Wearing wet clothing while hiking can be very uncomfortable with one notable exception: in very hot and dry desert hiking like descending into and returning from the Grand Canyon during summer months (See my recent post on hiking the Grand Canyon.).

Wearing wet clothing while hiking and backpacking can even be dangerous and deadly. If your clothes are wet from sweat, for instance, and the weather turns chilly, you could experience hypothermia, a condition that can kill.

This is where wicking comes to the rescue. What is “wicking” anyway?

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It’s been a beautiful day in the high country. The sun is descending to the horizon. You’re pressing with a determined drive to your next campsite, racing the approaching darkness. Breezes cool your sweaty body – nice.

But, as minutes pass your pleasant cool sensation turns to a distressing chill, and you begin to shake. You’re at risk for hypothermia. You put on your windbreaker, but the shaking continues.

Are you wearing cotton next to your skin? Bad idea.

COTTON KILLS

You see, cotton absorbs the sweat that your struggling body has been producing, but instead of transporting it away, it retains the moisture dangerously against your skin. This is a recipe for potentially-deadly hypothermia.

THINK WICKING, THINK SYNTHETIC

When you light a candle, the wax at the top begins to melt and turn to liquid. The flame draws this liquid wax up through the wick to be burned and transformed to light.

Certain fabrics do the same with moisture produced by your body when strenuously hiking or backpacking. These wicking fabrics draw the moisture away from your skin and keep you dry.

Cotton is not one of these fabrics. Again, for this reason, don’t wear cotton next to your skin. Instead, wear synthetic fabrics or natural fabrics like merino wool next to your body when you hike. These fabrics have wicking properties and will, unlike cotton, keep your body dry and healthy.

Some fabrics to look for are polypropylene, nylon or polyester. Merino wool is also excellent for wicking away moisture from your skin.

Remember, cotton kills. Switch to synthetic or natural fabrics that wick away moisture.

Stay healthy. Hike safe.

by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

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Good article. You are right in that many people I meet don’t put a lot of thoughts into their socks.

I have had better success with one layer of thin wool socks with occasional moleskin, than I have had with any two layers of socks, even though that’s the way I did it 25 years ago. That’s just me.

Everyone has something that works for them. I suggest trying different combinations on shorter hikes before ending up a day into a multi-day trip with blisters.

Derek (100 Peaks)

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They say, although I don’t believe it, that you can never have too many shoes. What I do believe, with respect to hiking and backpacking, is that you can never pay too much for proper hiking footwear – including hiking socks.

Pamper your feet.

Hikers often don’t give enough thought and attention to their feet.

Your feet, compared to any other part of your body, carry the heaviest load of all while backpacking: the complete weight of your body, plus the weight of your backpack and its contents, plus the weight of all of the clothing and anything else that you hang on your body.

Your feet are vulnerable to the ravages of heat, cold, pounding, strain, friction, pain and blistering. To compensate for and help prevent these villains, hikers often pay top dollar for hiking boots or shoes. But, on the other hand (or should I say “on the other foot”), they pay little attention to their hiking socks.

Pamper your feet.

Make them happy and protect them with a great cooperative footwear system combining hiking boots or shoes and hiking socks.

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Winter hiking can be fun. But, staying warm must be on your list of top priorities. Here are some stay-warm rules to follow when hiking in the winter time.

Rule #1: Be proactive and stay warm. Don’t let your body get cold in the first place. It is much easier to stay warm than it is to get warm.

Rule #2: Layer your clothing so that you can modify your heat retention incrementally. You don’t want to have your only options to be a heavy down jacket or a T-shirt.

Rule #3: If you stop moving, put on more clothing to retain the heat that you have generated by your hiking activity. Don immediately a jacket or a hat or gloves to conserve your hard-earned body heat.

Rule #4: Don’t get too warm. This may sound ironic. But if you start sweating, you may end up with damp clothing that can really chill you. When you start moving again, to avoid getting hot and sweaty, take layers off or open vents.

Rule #5: Avoid cotton. They say that cotton kills. This fiber retains moisture next year body and thus brings down your temperature, sometimes to the point of hypothermia. This condition can kill.

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Don’t wear cotton next to your skin while hiking or backpacking. Doing so can cause hypothermia, a potentially deadly condition.

Cotton kills.

Cotton absorbs moisture and retains it – against your skin.

You want a material that wicks away moisture so you remain dry and comfortable after sweaty hours on the trail. You don’t want a material like cotton that pools moisture against your skin and sucks away vital warmth.

If you are hiking in a damp climate like in the northeastern or northwestern regions of the U.S. or in Canada, shunning cotton is a must. Regular hikers and backpackers in these areas are aware of and follow the “no cotton” rule.

Beginning hikers and backpackers take heed. Cotton kills.

In the dry and hot southwest, “cotton kills” is not such a common mantra, but it perhaps should be. A damp cotton tee shirt is not much of a problem while hiking in hot, dry air. But, what about when the sun goes down?

Even in the desert, nights get cold. And, if you have a wet cotton shirt on, you’ll have a miserable night. You might even get hypothermia.

Avoid killer cotton as a base layer. Instead make your base layer a synthetic material like polyester. Natural fibers such as silk or merino wool also work well.

Stay safe and comfortable while hiking or backpacking. Choose a base layer that will effectively wick away moisture.

by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

Photo by Jeff Turner.

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When buying rainwear, how do you know whether to choose “waterproof” or “water-resistant”?

