want more protection, the next layer is either a down or a synthetic insulative jacket. I’ve had this since 2018, from **The North Face**, the **Thermoball Jacket** model, a synthetic jacket made from recycled materials and incredibly lightweight. It provides an equivalent to 600-fill power goose down so it’s super warm. It’s excellent. And one of the big advantages is the fact that it stays warm even when it gets wet.

I love this jacket, it’s really simple and it keeps me warm and toasty if I’m spending a long time sitting out on location.

I highly recommend not using down when you’re hiking or being very active. The big disadvantage of down is it doesn't handle moisture well at all. If it gets wet then it loses all its insulating proprieties. So, being between the outer layer and the base/mid-layer, which is wicking moisture out, it can become wet quickly.

Shell Layer

At the end of the day is quite an expensive jacket, but it’s an investment. I wear it absolutely all the time in winter when photographing in the field. For more pleasant temperatures I use the North Face Stratos Jacket, which I have in different color palettes.

So, obviously, your outer layer is designed to keep you dry. It should also be windproof because the wind is one of the most important things to avoid if you want to stay warm.

On the outer layer is when you tend to spend the most money since it's the most technical aspect of your layering system.

So, buying a good jacket that will keep you warm and protected from the elements is a big thing to do. So make sure if you're going to spend some money, get a good one that's gonna last you a long time.

For my legs, when it gets rainy and wet, I use the **RevolutionRace Typhoon Shell Pants**. They’re lightweight and packable. I usually stash them in the front pocket of my backpack. They’re easy to put on and take off with a full-length zipper on the sides. These pants are very comfortable, waterproof, windproof, and breathable.

Socks

Most people will concentrate on the torso and legs when they’re layering, but you have to remember your feet, hands, and head. For my feet, I usually go for my 100% merino **Elbec** hiking socks.

They are absolutely brilliant, extremely comfortable and heavy to ensure maximum thermal comfort during winter trekking. I’ve been using them for five years now, and they’re incredibly warm, have great drying speed, and the anti-bladder propriety of the policolon helps to avoid the frictional heating of the foot. This is all I need, in fact, I have found that my feet stay warmer when I only use one pair of socks. Using two pairs of socks can cut off circulation to your feet which doesn’t help when you’re trying to keep your feet warm.

Hiking Boots

Gloves

Another accessory you’ve got to have when shooting in winter or cold weather is a good pair of gloves. I use three different Vallerret models, specifically designed for photography.

The **Vallerret Power Stretch Pro Liner**. They’re very well-made and very soft, and I use them to keep my hands warm when the temperatures are not super cold and not windy. I get quite warm hands, so I’m not worried a lot of the time. They use conductive suede on the thumbs and index fingers that allow you to use touchscreens without you needing to take the gloves off. They work flawlessly with my iPhone and my camera’s display.

If it’s windy and the temperatures get lower, I’ll stack on the **Valleret Markhof** gloves for an extra layer of warmth. The inner fabric is 100% merino wool. They’re not waterproof, but they’re windproof and water resistant. The main feature that makes these gloves great is that the thumb and index finger have a small opening in the glove. The tips of the gloves fold back and are held by magnets so they don’t get in your way.

For very cold weather conditions, I use the **Vallerret Tinder** glove model, which has much heavier insulation and it’s designed for deep winter conditions. These Tinder gloves are bigger and warmer than the Markhof. They are absolutely beautiful, really warm, and really comfortable. I can operate my camera with ease even if they’re thicker than the Markhof model.

Vallerret has quite an extensive line of winter photography gloves to choose from, and which is right for you will very much depend on the sort of conditions you are likely to be shooting. I’ll put in the video description below the links to the gloves and everything you’re seeing in this video.

Beanie & Neck Gaiter

A beanie takes up barely any space and adds so much value, making it one of the most essential pieces of cold-weather hiking gear. A warm beanie adds to your feeling of warmth, but choose a lightweight one that won’t make you sweat either. I use a wool beanie that is sewn by a friend's mom. It’s soft, extremely comfortable, breathable, and keeps my head warm. **Vallerret** offers a great and lovely beanie.

Another really important piece of clothing if you’re shooting in cold weather is the neck gaiter. I use this to protect my face in harsh wind and keep both my face and neck warm. My favorite is the **Icebreaker Cool-Lite Flexi** model. It’s completely made from merino wool, which is lightweight, breaths well, is comfortable, and doesn’t trap moisture.

Gaiters & Microspikes

A couple of more really important accessories I like to bring with me. Gaiters. This is probably the most overlooked piece of equipment. They’re typically snow hiking gear, but they’re also useful in the mud. Gaiters are really handy if you hike through deep snow, and their job is to keep the snow out of your boots. I’ve been using the **Ferrino** gaiters for 4 years now, and they’re really good. They’re windproof, waterproof, very comfortable, and fit well.

Another essential piece of gear I always have with me in winter is microspikes. If you’re hiking on a trail and there’s snow or ice, or if you’re walking around a frozen waterfall, or whatever, that’s where microspikes come in handy. So, microspikes actually give you more security and traction to walk safely. They slip onto your hiking boots with ease. I’ve been using this Songwin model for around three years with great success. So, microspikes are awesome. They’re the traction you need if you’re going on a fairly hiking trail covered with packed snow or ice.

Sunglasses

They let in about 12% of the light. So, they also have this kind of shield around the outside and a detachable centerpiece to block out sunlight and protect your eyes against glare, dust, and wind. They’re polarized. UV400 protection, and a hydrophobic coating that helps to prevent condensation. And they’re super relaxing to wear. Love it!

So, there you go. This is my typical cold-weather / winter outfit when doing landscape photography. And remember, this is always subjective. I don’t have anything set in stone.

Ciao

Cold Weather Photography Clothing: What to Wear and How to Layer Properly!