You don’t need a huge wardrobe for backpacking, day, hiking, or bushwhacking but you do need clothing and footwear that’s durable and can be easily layered to keep you warm or cool in different temperatures and weather. Understanding your metabolism and how to combine and layer the different components of your clothing system in a variety of conditions takes a lot of practice, but it pays off when you figure out exactly what you need to stay comfortable. After that you can stop experimenting with new clothing and just replace items that are worn out or manufacturers stop making.
Here are all of the clothing and footwear items I keep in my personal gear closet, including some of the items I’ve stockpiled as spares. I hope it will give you a few idea of things to try that you haven’t thought of before.
Outdoor Research Sentinel Brim Hat
The OR Sentinel Brim Hat is a wide brim floppy hat that I wear in three season weather. I like a floppy hat as opposed to a billed cap because it provides better sun protection and 360 head protection when I’m hiking off trail though untrimmed brush. It is ventilated with mesh above the brim so it stays cooler in hot weather. This hat is pre-treated with Insect Shield (Permethrin) which provides protection against ticks, black flies, and mosquitos. I also have a fairly small-sized head, but this hat is available in sizes that fit me and it’s adjustable. I accidentally lost my old Sentinel Brim Hat the other day on a river (floated away), so I ordered another. Read my review.
Buffs in Multiple Thicknesses
I started wearing Buffs frequently last year and now count them as one of the most versatile layering pieces of clothing I own. I wear one around my neck when I’m cold, as a hat when I sleep at night, a makeshift balaclava in cold wind, or for ear insulation on cold mornings. I use an UV Buff over my face for sun protection, an Insect Shield Buff when the bugs are out, and an insulated Polar Puff in cold weather. It’s funny how such a simple piece of cloth can be used in so many ways.
Sea-to-Summit Insect Shield Head Net
When the bugs are biting, I wear a Sea-to-Summit Head Net that’s been factory treated with Insect Shield to kill ticks and insects. It’s colored black, making it easy to see through without too much motion distortion. It works well with a wide-brimmed hat because the brim keeps the head net off your face and neck. When I carry it in my pack, I use the head net as a stuff sack to organize my extra clothing so it serves multiple purposes. Read my review.
Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody
The Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody is an excellent layering piece that I like to use like a wind shirt, except that it is highly breathable and durable since it’s made with a stretchy softshell fabric, while most wind shirts are neither. I typically wear it over a 100 weight fleece pullover on cold mornings and above treeline, to block heat-robbing wind and trap my body heat. It does stink up because it’s a softshell, but I know it’s doing it’s job. It’s not a layer I carry on all of my trips, but it’s very handy in cool, but not cold weather. It also makes a great outer layer for XC skiing in winter. Read my review.
Rab 100 Weight Fleece Pullover
I bring a 100 weight fleece pullover on every hike and backpacking trip I take. It’s a super versatile insulating layer that stays warm when wet and dries quickly. I own two identical green 100 weight fleece pullovers that I picked up in Scotland in 2010 and they’re still going strong after seven years, thousands of miles of hiking, and hundreds of washes. Can’t really ask for a better value than that. Fleece rocks.
Lightheart Gear Rain Jacket
I’ve given up on trying to find any waterproof breathable jackets that actually perform at a sufficient level to make them worth paying extra for. For personal use, when not reviewing gear, I use a non-breathable waterproof rain jacket from Lightheart Gear that is made from PU coated silnylon. It’s lightweight, has generous pit zips for venting perspiration, velcro wrist cuffs, pockets, an adjustable hood, and a front brim. It’s waterproof but makes no breathability claims whatsoever, so it never disappoints. The hood also works well with my wide brim hat, keeping rain off my face. Read my review.
Montane Minimus Rain Pants
Montane’s Minimus Rain Pants are lightweight rain pants with an athletic, slim, cut. They’re a good layer to have when it’s raining of course, but I also use them as an insulation layer on cold days over my hiking pants. They also have a calf-high zipper that makes them easy to put on and take off while wearing trail runners. I’m on my second pair now, after destroying my first on a bushwhack. Never again. I bring a pair of less expensive rain pants for off-trail hikes when there’s a good chance that my rain pants will get ripped up. Read my review.
