The Backpacking Clothing Gift Guide

The following sponsored post is brought to you by smart wool.

W.Are you thinking about what to wear for your next backpacking trip? From the subtle science of layering to the mysterious world of hiking socks, figuring out your hiking wardrobe can be a lot.

With tips for dressing from head to toe, this backpacking clothing guide will help you stay dry, warm (but not TOO warm), and look like hell on your next backcountry adventure.

Bonus: If you’re shopping for someone else this holiday season, all of these items also make great gifts for the backpacker in your life.

Quick navigation

Base layers
Socks + Underwear
middle layers
rain gear
Accessories

Base layers

Base layers can be worn at camp and during the day of hiking (you’ll want separate sets for each). During the summer, you can choose to walk around in shorts and a hoodie for the sun, while in the colder months, a set of merino-blend active base layers is a good option that you can easily wear. At camp, merino on the top and bottom is always nice, especially if you’re cold.

Smartwool Classic Women’s Thermal Bottom | Men’s

Recommended RRP: $115
Materials: 100% merino wool

If you’re exclusively shopping for layers for camping, Smartwool’s classic 100% merino tights are our top recommendation.

Smartwool Classic Merino Thermal ¼ Zip Top Women | Men’s

Recommended RRP: $120
Materials: 100% merino wool

Pair it with the 100% merino tights above for a complete base layer outfit for camping. It’s also great as an extra layer on cold mornings.

prAna Stretch Zion Halle (Women’s) / Stretch Zion (Men) Hiking pants

Recommended RRP: $94 (women) | $98 (men)
Materials: 95% recycled nylon/5% elastane

Shorts are nice, but sometimes you need the extra protection (from UV rays, bugs, thorns, cooler weather, etc.) that long pants provide. This style from prAna is consistently popular in the hiking world due to its durability, comfortable and functional fit, and flattering cut.

Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down

Recommended RRP: $95
Materials: 86% Polyester 14% Elastane

A hiker’s dream piece, this UPF-30 sun hoodie is the perfect hiking shirt for three-season adventures. Combining the benefits of a sun hoodie with a button-down shirt, the Triple-Crown Button Down comes in a variety of quirky patterns that will channel your inner hiker trash.

Patagonia Baggies Running Shorts Women | Men

Recommended RRP: $69
Materials: 100% recycled nylon faille + 100% recycled polyester knit mesh pockets

Many hikers prefer a hoodie and shorts combo on the trail. Shorts are not too heavy and keep you cooler than pants. Any synthetic running shorts should work here, with the possible exception of high school gym shorts, which probably aren’t durable enough. These from Patagonia have the right type of fabric to maximize durability on the trail.

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Socks/Underwear

It’s good to go with an optional pair of sleep-only socks plus two or three pairs during the day. Merino wool is backpackers’ favorite fiber for socks (and most next-to-skin clothing) thanks to its warmth, natural anti-odor properties, and excellent moisture management.

If you’re shopping for a loved one, we assure you that socks and underwear are never a bad choice as a gift for a hiker.

Smartwool Hike Classic Edition Socks

Recommended RRP: $25
Materials: 70% merino wool, 29% nylon, 1% elastane

These socks are a throwback to the old-school Smartwools our parents bought us when we were baby hikers taking our first steps on the trail.

Combining a generous level of cushioning with the odor and moisture-control properties of merino wool, these iconic socks are perfect for hikes of any length and work just as well for lounging around camp. Recommend getting a few pairs for walking plus a pair of a different color for your sleep socks so you never get confused.

Smartwool Women Intraknit racerback Good + Bikini / Men’s Intraknit boxer briefs

Recommended RRP:

• Support: $75
• Bikini: $38
• Boxer briefs: $50

Materials:

• Support: 69% nylon, 17% elastane, 14% polyester. Lining: 41% merino wool, 35% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 13% nylon, 11% elastane
• Bikini: 42% merino wool, 38% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 12% nylon, 8% elastane.
• Boxer briefs: 53% merino wool, 20% polyester, 18% TENCEL™ lyocell, 8% elastane, 1% nylon

Smartwool’s Intraknit line combines the next-to-skin softness, odor control, and moisture management of merino with a more structured design for durability and support during movement.

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middle layers

Your hiking jacket, which you’ll probably wear at camp, on breaks, and potentially even while hiking if the weather is cool enough. You can opt for a fleece jacket or an insulated puffer jacket. Fleece/puffed pants also exist, but they are overkill for most backpackers unless you are going out in true winter conditions.

Katabatic Tarn Down Jacket Women’s | Men’s

Recommended RRP: $279
Materials: 850+ fill Expedry down, Pertex Quantum Eco 20d ripstop shell, Pertex Quantum Taffeta lining

Colorado-based Katabatic is a small company, but it has made a big name for itself in the world of ultralight backpacking gear with its high-end down comforters and, more recently, puffer jackets. The Tarn is the lighter of their two puffer styles, ideal for milder conditions throughout all three seasons.

Farpointe Alpha Cruiser Outdoor Hoodie + Pants

Recommended RRP: $95
Materials: Polartec Alpha Direct fleece (78% recycled polyester, 22% polyester)

The pleasantly shaggy Alpha Direct fleece is a miracle synthetic material with impressive insulating properties. While Alpha provides some warmth on its own, its formidable warmth-to-weight ratio is maximized when paired with an ultralight windproof layer.

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rain gear

Whether you’re hiking in a rainforest or deep in the desert, you should always carry some type of rain protection with you in the backcountry.

Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Waterproof Jacket | Men’s

Recommended RRP: $170 (women) | $180 (men)
Materials: 2.5-ply bluesign approved Pertex Shield diamond fuse; 100% nylon, Bluesign approved 30 denier ripstop.

The Helium 7-ounce rain jacket has long been one of the backpacking world’s favorite rain gear options. It’s lightweight, simple, and quite affordable compared to many waterproof backpacking jackets.

Many hikers choose to simply bring the jacket and skip the combo. helium rain pantsbut in colder or more exposed conditions, it is good to have both.

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Accessories

Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Beanie

Recommended RRP: $35
Materials: 100% merino wool

This hat is nice because it is very thin and light but still very warm. It’s enough to provide a little extra protection for your head and ears without seeming like overkill on your packing list. It’s also reversible, allowing you to change your look from time to time without adding weight. It can be doubled with a second hat or with the hood of your puffy if you are very cold.

Goodr OG Polarized Sunglasses

Recommended RRP: $25
UV protection: 100%

Good hiking sunglasses don’t have to cost a lot. They just need to be reasonably durable and block 100% of harmful UV A and B rays, which they do. These are also tinted, which will reduce glare from snow and water.

Smartwool Merino Lined Gloves

Recommended RRP: $28
Materials: 48% Merino Wool, 48% Recycled Polyester, 2% Acrylic, 1% Elastodiene, 1% Elastane

We recommend using a thin-lined glove on the trail and putting an insulated mitten and/or waterproof glove on top if your hands are cold. This merino-blend liner is thin enough to preserve your dexterity and lay on top, plus it has touch-screen compatible thumb and index finger tips.

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It goes without saying, but this is just a sample of the many options available in hiking and backpacking clothing. As you dig deeper, you may end up with several kits tailored to different conditions and individual preferences, but this list is a good starting point.

The best clothes for backpacking are, of course, those that are so comfortable and functional that you don’t need to think much about them once you’re on the trail, freeing up your mental energy for the adventure at hand.

Cover image: Graphic design by Chris Helm.