Basically your choice depends on what type of precipitation you are anticipating. If you think you will encounter a drenching rain, you will need waterproof gear. On the other hand, water-resistant gear is fine for light rain or drizzle (More Information).

Water-resistant rainwear is treated with a coating to aid in repelling water. It will help keep you dry in light precipitation, especially over short periods of time.

Rainwear that is waterproof, on the other hand, must be made from waterproof fabric with sealed or taped seams so that the stitching does not allow moisture to penetrate. Taped seams, of course, add somewhat to the weight of the garment and definitely add to the price (Source).

Remember that rainwear tends to diminish in its water-shedding capabilities over time. So it must be treated periodically to maintain its optimal water resistance.

Link to Photo Author

     by Richard Davidian

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What you put next your skin is extremely important with respect to what you wear while hiking or backpacking. The base layer of your clothing, in addition to keeping you warm, needs to have wicking properties. That means that this base layer material must be made of a hydrophobic (water fearing) fiber that pushes moisture away from your skin.

COTTON IS A NO NO

Cotton is the worst thing you can put next year skin as a base layer. You see, cotton is always thirsty and loves to hang onto water. This property of cotton makes it difficult for you to keep dry and comfortable during and after a long and sweaty stretch of hiking.

SILK AND SYNTHETICS YES

Silk and synthetics like polyester are good choices. These materials are hydrophobic. They’re scared to death of moisture, so they eagerly push water away from your skin.

MERINO WOOL WELCOME

Recently wool is making a comeback as a base layer after decades of being out of favor. The reason for the comeback is merino wool.

This softer, more flexible wool has a fiber diameter that is 40% smaller than regular wool. This characteristic gives it a softer, more comfortable feel. Merino is the itchless, comfy wool that you will have no difficulty wearing as a base layer.

Silk, synthetics and wool, that is Merino wool, are your best choices for base layering in the great outdoors. Around these hydrophobic fibers, you hardly dare even mention water. It makes them shake with fear.

You can read more in this article about merino wool as a base layer.

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INTRODUCTION

As winter draws closer, so do the prospects of winter sports fun – including cross-country skiing. It’s time to get prepared with cross-country ski clothing that will protect you from cold, moisture and wind, clothing that will keep you warm and comfortable.

1. The type of skiing planned;
2. The weather forecast;
3. The tour length.

Consider these three fabrics and how each one’s properties match the three factors above. Synthetic fleece, Lycra(R) spandex and wool are the most common fabrics used to manufacture clothing for cross-country skiing. Let’s look at critical properties for each of these materials.

Wool. This natural long-time favorite is very durable. This fabric also has the amazing property of continuing to keep a person warm even if it becomes wet.

Synthetic Fleece. This fabric derives its popularity from its lightness, the variety of thicknesses and colors it offers and from the wide choice of styles it is crafted into.

Lycra(R) Spandex. One-piece touring and racing suits are made of this thin, stretchy material. And this fabric is valued for its low wind resistance and its limited insulation.

LAYER THE PLAYER

Layering is the best way to be prepared for sudden inevitable weather shifts. Adding or peeling off layers is preferable to being too warm or too cold because you failed to precisely predict the weather conditions. By properly layering, you can make sure your clothes keep you warm and dry. You can also make sure your clothes don’t keep you too warm, a condition that can ironically lead to chills and even hypothermia from the sweating that it produces.

Layer 1 (innermost): Wicking Fabric Next to the Skin. Avoid letting moisture pool next to your body by making your inner-most layer wicking long underwear and socks. Wicking fabrics draw the moisture away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable. You can choose different weights of wicking fabric according to the strenuousness of the activity you propose to participate in combined with the predicted weather conditions.

Layer 2: Insulation Layer(s). For the layer or layers just above the wicking long underwear, choose quick-drying, thermally-efficient and lightweight fabrics.

Layer 3: Soft Shell Outer Layer. This essential top single layer will protect from wind chill and precipitation.

CRITICAL HEAT LOSS AREAS OF THE BODY

The head, the neck and the wrists need special protection from cold. Cold is the absence of heat, and these three areas contribute the most to heat loss. Losing heat from specific areas of the body contributes to the cold felt by the whole body. So, wear a warm hat and warm gloves or mittens to protect these critical heat-loss areas.

FULL RANGE OF MOTION

Wear clothing for this sport that allows you to move without binding or restricting. You don’t want to be held back from performing the long strides and arm swings that efficient cross-country skiing calls for.

SUN PROTECTION

Against Sunburn: Protecting your skin from the sun may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about your day of fun on cross-country skis. But, with clear skies or thin clouds and with the added reflection from the snow, sunburn can be a very real problem. Take along and apply at regular intervals a high-SPF sunscreen to all exposed skin.

Against Snow Blindness: Snow blindness can ruin your whole day. So make sure you wear high quality sun glasses with UV protection from the intense direct and reflected sunlight.

EXTRAS FOR LONGER TRIPS

For longer trips and trips in more extreme conditions, carry waterproof/breathable outer layers for sustained protection from the wind and precipitation. Also pack waterproof gloves and a warm, water-resistant hat. For really long trips into the backcountry, consider strongly taking along extra socks, insulation layers and wicking long underwear in case you get wet. You might also be happy you took along a pair of gaiters to keep your feet, boots and legs dry and warm, especially in deep or wet snow.

CONCLUSION

Remember to carefully choose the layers of clothing that you will wear according to your activity level and the weather forecast. Then go out and have a great time cross-country skiing.

Richard Davidian
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