Marmot Precip Rain Pants (Boot Zip)
I use a pair of Marmot Precip Rain Pants for off-trail bushwhacks because they’re thicker, heavier, more durable, and less expensive to replace than the Montane Minimus Rain Pants I prefer for on-trail hikes. Mind you, there’s nothing worse than bushwhacking in the rain and brushing up against cold, wet vegetation, so these rain pants don’t get used that often. But there have been times when we’ve gotten rained on during bushwhacks when I was very glad to have them as a relatively waterproof insulation layer for my legs. These have boot zips so I can put them on take them off without having to take my trail runners off. There’s nothing special about Precip Rain Pants, to be honest. Their main qualification is that they’re cheap, reasonably lightweight, and I know they fit. Really, any rain pant will do for wet bushwhacking. It’s not a hobby that you want to buy expensive clothes for.
Possum Down Gloves
I started using Possum Down Gloves which are a mixture of merino wool and possum fur, about two years ago. They’re good gloves for cold mornings because they provide a high degree of dexterity, so I can cook and eat while wearing them. They dry quickly with body heat when damp and I often use them as a liner inside Gore-tex Shell mittens in winter, instead of the original Primaloft liners that they came with because of the improved dexterity. I currently own 3 and 1/2 pairs, all black, which makes it easy to replace a glove when they wear out. I get about a year of use out of a pair and wear them at home as well as on the trail. Read my review.
Outdoor Research Versaliner Gloves
OR’s Versaliner Gloves are really two gloves in one: there’s an inner fleece glove and an outer Pertex “waterproof breathable” shell – in quotes, because it’s difficult to make a truly waterproof rain glove. I like wearing them for cool weather and in rain because they give me a high level of dexterity, hold in my body heat, and provide wind protection for my hands. If the inner fleece glove becomes soaked, I often switch it out and use my Possum Down gloves as a second insulation layer. These gloves are also excellent for winter hiking when you want to keep you hands cool but covered and prefer more dexterity over mittens. Read my review.
Ex Officio Bugsaway Halo Check Shirts
I wear long sleeve shirts for hiking, even in summer, for sun and insect protection. They key is to get lightweight synthetic shirts that ventilate well, particularly ones with mesh panels along the back. I like the Ex Officio Bugsaway Halo Check Shirts because they’re very lightweight and easy to rinse out at the end of the day. They dry quickly and close with snaps instead of buttons for better reliability. The Ex Officio Bugsaway Halo Check Shirts are also treated with Permethrin (Insect Shield) for tick and insect protection. I own three. Read my review.
RailRiders Journeyman Shirts
RailRiders Journeyman Shirts are a lot like my other Ex Officio Shirts except they have buttons instead of snaps. I like their pockets slightly better for fly fishing – mainly to hold my fly box. I also like the pastel colors they come in, which means that I can sneak them past my wife for social occasions and when we go out to eat. They’re also treated with Insect Shield for tick and insect protection. I own three.
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Crew
I’m a big fan of Patagonia Capilene baselayers which I’ve been using for over a decade. Yes, they’re synthetic. Yes, they stink up after a day of active wear. But I mainly use them for sleeping, so odor isn’t really an issue. I put them on when I get to camp and want to kick back in a warm dry layer of clothing. They help keep my sleep system clean and free of body oils and grime, even if I’m been out for a few days. They don’t shrink in the washer or drier and they don’t wear out. I still use the same Patagonia Capilene baselayer crew shirts that I’ve owned for 10 years and it’s still in perfectly good condition. Can’t beat that. I own two lightweight Capilene tops and four heavier weight ones for winter and shoulder season hiking.
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Baselayer Bottoms
I mainly wear these Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Bottoms for sleeping on backpacking trips, except in very hot weather, because they help keep my insulation clean and they’re so comfortable. Of course, they also add a noticeable amount of extra insulation to my sleep system when I need it. I’ve also used them as backup underwear when my boxer shorts fall apart unexpectedly and I need chafing protection until I can resupply. Ditto on what I said above about the Capilene Lightweight Crew shirts. I’m still using the baselayer bottoms I bought 10 years ago and they’re in excellent shape. I own two pairs.
