For hikers, good or bad weather is not an issue. It’s inappropriate clothing that can mar your hiking experience. For instance, cotton can keep you feeling sweaty when it’s hot since it holds onto water. It also chills you when it’s cold. It’s wise to avoid cotton clothing items.
Here are some good suggestions.
1. Footwear
Footwear is arguably one of the most important clothing items you should decide on for your hiking. It’s not a must that you have leather shoes. However, your footwear should be sturdy enough to provide support and protect you from roots and rocks. They should also offer traction on surfaces that are wet and dry.
2. Pants or Shorts
Hikers love convertible or zip-off pants as they can also utilize them as shorts, making their choices easier. Whichever your choice is, look for quick-drying fabrics. If you’d love to have a place for stashing your things, then choose cargo shorts or pants.
You should get clothing that is highly functional. The twists and turns on hiking trails require you to wear comfortable clothes that allow for free movement. However, boulders and branches can shred thin, stretchy yoga pants or tights.
3. Undergarments
Nylon, polythene, and merino wool remove sweat from your skin quickly and lets it dry faster. The materials are, therefore, good options for next-to-skin layers like long underwear, briefs, tees, sports bras, and socks.
Your hiking underwear should be non-chafing. A seamless design is a great option. Look for something with a supportive fit. Don’t choose cotton. However, you have the freedom to look for briefs, boxers, bikini briefs, boy shorts, or anything else according to your own personal preference.
4. Warm Jackets
On a colder day, you can wear a polyester fleece jacket while hiking. On cool days, put it on during a break. Fleece jackets come in heavyweight, midweight, and lightweight options, so select the weight depending on your metabolism rate and the forecast.
Fleece jackets are sufficient in mild conditions. However, for cold weather, pack a puffy. A sure bet is a jacket that has a synthetic insulation such as polyester on the inside. You could also pack a puffy jacket with a water-resistant down fill look for a hybrid.
5. Rain Jackets
Any type of jacket can offer some level of resistance to water. Understanding terminologies can help you determine the right clothing during rainy days. A waterproof and breathable jacket is the best bet for hiking since it blocks rain and wind while letting you sweat naturally. It keeps precipitation and perspiration from soaking you.
You can also opt to go for a design that goes a step ahead of rainwear by combining a rain jacket with an insulated shell or a fleece. These are called 3-in-1 jackets. The inner component of such a jacket zips into a rainwear, allowing you to wear either piece separately.
Conclusion
If you’re a hiker, prepare yourself for every kind of weather by shopping appropriate clothing. Whether you’re undergarments, jackets, pants, or footwear, select options according to the forecast and your metabolism rates. Since you’re going to involve yourself in some type of exercise, avoid cotton fabrics at all costs.