Adventure Clothing

Wearing the proper adventure clothing is all about regulating your body’s core temperature in relation to the conditions and your activity level. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with sound advice on how to dress comfortably and look great at the same time.

Experienced travelers layer their adventure clothing as a way of adjusting to changing conditions and maintaining their comfort. Essentially, you add layers to warm up or shed layers to cool down. These layers break down to the base layer, the insulating layer and the outer layer.

Base Layer

The base layer is the one against your skin, and consists of underwear, bras, T-shirts or thermals, and it could include a shirt and pants. These garments should be lightweight and made of synthetic materials that wick moisture away from your skin.

Cotton is a no-no here. Cotton absorbs water and takes a long time to dry, so when it cools it brings down your core temperature. If your core temperature drops too much, you are more susceptible to hypothermia.

Many adventure clothing manufacturers have their own trademarked synthetic fabrics that wick moisture to the surface, where it evaporates.

Insulating Layer

The insulating layer holds heat close to your body. This layer typically includes a vest, pullover or zip-up garment made of natural fibers or fleece, and they tend to range from lightweight to midweight and heavy. Ideally, they are also compressible and breathable, that is, they allow for good air flow to regulate your comfort.

Outer Layer

Finally, you have your outer, or shell, layer, which serves to protect you from the elements. This is where a windproof/waterproof jacket or pants comes into play. Typically these garments feature a durable water-repelling finish and sometimes they have venting features to ensure breathability.

This layer consists of garments that fall into these categories: insulated shells, waterproof/non-breathable shells, soft shells, water-resistant/breathable shells, and waterproof/breathable shells.

Other Adventure Clothing Considerations

Hats and gloves: Wide-brimmed hats can help ward off the sun, and caps can help prevent loss of body heat in cold conditions.

Footwear: See our blog entry on choosing hiking boots for help in achieving a good fit, and don’t forget appropriate shoes for water activities and snow adventures.

Cleaning and Care: We recommend using the proper cleaning and waterproofing products to ensure your clothing lasts for years of adventure.