What to wear hiking, by temperature
Wear for the climb, pack for the top. Enter the trailhead weather and how much you’ll climb.
Wear
In your pack
The chart
By feels-like temperature while moving. Whatever the tier, pack one tier colder for the top and for stops.
| Feels like | Wear |
|---|---|
| Above 68°F (20°C) | Light shirt and shorts or light pants · Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen |
| 50–68°F (10–20°C) | Long-sleeve layer · Light jacket in your pack · Sun hat |
| 32–50°F (0–10°C) | Insulating mid layer (fleece or light puffy) · Wind or rain shell · Warm hat and light gloves |
| Below 32°F (0°C) | Warm base layer and an insulated jacket · Shell layer · Hat, gloves and a neck gaiter · Traction for icy trails |
Always in the pack
- The ten essentials: navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, first aid, a knife, a way to make fire, an emergency shelter, extra food, extra water, extra clothes.
- Water: about half a litre an hour in mild weather, up to a litre an hour in heat.
- A shell, even on a clear day in the mountains.
For your hike
Upload the hike’s GPX to Route Forecast and choose Hike: it shows the weather along the trail when you’ll be there, including the high point, with what to wear, how much water, and sunset. Open a route · How long will it take?
Questions
What should I wear hiking in 50 degree weather?
At 50°F (10°C): a long-sleeve layer you can push up, light pants, and a light jacket in your pack. If you’re climbing 2,000 feet or more, it’ll be in the low 40s and breezier on top, so pack a wind shell, a warm hat and light gloves too.
What should I wear hiking in 30 degree weather?
At 30°F (−1°C): a base layer, a fleece or light puffy, a wind or rain shell, warm hat and gloves. Start a little cool so you don’t sweat on the climb, and bring traction if the trail could be icy.
How should I layer for hiking?
Three layers: a base layer that moves sweat (wool or synthetic, not cotton), an insulating layer (fleece or puffy), and a shell for wind and rain. Take the insulating layer off before you start sweating on the climb and put it back on as soon as you stop.
Why not cotton?
Cotton holds water and stops insulating when wet, from sweat or rain. In cool, wet or windy weather that chills you fast. Wool and synthetics stay warm when damp and dry quickly.