outdoors.deoblog.com

The First Principle of clothing yourself for backpacking is to dress in layers. (In case we forget to mention them later, the Second Principle is Watch the Weight and the Third is Watch the Bulk.) Beginning from the outside and progressing in, the layers of backpackers onion of clothing look something like this:

Rain Gear

This is an essential item of clothing in all seasons but dead-of-winter camping. Always pack your rain gear where it is readily accessible.

• Waterproofing: Rain gear must be entirely waterproof, not water-resistant; nylon shells and wind suits will not do.
• Durability: Rain gear should be heavy enough to withstand the rigours of hiking; $3.99 ponchos will not cut it.
• About Ponchos: Rain gear should cover the entire body from head (hood) to foot; ponchos fall short on a number of counts: 
  • They offer little protection to the lower half of the body which can become soaked from contact with grass and other foliage.
  • They are very difficult to wear with a backpack unless you purchase the oversized ponchos which are designed to cover both the wearer and his/her pack.
  • Ponchos tend to catch on branches and thorns when travelling through bush.
  • They offer too much wind resistance, and can actually pose a safety hazard for the hiker who finds him/herself on a windy, exposed ledge.
• For increased durability, look for a rubber or plastic coating bonded to a fabric. The fabric provides strength and allows zippers and accessories to be sewn on rather than bonded with glues, ... Rain gear made with fabric backing is usually lighter than that made strictly with rubber or PVC, since the waterproofing layer is usually much thinner.
• Expect to pay $35 to $80 for good quality rain gear. This presumes (quite safely) that most of us can't afford Gore-Tex ($300 - $450).
• We repeat: good quality rain gear is essential. Making do with poor rain gear does not just mean you will suffer some physical discomfort; being wet, and then being exposed to the elements afterward can be a life-threatening situation. Wet clothing, exposed to wind can very quickly reduce body temperature to the point of hypothermia, even in summer conditions.

• About Blue Jeans: they are rugged, protect your legs from underbrush, and provide some warmth, but they are heavy and bulky. When they get wet, they take a long time to dry out and are very heavy and very cold. For these reasons, we do not recommend wearing jeans.
• Synthetic Long Johns or Tights, or Fleece Pants (cold weather only) are less rugged than jeans, but they are lighter, and when combined with wind pants, provide more warmth.  They can also be worn to bed for added warmth. 
• Shorts obviously don’t cut it for winter or even late fall camping, but in moderate conditions they are much less bulky and heavy to pack than either of the previous alternatives.   When hiking in the heat, they beat everything hands down for comfort.   In cooler weather, they can be covered with wind pants. Of course, without wind pants, your delicate legs are exposed to the snags of nature: rose bushes, hawthorns, Canada thistle, and stinging nettle to name a few, but, once again, everything in life is a trade off. 
• You might also consider zip-off pants, which can serve double duty as both wind pants and shorts, thereby saving weight.

T-Shirt:

These final layers should begin to hug the body fairly tightly to hold warmth against the skin and to wick perspiration away from the body.

Undershirt and Long Underwear

Even if these are not worn during the day time, they do come in handy in the sleeping bag, especially if you are not sure that it will live up to its temperature comfort rating. If you are looking to purchase long underwear, we strongly recommend that you consider buying a polyester or other synthetic, not cotton. Helly Hansens can be purchased at the local Midfield supply or Marks Work Warehouse for quite a reasonable price. They're not stylish, but they are very warm.

Socks

• Hiking: For hiking, we advise wearing two pair of socks, a thick, warm, absorbent sock over a thin, synthetic sock with little absorbency. The synthetic sock will wick the moisture of perspiration away from the foot to the outer sock, thereby keeping your foot drier. As well, it will tend to slip inside the outer sock, preventing the friction which would result if your foot were to do the same thing. Translation: fewer blisters and hot spots on your feet. Finally, wearing two pair of socks increases the cushioning on your feet.
• Sleeping: If possible, reserve one pair of clean socks to keep your feet warm while you sleep. If your feet are susceptible to cold while you sleep, both your feet and your nose will thank you.

A Hat

• For warm/cool weather camping: your hat should provide you with protection from the sun. Baseball caps shield the face, but they do little for the neck or ears. For this you need a hat with a brim (sorry if that is not fashionable!) An alternative is to use a scarf draped down from the hat to protect the neck (and, preferably, the ears) from the sun’s harmful rays. Picture a French Foreign Legion hat, and you’ve got the idea. Be sure to attach the scarf to the hat with safety pins or Velcro to avoid losing it. On hot days you can soak the scarf and/or the hat to provide a cooling effect. If you insist on leaving your neck and ears exposed to the sun, protect them with a generous slathering of sun screen. Look for hats with some system of venting to allow sweat to evaporate and cool your head. If your hat lacks ventilation, you can add some with a grommet kit.
• For cool/cold weather camping: Your hat needs to provide you with warmth. In this case, protection from the sun may have to be provided by sun screen. Keep in mind that your hat may have to provide you with protection from the wind as well as providing insulation, especially if you do not have an adequate hood.
• In the Sleeping Bag: A toque or insulated hat can increase your comfort level significantly in cool conditions. This is particularly true if your sleeping bag does not have a hood. Keep in mind that in many of the locations we visit (Cypress Hills, for example) night time sleeping conditions are cool twelve months of the year.

Wet/Camp Shoes

• Wearing around the camp site to give your feet a break from your hiking boots or to provide dry footwear when your hiking footwear has become soaked.
• Wearing when crossing streams or marshy areas. When such situations threaten to soak your hiking boots, take them and your socks off, put on your wet shoes, cross the stream, then put your socks and hiking boots back on.

• Adaptability: If you have dressed in layers in the morning, you can peel them off as the day warms up. Keep in mind that in alpine locations (and Cypress Hills is, essentially, an alpine environment) temperature conditions can vary up to 30° C from morning to afternoon.
• Warmth: Each layer serves its own function in keeping your warm (protection from wind, insulation, ...) As well, air is trapped between layers, providing additional warmth and insulation.
• Multiple Functions: A long-sleeved shirt can be worn as a layer between your t-shirt and shell, it can be used by itself on a cool morning around camp, or it can serve to protect your arms from the sun on the trail.
• Managing Weight: Sure that duck parka will keep you warm, but what happens when the weather turns milder? Now you are carrying 4 Kg of unnecessary weight and you don't have anything to wear for cool weather.