Are you planning a desert trek, a hike in a tropical country, or a trip through equatorial rainforest? Inevitably, sooner or later, you'll find yourself wondering what clothing to pack. This is of course an essential question for your comfort and isn't necessarily straightforward to answer the first time.
Through this article, we aim to give you a guiding framework to avoid the most common mistakes, and we share our technical tips and handy tricks here.
What are the key criteria to consider?
Weight
First and foremost, think lightweight! It's the key criterion that will make a huge difference in day-to-day comfort. When choosing your clothing, check the listed weight (or weigh items yourself if you already own them) and make the deliberate choice to cut the heaviest ones. In warm conditions, weight means added heat, moisture retained in the fibres, and ultimately a fairly rapid — and thoroughly unpleasant — sense of discomfort over time.
Modularity
Go for versatile clothing! Not only will you save weight in your pack, but you'll also have a greater ability to handle different temperature conditions. Never forget that the desert often means cool or even cold evenings. There are plenty of modular technical garments out there: 3-in-1 zip-off trousers, roll-up shorts — all perfect for warm climates while offering quick and practical versatility.
Protection
In a warm climate, your skin can come under attack in several ways. First and foremost, simply from the sun. So, first reflex: don't expose too much skin, and make sure you always pack caps, hats and sunglasses. Then opt for technical fabrics treated with UV protection. Nowadays, this type of product is fairly easy to find and guarantees a very solid primary layer of protection.
The second threat to your skin comes from mosquitoes! And here too, you can make smart choices when buying your clothing. Not only can you favour maximum coverage, but you can also choose mosquito-repellent fabrics!
There are many garments that incorporate a 100% natural repellent within the fabric fibre itself, guaranteed to keep those pesky little creatures at bay. It's a small extra investment that becomes completely painless when you compare it to the irritation of multiple bites at the end of the day. Trust me on this one!
Check out our clothing for travel and trekking in warm, humid tropical climates.
Technical material properties
When kitting yourself out, prioritise versatile technical materials that will serve you throughout your trek or trip. You'll easily find antibacterial fibres that will save you from having to wash clothes as often — and very often they're odour-resistant too! A real bonus when it comes to limiting the effects of perspiration after a few hours in full sun!
You'll also find fabrics that dry very quickly — up to twice as fast as standard fabric. Time saved, and extra comfort to boot.
And if, in your search, you manage to combine all these different qualities, you end up with something close to a perfect garment — or at the very least, one that will make your life a lot easier.
The type of clothing
For the upper body, I would strongly recommend a lightweight shirt. It's the garment that will offer you the most comfort and the best sense of ventilation. If your activity is intense and sporty, you can switch to a fitted (or even compression) t-shirt made from highly breathable technical fibres.
For the lower body, always pack a pair of trousers (even better if they're 3-in-1), a pair of shorts, or ideally a pair of bermuda shorts.
Don't neglect head protection, as mentioned above — pair your sun hat or bucket hat with a lightweight desert shirt or neck veil to shield the back of your neck from the sun.
Overall, today you can kit yourself out at a reasonable cost for travelling and hiking in tropical climates. That said, as we've seen, you shouldn't cut corners on the versatility of materials and their quality. CimAlp has developed a complete range of ultra-high-performance products suited to intense heat. They all have the qualities mentioned above and, with a sound investment, allow you to gear up without compromising on comfort, style and the look of your outfit. You'll find exactly what you're looking for and be able to make a great choice for your next adventures in the sun!
