The choices you make before you even set out the door can make or break your hike. The moment you become uncomfortable is the moment the hike becomes a slog. Fear not, you don’t have to spend hundreds of pounds on technical hiking clothes to achieve this but good clothing will make your walk so much more enjoyable. It may also save you if the worst was to happen!
Good hiking clothes can make the difference between an enjoyable hike and a disastrous one. Hiking clothing protects you from the effects of the environment. They keep you dry, help regulate body temperate and prevent blisters or chafing from the monotonous motions of hiking.
There are so many benefits to good clothing for hiking. Fundamentally it protects you from the elements and can help prevent injuries and illness. On a less official route, feeling like you look the part for the photographs can also give you a mental boost to keep yourself going. I am going to cover all these below.
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Temperature Regulation
We all know that the weather forecasts lie, so we need to be prepared for whatever the weather throws our way. The terrain will also put us through our paces. One minute you will be too hot, begging for the hill to end, the next you take a break and you’re shivering despite the sweat. This is where good layers come into play.
1. Keep You Warm
Whether it’s the brisk early morning or the sun disappearing behind the afternoon clouds, being able to put on another layer can make the difference between your teeth chattering and being nice and toasty. Where places look cold, we are naturally pretty good at making suitable decisions about layering.
However, many people forget how quickly your body temperature can plummet once you stop moving. This could be to get out a drink or have some lunch. You may have been boiling coming up that hill but sitting and enjoying the view you will quickly become cold. You will want to grab another layer such as Columbias Benton Fleece Women’s (Amazon) or Columbias Steens Mountain fleece for Men (Amazon).
If you are wearing a good base layer, then the moisture wicking ability should keep the wetness away from your body. Keeping that layer nice and warm, however, cotton layers (which should be avoided on hikes) will hold onto that sweat and can chill you just the same as a wet top. It is perfectly possible to get hypothermia even when it is mild and the weather appears pleasant just by wearing inappropriate clothing.
For many hikes a thin, quick drying, moisture wicking fleece will be perfect. It wont be too hot when you hike but it also provides warmth when you stop. For cooler days, higher elevations or exposed hikes you may want to consider the benefits of an insultated layer.
These insulted layers such as a hiking designed puffer jacket (normally pack small and some water resistance) are not so good for wearing whilst your hiking but can make a huge difference when you need a break or just want to enjoy the view without your lips turning blue! Once you’re on the move again (or it starts raining) pop the jacket back in your bag and on your way.
Keeping warm is also important if you find yourself unfortunate enough to have an accident on the trail. The pain of a twisted ankle can easily cause someone to go into shock and this can make them feel really cold and become very susceptible to hypothermia. Add on the waiting for help to arrive and you have someone at a very high risk. Good hiking layers can be life saving.
Fingers crossed this never happens to anybody (ideally ever again but that is naive) but just in case it is always best to be prepared.
2. Keep You Cool
No one wants to be dripping in sweat whilst they hike the trail. It’s really not pleasant and if it develops into hyperthermia (opposite of hypothermia) it can become life threatening.
The benefits of good hiking clothing is that it is designed to be breathable. The layers are often thin as well to help you add, test and adjust to get the perfect temperature regulation for yourself.
Some hiking clothing are designed for use in hot weather. They offer UV protection, come in colours that reflect the suns rays and are baggy to give you maximum ventilation.
In hot weather, many of us will choose to have as much skin on show as possible. This can actually make you feel hotter than a well designed bit of clothing. Preventing the suns rays from hitting your skin can be like sitting in the shade which is hugely beneficial on an exposed trail where shade is not available.
3. Keep You Dry
Wet clothes leach the warmth out of your bones. The phrase cold, wet and miserable is here for a reason! A good waterproof jacket will stop even the heaviest of downpours from getting into your nice cosy layers. There is no better feeling than peeling out of the jacket in a nice cafe and being dry as a bone looking smug as the soggy people around you!
This also applies to waterproof trousers, gaiters and shoes. Gaiters are particularly useful for long wet grass or snow where your waterproof trousers may be overkill. Nothing makes me sulk more than wet socks either.
That being said, rain and rivers aren’t the only way you will get wet. Hiking can be hard work and sweat is an old friend. If you’re wearing clothes that hold onto sweat like a sponge, then not only will you start to stink pretty early on, you also risk rapidly loosing body temperature should you stop or the weather turns.
A wet top, is a wet top. Hiking clothing is designed to wick that moisture away from the body and to keep you warm even if it does get wet. On top of this it dries super fast so you wont have to feel damp for long.
