I love being outside. I should preface that I’m not an extreme outdoor person. However, I do love being outdoors and find that, if I don’t make time to get outside, even if that’s in the form of a walk or a casual bike ride, I will feel stressed out.
Being outside, especially in nature, helps me feel refreshed. I’ve found a small park that has great walking trails by my house. Every time I take a walk in nature, I feel rejuvenated all over again.
I try to take my kids camping every summer just to get outside and disconnect from the world. For me, time moves more slowly when we’re in the middle of the sierras without connection to the “outside world” (ahem, social media).
In this post, however, I’ll keep it light and will write about what I consider to be some of the best hiking clothes recommendations. These are items I’ve purchased when I first started my journey into backpacking back in 2018, and still hold true today.
Again, I’m not an extreme outdoorsy person. I just love being outside.
I’ve gone backpacking less than five times, and I probably hike once every other month, usually more in the colder seasons.
Okay, okay, going back to some of my hiking clothes recommendations. Again, I’ve had most of these items since 2018. So I can vouch that they hold up well and are high-quality pieces.
I’ll start with shoes from the best for more terrain and long distances to ones that are good for more casual hikes.
Here is my list for the best hiking clothes recommendations:
Shoes
I highly recommend looking into Oboz for those long-distance hiking or even short-distance backpacking trips.
More specifically, the Oboz Sawtooth X Waterproof Hiking boots. When I went on my first backpacking trip, I did a lot of research.
What I learned is that one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to protect your feet.
I mean, seriously, if you are hiking for miles a day with approximately a 25lb backpack on, your feet will take a beating, especially in diverse terrain.
I’ve read about how people got blisters, which affected their ability to continue hiking. Some have even lost their toenails permanently (me included, from hiking in sneakers).
When I read that, shoes were the first thing I invested in before slowly buying more gear for backpacking. I rented everything else. I walked into REI and told them where I was going and what I needed.
The salesperson suggested Oboz and said the shoes he sold me specifically did not need to be broken in (I didn’t have time to hike in them since I made a last-minute purchase). He said a lot of his friends purchased the same shoes and confirmed they are great on the first wear for long distances.
During my backpacking trip, my feet were so well protected. Not once did I have any blisters, sores, or aches and pains in my feet. My brother, on the other hand, had so many blisters that it slowed him down when we were descending back to the car.
They have also held up well since 2018 after hundreds of miles on them. It wasn’t until last year, 2024, that I needed to replace them.
Apparently, for the health of your feet, after a certain number (hundreds) of miles, you are supposed to replace them, just like running shoes.
I will admit, those hiking shoes were one of the most expensive shoes I’ve ever spent on. But it was all worth the investment, and I do feel like I got my money’s worth.
The thing about the Oboz, I initially didn’t like was how heavy they were. But I think for long distances, they need to be heavy-duty for diverse terrain as well. Another feature I enjoyed and that offered me more peace of mind was that they were waterproof.
I opted for low tops just so it wouldn’t be so heavy, but it’s just a very slight difference in weight. I don’t like my ankles to feel restricted. If you, too, are like that, then opt for low tops.
The good thing about Oboz Sawtooth is that they offer both low-top and high-top versions for those who need more ankle protection.
I’d say if you’re going to hike anything over 10 miles with diverse terrain, I’d suggest you wear hiking shoes like these. I’ve worn sneakers on a 16-mile hike before and lost both my pinky toenails and developed bruises around my toes and feet.
When it comes to buying running or hiking shoes, it’s recommended that you buy shoes one size bigger than your regular shoe size. This is because after all that running or walking, your feet will swell and expand.
I’ve certainly experienced this and can confirm. When I hiked the 16 miles, I think I lost both toenails because my sneakers were not one size larger.
When my feet expanded, my pinky toes were super squeezed, which resulted in bruising and loss of my toenails.
I recently bought the Salomon Gender Inclusive XT-6 Sneaker. I love them! I’ve walked miles in these, including over 26k steps (on flat terrain)!
These are the first sneakers I’ve worn for more than 5 hours a day that help with my lower back. I’ve walked in other shoes for long periods during the day, and have noticed my lower back would always start to hurt.
However, with my Salomons, I haven’t experienced low back pain.
I haven’t taken them in diverse terrain, but more on straight, flat city walks. I’m pretty confident that these would fare well in diverse terrain, also.
These were originally popular with ultra runners. That alone, to me, says a lot about their comfort level and endurance.
However, I do wish I invested a little more and bought the waterproof ones. At the time, I didn’t want to pay $20 more for that feature and now regret it. It is something I do plan on having in my wardrobe for years to come for many walking/hiking adventures.
Next on the list of hiking clothes recommendations are pants. I can only recommend one since these are always the pants I reach for when I go long-distance hiking or for long city walks.
Pants
The pants I highly recommend are the Prana Stretch Zion Halle Pants. I purchased these pants in 2018 as well and still wear them to this day! I even bring them with me when I travel, most recently to New York. Read more about my summer New York outfits by clicking here.
These pants are part of my hiking clothes recommendations because they are super comfortable for long treks, water repellent, and UPF 50+. These features make them versatile for most trips I take.
I brought them to New York during New York’s bipolar summer weather of heat and rain. And these pants did me well.
