What to Wear Hiking: A Beginner’s Checklist for Choosing the Right Trail Apparel (Spec Piece)

Find the right hiking clothes for your needs to feel more capable and confident when you hit the trail. Photo by Austin Ban.

You’re ready for the trail. You’ve got your map, your pack, your tent, and all the other essential gear you’ll need. Now you might be wondering what exactly to wear when you finally set out on your backpacking trip. With so many options in outdoor apparel, it can be hard to know what sort of hiking get-up might work best for you. Keep reading to find out our top strategies for choosing the best backpacking wardrobe to fit your needs.

This article also includes a comprehensive checklist to help you build trail looks that will leave you feeling comfortable and confident when you set out on your next adventure.

Things to Consider While You Build Your Wardrobe

Truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to choosing the hiking clothes that work best for you. Here are some things to think about before you start to get your shopping list together.

Understanding your own preferences as a backpacker will help you choose the best hiking clothing for you. Photo by Toomas Tartes.

Understand Your Preferences

This one takes a bit of practice, but the more time you spend on trail, the more you’ll get to know your own preferences. For example, if you are one of those people who feels cold all the time, a pair of fleece pants would make a nice addition to your kit. If you are prone to burn in the sun, a lightweight long-sleeved sun shirt will be crucial. Maybe you’re someone who prefers the flexibility of hiking in leggings to traditional hiking pants. The more you get out there, the more you’ll get a feel for what does and doesn’t work for you.

What Materials Should I Not Wear While Hiking?

Denim and cotton soak up water like a sponge, so leave those at home. On warmer trail days, these materials could leave you feeling sweaty and sticky. If you’re caught in a backcountry rainstorm wearing cotton, you’ll be feeling cold and uncomfortable at best, hypothermic at worst.

Instead, look for base-layer and outer-layer clothing made from synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, which do a great job of wicking moisture away from the skin. Merino wool, down, and fleece are also popular options for insulating layers. More on the importance of layering below.

Never wear denim or cotton in the backcountry. Instead opt for moisture-wicking materials like merino wool, nylon, and polyester. Photo by Danka & Peter.

How to Layer Your Hiking Clothes

Packing the right layers will help keep you comfortable in a variety of temperatures. The first step to layering your hiking clothes is understanding the different kinds of layers and their functions.

Base Layer

Your base layer is the clothing that has direct contact with your skin. These are your undies, sports bras, long underwear, tanks and tees, shorts, leggings, etc. Since these clothes make contact with your skin, you want to look for materials that are moisture-wicking and quick-drying (meaning that they draw moisture away from the skin). Think merino wool or synthetic materials like polyester and nylon.

Mid Layer

Wear this layer on top of your base layer to trap warmth created by the body. An efficient mid layer will keep you insulated for cold days on trail or frigid nights at camp. Your mid layer can include a standard down or synthetic puffy jacket, a fleece pullover or jacket, and fleece pants.

Outer Layer

Your outer layer protects you from wind and rain. Your outer layers might include a rain jacket and rain pants.

Understand the Trade-Offs

Gear selection always involves considering the trade-offs. Lightweight materials often come with a heavy price tag, and the warmest option might not always compress well to fit into your backpack. As you select each item of clothing you'll carry, you will need to consider the level of comfort each piece will provide vs. the additional weight the item will add to your pack.

Your budget will also become a determining factor in deciding which options are best for you. Shop around to find the gear that will check as many of your boxes as possible.

Pack for Conditions You Are Likely to Encounter

As backpackers, we are always trying to keep the weight of our loads as minimal as possible. Keeping that in mind, we should be strategic about what we pack. If we’re hiking in Southern California, for example, we can probably skip the fleece pants and wool gloves. However, if we’re hiking in the Pacific Northwest in the spring, we might want to add those rain pants to our arsenal and pack an extra pair of socks in case our feet get wet. Do your research before you head out, and pack only the apparel that you will need for the conditions you are likely to encounter.

Function vs. Fashion

Gone are the days where hiking clothes came only in monochrome earth tones and unflattering fits. Experienced hikers will tell you never to prioritize fashion over function, but the good news is, you probably won't have to make that choice. With so many brands offering products in a variety of styles, patterns, and colors, you should be able to find high-quality wardrobe items that you feel good in.

Backpacking Checklist

Here is our comprehensive backpacking clothing checklist. Use this as a guide to help you pack for your next backpacking trip.

Wool Socks – Two pairs; one for walking, and a clean pair for camp.

Undies – Choose moisture-wicking materials over cotton. Quick-dry options are great if you want your undies to double as a swimsuit. Carry two pairs so you always have one dry.

Sports Bras – Look for moisture-wicking materials and something that fits well while providing strong support. Quick-dry options are great for using your back-up sports bra as a swimsuit.

Tees or Tank Tops – Choose a moisture-wicking material and the style or fit that suits you best. You should only need to pack one or two of these depending on the length of your trip.

Sun Shirt – A lightweight long-sleeve top that will help protect your skin from sun damage. A great option for those who are prone to sunburns.

Long Underwear or Base Layers (Top and Bottom) – Look for Merino wool, polyester, or nylon. These can be worn in place of, or in addition to, traditional underwear for extra insulation.

Shorts – Whether you prefer a looser fitting athletic style short or a flexible spandex short is up to you. Skip these if you know you’ll be hiking in colder temps.

Leggings or Yoga Pants. – A good option for hiking if you like the flexibility of movement these tight-fitting pants provide. Keep in mind that leggings may rip or tear if you’re hiking in dense brush or scrambling on rock surfaces. Definitely pack a second pair of sturdier hiking pants for rough sections of trail or to provide more warmth when temperatures drop through the night. If you do pack leggings, they can be used in place of long underwear bottoms to cut down on weight in your pack.

Hiking Pants – Choose a pair that is sturdy and durable, but also breathable, and allows for freedom of movement.

Fleece Pants – These are optional and may not be worth the extra weight in your pack. They do make a very cozy treat at camp for cold-weather backpacking trips or for the perpetually chilly hiker.

Fleece Jacket – One option for a mid-layer jacket in mild temperatures. Fleece is comfy, but does not compress very well, making it less-than-ideal when considering packability.

Puffy Jacket – Our favorite pick for a mid-layer jacket. Choose a jacket made with synthetic insulation for a more budget-friendly option that will retain its warmth if it gets wet. Standard down insulated jackets will provide more warmth and compress better for packability, but will cost more and not perform as well if the insulating feathers get wet.

Rain Shell – A backpacking essential. Even if the weather forecast looks like blue-skies ahead before your trip, throw this in your pack so you won’t be caught off guard by a surprise mid-afternoon thunderstorm. Choose a waterproof option over a water-resistant option for better protection from wind and rain.

Rain Pants – Great for keeping your bottom half dry in wet climates. May not be necessary unless you’re anticipating the potential for a large rain storm.

Hiking Boots or Shoes – You have a lot of options, and there’s a lot to consider. Some hikers prefer a low or mid cut boot over a high cut option. Some hikers are perfectly comfortable in a low-profile trail runner, while others will require much more ankle support out of their footwear. Figure out what kind of terrain you expect to hike in most often and what sort of fit will be most comfortable for you. Always try on hiking boots before you hit the trail to ensure you have the right fit.

Camp Shoes – A pair of lightweight sandals or slip-ons to change into when you get to camp. Camp shoes are an unnecessary luxury, but oh how luxurious it feels indeed to slip out of your stiff and stinky hiking boots after a long day on the trail.

Accessories – A beanie, gloves, a buff, sunglasses, and a brimmed sun hat are all great extras to consider packing to help you brave changing weather patterns in the backcountry.