4. Keep Out The Windchill
The wind can rip right through fleeces regardless of how many you put on. This can leave you getting goosebumps whether it’s rain or shine. I personally hate the wind and I have two options for dealing with it.
Normally a good waterproof jacket will function perfectly well at keeping the wind out and hence yourself warm. They are normally thin so you can put whatever layers under that you need to be comfortable. A good hiking jacket will also be nice and breathable at the same time which stops you feeling damp on the inside from your sweat!
A hiking wind shell is also a good option here such as those you use for running. These are better on those windy warm days because they are either thinner than the jacket and packs incredibly small. If you are like me and sensitive to the wind then this provides an excellent benefit of relief without adding additional insulation.
Injury Prevention
Good hiking clothing not only keeps you nice and cosey on a hike. It can be vital to the prevention of injuries, or at least minimise the impact.
1. Sunburn
A good hiking top will have UV protection. It will allow you to cover more of your skin without overheating too.
Suncream can only go so far and so many people fail to apply it correctly. To get a good coverage of protection from suncream you need to generously apply it frequently. These reapplications depend on so many factors it’s nearly impossible to judge. Skin tone to the amount of sweat all impacts the effectiveness of suncream.
Not to mention any areas such as backpack straps rubbing it off as you readjust. Sun cream also feels vile. A good top can reduce the amount of skin that has the feel all slimey!
2. Trips and Falls
Firstly, a good pair of walking shoes will have a tread designed to grip on many surfaces. Wet mud on a slope is notoriously difficult to get down without ending up on your butt! Don’t make it any harder for yourself.
Some shoes are downright dangerous to hike in, such as flip flops. There are a tripping hazard in themselves.
3. Scratches and Cuts
It is not irresponsible to hike in shorts. Many people choose to do it and it can be a really comfortable experience. Trousers, on the other hand, give your legs a lot more protection. This could be through an overgrown path full of brambles and stinging nettles or if you do happen to trip, you have a little more fabric to save your knees from that scuff.
Gym leggings can also be a suitable choice but they are more likely to rip (unless reinforced and designed for hiking in mind) and offer little protection to the legs.
Long sleeved tops or fleeces can be really useful if the path is really overgrown in the same way as trousers.
4. Stings and Bites
Covering your skin can be the best protection against the insects. Of course, there are also clothes with added bug repellant capabilities too which depending upon your hike can make the world of difference for comfort. No one wants to spent the evening scratching themselves!
Of course, small bug bits are a nuisance but there are higher risk bites and stings. Allergic reactions, venoms and disease can all be the cause of a hospital trip. It is always best to check the area you plan to go to see what your risks are. Good hiking clothes can really help mitigate these risks. Many national parks will have their own safety advice online.
5. Blisters
Wear in your shoes. Whatever shoes you plan to wear (of course some are better than others, see above) if they give you blisters you are in for a world of pain.
A good pair of hiking boots or shoes (or trail runners) with a suitable pair of socks will make the world of difference to your feet.
It is always worth taking a pack of blister plasters just in case, even if you have never had an issue. I have had shoes for years, no blisters then they started to wear down and expose a new part which rubbed like crazy! Terrain, and the wetness of your feet can also impact how the shoes feel when on.
6. Chafing
The old enemy of the hiker. Whether it’s between your thighs or your shoulders from the backpack once it starts it is so hard to stop. Even silly things like labels can cause irritation when the whole outfit is put together even if it normally doesn’t.
Choose a good pair of hiking underwear, this keeps the moisture away and even cycling shorts can be a good trick here. I much rather wear out a fabric than my skin!
Vest tops can also cause chafing when the rucksack sits against the skin. Usually in the squishy bits too. It always targets the sensitive bits.
Good hiking clothing is designed to help prevent all of this pain and frustration which is a huge benefit to me.
Fashion
Many hikers won’t feel the need to consider fashion up on the hills. They are happy either alone or with the fellow hiking community to look however they do so long as the clothes work for them.
This is not everyone and good hiking clothing can make you both look the part and feel confident for the photographs too!
Hiking clothing is not all about functionality anymore. They come in such a wide range of styles, colours and fits than you can adopt your signature style up into the hills.
The last benefit of good hiking clothing is that you can feel confident to face whatever the hike throws at you as look good doing it!
Conclusion
As you can see there are so many benefits to good hiking choices. The main thing being that you will be kept safe and comfortable on the trail whatever the heavens decide is coming for you. Making good choices can also hugely boost your confidence in tackling the challenges and taking all the photos to prove it! Happy Hiking!
