What to wear hiking: The ultimate beginners guide for women's hiking clothes

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Let me tell you a story. 6 years ago I went on a camping/ hiking trip to the Grampians. I had no idea what to to expect- I'd never been there before, heck, I'd barely ever been camping or hiking before. I was completely lost on what to pack. I threw some soft cotton leggings and a couple of cotton flannel shirts into a bag along with my trusty vans and was on my way for a weekend of hiking and photography. Needless to say, I rolled my ankle a whole bunch and sweated like a pig in heat for 3 hours up a mountain and shivered uncontrollably at pinnacle lookout instead of appreciating the spectacular views, all because my sweaty clothes became cold. To this day, the memory of my visit to such a beautiful place is somewhat tainted by being uncomfortable all weekend.

Hiking is a fantastic way to get fit and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that the world has to offer. It can also be a rather unpleasant experience if you're wearing the wrong clothes. I have been hiking, camping and road tripping for 5+ years now, including a 5 day trip to central Australia, hiking trails around Urulu, weekend hiking treks across the UK and and Australia as well as trekking across the west coast of the USA in 2022. Needless to say, I've made a few mistakes along the way so you don't have to.

In this blog post, I will walk you through all my tips, tricks and hacks to help you choose the best hiking clothes for any hike, keeping you comfortable and warm.

Layers, Layers Layers

The key to a good hiking outfit is lots of layers. Having lots of layers means you can keep your temperature just right taking off the garments you don't need and storing them in your backpack until later on in the day, when it gets chilly. Remember- you don't want to get too hot! sweating is actually counter intuitive as it means your clothes are getting damp and won't work as well when you need them the most. I like to keep my layers to: base layer, mid mid layer long sleeve top or fleece and a jacket (I get cold easily). This way, I can remove all the layers I need if I get too hot.

Base layers

First up is the base layer. These are your underwear/ thermal layers and are usually used in colder temperatures to help keep you warm. Because this is the layer closest to your skin, it's important that the fabric you use wicks moisture. This is because, if you sweat and your clothes get damp, you want them to be able to dry quickly to prevent you getting too cold when you finally stop moving. This means, when picking a base layer you want to opt for garments made of acrylic, nylon or (ideally) merino wool. All of these materials will dry quickly. Underneath my thermals, I always go for a sports bra. Not only are they more comfortable than a wired bra, but they offer much more support when exercising. Like my base layer, I always go for one of these merino wool sports bras from Decathlon as they're relatively cheap for what they are, and they're so comfortable. When it comes to my thermals, I like to reach for my merino wool long sleeve thermal top and bottoms. Merino wool not only wicks moisture, but it acts as a natural antibacterial, which means you can wear your clothes more than once without them being too smelly- perfect for a weekend expedition if you're looking to pack light. With that being said, merino can be very expensive. These acai base layer top and bottoms are a fantastic alternative to merino wool and much more affordable. For the summer months, this merino wool t shirt is great for the summer months, the wool acts the same way it does in winter months and helps regulate your body temperature, cooling you down and wicking sweat. If you are dead set on merino, try buying your items at the end of winter around Jan- Feb time as most places will hold an end of season sale.

Mid Layers

In my (humble) opinion, mid layers are 1) where you can have the most fun with your outfit and 2) where you can get away with saving a little money. A good mid layer is usually something like a fleece or soft shell jumper/ hoodie that retains heat. The fit of your mid layer should be slightly loose as air trapped between your jumper and your base layer acts as another level of insulation helping you regulate your temperature. Another thing to keep in mind when you are thinking about what to wear is the design of your mid layer. For example, something with a high neck or hood might be good to help keep your neck warm in the winter months, but might be a little excessive for a summer mid layer. You might want to choose a soft shell over a fleece layer if you are on a summit, or expecting your hike to be particularly windy. Soft shell acts as a fantastic wind break. You might even choose to double up on the mid layer section in colder, mountainous weathers. Because there is a real possibility you will spend most of your time in your mid layer, you can use this as an opportunity to have some fun and colour coordinate. I like to use complimentary colours and mix and match my tops and bottoms, opting for colours that fit the season I am in (for example, mustards, reds etc in autumn and pastels in spring). For my upper body, I usually mix a flannel shirt and fleece for a mid layer, often tying the flannel shirt to my waist if it's too hot or removing my fleece and popping it in my backpack. I like to use 2 mid layers where possible because I run extremely cold. I have linked some of my favourite items I personally use for mid layering below. Be mindful that if you opt for something like a flannel shirt, you will need to choose either a woollen shirt or acrylic/ nylon blend shirt as a cotton shirt will be too heavy and absorb any moisture you produce.

This Patagonia fleece is perfect for mid layering in both summer and winter. I've sized up a little with fleeces opting for a medium instead of a small to give me a little room underneath, and like I said, that trapped air between your base and your mid is great for additional insulation.

Like I said, I often opt for a flannel layer for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they make a great insulating layer and keep you warm in mid months. You can also easily remove them and tie them around your waist if you get too hot, or if you're constantly running hot and cold (as I sometimes do) on the trail. If you choose a flannel, it's important that you opt for a fabric blend such as Nylon, Acrylic or Merino wool. This is for similar reasons to your base layer.

For mid seasons, a Gilet is fantastic. I recently purchased this fleece Gilet from Columbia. The reason this might be a good idea over a fleece, is because it keeps your vital organs warm whilst giving your arms (and armpits) free for movement and air flow.

