Fear that discomfort and difficulty will accompany cold and inclement weather often keeps hikers inside for the winter. But this does not have to be the case! In order to stay safe and maximize your enjoyment, it’s important to arm yourself with the knowledge of how to stay warm outside on the trail and in your tent. Here are some pro tips and guidelines I like to consider when planning my own cold-weather adventures! 

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Consider the Environment 

The advice for clothing I give below specifically works for the dry heat of desert environments like those frequently found in the Southwest US. I want you to imagine the inner Grand Canyon, the Mojave desert, and some of the National Parks in Utah. Knowing the environment, weather patterns and season that you are packing for is incredibly important. The layers you bring for hiking in the Everglades in the Fall will differ drastically from what you bring for a trip to Zion National Park in the heat of the summer. 

Summer in the desert Southwest (depending where you are) typically sees highs in the 90’s-100’s by day,with temps dropping drastically thirty to forty degrees after sunset. Afternoon monsoons are also common in the late summer. There is typically a large amount of sun exposure with little shade or water.

Cotton Shirt

Cotton is light-weight, breathable,moisture absorbing, and once wet, stays wet for longer. While these latter qualities render cotton a poor choice in cool or humid environments, the same attributes become a selling point in the dry heat. When soaked, a long-sleeved cotton shirt can act as a cooling system to keep you cooler for longer than a water-wicking or synthetic shirt.

It will also hold your sweat, assisting your body to perform its biological self-cooling more efficiently. Instead of a tight-fitting top, opt for a looser fit so you have more space to sweat. A long sleeve is advantageous to keep the direct sun off your skin which can lead to sunburns or sun rashes. Many of these sunshirts even have a hood to protect your ears! 

Light-weight Pants 

Dressing the bottom portion of your body should follow similar principles as the top; light-weight, light-colored, and loose. One technique to cut down on packing is to buy hiking pants that zip off at the knee to create shorts! I personally prefer wearing long hiking pants made of a material like nylon to keep the sun off my legs and protect me from the hostile plants of the desert. 

I can dunk myself completely in the river and my pants will have the same evaporative cooling properties I described above. Many other desert dwellers prefer athletic or hiking shorts, and that can be a perfectly viable option as well. Even though jeans are technically cotton, they are not good summer hiking clothes! On trail jeans are too restrictive and notorious for chafing.

 Grand canyon Summer Rim to Rim

Hats 

A hat is an essential item to add to your arsenal of summer hiking clothes. Wearing a hat prevents you from sunburning your scalp and helps shade your face from sun exposure. Some hats even have ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) properties.

When choosing a sun hat the majority of skin-cancer experts will tell you to pick a wide-brimmed hat with a flap covering the back of your neck. Since this is the look my dad has (and I think his style is a little nerdy) I opt for a baseball cap. I prefer the cap because it doesn’t get in the way of my backpacking pack and I feel like I can look around better. I combine the baseball with a hooded sunshirt to provide back of the neck protection. 

Socks

Not all materials are made equal when it comes to choosing the right socks for the desert. While having a wet shirt can be advantageous, having perpetually damp cotton socks can be very uncomfortable. Most desert hikers recommend using wool or synthetic blend socks because they are better at managing moisture. Wool can absorb much more moisture than other materials before it actually starts to feel wet, and that keeps your feet cool and dry. Merino wool is a great option because the structure actually repels moisture and regulates the temperature of your feet. Wool socks are a must to add to your go-to summer hiking clothes. 

Shoes

While choosing the right summer hiking clothes is obviously important in the heat, deciding on the ideal summer shoe can also make a surprisingly big difference. I typically prefer a light-weight hiking sneaker over heavy boots in the summer season. Boots can be great for colder weather, trail running or rock climbing approach shoes can be more breathable and dry out quicker. Some popular brands for light-weight hiking shoes are Merrel, Altra, Salomon, and La Sportiva. Make sure the sole of the shoe has good traction for steep, gravely canyon hikes.

Water Shoes

Many summer hikes involve walking through or across creeks and rivers to arrive at a picturesque watering hole. For these hikes, you might consider wearing a hiking sandal or water shoe instead of typical hiking shoes. If your feet are going to be wet for most of the hike anyways, a water sandal can help prevent getting blisters and avoid having a shoe fill up with sand or water. 

