GoLite Inferno Jacket You think carrying a down jacket on your winter backpack trip is a luxury…until the temperature drops into single digits at night. Then it’s a necessity. The Inferno’s fleece lined pockets are a nice touch, but our tester loved the jacket’s weight. The 800-fill Inferno weighs just over a pound, giving it a stellar warmth to weight ratio, and is held together with a 100% recycled polyester shell, making it a little greener than most other down puffies. $230. golite.com.
Sierra Designs Nahche Sleeping Bag A zero-degree synthetic bag that uses a mix of recycled polyester and coconut shells for its liner and recycled polyester textiles and PET bottles for the shell. Weighing in just over four pounds, this might not be your choice for fast and light winter overnighters, but the Nahche is the ideal cornerstone for a toasty base camp, skiing Deep Creek’s cross country trails by day and car camping in the state park by night. $269. sierradesigns.com.
Scarpa Barun GTX Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to lug around five-pound boots to keep your feet warm. The Barun has all the winter boot goodies (Gore-Tex lining, Vibram outsole) but none of the winter weight. Each boot weighs just 1.5 pounds. $219. scarpa.net
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Big Agnes Dual Core Sleeping Pad You could sleep on your thin summer pad, but why? Take your standard inflatable air-core pad and add double layers of PrimaLoft Eco insulation (50% recycled materials) for added warmth. All in, there are 2.5 inches of air and insulation forming a barrier between you and the cold ground. $99.95. bigagnes.com. 
Cloudveil Inertia Peak Touring Pant All the breathability and stretch you expect from a soft shell pant, but a fraction of the price. The tightly knit twill wicks sweat beautifully while creating a formidable barrier against the winter weather. $135. cloudveil.com.
