Moisture wicking: moves sweat to the outer surface while also drying quickly; that lets you break a sweat without feeling clammy or chilled
Sun-protective fabric: Choose clothing with a UPF rating to protect yourself from harmful UV exposure; a higher rating means better sun protection
Quick drying: materials that dry quickly keep you cool, comfortable and dry
Insect repellent: treated with active ingredients to help keep ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs at bay
Hike clothing fabrics
Merino wool: has fine fibers that make it soft, breathable, moisture-wicking, reasonably quick to dry and not prone to retaining odors.
Polyester/nylon: Generally less expensive than merino wool, these synthetics excel at wicking sweat and drying fast; many incorporate recycled materials
Dress in layers
Start with a base layer that wicks sweat off your skin; this includes underwear, a bra, hiking shirt and hiking pants
Add a middle layer to retain body heat in colder conditions; this could be a fleece jacket, an insulated vest or puffy jacket
An outer layer, like a rain jacket, shields you from wind and rain
