Dress to Impress Mother Nature: Performance Hiking Clothes and Apparel

Hiking clothes are all about comfort and versatility.

If you have ever climbed a mountain on a cool day, you know you can go from jacket to tank top in a matter of minutes.

Hiker on top of Mission Peak with Hiking Clothing

Depending on the season, the weather, and the terrain, consider these points when choosing your apparel:

Layers work wonders. A few light layers, and hiking clothes that can be modified (like convertible pants), work great when you go from frigid caverns to a hot, sunny clearing, or when your trek takes you from day into night.

The more effort you put out, the more heat your body produces, and the more cooling you will need.

"Cotton kills!" a guide once told me before an isolation trip in the wilderness. Although I woundn't go to that extreme, natural fibers like cotton don't fare well in cold, ice, and water (that includes moisture from sweat).

Getting soaked in cold temps in your jeans and t-shirt might lead to hypothermia. Look to man-made materials such as Gore-Tex or polypropylne to really keep you dry, warm, and... alive in some cases.

The fibers in today's outdoor clothing dry quickly and also wick moisture away from your skin. Cotton fibers store moisture close to your skin for a long time, and are more difficult to dry.

Some natural materials like wool and goose down are good performers, but synthetic materials can be lighter, dry quicker, and perform even better. Polar fleece, for example, is an excellent material for warmth and is lighter than comparable materials.

Protect yourself from the sun. Skin cancer is easier to get as our ozone layer is depleted. Make sure to protect yourself with hats, sunglasses, and sunblock.

Keep the water out. Constant contact with moisture can be downright uncomfortable, promote fungus growth, and also affect our delicate temperature balance.

To keep your body dry, consider an array of rain gear and waterproofing. In a pinch, carry a large garbage bag in your pack and cut a hole in the bottom. Pull it over your head and presto, you have a quick rain vest.

Carry gaiters. These shoe and lower-leg protectors are light to lug and best of all they keep water out of your ankles and feet, when hiking in mud, streams, and moist fields.

Treat your feet right. Foot comfort is a top priority for any hiker when purchasing hiking clothes, since your feet are your main tools and take more of a beating than any other part.

Give them the treatment they deserve with a high-quality sock, and also try using a sock liner, which is effective at wicking sweat away from your skin. Old and worn-out socks have blister written all over them, especially inside of heavier, stiffer boots.

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