by Ken Torino
When you go hiking what you wear is an important consideration. As always, you must carry everything you bring so you will not have a different wardrobe for every occasion. We covered socks under boots in issue two. You will want two sets of socks. That means four thin pairs, not cotton, but water wicking such as polypropylene. One pair to dry while you wear the other. Or inside your tent while you sleep. You can hang wet clothes over the back of your pack to dry as you walk if it is not raining. Next to the skin you will also want something that is not cotton and water wicking, underwear and t-shirt.
For underwear, make sure it fits well. Not too loose and not tight. You are walking a lot and want to avoid chafing. As with socks, you will want two sets. This advice is for three seasons, spring, summer and fall. Winter I will cover at the end and requires special preparation.
For pants some prefer shorts for the summer, but I advise lightweight long pants. I actually use Army pants for three seasons. They are durable and hold up well. They are lightweight and they dry quickly. They are loose fitting which is important to avoid rubbing and chaffing. If you decide to wear shorts you will likely get cuts scrapes and bug bites so keep that in mind when you weigh against the comfort in warm weather. Spring and summer there is no decision, long pants.
For the upper body, in hot weather a non-water absorbing water wicking t short is enough. For those who want to go bare chested keep in mind as in shorts, scrapes, cuts and bugs. I don’t advise it. In cooler weather you will want to wear layers. Going up hill you will sweat profusely and will want to dress lightly. As soon as you stop at higher elevation you will cool quickly, minutes or less. You will want to have a sweater or fleece garment ready to put on right away. Again, nothing cotton, Wool, or an artificial or fleece material that will not absorb water. Wool retains 50% of its warmth even when wet.
You should always bring a water proof shell, pants and jacket. The chances of rain are very good and can change suddenly whether it’s forecast or not. Walking all day without a rain jacket is no treat. With a rain jacket it is tolerable.
Last is a hat. Bring one or two hats. Baseball type are okay in warmer weather. If you are out in the sun for long periods of time you will need a hat. Don’t think sunglasses are good enough. I generally don’t find I need sunglasses if I am wearing a hat. If you are in and out of the trees sunglasses can make it dark in the shade and you might miss something important, like poor footing.
Again this is three-season advice. You can decide if you need gloves in late fall. Winter is completely different situation. I wear mittens and snow googles, but we will cover that in a specific issue on winter.
Last advice, hiking is not a time to make a fashion statement. You will be walking for days with one or two sets of clothes. They need to be highly functional. Also make sure you stop and change clothes as needed. Layers on and off. If you don’t, you can get too warm or too cold. Heat exhaustion or hypothermia are not good outcomes. So adjust your clothing as you walk to make it easier for your body to regulate temperature. Hat on in the Sun and off in the shade as well. In the open you need the hat against the sun. In the trees the brim may cause you to walk into a low hanging branch. Get into the habit of adjusting as you walk and change terrain or conditions.
And make sure you have fun!
Next issue cooking!