For the bottom half of your body, you want to make sure that whatever you choose is easy to move in, durable and breathable. This is why most people go for clothes they would typically wear to the gym. Leggings are my absolute go to and are by far the cheapest part of my outdoors wardrobe. I have leggings from a variety of places including high street stores, all of which work fantastically. My favourite leggings are by far the Acai range. Acai are a company founded by a woman who worked in the fashion industry working with brands like Alexander McQueen. She took inspiration from her time on the runway and took it to the outdoors, insisting women needed to look and feel confident in the outdoors! I've linked my favourite pair of Acai leggings , which are extremely durable and go with everything. They've been my go to for a while now.

Insulated outer layer

An insulated outer layer is an absolute staple for me. Whilst it might not be for everyone in the summer months, an insulated layer in the winter months should be an absolute non negotiable. There function of this layer is to sit close to your body and lock in any heat that manages to escape your base and mid layer. My preferred fabric is either goose or duck down. I've seen a lot of people use their insulated jackets as water proofs- it's important to note that most insulated jackets are not waterproof, you will need a Gore-Tex jacket on top of this to ensure you stay safe and dry. Getting your down jacket wet can often lead to the insulation not being effective, even damaging the fabric if not dried correctly. This Fjern jacket is my go to, I now have it in several colours!

Windbreaker

Depending on season, you may wish to opt for a windbreaker/ light rain jacket over a thick waterproof. These are particularly good in high summer when you are hiking to higher altitudes which might be chilly in dry weather. A lot of the time I find that the wind chill is what actually what's making me cold, not the temperature. I used a windbreaker a lot when I was hiking the USA in Utah and Southern California. I really like this Cotopaxi windbreaker linked below. The berry colours match pretty much everything in my hiking wardrobe. Plus, Cotopaxi aim to be as sustainable as possible. This Quechua windbreaker is great as a budget option.

Waterproof

If you follow me on instagram Then you'll have seen my classic yellow rain jacket. You'll need a more heavy duty rain jacket for the winter months, or as a safety precaution if you're going on a long backpacking trip or hiking up a mountain. Despite the weather forecast, never underestimate how quickly the weather can turn. Once you're wet and the wind blows, you become vulnerable to hypothermia which can be life threatening. I always pack my waterproof, even if I don't think I will need it. Most good rain jackets will be made of Gore- Tex, however there are some fantastic budget options available. Whilst my rain jacket is now out of stock, something like this Berghaus Gore- Tex rain jacket would be ideal for any season paired with an insulated jacket, or for a more budget friendly option try this jacket from GoOutdoors Accessories

Socks

Socks are a super important part of your wardrobe. Whether you're on a long backpacking trip, or on a demanding day hike, it's important your socks are thick enough for your choice of shoe, breathable, moisture wicking and where possible have antibacterial properties to avoid smelly socks. Over the years, I've resorted to reaching for Merino only for These socks from Mountain Warehouse have seen me through many hiking trips. I have around 10 pairs and have not (yet) struggled with smelly feet! You can usually get a few wears out of them too, helping you reduce packing for long trips.

Fleece lined gloves

I've touched upon this already, but I run COLD. which means I usually keep some fleece lined gloves handy during the winter, spring and autumn months.

Hats and beanies

Baseball caps and beanies shouldn't be overlooked. Wearing a baseball cap in the summer can help with sunglight glare, shield your face (especially your nose) from the sun, reducing the risk of your nose peeling and keep you cool. Here are a couple of my favourite hats:

Patagonia One more hill Carharrt

Backpack

A good backpack is as important as a good pair of hiking shoes. When hiking it's likely you'll be carrying your pack for hours on end with a fair amount of weight in it, so it's important you find one that fits your body as best as possible. When looking for a backpack, you want to think about 3 things: your day pack will need to be between 21- 35L to ensure that you have enough space for your layers, snacks, water and any additional equipment you wish to bring on your hike (for us, it's our drone and camera equipment). It's also important to choose a bag with straps around the upper and lower part of your torso. These straps will help evenly distribute the weight of your pack across your body. they're also good for balance, which is key for when things get a little scrambly on your hike. Finally, you'll need to think about a pack with enough compartments and places to hold drinks, bear spray or other items you'll need easily accessible. This OSPREY 36L daypack is what I'll be using for my Everest basecamp hike this year. I also recently purchased the North Face Borealis backpack for my husband, which has been great for shorter trails and days out. Shoes Your choice of hiking shoe will either make or break your trip, so it's important you choose well! I once spent 4 days hiking in the lake district in a pair of running trainers and the downhill part of hikes destroyed my toes. Needless to say, we had to cut the last day short, which was a real shame. You will need to pick your hiking shoe based on the type of activity you are doing, the terrain and potentially the weather. For example, if you are through hiking with areas that will require river crossings, you might want to keep things light with a pair of trail runners that will dry quickly, whereas if you are hiking more mountainous terrain that is snow prone and has un even ground, you'll want a hiking boot with high ankle support, waterproof and something with crampon capability. I have had a variety of hiking boots in my time, my favourite being my trusty Columbia Newton Ridges which I have linked below:

Columbia Newton Ridges

So there you have it, my definitive guide to what to wear hiking as a woman. If you have any go to hiking clothes and products that you absolutely cannot live without, leave a comment in the comment section- I'd love to hear from you!