For outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking and mountaineering, it is good to have high-quality rainwear which protects you against the elements (rain, wind, snow etc.) and at the same time provides good breathability, so you don’t soak in your own sweat. Today there are many so-called waterproof/breathable fabrics available, but Gore-Tex remains the most… Read More »
For aerobic activities such as mountaineering and alpine climbing you need highly breathable rainwear so you don’t soak in your own sweat during exhausting ascents. Polartec NeoShell is by all accounts the most breathable waterproof fabric currently available. Polartec launched the NeoShell fabric in 2011 and soon it became clear that it offers better air… Read More »
Here we selected and reviewed the best softshell pants for hiking in cold weather. In cold weather regular pants don’t provide good enough insulation for comfortable hiking. Therefore, softshell pants or warm long johns are required. However, long johns are not the best option for hiking (except in super cold weather) as they restrict your… Read More »
When the weather gets too warm for wearing a long-sleeved baselayer, what’s better than throwing on a short-sleeved shirt and feeling the sun and wind on your arms? However, your everyday cotton t-shirt won’t perform well here as cotton is poor at regulating your body’s temperature, absorbs a lot of moisture and dries very slow… Read More »
Socks are one of the most underrated pieces of hiking clothing. Hikers often spend a lot of money on advanced hiking gear but when it comes to socks, they somehow forget how uncomfortable it is to have wet/moist feet. Not least because moist feet increase the friction between the skin and socks which often causes… Read More »
As the temperatures rise and you store your warm hiking hat or beanie at the back of your closet, you might consider bringing a sun hat for your outdoor adventures instead. Even if you are not old enough to remember the iconic Slip-Slop-Slap sun protection campaign from 1980s, you can probably recall from various other… Read More »
A pair of high-quality shorts is very useful for hiking in warm weather because it provides better ventilation, comfort and freedom of movement than regular pants. However, shorts should be worn only for hiking on well-groomed and technically undemanding trails where protection against vegetation and terrain (rocks, cliffs etc.) is not required. In this review… Read More »
A softshell jacket typically combines the qualities of a fleece jacket and a rain jacket by offering warmth as well as decent wind- and water-resistance. It is worn directly over your base layer or on top of an insulating mid-layer in cold weather. Wearing a softshell jacket for hiking is a lot more comfortable than… Read More »
Hiking can be as simple as a walk in the nearby park on pruned paths – but if you are planning to hike for a whole day or in more rough terrain, you will thank yourself for getting a pair of proper hiking pants that will protect your legs against abrasion and harsh weather. Below… Read More »
In an ideal world all outdoor activities would take place in sunny dry weather. However, even if you plan your hiking trips meticulously after the weather forecast, there is always a chance that you will run into some unforeseen rain – especially at higher altitudes where the weather can change abruptly. A quality rain jacket… Read More »
