Ways to Keep Warm While Hiking Outside
Posted by: ariyes on: 15 Apr, 2010
- In: Hiking
- No Comments
As anybody that has ventured outside hiking underdressed will tell you, if you are not warm while hiking, you are probably not enjoying yourself either! So what is the best way to keep warm while hiking outside? Let’s look at the basics.
A good place to start is by using clothes that keep the warmth in but moisture out. Cotton fabrics are no good for this as they retain moisture when wet. This in turn will keep you cold, especially if they are directly against your skin. Synthetic materials and polyprothene for example help repel moisture, yet these fabrics do a good job of keeping you warm.
If it is going to be particularly cold then adding layers is the easiest and most effective option.
Add synthetic lower layers with thick layers on top of that. For example a vest, synthetic top, followed by a wool jumper and waterproof coat will be a good combination for your top half. Add to this a scarf, thick gloves and a hat if your coat does not have one to help keep warmth in. Up to 80% of body heat can be lost through your head so using a hat or hood is a good idea.
Ensure you have solid and durable footwear which ideally are made of water repellent materials. Wear thick socks or even two pairs to keep your feet warm and above that have numerous layers on your legs too.
Male and female hiking tights are available and work excellently to keep warmth in. Over these a pair of trousers and/or waterproof trousers will be ideal to ensure maximum warmth while hiking outside.
Basically a mixture of synthetic layers first, combined with thick wools or outdoor fleeces and then waterproof garments is an excellent combination. ‘Gore-Tex’ fabrics are also excellent to help keep warm and dry as the design allows for moisture to pass out but not in.



