Month: January 2009

If you are looking for adventure then hiking is the perfect activity as it offers much to everyone. Though there is plenty of excitement available when hiking there is also a pressing need to wear appropriate hiking clothing so that hikers have adequate protection against the hazards of the outdoors. Of course, hiking clothing is different for men as compared to that for women.

Protection From The Weather

When choosing your hiking clothing it is necessary that you have enough layers of clothing to protect you from the weather and it is also a good idea to wear light as well as flexible clothes and to have enough hiking clothing to suit different conditions. The different hiking clothing layers will include a base layer, an insulation layer, and an outer layer.

The base layer is the clothing that touches your skin and which is the innermost layer over which the insulation layer is worn which warms up your body and the outer layer consists of those items of hiking clothing that provide protection from the weather and keeps you dry and warm in rainy as well as snowy conditions.

The main purpose of wearing hiking clothing is to keep you dry, warm as well as protected from hazards of inclement weather, terrains as well as other conditions that will be encountered while hiking. It is important to pay special attention to the bulk as well as weight of your hiking clothing and as mentioned lightweight clothes are preferable as they provide better functionality and are also more comfortable to wear.

It is also necessary to choose the right kind of hiking clothing so as to protect your torso as well as extremities. When it concerns dressing up for the outdoors you will need to wear clothes that will help you achieve the right thermal balance as well.

Choosing women s hiking clothes can be simplified by selecting quality items of clothing as well as choosing clothes that have excellent features and special attention should also be paid to the fit and more importantly, the clothing you choose must be suitable for all weather conditions.

Your hiking clothing will also require using the right kind of hiking socks as well as boots and your hiking pants must keep you thermally insulated as well as must be able to protect your extremities. Hiking jackets and shirts should be chosen according to how well they protect your torso and a hiking vest should also be purchased as it will keep you warm. Lastly, you need to select hiking clothing for rainy weather which will ensure that you remain dry and warm even when it is raining outside.

There are many different camping and hiking trails that wind through different type of environments, from the mountains to the seashore to the open plains and even in canyons. Camping and hiking trails can be traversed in every season of the year, changing their looks with the seasons, making each experience new. When planning to go on camping and hiking trails, individuals need to make plans ahead of time, especially the longer the trip is, so that all of the hiking clothes and supplies can be taken with them, ensuring an enjoyable experience.

Supplies

Since camping and hiking trails can be used during any season of the year, the hiker is wise to consider what the weather conditions are and are expected to be during the time the trip is going to be taken. If the trip is in the summer months, then there is much less clothing that is needed for the trip. Considerations in the summer months include whether the material wicks the water away from the skin so that the person stays cooler, and whether there will be water for swimming, requiring the proper footgear and bathing attire. In addition, bringing a clothesline along is a great idea so that towels and wet clothing can be hung to dry, which happens fairly quickly in hot climates.

If the camping and hiking trails will be traversed in the winter months, especially in climates that get heavy rain or snowfall, there are additional clothing considerations. Staying warm and dry during these months is important, so clothing should not only be comfortable and wick water away to increase warmth, the outer layers should also be waterproof so that wind and wetness do not sink through. The hiker should also bring layers of clothing, such as long underwear and extra socks so that as the weather gets colder or warmer the layers can be added or removed keeping the hiker warm and dry.

Another critical supply for camping and hiking trails is the hiking boot, since poor quality boots can cause much pain and discomfort to the hiker, which can drastically affect the enjoyment of the trip. Shorter trips often do not require a full hiking boot but only a hiking shoe which is lighter and more flexible while still providing the traction needed and more support than a tennis shoe. Rougher camping and hiking trails as well as more extreme weather conditions will require a sturdy, waterproof boot.