Interest in hiking is still great, and not only among adults: in the last year alone, almost two million young people between the ages of 14 and 19 went hiking – according to current statistics. In total, over 40 million people were counted in 2022 who went on a hike. How often is not clear from the numbers. However, it can be assumed that the experience increases with each route, especially with regard to the right hiking clothing. Because the fact is: If you dress incorrectly, you quickly lose the fun of hiking. On the one hand, we recommend the proven layering principle, on the other hand, you should always pay attention to functionality such as breathable and air-permeable materials (e.g. nylon, polyester, elastane and mesh) and the right fit. And that’s not all.
There are special T-shirts made of quick-drying materials for adults and children. Depending on what time of year you are traveling, it makes sense to choose a wide-cut model (in spring and summer) or a tight-fitting model (in autumn and winter). In any case, it is important that your hiking shirt wicks away moisture well to the outside. Depending on the manufacturer, you can choose between additional features, such as ventilated inserts on the back or special mesh inserts under the arms.
When choosing the right hiking pants, you should also make sure that the materials are breathable but also robust enough for longer tours. So-called zip-off pants are particularly popular for trekking tours in summer: They have the advantage that the lower parts of the legs can be easily removed with a zip. This is how the long hiking trousers are transformed into short hiking shorts. There are suitable models for men and women. On cold and rainy days, however, hard shell pants are recommended.
Functional shorts are also suitable for hiking on warm summer days: Depending on the manufacturer, they are made of a flexible and quick-drying four-way stretch fabric, which is said to allow better regulation of moisture. Those models that are equipped with side and back pockets – or a (removable) belt – are particularly practical.
The counterpart to the hiking shorts is the hiking skirt. In contrast to classic skirts, it has two advantages: On the one hand, it consists of moisture-regulating, odor-inhibiting and quick-drying materials. On the other hand, there are integrated inner pants under the skirt, so that freedom of movement is guaranteed at all times.
What should not be missing on any hike, no matter what the season, is a suitable hiking jacket: While light models such as a windbreaker or fleece jacket are sufficient in summer and for short distances, you should use waterproof rain jackets for longer trekking tours. On the other hand, on particularly cold and wet days (e.g. in autumn or winter), a windproof and rainproof hiking jacket made of hard shell fabric is the better choice. There are also suitable models for men, women and children.
Poorly fitting socks can cause blisters on your feet on long tours. If they are too loose, creases appear, which in turn cause friction. Special hiking socks are ideal for forest and meadows, which are breathable on the one hand and the material on the other side is reinforced on the toes and heels – and thus reduces pressure points. However, it is important that you make sure that you choose the right size depending on the shaft height of your shoes. Accordingly, there are ankle or calf-high hiking socks.
Headgear should also not be neglected when you go hiking: On sunny and rainy days, wearing a hiking hat with integrated UV protection makes perfect sense to keep your head cool and dry. Alternatively, a thick headscarf, a warm hat or a sporty cap are suitable headgear on windy days.
After introducing you to the most important basics that you should wear when hiking, we would like to introduce you to the onion look in more detail. It consists of three layers and is broken down as follows:
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