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Dressing for the Hike
HOW DO I DRESS FOR A DAYHIKE?
(Most of the items mentioned below can be bought
inexpensively at any discount sporting goods outlet)
- #1 Necessity - Good Hiking Boots!
- Protect your ankles from twisting, especially on tree roots
- When you try on boots, be sure you're wearing the sock combination
you'll be wearing when you hike, to get the right fit
- Hiking socks:
- Light polypropylene (a type of polyester) liner socks (to
wick moisture away from feet and reduce abrasion from boots)
- Heavy pair of wool or polypropylene socks over the liner
socks (cushions feet and keeps them from slipping inside the
boot)
- Daypack:
- Can be a small backpack like schoolkids use for books, or
just a large fanny pack
- Will carry your lunch, water and other items
- Cold Weather Dressing:
- Dress in layers for warmth; as you heat up, you can remove
layers
- Stay away from cotton slacks (like jeans), since cotton
can lead to hypothermia if the weather is at all cool and
it rains
- Hat that covers your ears (you lose most of your body heat
through your head)
- Gloves or (if it's really cold) mittens
- Hiking pants – nylon, wool, or polyester blends are
recommended; warm-up suits (lined or unlined) work well
- Polypropylene long underwear (if it's 20 degrees or less,
or if it's in the 30's and you're wearing unlined hiking pants)
- Sweater, turtleneck and/or long-sleeve shirt (avoiding cotton
is less important here, since this part of your body is typically
protected from the rain with a rain jacket)
- Rain jacket or poncho (hypothermia can occur at surprisingly
high temperatures if you get wet)
- Rain pants (optional)
- Coat – fleece, wool or a parka are ideal
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