How to dress for mountain hiking

The weather in the mountains can be quite unpredictable. You can experience clear and sunny weather, but it is also good to expect an unplanned cooling down or even a break in the clouds during one hike. In the mountains, you need to prepare especially well for water. And not only for rain, but also for melting snow or ubiquitous air humidity. The waterproof layer belongs to the mandatory equipment.

March 24, 2024 ·4 min read

Ako sa obliecť na horskú turistiku

Functional clothing for 100% result: Layer clothes according to the onion pattern

Modern synthetic materials that favorably combine waterproofness, breathability and light weight ensure that you are neither too cold nor too warm. You will wear three basic layers. In case of changes in the weather, you can easily throw off the layer or change clothes and you will still remain comfortable.  And so that you don't kill the function of a perfect quick-drying t-shirt with a non-breathable jacket, make sure that the individual layers also support thermoregulation.
Vrstvenie Northfinder

The first layer keeps you dry

The basic function of this layer is to wick sweat away from the body and thus keep it dry. It should fit tightly to the body and have flat seams, thanks to which the clothes will be pleasant to the touch of the skin and will not scratch unpleasantly. It will mainly be t-shirts, but all kinds of clothing are made from functional materials today, including underwear and socks.

Avoid cotton, it dries slowly and gets uncomfortably cold when wet. If you prefer natural materials, look for merino clothing. From synthetic materials, Dri-release® DUO clothing is an excellent choice for this layer: it will surprise you with its extreme elasticity, so you won't be pressed anywhere, and at the same time with perfect breathability, so you don't end up in wet and cool sweaty clothes.

Turistické tričká Northfinder
All hiking t-shirts

The second layer keeps your body temperature in optimal comfort

The role of insulation layer is to maintain thermal comfort and most often it will be sweatshirts made of fleece and microfleece. Clothing in this layer should be light, flexible and breathable to support the functions of the first layer. However, it must not lose its ability to insulate heat. Sweatshirts with a so-called grid structure are also popular.

Flísové mikiny Northfinder
All fleece sweatshirts

The third layer protects you from rain and wind

The third layer of clothing serves as protection against adverse environmental influences. Water resistance and wind resistance while maintaining good breathability are important. For wind protection, you can rely on clothing made of softshell material, for example.
Bundy Northfinder
All softshell jackets

If you are looking for reliable protection against water, choose jackets and pants with a membrane and taped seams.

Which water column is ideal for clothing intended for mountain tourism?

  • Water resistance (3000mm to 5000mm): outdoor activities in rare and mild adverse weather: suitable for a short hike in an environment with higher air humidity or in a light shower with good availability of shelter

  • Water repellency (5,000 - 10,000 mm): outdoor activities in moderate to severe adverse weather: take such clothing for all-day hiking in an environment where you expect capricious weather (for example, unexpected storm, sudden weather changes)

  • Waterproof (15,000 - 20,000 mm): extremely adverse conditions / extra protective waterproof layer - such clothing protects you very well from water and can handle heavy rain.

Northkit Northfinder

Do not look for 100% waterproofness in functional clothing, it can only be ensured with a thicker plastic raincoat. However, we recommend it only in a state of extreme emergency. When moving in such plastic, you would quickly find out that in addition to being completely waterproof, the plastic is also 100% non-breathable. Your heat and sweat have nowhere to escape and you end up still wet anyway. Not from the rain, but from your own sweat.

So that the top layer does not destroy the functionality of the previous layers in sweat removal, this must also breathe well. The permeability of the material for water vapor (MVRT) indicates how many grams of steam evaporate through 1 m² of material in 24 hours (g/m²/24 h). The higher the MVTR value, the more breathable the material is (ISO 2528).

Northkit Northfinder

What breathability value is ideal for clothing for mountain hiking?

  • Low and medium intensity of movement - from 5,000 to 10,000 g / m² /24 h For example, it will be a walk in city, easy hiking, flat and slightly undulating terrains.
  • Difficult terrains and high intensity of movement - over 10,000 g / m² /24 h This will be mountain and alpine terrains with high elevations, rocky terrain, all-day demanding ascents.

Mountain pants hiking

The layering of clothing on the legs is more a matter of winter hiking, ski pants (thermal underpants) or skialpe (top thermal insulation shorts or skirts). You wear hiking pants directly on the body and fulfill the function of a third, protective layer.

So choose to protect you from wind and water, excellently breathable and quick-drying and should not restrict your movement, for example elastic softshell with membrane.

Nohavice Northfinder
All hiking pants