Hiking 101 : What I Wear & What I Pack
Hiking is an activity that I took up last year, and I continue to hike because I find it fun, exciting, and challenging.
The more I hiked different trails, I started to accumulate hiking gear and hiking wear. Today I want to share a few of the items that I wear or I bring on a hike.
SHOES: Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped hiking shoes
Hiking Shoes: I bought the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped hiking shoes and I love them! They are durable and definitely waterproof. I’ve worn these on 5 different hiking occasions in different weather totaling over 22 miles and they didn’t give me any blisters at all which is amazing! A great investment if you look forward to hiking often.
Socks: I like the heat tech socks from Uniqulo. Wear socks with your shoes. Depending on the weather, have different socks available: wool, cotton, thick, thin, etc. I find that normal cotton blend socks work for me. If I’m going to be in higher altitude where the weather may be cooler, then I layer up my socks, but I’m not very picky when it comes to the type of socks that I wear.
OUTERWEAR: Helly Hansen Jacket
Weatherproof Jacket: I have the Blue Helly Hansen jacket. This jacket is light weight. It works well against wind and is water resistant. I can also layer underneath the jacket without it being bulky which I appreciate.
Sweatshirt/hoodie: If you don’t have a light jacket, a sweatshirt is also a good option! They are warm and can easily be packed away if it gets too hot. I’m not picky when it comes to sweatshirts and hoodies.
TOPS:
Sports Bra: They provide support and great for doing active activities.
Sports Tank with built-in bra shelf: I love wearing sport tanks that have build in bras. I don’t need to wear a bra/sports bra underneath and it gives me the coverage I’m comfortable with.
T-shirts: I have a ton of t-shirts from school, different gatherings, events and other merch. I find that these t-shirts are lightweight and doesn’t require me to buy anything new and they work fine with any hike.
BOTTOMS:
Leggings: I wasn’t a huge leggings person and I’m still not, but I have found that they are quite comfortable on hikes. I especially like the ones with pockets so I can store my phone and keys in them. For hiking, I wear activewear leggings.
Joggers: If you’re not a huge leggings person like myself, joggers may be a good option. the joggers that I wear are made up of the same material as leggings except in jogger form. Another great fabric is nylon. I would avoid Jersey or thick cotton like sweatshirt material as those fabric are thicker and warmer.
Shorts with built in biker shorts: On warmer hikes, I like to wear shorts. Because I’m not a huge leggings person, I also don’t prefer to wear biker shorts by themselves. I have found that shorts with build in biker shorts are great because they are comfortable while giving me the coverage I like.
Seamless underwear: This is just a personal thing but I do not wear thongs and I also do no prefer to go commando when it comes to wearing leggings or shorts. I have found seamless underwears to be a great alternative! They give the comfort I want without showing the lines. And they give you support especially on hikes. Love Uniqlo’s seamless underwear.
OTHER HIKING GEAR:
Backpack: I love this backpack I got from Amazon. It’s not too big and not too small. It fits everything I need and it’s lightweight. A good day hike backpack. Would not recommend for backpacking as it is smaller in size.
Water bottle: I think this goes without saying. I love the Brita Water bottle. I think staying hydrated is key when hiking.
Snacks: I learned very quickly in the early stages of my hiking career to always bring snacks! Snacks will give you energy. They will come in handy on your hikes.
Other things I like to bring along: pepper spray, first aid kit, camera, portable charger.
OTHER HIKING WEAR TIPS:
Comfort is key. It’s important to wear something that you feel comfortable in, especially if your hike is going to be long. When you feel comfortable, you won’t focus on your clothes but you’ll just enjoy the hike.
Layer up. I think layering is key when it comes to hiking longer trails and especially if your hike will take up different times of the day. Early mornings are usually cooler so you may want a light jacket for those times and take it off during the afternoons.
Do not wear super tight or fitted shoes. On long hikes, if there are a lot of incline and declines, you’ll want some wiggle room in your shoe for extra comfort.
CLICK HERE TO SEE ENTIRE HIKING WEAR LIST
That’s my list of hiking wear. I don’t think you need to go out and buy anything new just to get into hiking. It’s important to wear what you already have! I wore sneakers and running shoes hiking way before I took the plunge to get a pair of hiking shoes.
I’m not a hiking expert, but I think at the end of the day, it’s important to be comfortable and have a good time whether you are hiking alone or with others.
What are some of your to-go hiking wear? Share them below!
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