Hiking Clothing and Gear

Hiking requires little to get started, but proper clothing and gear can make a big difference in comfort.

We’ve been avid hikers for over 25 years – heading out on local trails every weekend, as well as hiking throughout the United States and internationally. We’ve used plenty of clothing and gear over the years and list some of our current favorites below, along with some buying tips.

Keep in mind that clothing and gear styles change constantly, and something may no longer be available or works/fits as we described.

Favorite Hiking Pants

Yes, all of these pants picks are from Kühl but we find their clothing to be consistently high quality and functional while looking good from trail to travel.

The cut and style of their gear, especially for men, is really flattering. If you have an outdoorsy guy in your life, get them something from Kühl!

We use all of these. And, yes, Tom owns a slightly ridiculous amount of Kühl clothing. See our full reviews for Renegade, Konfidant Air, and Klash.

• Kühl Renegade Pant (Men’s; all around)
• Kühl Konfidant Air Pant (Men’s; lightweight/summer)
• Kühl Transcendr Pant (Men’s; winter)
• Kühl Radikl Short (Men’s)
• Kühl Klash Pant (Women’s, winter)

Favorite Hiking Layers

We’ve used lots of different top layers over the years but we keep them for so long they aren’t available to buy anymore. These are the most recent pieces we love.

You can’t go wrong with a classic Smartwool merino long sleeve. I use mine all the time in fall and winter. It’s warm on its own but thin enough to easily layer over.

Tom has been using an Interceptr fleece jacket for years – so much that he got a second to keep just for nicer casual use. See our full Interceptr review.

We did two hot-n-sunny hiking trips (Arizona; southern California) and my Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie was fantastic. No need to slather sunscreen 24/7 and it actually kept me cooler than if I had a short-sleeve T-shirt. Popping the hood up kept the sun from sizzling my face.

Super comfortable, lightweight, dries quick. It’s a just bit much when the Jersey humidity really kicks in, but otherwise its become my go-to lightweight layer.

• Smartwool Quarter Zip (Women’s)
• Kühl Interceptr Jacket (Men’s)
• Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie (Women’s)

Favorite Puffy Jackets

A “puffy” or “puffer” jacket is a solid gift pick for any hiker. The classic in this category is a Patagonia puffy jacket. It comes in different weights, both with and without hoods.

I get a lot of use out of my Patagona Nano Puff Vest. It’s thin but warm, layers over a hoody or under an outer shell, and it’s nice enough to wear around town.

For a winter jacket we both ended up getting Kühl Spyfires (in the same color no less, sighhhh) and really like them. Lightweight but warm. The mens jacket is shown above and I got the hoody version.

• Patagonia Puffy Jacket (Women’s)
• Patagonia Puffy Jacket (Men’s)
• Patagona Nano Puff Vest (Women’s)
• Kühl Spyfire Jacket (Men’s)
• Kühl Spyfire Hoody (Women’s)

Hiking Clothing and Gear Shopping Tips

Learn to layer. This is a really key clothing concept for hiking. By layering clothing, temperature can be regulated just by adding or removing a piece.

1. Base Layer – performance shirt (short or long-sleeved) next to your skin
2. Insulation Layer – such as fleece shirt or jacket
3. Protective Layer – wind/rain resistant shell
4. Hat/Gloves – a lot of heat is lost through the head/hands

The goal is to stay comfortable, dry and avoid hypothermia. If you overheat, you’ll start sweating and your clothing becomes wet, putting you at risk. A performance, or “wicking”, shirt will pull the moisture away from your skin while with cotton you’ll stay wet.

Get a core set of clothing. These basic items will cover an average hiker year-round: One wicking tee, one wicking long sleeve tee, fleece layer, rain shell, hiking pants and shorts, footwear, socks, hat, gloves and perhaps a warmer layer for winter. You’ll only need multiple shirts, pants, and socks for hiking trips.

Quality pieces will last. We hike nearly every week and are using backpacks, pants, shirts, and jackets that range in age from a few to 10+.

Choose wisely. Since the gear can last and can be pricey – make sure you like it. We’ve kept using our backpacks and clothing not only because they last but because they are comfortable and useful. Take the time to research options and read reviews.

Invest in decent hiking footwear. This is the one key piece that is more important over everything else, regardless of how often you’ll hike.

Save money with store brands. The fit and quality of store brands is often as good as the big brands… but can cost less.

Work the clearance racks. Get more stuff that way! Last years styles and colors are your friend – the trail doesn’t care about fashion trends. Those with uncommon shoe sizes can really score here.

Buy off season. Try to plan purchases at end-of-season clearance sales. Try not to buy hiking shorts just as the weather warms up, buy new winter gloves at the end of winter, etc. I like to check 6-12 months after buying boots to see if I can scoop up the same pair on sale. They don’t go bad and I have one ready as soon as the current wears out.

Membership clubs. Some gear shops offer coupons to “members”, or offer year-end dividends on non-sale purchases.

Only hike occasionally or just trying it out? Then don’t break the bank on gear right away. Suitable basic items can be found at sports stores, and even big box stores have decent quality. Start with inexpensive workout gear for shirts and pants and replace it later with better versions if you start to hike more frequently.

Double-duty. We often justify purchases because they will get used in other ways. Hiking wicking shirts can double as weekly workout wear. Hiking pants or a fleece can make good travel clothing. Our backpacks are our carry-on bags when we fly. Use YakTrax for icy sidewalks. We’ve even worn our gaiters to shovel deep snow off the driveway.

Remember…