What to Wear When Hiking - Are You Prepared?

What to wear when hiking? When you first begin hiking you can wear what you already have. If you get more serious about this sport you'll want to invest in clothes made with performance capabilities designed to keep you warm, dry and comfortable.

When you exert yourself during exercise your body loses more heat and moisture than normal. Hiking uphill will make you break out in a sweat. Going downhill doesn't require as much effort and your previously sweat-saturated clothing can cause you to become chilled.

There are strategies you can utilize to help you prepare for changing temperatures and conditions.

Know Where You Are Going:
If you are hiking up a steep mountainside bear in mind the wind usually picks up and the temperature drops substantially in the evening. Be sure you pack more clothes for such an occasion.

Layer Your Clothing:
Remove layers as you climb so the heat can escape easily. Put them back on when going back down the hill. Have extra clothes for windy areas, too.

Choose Fabrics Accordingly:
If purchasing new clothes, do not choose cotton, as it will absorb water from sweating and rain. When wet, it has no warming properties and will rob you of valuable warmth and strength. Thicker Cotton clothing can become heavy when wet.

Wool is the better choice of fabric; however, it can become very heavy and can cause uncomfortable itching. Many people, including myself, are allergic to wool. Synthetic, man-made materials are a better bet today and come in a variety of styles and color choices.

Remember that pests and insects are drawn to darker colors so it would behoove you to opt for lighter colors. Black and dark colors also have a tendency to draw heat when in the sun and would not be a welcome side effect when hiking up a steep incline.