Ultimate Guide to the Best Hiking Clothes

Having the right gear for hiking is so important to keep yourself both comfortable and safe. Hiking clothes don’t have to be complicated or confusing. Keep reading for my easy guide on the best hiking clothes!

Why Are Special Hiking Clothes Important?

When I first started hiking, I wore cotton t-shirts and running shorts. It wasn’t until I learned the hard way (freezing on a hike) that I realized how poorly cotton keeps your body warm. The problem is that when cotton gets wet, typically from your sweat, it holds all that water and then no longer provides insulation for your body. Then any air chill or wind can lead to hypothermia or more serious conditions if it becomes too cold.

Instead, there are a lot of better materials to wear during hiking such as nylon or merino wool. Merino wool is especially effective and one of my favorite materials to wear. Merino wool is made from Merino sheep and provides great insulation due to its sweat-wicking properties. What makes it different from regular wool is how soft it is. My Merino wool shirts are incredibly soft and definitely tops the list of the best hiking clothes material.

Finally, it is better to get special hiking clothes versus what you may have in your closet because it’s durable! I have been wearing some of my favorite hiking clothes for over 10 years now and they have held up great. I have scraped my knees and brushed past tree branches while hiking, and to this day, most of my hiking clothes are still fully wearable.

Best Hiking Clothes

The best hiking clothes will have multiple layers. That typically is a 1/ base layer, 2/ mid layer, and then 3/ outer layer. It may sound complicated, but it is really not! Keep reading for the best hiking clothes for all budgets.

Base Layers: Sweat Management

What is a base layer? It’s usually a thin layer that is the first layer you put on, kind of like a ‘second skin.’ In harsh conditions, it’s important that this is a good piece of clothing to keep you dry and absorb that sweat!. For more casual hikes, this will be your (non-cotton) t-shirt. Think of materials like merino wool or polypropylene.

You may see numbers in base layers like 150 or 250 merino wool. These numbers stand for the amount of merino wool in grams per sq meter of fabric. So the higher the number, the warmer it will be. I stick with 150s when I know there will be warmer temperatures but may need a jacket at the summit because of winds or higher elevation. I even sometimes wear 150 long sleeves for sun protection when it’s hot out (70 degrees+).

Luxury Base Layer Options

The Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer is a great choice because is great at quick drying and is super comfortable/soft. I’ve had pieces in my closet since 2012 that I am still wearing years later. – it is definitely one of the best hiking clothes! Another benefit of the merino wool is that you can take it on long trips without worrying about stench.

Icebreaker Merino 150 or 200 Base Layer is another great higher end option. I also have a good amount of Icebreaker in my closet. It has all the same benefits as Smartwool. When people are picking between the two, I would recommend trying them on and going down to design. In terms of materials and durability, they are both up there with each other but some Icebreakers will fit your body a little better and some Smartwool designs may suit your aesthetic a little more

Budget Base Layer Options

Hally Hansen Base layer comes in at about half the cost of Smartwool or Icebreaker. They use polypropylene which is synthetic material. Polypropylene is good for quick drying and durability, so your Hally Hansen might actually even last longer than your Icebreaker or Smartwool! The downside is that it does not block odor like merino wool does.

There are other brands like Carhartt and Under Armor that also make good budget options.

Mid Layers: Keeping You Warm

Ok now on to mid layers.. So many layers! This one is important, especially in colder temperatures, because it is all about insulation and keeping you warm! In the summer, you won’t need this if you are hiking in hot temperatures. In other seasons, this may look like a fleece or down jacket.

Luxury Mid Layer Options

I have to go Arc’teryx for my first pick here because they truly make some of the best gear out there. You can trust their mid layers to keep you warm. This is made with a synthetic fleece that will keep you warm but also let you breathe.

Other brands like Mountain Hardwear also make great down jackets that are extremely durable.

Budget Mid Layer Options

Your budget mid layer options will generally use polyester as their material. While it may not be as light, it is still a great alternative to cotton for your hiking clothes! In the same vein, budget down jackets will use 100% polyester versus goose down feather. Whether you go with a luxury or budget option for your mid layer, you definitely won’t want to skip this! Here are some of the best hiking clothes for budget mid layers.

Outer Layers: Weather Protection

Finally, when talking about the best hiking clothes, we need to consider an outer layer, or it is sometimes referred to as a shell layer. This is a very important layer that acts as your direct protection from the weather like rain and heavy wind.

Typically when you look at outer layers, there are both waterproof and water-resistant shell layers. These outer layer hiking clothes will also depend on your budget. The more you spend on a shell, the more you can expect rain to bounce off the jacket.

Luxury Outer Layer Options

Luxury shell options will include waterproof layers. You can test that these are waterproof by standing in the shower (which I have definitely done before!)

Budget Outer Layer Options

On the other end, budget shell options will be water resistant and definitely wind proof, but if you are hiking in torrential downpour, don’t expect it to last. For many hikers, a budget outer layer is a completely fine option. You can always check the weather and just skip your hike if there is torrential downpour in the weather forecast!

Best Hiking Pants

Do you need to wear special hiking pants? Yes and no. I definitely wear yoga pants and running shorts often, but again this really depends on the weather and the trail conditions. If I am scrambling on rocks, I will wear hiking pants that are more durable and resistant to scratching. It’s no fun to get a tear in your yoga pants, or a scratch on your leg!

Hiking Pants

Hiking pants will be much more durable than your yoga pants. I personally don’t really recommend getting any of luxury hiking pants options unless you want to cross-over into rock climbing as well.

Here are some of my favorite hiking pants. PrAna brand hiking pants are especially amazing. They fit great on your body and provide good protection. Also check out my blog post for a more detailed view of the Columbia Hiking Pants.

Gym Pants to Use for Hiking

The best hiking clothes in my opinion will also be versatile! There is no issue using yoga pants or running shorts if you are going on an easy trail. Here are some of the best yoga pants and running shorts that have held up over the years.

Summary of the Best Hiking Clothes

This wraps up the guide for the best hiking clothes! As a summary, it’s important to keep your body warm with a base layer, mid layer, and an outer layer. Even if the weather looks OK, it’s good to pack these clothes away in your backpack just in case. When dealing with Mother Nature, it’s much better to be overprepared.

Finally, hiking pants may be a good option for you if you are hiking on some tougher trail conditions. Otherwise I oftentimes will use yoga pants or running shorts. A lot of what you wear will depend on both the weather and trail conditions.

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