How to Properly Dress for a Backpacking Trip

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By andrewma
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The lowdown on getting properly dressed for a backpacking trip. This article outlines the 3 layers you will need to stay warm, dry, and HAPPY on your next outing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Baselayer
Midlayer
Outer layer

Step 1

Research.

Find answers to these questions:
What will the temperature be?
How humid will it be?
How windy will it be?
How active will I be? (how much will I perspire?)
Step 2

Your baselayer.

This is the layer you will wear closest to your body. This is the layer that will wick moisture away from your skin as well as trap heat on a hot day. There are basically 3 baselayer levels: lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight.

Lightweight baselayers will be softer and silkier to the touch. They will feel cool against your skin and will help keep your body dry when you sweat. Use them on a hot or humid day.

If you want just one baselayer, get a midweight. It will do a decent job of keeping you warm and will still wick well.

Save the heavyweight for those really cold days or if you will not be moving around much. They do a poorer job of controlling moisture, but can't be beat in warmth.
Step 3

Your mid-layer.

This is the piece you most likely already have. If so, good for you! You just saved a bit of money! Your mid-layer will do the great majority of the work in the warmth department. I recommend fleece or wool for this layer.

Most fleece is 100% polyester which is great because it is very efficient (warm for its weight) as well as being breathable.

Wool is great for outdoor activities as well. It is probably the warmest material that can still breathe. It is also naturally odor resistant (which will matter when you sweat on those tough climbs).

Try both on; different people like different fabrics.
Step 4

Your outer layer.

This is going to be your most expensive layer. It is what will protect you from the elements. Most good outer layers will be waterproof, windproof, yet still ventilate.

There are special membranes that these jackets or pants will have. By far, the most common is Gore-Tex. Other manufacturers will have their own waterproof-breathable membranes with their own proprietary branding, but they are for the most part very very similar.

Some jackets will be waterproof, but are not designed to breathe. These tend to be less expensive but not geared towards high activity level hiking because vapor from your sweat cannot vent out. Waterproof-breathable jackets will be pricier because of the speciality membranes that are waterproof, yet still facilitate ventilation. (In a nutshell, these membranes have tiny pores that are small enough to not let outside water in, but big enough to let inside vapor get out.) These jackets and pantsare referred to as "hard shells."
You guessed it, there are also "soft shells."

Soft shell garments will not be waterproof but will be water-resistant (see "Tips"). If you do not expect heavy rain or snow, soft shells will be great because they will still shed the occasional precipitation, yet are highly breathable, highly wind-resistant and will stretch. Most Gore-Tex and other similar materials inherently cannot stretch.