What To Wear Hiking?

Be it shopping, events, a date or a family gathering, we probably spent minutes (or even hours) deciding on what to wear. But hey, if you just so happened to be mind-boggled on what to wear hiking, aren’t you a lucky person to be stumbling upon this guide? It ain’t rocket science but what you should be wearing really depends on what kind of trail you’ll be trekking on.

Your outfit plays a big role in your hiking experience. Wrong shoes and wrong pants will lead to some very uncomfortable situations. Imagine wearing slippers on a winter hike. You’ll definitely get a… cold feet. Enough with the puns, let’s jump straight to the list.

Clothes

If you’re from Malaysia where the 4 seasons consist of summer, summer, summer and summer, then long sleeve UPF-protection shirts are your go-to. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor, and putting these shirts on is like wearing a 100 SPF sunscreen. It keeps you comfortable and dry as it draws off the sweat and protects your skin from the UVs. If you’re not into that, tank tops work fine too but you gotta apply sunscreens for, again, the UVs. 

Now if your location has actual 4 seasons, bringing a warm jacket for colder conditions is a smart idea, for obvious reasons. Puffer jackets with polyester fill are good for winter conditions, as its lightweight and warmth makes hiking a hell of a lot easier.

Pants

What you need is something that is comfortable, breathable and capable of keeping you warm or cold depending on the temperature. Conclusion: avoid jeans. Look for lightweight pants instead if you’re out in the summer as It’s best to minimize weight when hiking. Avoid shorts too if possible! You don’t want your legs to be poked by weird plants, bitten by bugs or injured from a small bump against a boulder.

As for winter hikes, putting on leggings followed by a second layer of hiking pants should keep you warm and comfy.

Hiking Boots

The kind of boots you bring depends on the terrain you’re traversing on. Just because it’s called hiking doesn’t mean you have to only wear hiking boots. Different types are designed for different situations. Here’s a quick summary:

• Light hiking shoes: 
  • (+) Ideal for day hiking 
  • (+) Lightweight 
  • (-) Less durable 

• Mountaineering boots: 
  • (+) Suitable for the roughest terrain 
  • (+) Very durable 
  • (-) Heavy 

• Backpacking boots: 
  • (+) Suitable for a large variety of terrains 
  • (+) Ideal for multi-day treks 
  • (-) Durable 

As for cuts, hiking boots come in a variety of them. Different cuts for different situations. Here are the things you need to understand about them:

• Low-cut
  • (+) Perfect for a casual hike 
  • (+) Lightweight 
  • (+) Suitable for beginners 
  • (-) Vulnerable to injuries 
  • (-) Not suitable for rough terrain 
  • (-) Not durable 

• Mid-cut
  • (+) Provides ankle support and balance 
  • (+) Protection from trail debris 
  • (-) Not as durable 

• High-cut
  • (+) Provides optimal ankle support and balance 
  • (+) Suitable for off-train and on-trail 
  • (+) Suitable for rough terrain 
  • (+) Durable 
  • (-) Heavy 

With these in mind, you can select the best hiking shoes according to the terrain you’ll be trekking on. Happy hiking!   For more useful hiking tips, click here!  

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