LAYERING

Generally, if it’s hot and sticky, you won’t have to worry about layering—you’ll want to strip off as many clothes as you can and still remain decent. When the weather gets cool or cold, you’ll need to use layering to ensure you keep warm (or don’t overheat).

Layering allows you numerous options, and the clothes involved in layering are lighter, more durable, and allow you greater physical flexibility. The layering system works better than other methods (such as a separate outfit for each weather condition), especially when you get wet or sweat. It is important to layer with the right pieces—long johns, pants or shorts, a pile garment, and a waterproof shell. Layering cotton long johns under blue jeans may keep you warm at first, but as soon as the garments are wet with rain or sweat, you’ll be miserable.

When layered correctly, you can easily vent excess warmth. If you begin to sweat, take off your hat first. Because you lose most of your heat through your head, removing your hat or hood will act as a kind of air-conditioning. If you’re still hot, unzip your rain-jacket collar and loosen the sleeves (buy rain gear that allows the sleeves to be snugly cinched) to let the air circulate. Remove and add layers as you get warm or cold. It may seem tiresome and time-consuming at the time, but you’ll be much more comfortable for the bother.

When preparing for a trip, take the time to select your clothes carefully with layering in mind. Buy an ensemble that can be adjusted to fit the circumstances. Consider your clothing options if you awake to a warm but rainy morning—long johns or shorts, shirt, sweater or fleece jacket, and rain gear. You may want to start out with the shorts, T-shirt, and rain gear; but as it continues to warm up despite the rain, you may drop the rain gear and opt for just getting wet. Later that evening, you pull into camp and, no longer moving, you are likely to get chilled. Pull on your wool sweater and/or your rain gear. If the morning had been rainy and cold instead of warm, a better option would have been long johns under shorts, rain gear, and a hat. Depending on the time of year, you may be comfortable in a pair of loose pants or tights instead of shorts. And one of the better backpacking options is the convertible pant, which offers several options when traveling. Not only are better-quality pants made of quick-dry material but the legs can be zipped off and, voilá, you’re wearing shorts. Another zipper along the leg seam allows you to pull the pants legs off over your boots so that you don’t have to waste time removing your boots.

A great option for women these days is the sport bra. Many companies make a version of the sports or jog bra that can be worn alone or under a T-shirt so that when things get really hot you can hike in this crop top rather than a heavier T-shirt. Many sports bras are made of CoolMax and wick the sweat away from your body in addition to drying more quickly.