For outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking and mountaineering, it is good to have high-quality rainwear which protects you against the elements (rain, wind, snow etc.) and at the same time provides good breathability, so you don’t soak in your own sweat. Today there are many so-called waterproof/breathable fabrics available. Nevertheless, Gore-Tex remains the most…
Hiking and backpacking are often strenuous activities which require high-quality gear. However, not all outdoor brands make high-quality products. To help you narrow down first-class hiking and backpacking products, we made this selection of the 10 best outdoor brands for hikers and backpackers. The selected brands differ from other outdoor brands by utilizing innovative technologies…
Regular hiking pants might not provide sufficient warmth for your legs in cold weather. To keep your legs warm you can use either softshell pants or long johns. However, long johns are not the best option for hiking (except in super cold weather) as they restrict your movement and rub against your pants. Furthermore, they…
When the weather gets too warm for wearing a long-sleeved baselayer, what’s better than throwing on a short-sleeved shirt and feeling the sun and wind on your arms? However, your everyday cotton t-shirt won’t perform well here as cotton is poor at regulating your body’s temperature, absorbs a lot of moisture and dries very slow…
As the temperatures rise and you store your warm hiking hat or beanie at the back of your closet, you might consider bringing a sun hat for your outdoor adventures instead. Even if you are not old enough to remember the iconic Slip-Slop-Slap sun protection campaign from 1980s, you can probably recall from various other…
A pair of high-quality shorts is very useful for hiking in warm weather because it provides better ventilation, comfort and freedom of movement than regular pants. However, shorts should be worn only for hiking on well-groomed and technically undemanding trails where protection against vegetation and terrain (rocks, cliffs etc.) is not required. In this review…
A softshell jacket typically combines the qualities of a fleece jacket and a rain jacket by offering warmth as well as decent wind- and water-resistance. It is worn directly over your base layer or on top of an insulating mid-layer in cold weather. Wearing a softshell jacket for hiking is a lot more comfortable than…
Hiking can be as simple as a walk in the nearby park on pruned paths – but if you are planning to hike for a whole day or in more rough terrain, you will thank yourself for getting a pair of proper hiking pants that will offer good freedom of movement and protect your legs…
In an ideal world all outdoor activities would take place in sunny dry weather. However, even if you plan your hiking trips meticulously after the weather forecast, there is always a chance that you will run into some unforeseen rain – especially at higher altitudes where the weather can change abruptly. A quality rain jacket…
Hiking in cold and windy weather is no fun unless you wear appropriate clothing which keeps you warm and snug. This includes a high-quality base layer, insulation layer and/or an outer layer. A softshell jacket is very useful as the outer layer because it provides both insulation and protection against the wind and light rain….
