Three rules that matter more than any brand
First, dress so you can avoid sweating through your clothes. The National Park Service's hypothermia guidance says to dress in layers, wear clothing that wicks moisture, and choose quick-drying fabrics such as nylon. It is blunt about cotton in cold and wet conditions: do not wear cotton or jeans, because they hold water and make you very cold. [3] It also warns that hypothermia can happen even in summer. [3]
Second, carry one more layer than you think you need. NPS's Ten Essentials page says to prepare for sudden weather changes and pack an extra layer that reflects the most extreme conditions you could encounter, such as a raincoat, jacket, hat or gloves. [2]
Third, match the plan to heat as well as cold. Grand Canyon's Hike Smart page says sun temperatures run 15 to 20 F hotter than posted shade temperatures, tells hikers to avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the heat, and recommends soaking clothing whenever you reach water, noting that cotton works well in the desert for exactly that reason. [4] Cotton is risky when you need to stay warm, and can be useful when you need to stay cool.
Clothing plan by temperature band
The bands below are our editorial grouping of the agency advice, not official thresholds. Pick the band for the coldest part of the hike, usually the start or the summit, not the forecast high.
| Conditions | Wear | Carry | Why (source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot and sunny | Light, loose long sleeves or a sun shirt, sun hat or bandana you can re-soak, sunglasses, lightweight long pants or shorts | Sunscreen; in the desert, water to soak clothing | Sun-protection clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen [2][4]; soaking clothes to stay cool [4] |
| Mild or changeable | Quick-drying synthetic or wool top, non-cotton hiking pants, wool or synthetic socks | Rain jacket, warm mid layer, spare socks | Layers, wicking, quick-drying nylon [3]; extra layer for the worst case [2]; spare socks [1] |
| Cold, wet or windy | Several loose layers, no cotton or jeans, hat, gloves or mittens, water-resistant outer layer | Spare dry clothes, especially socks; extra insulating layer | No cotton or jeans; replace wet clothes [3]; loose layers, hat, mittens, water-resistant coat [6] |
Feet: footwear and socks by trail surface
Footwear advice from NPS changes with the surface. Its hiking safety page suggests tennis shoes for paved urban paths and sturdy, rubber-soled hiking boots with ankle support for dirt and gravel trails, and it rules out heels, open-toed shoes and flip-flops. [1] Grand Canyon's page widens the choice to broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes with good traction for rocky, steep, uneven ground. [4] The common thread is grip and shoes your feet already know. New boots worn for the first time on a long hike are the setup both pages steer you away from.
For socks, NPS recommends thick wool or synthetic socks that wick moisture on longer hikes, plus a spare pair. [1] Its hypothermia page repeats the point about dry socks. [3]
| Trail type | Reasonable first-hike footwear | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Paved or boardwalk | Tennis shoes or running shoes [1] | Heels, flip-flops [1] |
| Dirt and gravel | Rubber-soled hiking boots with ankle support, or broken-in trail shoes with good traction [1][4] | Open-toed shoes, sandals [1] |
| Rocky, steep, uneven | Broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes with good traction [4] | Footwear you have never walked in |
Sun and ticks: the two risks clothing handles best
NPS lists sunglasses, sunscreen and hats, and says sun-protection clothing such as pants and long-sleeve shirts helps limit exposure. [2] If you buy sun clothing, a UPF 50 fabric lets through about 2 percent of UV, but protection drops when fabric is stretched or wet; the Skin Cancer Foundation's example is a white T-shirt falling from about UPF 7 to about 3 when wet. [7]
For ticks, CDC recommends treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, using an EPA-registered repellent on skin, doing a full body check after you get home, and tumble-drying dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. [5] Long pants make all of that easier, which is one reason hiking pants are worth owning even if you hike in warm weather.
What to borrow and what to buy first
You do not need new clothes for a first hike. The table is our editorial split based on fit and hygiene, using the agency advice above for what each item has to do.
If you do buy pants, look for a non-cotton fabric and a size you can confirm. As one example of current pricing, Moosehill listed its men's convertible HikerFlex pant (90% polyester, 10% spandex, zip-off legs) at $56.99 on sale, from $59.99, on 30 October 2026. [8] That is a listing price, not a recommendation, and we have not worn the pant.
| Item | Borrow or use what you have | Worth buying early | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain jacket | Yes, if it fits over a warm layer | Later | NPS lists a rain shell among extra layers [2] |
| Warm mid layer | Yes, any fleece or wool sweater | Later | Avoid cotton hoodies in cold or wet [3] |
| Hiking pants | Any non-cotton athletic pant works | Yes, if you will hike often | Quick-drying nylon or polyester [3] |
| Socks | No | Yes | Wool or synthetic, plus a spare pair [1] |
| Footwear | Your own broken-in shoes | After a few hikes | Grip and broken-in matter most [1][4] |
| Hat, sunglasses | Yes | Later | Sun protection [2] |
Night-before checklist
Lay everything out on the floor the night before, then run through this list.
- Check the forecast and pack rain gear if it looks poor [1]; if the route climbs, dress for the colder high point, not the trailhead.
- No cotton or jeans if it could be cool, wet or windy. [3]
- Wicking top, non-cotton pants, wool or synthetic socks. [1][3]
- One extra insulating layer and a rain jacket in the pack. [2]
- Spare socks in a plastic bag. [1][3]
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. [2]
- Permethrin-treated clothing or repellent where ticks are active. [5]
- Broken-in footwear with grip suited to the trail surface. [1][4]
- In hot conditions: plan the walking outside the hottest hours and bring a bandana to soak. [4]
Questions before you decide
Can I wear jeans on my first hike?
On a short, dry, warm walk they may be fine, but NPS hypothermia guidance says not to wear cotton or jeans because they hold water and make you very cold. If there is any chance of rain or cold, wear quick-drying nylon or polyester instead.
Do I need hiking boots for a first hike?
Not always. NPS suggests tennis shoes for paved paths and rubber-soled hiking boots with ankle support for dirt and gravel trails, and Grand Canyon accepts broken-in boots or trail shoes with good traction on rough ground.
Is cotton always bad for hiking?
No. It is risky in cold and wet conditions, which is why NPS says to avoid it there, but Grand Canyon notes that cotton works well in the desert when you soak your clothing to stay cool.
How do I dress to avoid ticks?
CDC recommends clothing treated with 0.5% permethrin, an EPA-registered repellent, a full body check after the hike, and 10 minutes in a dryer on high heat for dry clothes when you get home.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- National Park Service: Hiking Safety Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- National Park Service: The Ten Essentials Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- National Park Service, Gates of the Arctic: Hypothermia Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- National Park Service, Grand Canyon: Hike Smart Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CDC: Preventing Tick Bites Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CDC: Winter Weather prevention Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Skin Cancer Foundation: Sun-Protective Clothing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Moosehill: Men's Convertible Hiking Pants (HikerFlex) product page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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