Proper preparation and appropriate clothing are crucial for a pleasant hike, whether you venture into the vast mountains or explore dense forests and deep valleys. Here are our top tips to make your hiking experience both enjoyable and safe.
1. PLAN AND BE PREPARED
Before setting out on your hiking adventure, it’s important to plan your route and be aware of any potential risks along the way. Check weather forecasts and maps to avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure you have enough food, water, and first aid supplies with you. Also, inform someone of your planned route and expected return time.
2. CLOTHING CHOICE BASED ON ENVIRONMENT & EFFORT
When planning your hiking attire, it’s essential to choose clothes suitable for the specific environment you will be in. In mountainous areas, where weather conditions can change rapidly and temperatures can drop quickly, it’s crucial to have clothes that insulate and keep you warm even in windy conditions. Also, consider how much effort you will exert. Will you be hiking leisurely and staying dry, or will you be walking faster and possibly getting very sweaty? In the video, Eva from Woolpower and Jerry from Friluftsyn explain how to choose clothes for your hike (In Swedish).
3. HANDLE CHANGING TEMPERATURES WITH LAYERS
Whether you’re hiking in the forest or in mountains and hills, it’s wise to follow the layering principle to adjust your clothing according to temperature and activity level. Start with a base layer in wool, long- or short-sleeved, which wicks moisture away from your body and keeps you dry. Then add a middle layer for extra insulation and finish with a shell layer that protects against wind and rain.
When not using your reinforcement layers, pack them in your backpack for easy access. If the weather permits, it’s also effective to hang your jacket or middle layer outside your backpack while hiking. This allows the garment to air out and prevents bad odors.
4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET
When hiking, good sock choice is perhaps the key to a pleasant experience. If you’re hiking in easier terrain, on prepared surfaces, and with lighter inclines, it’s wise to choose a comfortable sock in the material that feels best against your feet.
When the terrain gets tougher, it can be good for the sock to be reinforced at the heel and toe. In steeper inclines and on unmarked trails, socks wear out more easily on exposed parts. Our Skilled socks are perfect for this.
To avoid blisters, some people like to hike with double socks, a thinner one close to the foot and a thicker one on top. With this method, most of the friction occurs between the two socks instead of causing chafing on the foot itself.
5. STAY COMFORTABLE IN CAMP
Few things are nicer than arriving at camp after a long hiking day. You might choose to rinse off in a mountain stream, take a refreshing dip in a lake, or just change into dry clothes. A dry base layer in Ullfrotté is perfect in the tent or cabin.
Since you’ve used your feet all day, it’s important to give them some extra care. Make sure to wash and dry your feet thoroughly before letting them rest in a pair of dry socks. Sometimes it can be nice to have an extra warm pair, especially if you’re camping. Our Socks 600 are excellent for this purpose.
6. RESPECT NATURE AND LEAVE NO TRACE
During your hike, it’s important to show respect for nature. Make sure to read up on the area you are visiting. Depending on whether you are hiking in a regular forest, a nature reserve, or a national park, the rules for your stay may differ. Where you can make a fire and set up camp are two examples of this. Remember that the rules also may differ depending on which country you are in. Wherever you choose to hike: always pick up your trash and leave no trace behind.
SAY HELLO TO ANNICA IDESTRÖM!
Are you familiar with Fjällfararnas Vita and Gröna band? Here we have one of the founders of the concept, Annica Ideström.
Vita and Gröna bandet is a mighty challenge for hikers and skiers, where the goal is to traverse the entire Swedish mountain range by foot or ski. Annica, along with her husband Torkel, is the founder of this challenge. They are both hiking and outdoor enthusiasts who inspire hikers and skiers each year to take on the challenge of a lifetime. Below, Annica shares her preferred hiking attire.
ANNICA'S BEST CLOTHING TIPS FOR HIKING
“I am quite sensitive when it comes to temperature regulation while on a hike. I easily stay warm when I move, but as soon as I stop, I get cold. Therefore, since I was young, I have used wool and Ullfrotté for both base and middle layers, regardless of the time of year. When it’s warm outside, I use the thinnest variant, and a thicker one in colder temperatures, of course in several layers. My absolute favorites during the summer are Woolpower’s Crewneck LITE, both the shirt and pants are always with me, along with a fairly roomy Full Zip Jacket. This keeps me warm, comfy, and happy :)”
