Beautiful sunny weather is inviting for hiking in the mountains. To fully enjoy your trip, it is necessary to prepare properly for it. The most important thing is, of course, choosing the right clothing and footwear. In this article, we will offer you several tips and pieces of advice on what clothing or footwear to choose for hiking in summer.
How to dress for hiking?
The role of clothing for summer hiking is to keep you warm and dry. During hot weather, our body sweats excessively. When sweating, the body cools down more easily, and the feeling of cold can be compared to being soaked with rain. Suitable clothing should therefore wick body moisture away from the bodybut it should also prevent cold and moisture from reaching the body from the outside.
Don't forget the rule of having more rather than less. This applies during the summer months as well. When you set out for hiking in summer and go into the mountains, the weather can change from minute to minute. Therefore, you should be prepared and ready even for the worst.
The basis is layering clothing
It doesn't matter whether you are going hiking in summer or in winter. Layering clothing always comes first.
We divide clothing layering into three basic layers:
- 1st layer – base
- 2nd layer – thermal insulation
- 3rd layer – protective
1st LAYER
This basic base layer should wick away moisture, that is, sweat from the body, and thus keep your skin dry. Functional underwear is ideal for hiking or outdoor activities, which includes a functional short-sleeve t-shirt or long-sleeve, and also functional boxers. They are made from various materials, such as polypropylene, polyester or polyamide. Since you perform physical activity during hiking, the functionality of this underwear is essential. It should not absorb moisture, but wick it away from the body while also drying faster. In summer, during warm weather, this base layer will be sufficient for you, as sweat evaporates directly from it, which is why it should be able to dry quickly.
In case of cold weather, you should have another layer ready in your backpack. Some hikers make a big mistake by putting anything on top of this base functional layer, so it doesn't fulfil its purpose. Body moisture is transferred from the functional underwear to the next layer, which absorbs it and carries it further away from the body, where it evaporates. However, if you wear a classic cotton t-shirt, it will not carry moisture away from the body but will hold it in, and thus the thermal underwear loses its effect. A cotton t-shirt becomes damp and eventually will not warm you but cool you down. Therefore, we will now discuss what to wear as the second layer – the thermal insulation layer.
2nd LAYER
In hot weather, you do not need this layer. It is advisable to have it ready in case of a sudden change in weather or when you set out for hiking on a colder day. Its role is to provide warmth and, like the base layer, it should not retain moisture. Cotton clothing, which retains moisture, is unsuitable. Excellent are fleece sweatshirtsthat is densely woven and very breathable. Sweatshirts and t-shirts made of this material are gentle to the touch and soft. They are produced in various thicknesses, from the thinnest to the thicker ones. In summer, the 2nd layer is sufficient even as the final, outer layer of clothing. Of course, provided it is not raining.
LAYER 3
The third layer will protect you from rain and wind. At the same time, its role is to carry away body moisture from the two lower layers away from the body. It is also suitable for summer, in case of rainy or windy weather. The more demanding the terrain and hiking that awaits you, the more important it is to have this layer of clothing with you. There is nothing worse than being outside during rain without any protection. For summer hiking, we recommend packing a lighter variant of the 3rd layer, in the form of a thin windbreaker with a hood. It is important that it is resistant to water and wind.
TIP: Read about what a water column is and what significance it has when choosing a jacket.
Hiking socks
Socks are among the type of clothing that greatly determines whether you will walk comfortably in your boots. It is necessary to choose the right type of socks. For summer hiking, of course choose summer socks, they should be functional and have the right thickness. In socks that are too thick, your foot will sweat unnecessarily, and in very thin ones, the boot may chafe in exposed areas. The right type of socks will protect you from painful pressure points, blisters and abrasions.
When choosing socks, the same rules apply as when choosing thermal underwear, since socks are also part of it. They should carry sweat away well, meaning they should have side evaporation channels, and the toe area should be closed with a flat seam. Avoid cotton and we recommend materials such as polypropylene, polyester or polyamide instead. The choice of socks is undoubtedly closely linked to the choice of footwear. If you choose high trekking boots for hiking, you need a higher type of socks to go with them.
Do not forget a head covering
In summer, you should not forget a head covering. You can choose a cap, a scarf or a hat, which will protect you from the hot sun. In hot summer, you can easily get heatstroke. Mandatory equipment should also include sunscreen and quality sunglasses.
What footwear to wear for hiking?
Having unsuitable boots on a hike can be not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Boots should fit perfectly and must not pinch. They also should not slide around on the foot, so you avoid blisters, pressure points and sore heels. Never go on a long hike in new boots, which your feet have not yet gotten used to.
The worse the terrain awaiting you on the hike, the sturdier boots you should choose. Waterproof ones are ideal hiking boots with a thick Vibram non-slip sole. Such soles are sturdy and will provide your feet with stability. Try out the shoes in various situations, for example while walking on flat ground, downhill, uphill and on a sloped surface. Only then will you be sure that you have the right shoes.
Protect yourself from moisture
Waterproof footwear is no less important. A great helper can be impregnation spray, which you spray onto footwear, but also onto clothing. With regular use, you will create a protective layer on the footwear. To avoid getting your pants wet while walking through wet grass, we recommend using shoe covers. Has strong rain ever caught you by surprise during a hike? It's not pleasant at all, having to head back completely soaked and chilled. You can easily avoid this by putting a raincoatin your backpack. You can also choose a poncho, which can fit over your backpack as well.
We hope that with our tips and advice we have helped you choose the right clothing and footwear for hiking. If you think ahead about everything that might happen to you, summer hiking will be nothing short of fun for you. We wish you to enjoy every hike as it should be and to always return home safe and sound!
