The most suitable clothing for mountain climbing

When you prepare for a mountain climbing trip, choosing clothing and equipment is an indispensable part to ensure safety and comfort in all weather conditions and terrain. 

1. How should I prepare my outfit when going hiking?

When deciding on your outfit, consider when and where you plan to hike. Depending on your travel time and weather conditions at that climbing location, choose the appropriate outfit:

- For short climbing trips, you can choose comfortable and flexible clothing such as t-shirts and jogger pants.

- Meanwhile, for longer climbs and in harsh weather conditions, you need to prepare waterproof and windproof clothing such as a rain jacket and waterproof pants.

2. Choose clothes with water-absorbent lining and dots

When climbing mountains, the higher the altitude means the higher the temperature, making the air colder, so choose layered clothing as well as cotton pants and jackets with thermal cotton lining to keep your body warm. stay warm in the cold conditions on top of the mountain.

Choose clothes with good sweat-absorbing and waterproof materials to help keep your body dry and comfortable throughout the climbing trip.

3. Prioritize lightweight outfits and choose highly durable outfits

Avoid bringing too much clothing to reduce weight and increase flexibility when moving on mountainous terrain.

Make sure your clothing and shoes have high durability and anti-slip soles to increase safety when moving on difficult and dangerous mountain terrain.

4. Reasons to wear many layers of clothing when climbing

Wearing many layers of clothing can help keep you from getting cold. In addition, you need to choose the right material to avoid looking heavy from being soaked in sweat and losing strength from the heat.

Below are different types of layers that can be used in combination to achieve the ideal effect suited to each person's climbing, activity intensity and physical condition. You can divide it into 4 layers: moisture-proof, heat-retaining, heat-insulating and wind-resistant.

4.1. Moisture-proof layer

A better material than cotton is synthetic fiber. You can wear long underwear made of polypropylene (PP), polyester or capilene. The advantage is that it does not cause itching, is often cheaper than wool, is more durable and dries faster. The downside to synthetic base layers is that they tend to stink when they absorb sweat.

An optimal material is merino wool, because it insulates better than synthetic fibers in cold weather and is more comfortable when the temperature changes suddenly. This material continues to insulate well even when wet, and does not smell of sweat. Avoid wearing a cotton or cotton base layer, because this material will retain sweat and quickly flatten when wet.

4.2. Thermal layer

This layer helps retain heat radiated from the body. Many people often use sweatshirts or wool, and wear them according to the principle that the thicker they are, the warmer they are. The weather in Vietnam is not too cold, so there is no need to use sweatshirts. Felt is not only absorbent but also hot and stuffy. Felt will promote the best heat retention ability in subzero temperatures. Lamb's wool is still the ideal material for a thermal layer, but be sure to choose one that is thicker than the moisture-proof layer.

4.3. Insulation layer

You can use a windbreaker; down jacket or synthetic fiber insulated jacket. The synthetic fiber insulated jacket is the wisest choice, because it has effective rain and water resistance while still ensuring good insulation.

4.4. Windproof layer

The outdoor temperature is not too low, but if there is a strong wind, you will shiver. The outermost layer needs to have good wind and rain resistance. If you choose a good rainproof jacket, you should only wear waterproof pants when it rains.
As a general rule, a lightweight jacket is the top priority, with plenty of extra ventilation for ventilation when needed. In particular, the jacket must have a closed hood to both protect from wind and rain and protect against insects.

When climbing in Vietnam, you should only wear layers 1 and 4. In cold rain, add layer 2 or 3 (carry a spare in your backpack). Many people who climb mountains for the first time in winter often prepare thick clothes, but they easily have to take them off because of the heat, and they have to carry a lot of weight. 

5. To decide how many layers to wear, consider the following factors:

- Strong wind: The temperature stays the same, but you feel cold even though you're wearing a jacket.

- Humidity: Higher humidity not only makes you colder but also affects the ability of the down lining inside the coat to keep you warm. The more water vapor, the less heat this layer retains.

- Activity: Climbing activities are often very continuous so the body will generate more heat than normal activities. Therefore, you only need to wear moisture-proof clothes, plus a jacket just in case, which is sometimes enough.

- Physical condition: People with less body fat will be more susceptible to cold, so they need to be more carefully equipped.

Thank you for your choiceiguide.aito accompany your exciting experience!