Obviously, we need clothing to hike...but they're slightly different to just walking clothes.
We've covered footwear in another post apart from socks. The socks just have to be comfortable with possibly anti-wicking properties built into them. I've got along fine with ordinary, everyday socks for many of my hikes, but with longer treks in colder climates, I've always worn a longer sock with a little padding at the heel.
A good pair of boots will aid comfort with the socks just acting as a lining. It is important to try and keep feet fresh, so there's no harm in buying those wicking socks especially made for hiking. Not totally essential, but probably a good call on longer hikes.
Next, we look at trousers, or pants as they say in the U.S. These should be light and waterproof, or at least shower proof. Do not wear jeans! Denim will hold water and you don't want extra weight when walking. They will also stay wetter for longer and will take an age to dry out.
Get a pair of pants that have a few pockets with zips. These can then hold small change, a pen, snippets of info and the large side pockets can hold a map. Trousers should be a good fit with plenty of flexibility available for when you have to reach or climb giving you a better level of comfort. A good idea is to get a pair that have knee and seat padding for climbing over rocks or taking to scree. It's also a good idea to get a pair of pants that have the ability to be able to be turned into a pair of shorts with a zipper just above the knees for when the weather gets warmer.
Quick drying material is also a must.
Next we move onto the base layer...one of the most essential pieces of clothing on the list. A good base layer will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They should be of synthetic material, or, if you can afford it, a base layer made of Merino wool.
Now, you will sweat when out hiking, in cold or hot weather, so wicking away moisture from the skin is paramount. Do not where cotton next to the skin. Cotton will hold moisture, making the shirt heavy and cold against your skin and will be very uncomfortable.
With sweating will come body odor! Synthetic material will do a better job of keeping the odor at bay longer than Merino wool, but Merino wool with keep you feeling fresher for longer. The decision is yours...whiffy or cool!
Make sure the base layer is flexible. I like to have the material tight against my skin, the moisture goes straight to the outside of the material instead of staying with my skin...so much more comfortable.
Next is a shirt, or mid layer. The mid layer could be a micro fleece, again, with good wicking abilities, but light enough to wear on it's own if needed. The shirt simply has to be light and flexible.
We now move onto the jacket. The type of jacket depends on your climate of hiking. If you're expecting cold then it obvious the material should keep you warm and be breathable. Inner mesh does a grand job of moving moisture away from you body. Cold weather also brings wind chill, so make sure you have a collar that can at least close high enough to cover your mouth, and even your nose. The jacket for cold weather should also, again, be flexible for ease of movement. Make sure it is totally waterproof with strong Velcro storm flaps to keep out the cold.
A jacket for a slightly cold day, or when hiking when it's likely to rain needs to be windproof and waterproof, but light enough to be taken off and stored in you backpack. Breath-ability is also important. Get a good quality jacket...don't scrimp here, this jacket will be worn more often than not. Buying a cheap jacket that promises to be waterproof and breathable often does not do the job properly and the jacket can almost become a hated piece of clothing!
Lastly, we'll look at hats. Most jackets will come with a hood and this is usually good enough for rainy cold weather, but not always ideal when there are showers, or the weather is bright but cold...I don't like putting up my hood when it's a bright, clear, crisp, cold day, I much prefer to just have a beanie that covers the top of my head and my ears.
Try to get a waterproof beanie, or cap (caps don't do it for me!) that won't get soaked or keep you head wet.
In the summer, I wear a Tilley hat that covers my head well and offers good shade, but a cap works well for most people, though I', not keen as they can get quite hot and damp. Make sure you pay the extra bucks for a good hat, it will be worth it.
These are just the very basic clothing essentials you'll need when hiking, don't just go out in Denim jeans and a cotton t-shirts, they will just let you down when push comes to shove.
Invest in good quality clothing, and buy renowned brands that stand out in the hiking field. These companies have a reputation to keep up and won't produce shoddy goods. Paying that little bit extra will reap all kinds of rewards.
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