Under Armour Original 6″ Boxers
I’ve been wearing polyester Under Amour Original 6″ boxers for 9 years. They’re not compression shorts, but they are fitted which eliminates any folds in the fabric that can lead to chafing when you sweat. They’re easy to rinse out on the trail and dry quickly, so I only bring the one pair when I backpack. They’re very durable and I’ve only worn out a few pairs over the years. I own a dozen pairs and wear them almost all the time, for hiking, and everyday life. Is that too much information?
RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pants
RailRiders Eco-mesh Pants are full zip long pants that have been treated with Insect Shield and made of very thin nylon so they dry quickly. The area behind the zipper is covered with a fine mesh that lets perspiration out but blocks bugs from getting in. I wear these pants for almost all of my three season hiking trips and have been using them since 2008. I buy lightly colored pants because it makes it easier to see when ticks land on them. I currently own five pairs, but tend to use the same pair over and over until they give out, usually when the seat seam blows apart. I usually get 1-2 years per pair. Read my review.
RailRiders Bushwhackers Weather Pants
RailRiders Bushwhacker Weather Pants are made with a heavier synthetic fabric that’s good for bushwhacking in colder weather when my Eco-Mesh pants are too cool (under 40 degrees) to wear. They’re not ventilated like RailRider’s Eco-Mesh Pants, but they have lots of useful pockets and are treated with Insect Shield for tick and insect protection. They’re also nearly indestructible and I have yet to destroy a pair despite frequent use. Read my review.
Darn Tough Hiker Boot Socks
I used to blow through lightweight (Smartwool) hiking socks within a few days until I discovered Darn Tough Hiker Boot Socks, which are the only hiking socks I use now. They’re even guaranteed and the company will replace socks if you manage to wear through them. The Darn Tough Hiker Boot Socks are crew height, medium weight, wool socks that are comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, even when wet. I mainly wear them with trail runners, but also use them in winter in an insulated boot. I currently own 12 pairs and send them out once a year to be treated with Insect Shield for tick and insect protection. Read my review.
Superfeet Carbon Insoles
The insoles included in most hiking boots and trail runners don’t provide much arch support or pronation protection which can lead to plantar fasciitis. I’m reminded of this every 10 years or so when I come down with a case of PF, like last year. I now line all of trail runners, winter hiking boots, XC ski boots, and fishing boots with Superfeet Carbon Insoles. The Carbon insoles are thin enough to fit into low volume running or trail shoes. I put the same thickness into all of my shoes so my feet don’t have to adapt when I switch between shoes for different activities. Read my review.
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Trail Runners
I’ve been hiking in La Sportiva Ultra Raptors for the past 3 years. They’re very stable, unlined mesh trail runners that drain well when they get wet and have sticky rubber soles that provide excellent traction. They run a little narrow and small so you won’t like them if you have big feet and need a lot of toe space. But I like the extra protection they provide and the fact that the heel is not flat, so I can run a gaiter strap under them if I choose. I have 4 pairs stockpiled in my gear closet. Read my review.
What don’t I use?
That’s a pretty thorough run down of the clothing and footwear I use for three season hiking, mostly in the Northeastern US and the UK. What items don’t I use?
- I don’t wear gaiters when there’s no snow. I find that long pants to a fine job at keeping debris out of my shoes.
- No sandals, camp shoes, or water shoes. I just walk through streams because my mesh trail runners drain and dry fast enough.
- No boots. I can carry heavy loads across the rockiest terrain without any “added” ankle support. That might not be your cup of tea, but I find that I have better balance and grip on rocks and boulders with a soft shoe that has flex.
- No shorts or convertible pants. I’d rather wear long pants than slather DEET over my legs. I sweat a bit in really hot and humid weather, but I can live with that.
- No t-shirts or short sleeve shirts for the reasons outlined above.
This is what works for me.
from Section Hikers Backpacking Blog http://ift.tt/2pqTAe7
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