How to Dress for a Fall Hike
Fall is upon us. In most places in the northern hemisphere, fall runs from September to November. The trees are changing, the weather is cool, and the air is brisk. If you haven’t already, it is time to embrace fall with a great hike. Make sure to wear the right clothing and accessories to get the most out of your fall adventure. This season is notorious for its chameleon weather with warm temperatures one day and rainy and cold the next. Be prepared with these four recommendations on how to dress for a fall hike in this gorgeous autumn season. If you live at a low or mid latitude, then you can most definitely apply these tips to winter hiking as well.
1. Invest in Waterproof Outerwear
As you know, the fall season can bring rain. To reduce the risk of hypothermia and an overall bad time during chilly and wet weather, bring waterproof outerwear on your fall hike such as a rain jacket (with hood), rain pants, gaiters, and waterproof shoes. Gore-Tex, although not the only option, is a well-known and effective waterproofing to look for when purchasing waterproof gear. Learn how to wash Gore-Tex coated gear.
Rain jacket
When looking for a rain jacket, look for one that also doubles as wind protection. Find a jacket that is not insulating and is lightweight so you can use this garment year round. I always recommend a rain jacket with vents in the sleeves and/or torso so your body doesn’t sweat and make you just as drenched on the inside as the rain on the outside. Read our review of Arcteryx Alpha Lt jacket.
Protect yourself from wind and rain during your autumn hike by investing in a rain and wind jacket.
Rain pants
Rain pants are not completely necessary at times but do come in handy on torrential downpours. No need to invest in the priciest pair unless weight is a factor. Some hiking pants are water resistance and this might be just enough to get by without getting too wet on your fall hike. Check out our review of Arc’teryx Stingray Gore-Tex Waterproof Pants.
Waterproof rain pants while hiking in the rain and cold.
Gaiters
Waterproof gaiters will stop rain and mud from getting inside your shoe or boot. Some rain pants cover the shoe like a gaiter so it might be beneficial but not completely necessary to look for pants that have this characteristic.
Gaiters come in a variety of lengths. These are mid-knee gaiters on a hiker. Photo Credit: Arlen Tees via Flickr
Waterproof Shoes
Whether it be hiking shoes or boots, a waterproof shield is great when it is sure to be wet, muddy, and cold. Gore-Tex is a great waterproofing to look out for when shopping for waterproof shoes. However, you can always spray a waterproof coating on your shoes. There are a variety of waterproof aerosol sprays on the market.
Waterproof shoes are great when you are sure to come across wet, muddy, or cold terrain. I am wearing Salomon’s XA Pro 3D Ultra with Gore-Tex.
Pack Cover
A waterproof outer layer on your pack is a great investment. A pack cover prevents rain from saturating the inside of your pack. However, if you don’t want to spend money on a pack cover, line the inside of your pack with a trash compactor bag (these bags are thicker than a regular trash bag).
Wear a waterproof pack cover over your pack to protect your pack’s contents from rain.
2. Dress in Layers
Be sure to dress in layers as the weather can change quickly during the autumn season. A short sleeve shirt and a long sleeve (yet lightweight) polypro shirt are perfect for the upper body with the addition of a lightweight down or fleece jacket and your rain jacket. It might seem like much but you don’t want to be too cold or too hot when you are miles away from the trail head. When it comes to bottom layers, long thermal underwear might not be necessary for this type of weather but zip-off section pants can truly be beneficial. Learn how to choose the perfect base layer
This is a group of hikers in Maine in October. Dress in layers to prepare for cool or warm weather.
3. Bring Warm Accessories
Warm accessories tend to be overlooked but can turn a good trip into a bad one quite quickly. The three accessories you should never forget are gloves, a beanie, and an extra pair of socks. When it comes to gloves, seek a water resistant pair just in case of rainy and humid days.
Wear a beanie and gloves during chilly fall hikes.
4. Prepare for Wind
You haven’t lived if you’ve never been caught in bone-chilling, high speed mountain gusts. Just kidding, it’s the worst. Autumn is a windy time and you should prepare for that if you plan on hiking a summit or high alpine trail. As mentioned above, invest in a rain jacket that also doubles for wind protection. You should also bring a bandana, a Buff, or even a whole balaclava so you won’t have to deal with wind burn on your exposed face.
Wear a Buff or balaclava on windy hikes to prevent painful and annoying wind burn.
Autumn is such a lovely time to hike and the weather can be a different but exciting change to embrace while hiking. Learning to dress for a fall hike can make your hike so much more enjoyable. Always be prepared!
What do you wear on a hike in this autumn season?
- 6 Ways to Avoid Tick Bites While Summer Hiking - June 21, 2017
- 8 Affordable Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Outdoorsy Moms - May 8, 2017
- Best Hiking Watches Under $100 - April 26, 2017
We write rarely, but only the best content.
