Winter walking kit from Mountain Warehouse: what to buy, from £177.90

Winter walking in the UK means short days, wind, rain that turns to sleet, and paths that freeze. The right kit makes the difference between a good day out and a miserable one. Mountain Warehouse's Black Friday preview has cut prices on most of what you need, so we read its product pages on 8 November 2026 and picked a starter kit for valley and low-level walks, plus a warmer, tougher kit for the hills.

How to layer for a winter walk

Dress in layers you can add and remove: a base layer that moves sweat off your skin, a fleece for warmth, a waterproof shell against wind and rain, and an insulated jacket for stops and summits. Add a hat, gloves, waterproof overtrousers and good socks, and carry a flask and a head torch, as it's dark before 5pm in December.

When you compare waterproofs, look at the rating in millimetres. Mountain Warehouse describes 1,500mm as "suitable for light to moderate rain". For winter hills, look for 10,000mm. And ignore the crossed-out price: Mountain Warehouse says it's a "comparable price" for similar kit from other brands, not a former price.

Base layers

• Keep The Heat Mens Base Layer Top: £14.99. A lightweight, moisture-wicking synthetic top.
• Merino II Mens Zip Neck Base Layer Top and Merino Womens Zip-Neck Thermal Top II: £34.99 each. 70% merino wool, machine washable, and the women's top is rated 5/5 from 101 reviews. Merino stays warm when damp and doesn't smell after a long day.
• Brushed Womens Thermal Leggings 2-pack: £19.99, for under walking trousers.

Fleeces

• Snowdon II Mens Fleece: £9.99, rated 5/5 from 1,884 reviews. The women's Camber Half Zip Fleece is also £9.99.
• Idris II Mens Half-Zip Fleece: £19.99, made from 100% recycled polyester.
• Bernard II Mens Windproof Fleece: £49.99. It has a windproof membrane, which helps on exposed ridges.

Waterproof jackets

• Torrent Mens Waterproof Jacket: £39.99, rated to 2,000mm with taped seams. Fine for lowland walks and showers.
• Brisk Extreme Mens Waterproof Jacket and Rainforest II Extreme Womens Waterproof Jacket: £54.99 each. Both are rated to 10,000mm and 5,000g breathability, with a 3-year warranty. The women's jacket scores 4.8/5 from 166 reviews. This is our pick for most people.
• Zenith Extreme Mens 3-in-1 Waterproof Jacket: £119.99. A 10,000mm shell with a padded zip-in inner you can wear on its own. It's rated 5/5 from 175 reviews.

Insulated jackets

• Trail Extreme Mens Down Jacket: £54.99. It has 700 fill-power responsibly sourced down and is lab-tested to -30°C.
• Henry Extreme Mens Down Padded Jacket: £79.99, packs into its own bag, rated 4.4/5 from 499 reviews.
• Skyline Extreme Womens Down Jacket: £79.99, lab-tested to -25°C, rated 4.8/5 from 262 reviews.

Down jackets are water resistant, not waterproof. Wear your shell over the top in rain.

Overtrousers

• Pakka Mens Waterproof Overtrousers: £22.99, 1,500mm, rated 4.8/5 from 450 reviews. They're light and pack small.
• Downpour Mens Waterproof Overtrousers: £44.99, 5,000mm, rated 5/5 from 144 reviews. Better for a full day of rain.

Boots and socks

• Adventurer Mens Waterproof Hiking Boots: £29.99. Mountain Warehouse calls it its entry-level waterproof boot. It's rated 4.6/5 from 1,369 reviews, and good for paths and tracks.
• Rapid Womens Waterproof Hiking Boots: £34.99, with a suede upper and waterproof membrane.
• Latitude II Extreme Mens Waterproof Leather Walking Boots: £89.99, rated 5/5 from 28 reviews. A leather boot for rougher, wetter ground.
• Odyssey Extreme Mens Vibram Waterproof Hiking Boots: £89.99, with a Vibram outsole, rated 4.8/5 from 64 reviews.
• Socks: the Outdoor Mid-Calf Walking Socks 3-pack for £5.99, or Explorer Merino Mid-Calf Socks for £9.99.

Hats, gloves, packs and flasks

• Thinsulate Knitted Beanie: £8.99, rated 5/5 from 119 reviews.
• Grippi Lining Gloves: £14.99. Warm on their own, or under bigger gloves on cold days.
• Fawkes 20 Litre Rucksack: £16.99, or the Pace 30L Rucksack for £42.99 if you carry spare layers.
• Stainless Steel Flask 500ml: £12.99, or the Double-Walled Flask 1L for £24.99.

Worked example: two winter kits

Starter kit for low-level walks: Adventurer boots £29.99, Torrent jacket £39.99, Snowdon II fleece £9.99, Keep The Heat base layer £14.99, Pakka overtrousers £22.99, walking socks 3-pack £5.99, Thinsulate beanie £8.99, Grippi gloves £14.99, Fawkes 20L rucksack £16.99 and a 500ml flask £12.99. Total: £177.90.

Hill kit: Latitude II Extreme boots £89.99, Brisk Extreme jacket £54.99, Henry Extreme down jacket £79.99, Idris II fleece £19.99, Merino II base layer £34.99, Downpour overtrousers £44.99, Explorer merino socks £9.99, Thinsulate beanie £8.99, Grippi gloves £14.99, Pace 30L rucksack £42.99 and a 1L flask £24.99. Total: £426.89.

Both get free delivery (standard is free over £50, next day over £125). If it's your first order, signing up to Mountain Warehouse's emails gets you 10% off items it sells and ships itself, about £17.79 off the starter kit or £42.69 off the hill kit.

What to buy elsewhere

We didn't find ice grips or microspikes for walking boots on Mountain Warehouse's site, so buy those from a specialist if you're heading onto icy paths. Gaiters (Trekmates) and head torches (Fenix, Silva and Ledlenser) are there, but sold by other sellers on its marketplace, such as the Fenix HL16 at £34.95. Free delivery and the sign-up 10% don't apply to those. For winter hills, take a map and compass and check the mountain weather forecast before you go.

Questions

What waterproof rating do I need for winter walking? For paths and short walks, 2,000mm to 5,000mm is fine. For hills and long days in heavy rain, look for 10,000mm or more, with taped seams.

Is a 3-in-1 jacket worth it? It's good value if you want one coat for walking and everyday wear. On the hill, separate layers are more flexible, as you can wear just what you need.

Can I return boots if they don't fit? Mountain Warehouse gives 60 days to return, with extended Christmas returns. Try boots on indoors with your walking socks before you wear them outside.

Ways to save

See our Mountain Warehouse page for current codes and offers, our news on its Black Friday preview, and how Mountain Warehouse compares with its rivals. Students get 10% through UNiDAYS and Blue Light Card members 15%. When you shop through Voucher Magpie, part of the commission the shop pays us goes to the charity or club you pick. You pay the same price.

Sources: Mountain Warehouse product pages linked above and the Mountain Warehouse homepage, all checked on 8 November 2026.

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