Temperature changes are common when hiking, especially in the mountains, where the weather is unpredictable. It is essential to pack suitable clothing as well as spare clothes. Thanks to today’s technologies, clothing is more durable and retains fewer odours. So do you need to change your hiking clothes every day?
Upper body clothing
Weight matters when hiking, whether you are heading out for a day on lowland trails or a multi-day trek in the mountains. Take care not to pack too many clothes.
Many hiking garments are now designed to be worn for several days. For natural-fibre base layers, merino wool t-shirts are well suited to trekking. They naturally resist odours. We do not recommend wearing synthetic fabrics for several days unless they have a special treatment, such as Polygiene technology, which helps prevent odours.
When hiking, you can wear your t-shirt for two or three days. One tip is to pack two base layers, wash them by hand and alternate between them throughout your trekking trip. Mid-layers and outer layers can easily be worn for more than one day without changing them.
Lower body clothing
You do not need to change your hiking trousers every day either. They are designed for extended wear, so wearing them for several days is fine. A spare pair is still useful if your trousers get soaked or torn. Alternating between pairs also gives the ones you wore the day before time to air out.
For a multi-day trip, you can pack different types of trousers: lightweight, warm or zip-off trousers, or shorts. This helps you adapt to the weather and terrain, whether you encounter trails, brambles, woodland or rivers. Wearing one pair of trousers and carrying a spare pair in your rucksack is a good idea when hiking. There is no need to carry three or four pairs, though.
Extra clothing to pack
Even if you can wear most of your hiking clothes each day or wash some along the way, it is still important to pack spare clothes for your trekking trip.
For a multi-day trek, pack:
- Allow one t-shirt for roughly every two or three days of hiking. For your base layer, you can choose short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirts;
- A fleece. You can also pack a second, lighter fleece if you want more flexibility as conditions change;
- A windproof and waterproof jacket
- One or two pairs of hiking trousers (or shorts);
- At least two pairs of hiking socks
- A pair of leggings to wear under your trousers in the cold or to sleep in.
Remember not to overload your pack when you go hiking. Check the forecast beforehand, but pack clothing for cold, heat, rain and wind, especially in the mountains. You do not need to change every item of clothing each day when hiking, but it is useful to bring a few spares.
