Let’s talk hiking! Whooo! If, you’ve been following my journey or social media for a while you would know that I love hiking, and if you haven’t well now you know! Hiking is great for our mental, physical and probably emotional well being and it is so fun! It is a great way to fall in love with our beautiful planet and reconnect with nature. When I am hiking, I feel free. With every step, my worries, doubts, struggles, fade away, and I am left feeling content, happy and confident.
For any new hikers out there a) welcome to the hiking club your life is about to get so much better and b) I know that at first it can seem overwhelming deciding where to go and what to pack. Luckily for you, I am expert and I am here to help you get out there and conquer the world one trail at a time.
So let’s talk about what to wear while hiking.
What to wear hiking:
Footwear:
The most important part of a good hiking outfit is the foot wear! No matter if you are hiking a mountain or a simple trail through the woods, having good footwear is very important. Good footwear is truly a life saver. There are a few different styles of hiking footwear that you can choose from, hiking shoe, hiking boot, and a trail runner. Each of these footwear were created for a different purpose, so choose the one that is the best suitable for your adventure. Some factors to keep in mind when shopping are, ankle support, waterproof, traction, comfort, where you are going, how long you are going for, and what equipment you are carry. You want to find a shoe/boot that is going to be durable for the toughest terrain you are going to face. The prices can get high for good quality shoes and boots but I 100% recommend investing in good quality hiking gear. I also recommend buying different styles of shoes for different hikes. I own three different styles of hiking footwear that I wear for different hikes. For example if I am going on an overnight hiking trip, with a large, heavy backpack, I am going to wear my hiking boots, but if I am just going on a light easy trail that goes through the forest I will wear my trail runners.
Clothing:
Layers, layers, LAYERS!! It is important to dress in layers while hiking, because the weather conditions and your body temperature will change while hiking and you want to be able to adapt and be comfortable no matter what. Depending on the time of year you are hiking and how long you are hiking for, you want to be wearing two to three layers, base layer, mid-layer and outer layer.
Base layers are great for if you are hiking in fall/winter or going up a mountain, where the temperature will cold. They are specifically designed to keep you warm, and they are 100% with the purchase. I have a top and bottom Helly Hansen base layer and I love it so much. Mid-layers can just be a t-shirt, fleece or long sleeve tee, and leggings, work out pants, basic hiking pants. For outer layers, you are going to want to get something waterproof to protect you from rain or snow, etc.
Accessories:
You may want to carry a few accessories with you while hiking, that will aid in your hiking success.
- Lightweight backpack. Great so you can put your layers of clothing in, when you are not wearing them.
- Walking stick/hiking poles. If you are going on a longer hike, definitely get some hiking poles, they will help with your posture and make hiking easier.
- Water bottle. YOU NEED TO DRINK WATER WHILE HIKING. The end.
- Hat. It is a good idea to bring a hat to protect your head from the sun. If you are hiking in the winter then please put a winter hat on to keep you warm and happy.
BOOM. You are dressed and ready to explore all of the trails of the world. Send me your hiking photos!
Love you heaps,
