Temperature changes are frequent when hiking, particularly in the mountains where the weather is unpredictable. It is therefore essential to pack appropriate clothing, as well as spare clothing. With today's technologies, garments are now more resistant and absorb odours less. So is it really essential to change your hiking clothes every day?
Upper body clothing
When hiking, weight matters — whether you're heading out for a day in the lowlands or a multi-day trek in the mountains. It's therefore important to be mindful not to pack too many clothes.
Today, many hiking garments are designed to be worn for several days. When it comes to natural fibre base layers, merino wool t-shirts are an excellent choice for trekking — they don't absorb odours naturally. However, we advise against wearing synthetic fibres for several days, unless they have a special treatment (e.g. Polygiene technology helps repel odours).
When hiking, you can wear your t-shirt for two or three days. A useful tip is to bring two base layers, wash them by hand, and swap them throughout your trekking. As for your mid and outer layers, they can easily go several days without being changed.
Lower body clothing
You don't need to change your hiking trousers every day. These garments are designed for extended use, so wearing them for several days is not a problem. Having a spare pair can still be a good idea, in case your trousers end up soaked or torn. Besides, alternating trousers allows yesterday's pair to breathe.
You can plan for different types of trousers: lightweight trousers, warm trousers, convertible trousers, or even shorts if you're heading out for several days. This lets you better adapt to weather conditions and your environment (trails, areas with brambles, woodland, rivers…). Going hiking with a pair of trousers plus a spare pair in your backpack is a good idea. However, don't weigh yourself down with three or four pairs of trousers.
Additional clothing to pack
While you can keep most of your hiking clothes on for several days, or wash some along the way, it's also important to pack other spare items for your trekking.
For a multi-day trek, count:
- One t-shirt for roughly every two or three days of hiking. When choosing your base layer, you can opt for short-sleeve t-shirts as well as long-sleeve ones;
- A fleece. You can also optionally bring a second, lighter fleece to adapt to the climate;
- A jacket that is both windproof and waterproof
- One or two hiking trousers (or shorts);
- At least two pairs of hiking socks
- A pair of tights that can be useful both under trousers when it's cold or for sleeping.
Bear in mind that you shouldn't overload yourself when heading out hiking. Check the weather forecast in advance, but pack clothing suited to all conditions (cold, warm, rain, wind…), especially if you're in the mountains. Changing clothes every day while hiking isn't necessary, but it's wise to bring a few spare items.