Try to find a sandal with a heel strap for more stability and a sole with lots of tread so you don’t slip on the river rocks. Some of my favorite brands are Chacos and Tevas. If you are on a multi-day backpacking trip, these may also be a great choice of “camp show” for wearing around camp to air your feet out.

Sunglasses 

Eye protection is crucial out in the desert as well as on the water, or for sunny high altitude snow crossings. Did you know the whites of your eyes can actually get sunburnt from the sun? Sun glasses can prevent this and additionally protect your eyes from windblown sand, or tree branches smacking you along the hike. 

One factor to take into consideration when picking out sunglasses is if they have polarized lenses. Polarized lenses are more effective in reducing the glare from the sun and also offer UV protection. Adding a solid pair of sunglasses can enhance your summer hiking clothes set up and allow you to take in the beauty around you without all the squinting.

Other Useful Items:

In addition to dressing for success with my summer hiking clothes and lightweight footwear, I also pack a backpack with at least the following few items in the summer to stay cool and safe: 

• 3-5 liters of water – Consider a hydration bladder in combination with at least one hard sided water bottle) 
• Extra layers- Many people are surprised to find out that the temperature in the desert can swing drastically. When the sun goes down, it’s important to put on those warm layers.
• Salty snacks and electrolytes 
• First aid kit
• Optional: Sun gloves, sunbrella, or spray bottle

Read: What to pack for a day hike 

Conclusion 

Hiking in canyon country can be a wonderful adventure, and choosing the optimal summer hiking clothes can make it even better. Although this might seem like a lot of expensive gear, many of these items can be found second-hand and worn for many years. If acquiring this gear keeps you safe in the heat, it’s worth putting the time and energy into finding it. Now, get out and explore the beauty of the Southwest!

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The sound of camping.

It’s not a specific bird’s first chirp at dawn or the crescendo of a tent zipper, or a distant outboard peeling back the blanket of fog that hovered over the lake, hunting for muskie.

What I remember most is the sound of a stove, the mechanical, repetitive clank of a green, model #413F Coleman two-burner camp stove being primed to life. It’s unmistakable red supply tank a call sign.

My mother would light it each morning, first for coffee brewed in a blue enamel percolator, and then eggs burnt at the edges in cast iron. A lit cigarette would teeter on the edge of the checkered picnic table that became the equipment catch-all of our camp kitchen. Paper towels. Collectible McDonald’s cups with Muppets on them, saved from drive up to use at home. The half-smoked Salem would threaten to release its lengthening ash into the damp dawn grass with each metallic clank of the pump.

If I wasn’t afraid and my brothers would approve, I’d sleep in the big canvas tent my parents would erect next to the camper at our annual site, 100 yards above a remote lake in eastern Ontario, Canada. The aptly named Moosehaven Lodge. 

The camper, too, was decorated with the Coleman brand, but it sported a 1970’s yellow-beige. It had hand crank slide-outs and musty, brown paisley cushions that I can still smell. 

I recently found the 1960s-era stove on eBay. An original one will cost about $100, and I’m thinking of adding it to my camping gear list to gauge its heartiness alongside a host of its modernized two-burner offspring from companies like Camp Chef, GSI, and Snow Peak. I wonder if they can compete. That Coleman-issue camp green holds in its hue so much camping history, as traditional to the pastime as granola bar crumbs and the stench of slow-burning mosquito-repellent coils. 

Maybe those early morning memories are at the root of my propensity to dig deep into the makeup of outdoor gear, and as a freelance journalist, to often cover it. Companies send me a lot of their stuff to test, and I’ve given away a store worth of down jackets, stoves, backpacks and headlamps over the years. 

There’s a lot of stuff out there to choose from, and my social media algorithms aren’t helping. “Guys, everything you know about camping is wrong!”

To sort through it all, I created a product that helped frontcountry families and backcountry travelers never leave an item behind, it was a lightweight tarp printed with an exhaustive camping gear list compiled from years working as an outdoor professional. It sold well, but I’m more of an idea guy than a business executive, so the company shuttered a few years ago.

Nevertheless, I still use the few tarp samples I have laying around to plan my own trips as a guide, both when leading backpacking trips for Wildland Trekking, as well as for our guided basecamps and inn-based adventures. 

Read: What to Pack for a Day hike

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In addition to this day’s hiking pack list, hiker’s should leave detailed plans with someone they trust who is not going on the hike. This detailed plan should include the intended route, the potential back-up or alternate route options, contingency plans, entrance and exit times. Having all of this information will aid search and rescue crews if the hiker(s) are not back by the planned times. It is crucial to check back in with this point of contact post hike so that they do not contact the authorities unnecessarily.

