Hiking in hot weather is an amazing and thrilling experience. Still, it is important to get ready or prepared to avoid overheating and guarantee your safety. Selecting the right and appropriate clothing is one of the most crucial aspects of hiking in hot weather.
In this blog, we’ll cover the top ten essential gear to wear during hiking, along with the trucker hats to wear in hot weather.
What To Wear In Hot Weather Hiking?
Following are the essential items to wear in hot weather hiking to stay cool, comfortable, and hydrated during the entire journey:
1. Wear Light Colors
Always wear light-colored clothes while hiking that reflect the sun’s rays rather than absorb them. This helps you stay cooler and comfortable. Choose a light color like white or light blue shirt, pants or shorts which makes you cool.
2. Wear Breathable Clothing
Lightweight and breathable clothing is key for hiking on hot days. It will help you stay cool for a longer period by regulating the body’s temperature. Go for a fabric that is capable of reflecting the sun's rays and keeps you moisturized. These fabrics include polyester or nylon. These fabrics will make you dry by pulling the sweat away from your body. Also, go for a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt for more protection.
3. Convertible Shorts Or Pants
These pants are also known as zip-off pants. It provides an excellent versatility for hot weather hiking. You can wear it as pants for protection against sun, dust, insects, and scratches, or you can quickly convert it into shorts for ventilation. Be sure to select convertible pants, which are usually made out of lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics like nylon or polyester.
4. Flat-Wide Brimmed Hats
It is important to carry a wide-brimmed hat for hot weather hiking to shield against sun rays. Hats help you keep dry and cool. Select a hat that is breathable and made up of lightweight materials like straw or nylon. Go for a feature like a chin strap hat, which offers a perfect and tight fit even on windy trails.
5. Sunglasses
Always wear good quality sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and dust and to make you see clearly. This also helps in preventing eye fatigue. Always keep in mind that your sunglasses will protect you against both UVA and UVB rays. Consider having polarized lenses that help reduce glare from reflective surfaces like snow and water; this is a must-have feature when hiking in bright sunlight.
6. Hiking Boots Or Shoes
Selecting appropriate hiking boots or shoes is helpful when hiking in comfortable, hot weather. Always look for shoes or boots that are made up of breathable mesh panels and lightweight materials that promote airflow. Consider the kind of trekking you plan to undertake; if you're sticking to well-kept paths, hiking shoes or lightweight trail runners may be adequate.
Ankle-supporting boots provide better stability and protection on rougher terrain. Remember that a pleasant hiking experience depends on having comfortable feet, so pick your shoes carefully.
7. Moisture-Wicking Socks
Moisture-wicking socks also play a significant role in a comfortable and blister-free hiking experience. By drawing perspiration away from your skin, these specialty socks keep your feet dry and reduce friction, which can cause blisters. Ensure to select socks made of synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, or blends that include merino wool.
8. Neck Gaiter Or Bandana
For trekking in hot weather, a bandana or neck gaiter is a useful and adaptable gear. There are numerous ways to improve comfort and protection with these basic pieces of fabric. A bandana or neck gaiter wrapped around the neck that has been soaked in water gives out a cooling effect that aids in controlling body temperature.
Additionally, they can be used to remove perspiration, shield your face and neck from the heat and wind, and even filter pollen and dust. Ensure that the material is capable of quick drying and lightweight for enhanced performance.
9. Hydration Pack And Water Bottles
Carrying a hydration pack and water bottles is essential when hiking on hot days. Ensure that you carry an adequate amount of water for your hiking journey. Hydration packs, often called reservoir systems, let you carry more water and frequently have a drinking tube for convenient on-the-go access. Because of this, it's easy to take numerous sips of water without stopping to grab a bottle.
Conversely, water bottles are widely accessible and are made of many materials and sizes. They can be more practical for shorter hikes and are simple to refill.
When deciding how much water to bring, take into account the hike's duration and difficulty as well as the presence of water sources along the route.
10. Carrying Sunscreen
Carrying sunscreen is a non-negotiable step during hiking. Use good quality broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30+, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Ensure to apply sunscreen on all exposed skin, including the face, neck, legs, and hands, before going hiking.
Avoiding sunburn not only helps you avoid discomfort right away, but it also lowers your risk of developing skin cancer and aging too soon. To keep your skin safe and healthy when hiking, make applying sunscreen a regular part of your regimen.
Trucker Hats To Wear While Hiking in Hot Weather
Although trucker hats with mesh backs are perfectly suitable for hiking in hot weather, there are different types of trucker hats available for certain requirements and preferences.
Following are the types of trucker hats for hiking in hot weather:
1. Performance Trucker Hats
Performance trucker hats are primarily made by keeping the active person in mind. These hats focus on comfort and functionality for demanding activities like hiking. These hats feature specialized fabrics like moisture-wicking polyester or nylon that are capable of keeping you dry and cool throughout the hiking. These hats also feature a DWR (durable water repellent) finish for protection against light rain. It also consists of laser-cut ventilation holes for increased breathability and a sweat-absorbing headband.
The keep it salty and locals-only hats are examples of best performance trucker hats. Its lightweight and breathable fabric makes it popular among hikers.
2. Wide Brim Trucker Hats
Wide-brim trucker hats are a great option if you are hiking in hot weather because of their breathability and enhanced protection against the sun. Its wide brim will protect your face and neck area from UV rays and prevent sunburn. It also features a mesh back, which is a main feature of trucker hats that provides breathability or proper ventilation to the user.
Ensure that you choose wide-brim trucker hats for all your hiking that give you breathability and protection and are comfortable and lightweight.
3. Low Profile Trucker Hats
When compared to classic trucker hats, low-profile trucker hats provide a tight and snug fit to the user, which is essential while hiking. Since there is less interference with shoulder straps, some hikers find this design more comfortable, especially when carrying a backpack. Although they will not provide that much sun protection compared to wide-brim hats, they still offer a certain level of protection for the face and eyes.
4. Trucker Hats With UPF Protection
This specialized hat is key to every hiker while hiking. Trucker hats with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) protection are made up of a fabric that is able to block a significant amount of UV rays. A fabric with a UPF rating of 30 or more is generally thought to offer sufficient protection from the sun because it can block at least 96.7% of UV radiation.