“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”
Sir Rannulph Fiennes
Recently, I did a blog about Hiking and promised I would go further in detail about things. So here is the first of those “things” LOL!
What do you wear?
HIKING, A Beginner’s Guide – Step 2
I’m a big fan of being comfortable while out on a hike or a backpacking trip … keeping it light weight and all without breaking the bank. But I also believe that the following items I list here are very very important and should be carried at all times! Yes, carry your jacket even if it looks like the sun will be out all day.
Shoes – First and Foremost ….
ALWAYS TRUST YOUR SHOES!
Reality is they will save you from a slip and fall, they will help support your body and they protect your feet from the elements!
There are several options:
• Tennis Shoes – I always choose hiking boots or trail runners over regular Tennis Shoes when I hike because of the tread and the fact that they are designed specifically for hiking. However, if Tennis Shoes are your only option, lace them up and start your hike. Just be mindful that on wet or slippery surfaces, as tennis shoes, they will not always give you the grip you need to keep going.
• Trail Shoes – These are made to provide lightweight support, good cushioning and stable traction and are ideal for mild terrain with little elevation gain.
• Hiking Boots – Lightweight or Midweight – I prefer Hiking Boots over anything else. Why, because they offer more support than trail shoes without adding much weight. Lightweight Boots are a good choice for most well-maintained trails. If you are going out on technical ascents or extremely rugged terrain, I would look for further options. midweight hiking boots provide increased support and cushioning. Midweight Boots offer great support for carrying a heavy pack. Midweight boots are capable of more elevation gain and fairly rugged terrain.
Socks – Regardless of if you’re wearing tennis shoes or boots, you want to wear socks that aren’t going to contribute to you getting blisters or make your feet sweaty and gross. There are several options, and you will have to try them on with your hiking shoes to make sure they work, but please make sure that they are made for hiking so that they will help your feet stay dry ad blister free.
Here are the basic sock categories:
• Lightweight socks: Are awesome for warm temps and easy trails, they are made of a wicking material and are usually pretty thin. They would be ideal if you chose to be wearing Tennis Shoes.
• Midweight socks: These will provide not only some extra cushioning they will help insulate as well. These socks should be worn with liners as they tend to slip around slightly in your boot to prevent blisters! Duct tape will help with that also but that is a whole other story in itself!
Pants – The best advice here is pants depend on the environment you will be hiking in. If it’s going to be cold, shorts are not good. If it’s going to be hot, pants might get too uncomfortable. I tend to wear pants that are made for hiking and that I can turn into shorts if it gets to hot and then back into pants when it cools off. When in doubt always wear pants though. You do not want to be hiking through the woods, off trail, with shorts on and hike through a dense patch of poison oak…. That would not be good!
Shirt – First off never choose Cotton … that’s for sure! Clothing is supposed to help keep you warm by trapping warm air near your skin. However, when cotton gets wet, it ceases to keep you warm and insulated because all of the air pockets in the cotton fabric fill up with water or sweat! As a result you will feel colder because your cotton clothing is wet and not providing warmth which can lead to way too many bad situations for me to mention, here hypothermia being one.
So what should you wear? Pick a material that wicks the moisture away from your body and breathe well like Under Armour or even a REI brand shirt. Not only are they comfortable, they could help save your life literally!!
Jacket – I personally carry a Patagonia lightweight jacket that packs very small so it is easy to carry and is definitely heavy enough to block the wind to keep me warm when it’s chilly. Protecting yourself against the elements is really important to staying safe. A warm, lightweight jacket will not only help to enjoy your adventures, but help control your body temperatures when needed! Remember, you do not have to spend a fortune, just be aware of your body temp needs!
Hat – When I am hiking locally and on day hikes, I usually wear my bright neon yellow hiking hat so I can be seen, for one thing, and so that the sun is kept off of my head. But when on a long backpacking trip, I will wear a sun-blocking full rimmed hat so that if it rains it does not flow into my face, if it is hot the sun does not hit my head or my neck and if I am wearing a mosquito net it helps keep the net several inched from my face for comfort. Just remember that your hat should cover the tops of your ears and the back of your neck as they are spots susceptible to getting burned while on the trail.
Peace, Love and Nature
Wendy
Your local Hippie Hiking, Life Coaching #1 Fan!
P.S. Remember to always, Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate until you cannot Hydrate anymore… and then Hydrate some more!