History

The concept of the 10 essentials for a day hiking packing list originated in the 1930s with The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based outdoor organization. The Mountaineers published a list of essential items that hikers should carry with them to ensure their safety and preparedness while exploring the wilderness. Over the years, the list has evolved and been refined based on advancements in outdoor gear and technology.

The original list of essentials included items such as a map, compass, sunglasses, extra clothing, headlamp, first aid kit, fire starter, matches, knife, and extra food. These items were deemed essential for hikers to have in case of emergencies or unexpected situations while out on the trails.

As outdoor recreation became more popular and accessible to a wider audience, the concept of the 10 essentials gained traction and became widely adopted by outdoor enthusiasts and organizations around the world. The list serves as a guideline for hikers to ensure they are adequately prepared for any situation that may arise while hiking in the Wilderness.

Today, the 10 essentials for day hiking continue to be a fundamental part of outdoor education and safety practices, emphasizing the importance of being prepared and self-sufficient while enjoying the great outdoors.

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My interest in backpacking doesn’t come from the prospect of sleeping under canopied forests or beneath towering canyon walls. Nor does it stem from the allure of total solitude or the promise of starry skies. What drew me in was the idea that I could be strong and capable enough to carry everything I needed to survive on my own back.  

However, backpacking can quickly turn from a dream into a nightmare if not done correctly. To make the most out of your backpacking trip, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your supplies and understand how to prepare and pack your gear.  

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Choosing the right pair of hiking boots is one of the most critical gear purchases you’ll make, whether for everyday adventures or extended backpacking trips. To make matters harder, the perfect pair of hiking boots for one person might be the entirely wrong pair for another hiker. There’s nothing worse than a great hiking outing ruined by a pair of boots that are too tight, too loose, or ill-matched for your outdoor activity.

The good news is that you can choose between a few options to ensure you purchase the perfect shoe — and we’ll help guide you through how to choose hiking boots. 

It can be overwhelming to select the right hiking shoe. Trust me, I’ve been there and done it wrong. The purchased my first pair of hiking boots by considering the price and how they looked, which led to blisters and squished toes after I spent an entire summer suffering with them in Colorado’s West Elk Mountains. It’ll take some trial and error to find a comfortable pair in the store, but hopefully, we can clear up any confusion you have beforehand to get you looking at the right boots from the start.

In this post, we’ll help you choose hiking boots by selecting the right style for your planned outdoor activities and the right material for your needs. Plus, we include a few tips about trying them on in the store to make sure they fit correctly. 

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On my first “backpacking trip”, my dad took me to Timothy Lake in Oregon. I was a young kid — maybe five or six. We hiked barely a mile into a campsite by a lake — all my little legs could handle. I wore a small, external frame pack that my brother used before me; my dad probably hauled in his cast iron. My main memory from the trip was when my childhood dog wore my little backpack to carry his food. Somewhere along the trail, he lost the pack — an inevitability of a dog carrying human gear. We spent the trip making s’mores and playing in the water. 

After that trip, I didn’t go backpacking again until college. But in the backpacking world, a lot had changed since the ‘90s. New trail systems, shiny, high-tech gear. Entering the outdoor community for the first time on my own, I had absolutely no idea how to start backpacking.

When you’re planning a backpacking trip, there’s so much to consider. What gear do you need? Where should you hike? How far should you hike? When you’re just getting started, it can all feel incredibly overwhelming. 

But it’s okay to take it slowly. Rent, borrow, or find used gear. Learn from friends, from books, from guides. Over time, it will all come together. And trust me — the feeling you get from being in the backcountry, with everything you need on your back and beautiful views and experiences at every turn? It’s 100% worth it. 

So how do you embark on your first backpacking trip? This guide will help you break down how to start backpacking, including what gear to bring, what to eat, and where to hike. 

Why Backpacking?

The payoffs of backpacking are huge. Spending days (or even weeks) in the backcountry connects you to the natural world. You can experience many health benefits, create strong relationships, and develop personal confidence.

One thing I love the most is the feeling of self-sufficiency when you’re carrying everything you need on your back. Through this process, I’ve learned that you don’t need anything more than what you have. Life becomes very simple; it’s just you, the trail, and the views.

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