Are certain hiking clothes better than others when it comes to being out in the backcountry? The simple answer is most definitely. Can you hike in any type of clothing? Yes you sure can, but depending on weather conditions some choices WILL be better then others.

So, what are the best hiking clothes to wear? In short, there is no one best, but how to be comfortable and prepared for the elements is what you need to focus on.

Our go to, what gets packed for each and every day hike and/or backcountry hike, is always the same. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, we prepare for every season when in the backcountry as the weather can change rapidly.

For simplicity, we break it down into these different layers:

• Base layer – Moisture wicking – Our go to base layer is merino wool. When the girls were younger we bought synthetic base layers made of polypropylene, and while they were less expensive, they didn’t seem as comfortable for them. After trying a few different merino wool brands we fell in love with WeeWoollies. This is a small Canadian company that is passionate about the environment as well.
• Mid layer – Keeps you warm (insulating) – We go with a fleece layer which is also efficient in wicking away moisture, while also keeping you warm without being bulky.
• Outer layer – Protects you from the elements – A down jacket followed by a GoreTex outer layer. Depending on the temperature outside, you can layer up with both or just the GoreTex layer for wind/rain protection.

BASE LAYER: MERINO WOOL – Our whole family of four wears merino wool on all of our hikes. It has so many advantages to it, but it can also be quite the investment.

When we first started out hiking we wore mostly cotton on our hikes, and would just bring extra clothes to change into once we got to our end goal. They say cotton kills, in part because the cotton doesn’t wick the sweat from your body and in turn makes you cold. This can lead to hypothermia and put you in a very bad situation very quickly depending on the circumstances. So as we started hiking more we decided it was time to invest in some good base layers. We looked for used merino wool gear (for the kids) and also waited for deals to purchase new for ourselves. We did also try a few different brands of merino wool before finding our favourite, which is WeeWoollies. Sometimes merino wool can be itchy and therefore made for some complaining while out on the trails. Another more budget-friendly alternative is a synthetic base layer made from high-performance polyester or polypropylene fabric.

Merino wool socks are also a game changer. They not only help regulate temperature but also help reduce blisters as well with their amazing wicking properties. The girls wear Lamington brand. Tyson and I both wear Icebreaker.

Our girls went on their first hike when they were just under six weeks old. We had them dressed in cotton onesies and little pants. They were content in their Boba baby carriers on us, and we might have bit off a bit more than we could chew by hiking a 16 km mountain hike with just under 1500 metre elevation gain. We were so sweaty working extremely hard to climb to the trail end viewpoint. I think we ended up changing our girls three times by the time we reached the top. While it sounds as simple as just changing out the sweaty clothing, sometimes you may not have a ton of room for all these extra clothes to bring along. Also, getting caught out in the ever changing elements could make unpleasant times.

Merino wool has so much to offer. It regulates temperature, has antibacterial properties making it resist odour, protects against the sun and is moisture wicking to keep you dry.

The good news is you don’t need to buy multiple outfits of merino wool as you can get by with just one set. It hand washes really easily while out on the trail, and is super quick to dry as well.

WeeWoollies is what our girls wear. It is durable, sizing up will give you more use out of it, it’s Canadian made with New Zealand wool, and comes in some great colours. Use discount code RESTLESSCRUSADE to save when purchasing.

MID LAYER: FLEECE/Polartec – You can usually find this used on Facebook marketplace, local thrift stores, or watch for sales at MEC or Valhalla Pure Outfitters.

OUTER LAYER: DOWN PUFFER JACKET and RAIN/WIND PROTECTION JACKET – We use down puffy jackets as they pack down quite small and we usually compress them with our sleeping bags in a compression sack as a space saver (for overnight camping).

For the rain protection layer, this is something that investing in is important. While kids are forever growing, you can usually size up on this layer to get some extra time out of it. This is a very important layer to consider. If you get caught out in the rain it is really the only protection you have when exposed to the elements. We always bring rain pants along as well. We have ThermKids which are seam sealed and have been very reliable. They often have great deals so go check their sales section out and use code RESTLESSCRUSADE10 for a bit of a discount too.

Tyson and I have GoreTex jackets that we’ve both had for probably over 10 years. When treated and washed properly you can get years out of this gear. Rain pants usually get packed too. Both of ours are seam sealed and half full leg zips as we also use them for mountaineering too.

All of our gear gets washed and treated with Nikwax Tech Wash followed by the TX.Direct wash-in. We do this usually twice a year, but it also depends on how much you wear your gear. See our blog post that goes in to more detail about our rain gear and how to treat it.

Last but not least, we pack merino wool mitts for the kids, gloves for us adults, along with a toque too. This way we are covered for every single season all at once while exposed to the elements.

With these layers, you will be prepared for every situation outside and it will make for happy adventures.