While hiking can certainly serve as a pleasant (if infrequent) pastime for those who are not wholeheartedly dedicated to exploring the more remote reaches of the planet, it is also a sport, and one that requires particular equipment and attire to practice properly. You won’t need all the padding of a football uniform or the jumpsuit and goggles essential to skydiving, but that doesn’t make it any less imperative to understand why some items of clothing are better for hiking than others, especially if you plan to become an avid practitioner. So here are just a few clues to get you started and keep you going down the long trail that lies ahead.
The first and most obvious thing to consider is footwear. You’ll be traveling courtesy of your two feet (albeit a little differently than Fred Flintstone) so you want to make sure that your tender toes remain comfortable, cushioned, and dry for the duration of your walkabout. This means you need proper socks and shoes. Here you might be tempted to go for something lightweight and minimally protective that can also get wet (water shoes), but you should refrain from jumping aboard this multifunctional bandwagon. If you’re crawling through a riverbed in springtime then you might need some shoes like this. But serious hiking requires a fair bit of support for arches and ankles, which means a hiking boot that holds everything rigid. And you’ll certainly want to avoid chafing (since you have to walk back just as far as you went in) so soft socks that wick away moisture are your best bet (while going sockless is sure to result in horrendous blisters).
Next you need to think about what will go on your body. Here, again, there are certain items that will better suit your needs. You’ll want lightweight fabrics that fit semi-close to the body (not too baggy) and provide the same moisture-wicking properties as your socks. Since you’re going to engage in repetitive motions, you definitely want to avoid the rubbing of sensitive areas that can occur with the wrong type of fabric (or skin-on-skin friction). You’ll soon give yourself an uncomfortable rash that you’ll have to live with for the rest of the trip. Your clothing should be loose enough to allow movement but fitted enough so that your thighs and armpits don’t rub.
Finally, you need to seriously consider accessories. A bucket hat will keep the sun off your face, but you should definitely add some sport shades with broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) coverage to protect your eyes (and don’t forget the sunblock). You’ll also want to add a pack to haul essentials. A CamelBak pack is great because it includes a bladder to hold your water (amount depends on size of pack) along with a hose attached to the shoulder like a straw, for easy drinking on the go. It also has plenty of space to house power bars, a windbreaker, and a first aid kit, as well as plenty of adjustable straps to keep everything comfortably in place.
Although you might not consider hiking a serious sport, a visit to mountain hiking trails will soon disabuse you of that fallacy. But as long as you wear the right shoes and clothing and bring along the essentials, you’ll have a great time hiking even the longest trails.
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