If you're a fan of ultralight hiking, you're certainly on the hunt for every superfluous gram. When it comes to lightweight hiking clothing, it's better to work from a list of essentials. Hiking light means choosing the clothing you need and leaving behind anything less important.
To properly define what to wear on an ultralight hiking trip, you need to distinguish between clothing worn permanently and items stowed in the pack for temporary use. When we talk about permanently worn clothing, we mean what you have on your body. It goes without saying that depending on the duration of your hike (a weekend or longer, for example) and your willingness or ability to do a bit of washing, you'll need to adjust accordingly — with spare clothing, or without!
Hiking light: clothing worn on the body
For the upper body, you can go for a quick-drying half-zip t-shirt or choose a vest version. The half zip allows a degree of adjustment depending on temperature and desired comfort. In colder periods, you can layer a thermal base layer top underneath.
For trousers, go for a genuinely lightweight and reinforced hiking trouser. It's the ideal choice to avoid being weighed down by unnecessary bulk while staying well protected all over. Underneath, you can wear a close-fitting pair of boxers or a short thermal base layer of your choice.
For socks, it's recommended to choose socks made with merino wool, which help prevent odours and are above all comfortable and hard-wearing.
Don't rush the choice of hiking shoes. They're essential for your comfort. Don't prioritise light weight alone in this case — otherwise you'll end up with fragile footwear that wears out quickly. You can find a good compromise between quality and weight, particularly by opting for low-cut shoes, if the terrain you'll be covering allows for it.
To complete your kit, grab a cap. It'll protect you from the sun and can help cool you down by soaking it in water during heatwaves. It also provides a little protection against the cold.
Hiking light: clothing not worn permanently.
First up in this category are clothes for the evening and night. You can slip a pair of long thermal tights into your rucksack for sleeping. This thermal base layer will be your defence against the low temperatures of the night. You can then choose to use your daytime t-shirt for sleeping, or pack a spare one.
Also pack a neck gaiter, which will serve you both during the day as a neck warmer or bandana, and at night to protect your head from the cold. Gloves will also come in handy. In the evening or early morning they protect your hands from the cold, and during the day they can be used for cold protection as well as protection against impacts and abrasions.
Finally, pack a pair of night socks to alternate with your daytime pair. You can dry a pair of socks in the sun, clipped to the outside of your rucksack while you walk.
Two other garments are essential to pack for the coldest moments or to fend off wind and rain. First, opt for a compactable, water-repellent windproof jacket. It will be sufficient in predominantly dry conditions. In heavy rain, look for shelter or use your tarp or groundsheet to protect yourself.
For cold conditions, the best option is a synthetic down jacket: it offers the best compromise between solid protection and keeping weight down. On top of that, its compressibility makes it a go-to ally when you're looking to optimise your pack to the maximum.
Hiking light is a style of hiking that often calls for tough choices. These must be made with your safety and minimum comfort in mind. You'll certainly carry less than on a supported hiking trip, for example, but the rewards are real. This essential clothing checklist for hiking light should help guide you in making your choices and packing your rucksack for days of adventure in the great outdoors!