The other reason these pants are a good option for both heat and cold is that you can roll them up and secure them into shorts.
I also love all the pockets it provides. There’s one pocket on the front right thigh that is zippered and long enough to slide your cell phone in. It’s super convenient to have your phone that’s easily accessible and protected by a zipper.
I’ve worn these pants to the airport. They provided me with the extra comfort I needed and were utilitarian for maneuvering through security because of all the extra pockets.
It was easy to slip IDs, passports, and cellphones, along with other essential items, into a pocket when I needed to use my hands quickly.
I also like how it has a drawstring to tighten to ensure a snug and secure fit. I will say I don’t like how low-rise they are. That’s probably the only con about them. Oh, and the price. Maybe if they weren’t low-rise, though, it might not be as comfortable. The quick fix for me is that I have to remember to wear a long top with them.
I have them in black and like how sleek they look. They can pass for both hiking and street wear.
Moving on to other hiking clothes recommendations, are shirts. Unlike my highly recommended suggestion of shoes and pants, I don’t have a tried-and-true shirt I wear all the time when hiking. I just know, depending on the weather, what I look for.
Shirts
Whether it’s summer or winter, I usually opt for long sleeves.
In the winter, I love wearing Uniqlo’s Heattech Scoop Neck long-sleeved. I prefer the scoop neck just because it makes me feel a little more stylish and a bit more sexy than the drab hiking clothes usually can.
Uniqlo’s Heattech is a great layering staple because it provides that extra warmth. I don’t mind how it looks alone either. It is a bit sheer, but I don’t mind that. I like how thin it is because it’s lightweight and still keeps me warm.
For summer, another hiking clothes recommendations are long-sleeved linen shirts. Again, I opt for long sleeves for both winter and summer because of protection.
I usually get lazy to reapply sunblock, especially when I’ve just climbed a mountain with the sun blazing down on me. The last thing you want to worry about is sun protection.
Wearing a linen shirt helps minimize the need to exert more energy. Linen is breathable. Plus, it’s nice and thin, keeping it feeling breezy.
The only thing about linen shirts is that it doesn’t fully protect you after long hours of exposure to the sun. If you’re hiking mostly in the shade, then linen shirts can be a good option.
If you are going to hike for long hours under the sun, then I would opt for a summer long-sleeved running shirt.
Essentially, running shirts are just as good for hiking. My current favorite shirt is the Rabbit EZ Tee LS shirt. However, I recently read the reviews, and it looks like they updated the fit. Unfortunately, the new fit doesn’t seem to be as favored as the old fit (which is the one I currently have).
I’d suggest using any old long-sleeved running shirt made for heat. They’re usually made with sun-protecting fabric and are quick drying in case you sweat a lot.
Another hiking clothes recommendations are socks. This is also as important as the shoes you wear. Because at the end of the day, remember you need to keep your feet protected.
Socks
These are another must and a great investment to make. In the beginning, I invested in a few hiking socks but found that my running socks work just as well.
One of my favorite running socks, I also use for hiking, are the Feetures No Show Tab Ankle Socks. For more heavy duty hiking socks, I like Darn Tough.
Trust me when I say socks make all the difference when you’re walking or hiking long distances.
You don’t want your socks to cause blisters because they’re sliding off your feet, rubbing you the wrong way, or they’re too tight or too loose.
I prefer wearing running socks in the summer because they’re more lightweight. For the winter, I will opt for hiking socks because I have longer versions that’ll keep me warm.
Also, look for wool or wool blend socks because they will be moisture-wicking. We don’t want sweaty feet. Sweaty feet and drenched socks will make your hiking experience uncomfortable.
Last but not least, another hiking clothes recommendation is underwear. This may be obvious to some, but it wasn’t obvious for me until I went backpacking for the first time. I was stuck with my cotton underwear that would uncomfortably get sweaty from all the hiking and get stuck in my butt. Sorry for the TMI. But it’s true!
Underwear
When you’re hiking long distances, you want to be able to conserve you’re energy as much as possible. Picking your underwear out of your butt may not seem like a lot of energy exerted, but it does add to wasted energy that’s unnecessary.
I had to ask the lady I went backpacking with another time what she wore, since she was an avid backpacker. She said she opts for nylon or synthetic moisture-wicking fabric that’s full-coverage underwear.
She recommended Fruit of the Loom’s Breathing Cooling Briefs. They’re not sexy at all, but when it comes to your feet and down there, you want to be as comfortable as possible when hiking.
For bras, I like to wear sports bras. I don’t want to have to worry about a clasp digging into my back or needing to adjust my straps. Plus, if you’re sweaty from hiking, most sports bras are made with moisture-wicking fabric as well.
Also, don’t forget to wear a hat and sunglasses. Like water, these are must-haves as well. Nothing is more annoying than having to shield the sun from your eyes with your hands for long distances, even in cold weather.
I like wearing a hat because there are times when I want to take off my glasses and see the beauty of nature’s colors free of any tints.
Hats are great at helping me protect and shield myself from the sun’s bright light. It allows me to see the colors of nature at full intensity. It can also help me stay warm or cool, depending on the season.
So there you have it! My hiking clothes recommendations. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please share them below.
Below, I created widgets of my hiking clothes recommendations, and then some for you to peruse.
As always, thanks for reading!
Love, Sutivi.
