CLOTHING

And
MATERIALS

Usman Safi
Lisa Goodfellow
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01
HIKE CONTEXT
Things to consider when
planning your hiking attire.
03
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Leading, choosing materials,
layering clothing and sun
safety
02
PACKING LIST
Item list with short
descriptions and links to
further information.
04
USEFUL LINKS
Where to buy outdoor
clothing and downloadable
checklist for future use.
 01
HIKE
CONTEXT DEEP CREEK IN SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER
These factors impact what clothing you will take on your hike.

WEATHER TERRAIN PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Average temperature and
rainfall in Spring via
Bureau of Meteorology
Check the forecast closer
to the hike also.
Deep creek varys between
scrub, rock and grass.
Some steep walking/
scrambling.
See Deep Creek ,
Terrain Description
The activities planned for
the trip will dictate the
amount, weight and type
of clothing you will take.
 02 CLOTHING
PACKING
LIST
ITEM FACTORS TO CONSIDER MORE
Ankle support, grip in wet and dry conditions, room for toes to move when walking down
HIKING SHOES hill. Choose a boot/ shoe that fits properly are comfortable and worn in by you. New/ ▶Watch
borrowed boots can cause blisters if not worn in.

Merino, polyester, stretch nylon best for hiking socks as they keep feet warm but are
SOCKS breathable and wick moisture away from the foot. Socks need to be taller than the top of 📚Read
boots.

Enough for the length of your trip. Choose styles that are comfortable for you. As the layer
UNDERWEAR closest to your body highly consider moisture wicking/ quick dry materials such as 📚Read
synthetic or merino wool.

Personal preference whether you choose shorts or pants. Choose quick drying synthetic
SHORTS/ PANTS material that is durable and also doesn't restrict movement. Pants will protect your legs 📚Read
from being scratched. Rocks and scrub can shred yoga pants/ tights, so avoid these.

Choose a tshirt that protects you from sun exposure; sleeved and with a collar. Wearing a
SHIRT ▶Watch
long sleeve shirt means you won’t be needing to re-apply sunscreen all day also.
 02 CLOTHING
PACKING
LIST
ITEM FACTORS TO CONSIDER MORE
THERMAL BASE Lighter than carrying a thick jumper and tracksuit pants, packs smaller in your bag and is
part of a effective layering set up. Also known as thermals/ thermal underwear. 📚Read
LAYER
Polyester fleece, synthetic/ down insulated or merino wool jumper. Used as a middle layer 📚Read
JUMPER in the layering system. Do not wear a jumper made from cotton. ▶Watch

WATERPROOF Forms the ‘outer layer’ in an effective layering system. A waterproof jacket will stop water
JACKET from saturating your warm layers of clothing.
📚Read
▶Watch
Waterproof pants also form the ‘outer layer’ particularly important if rain is heavy and
WATERPROOF sustained throughout the day. These work in a similar way to a waterproof jacket by
PANTS creating a barrier between you and the wind and rain.

A MUST. Ideally, the hat covers your entire face and the top of your head (no visors). Neck
SUN HAT 📚Read
protection is a big bonus.
 02 CLOTHING
PACKING
LIST
ITEM FACTORS TO CONSIDER MORE
Glare can give you a headache, therefore it is important to protect your eyes - wear
SUNGLASSES ▶Watch
polarised sunglasses that are close fitting and wrap around.

A pair of shoes that are light and comfortable to be worn around the campsite - sandals,
CAMP SHOES crocs, thongs etc. ▶Watch

Gaiters are worn over shoes to prevent water and debris getting into the boot. They are
GATERS 📚Read
also provide protection from branches, leeches and snakes.

To wear during cold mornings, during rest breaks and at night to keep you warm and
BUFF, GLOVES, comfortable. Choose materials that wick moisture and aren’t too bulky. Buffs (aka neck
BEANIE gaiter) are a good way to keep your neck warm without carrying a bulky scarf.

Laces play an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of a shoe/boot, therefore
SPARE SHOE having a back-up pair of laces is essential. As a leader you may need these for your own
LACES shoes, or a participant in your group.
 03
FURTHER AS A LEADER...
CONSID.

SET THE STANDARD

DOUBLE CHECK

PREPARE TO
REPAIR
 0303
FURTHER
MATERIALS
CONSID.
CHOOSING MATERIALS
…………...…….. The Good…………………..…….. ………….. The Bad……………
Merino Wool: finer wool fibres than regular wool. Good quality merino wool Cotton: keeps moisture close to the
clothing is comfortable, wicks moisture and regulates your body skin making you feel sweaty in hot
temperature. Common items: socks, thermals, jumper. weather and the chills in cold
weather. Takes a long time to dry
Nylon: Synthetic material that is very quick drying, stretchy, light weight,
once wet.
durable. Look for ‘ripstop’ nylon in outer layer clothing. Common item: hiking
pants.
Denim: (which is made from cotton)
Polyester: Synthetic material similar to nylon. An insulating fabric that drys has all of the negatives associated
quickly and keeps you warm. Common item: fleece jumper. with cotton, plus it is heavy, bulky
and will not keep you warm in
Down/ Synthetic down: Can be worn as a mid layer under waterproof outer
windy conditions.
shell. Down will warm you up quickly. Takes up little space in a pack as it is
highly compressible. Common item: Jacket.
Yoga/ Lightweight Leggings: When
Gore Tex: Waterproof, windproof and breathable material used in quality worn as only pants - easily damaged
outer layer clothing. Common items: waterproof rain jacket, waterproof when walking through scrub leaving
pants. legs prone to scratches and scrapes.
03 LAYERING CLOTHES
FURTHER
CONSID.

THERMAL BASE LAYER

Wicks moisture away from the skin and
regulate body temperature. Preferably
merino wool long top and bottoms.

INSULATING MID LAYER

The purpose of the middle layer is to traps heat
you’ve created. Down and synthetic fabrics
help to insulate heat.
WATERPROOF OUTER LAYER
Protects you from wind and rain. Choose Gore
tex fabrics that are waterproof, rather than just
water resistant.
Fundamentally…
Wearing multiple layers of light clothing that
can be removed/ added means you can
regulate your body temperature and
comfort. Multiple light layers take up less
room in your bag therefore much better
than taking fewer, but bulky and heavier
items of clothing.
Click for further information
 03 SUN SAFETY
FURTHER
CONSID.
When picking out clothing for your hike, choose items that offer
maximum sun protection ideally that have a Ultraviolet Protection Factor
(UPF) rating and are made from tightly woven materials that don't let
light through. Long sleeve shirts, pants, a wide brimmed hat and wrap
around sunglasses will give you lots of protection from the sun. Use Check the UV index, sun
sunscreen to protect areas that are hard to cover with clothing such as protection is
face, neck and hands. Seek shade when walking and during breaks. recommended for anything
over 3.
 Collared long sleeve shirt

03 Long pants

FURTHER
CONSID.

“The thing with clothing is you put it on

once, you can see that it is in place, it stays
in place all day and it protects you all day. ”
- CANCER COUNCIL WA Wide-brim hat

Wrap around
x
sunglasses
04
USEFUL WHERE TO BUY OUTDOOR
LINKS
CLOTHING
There are plenty of outdoor clothing retailers in
Adelaide and online. Shop around for sales and
for quality of materials. A quick google of
‘outdoor gear Adelaide’ will give you plenty of
suggestions!

Consider shopping at the Scout Outdoor Centre

and Annapurna as all proceeds support Scouting
in SA - young people engaging in the outdoors.
Paddy Pallin are also involved Coastrek, Oxfam
trail walker and environmental conservation.
Conveniently, all three are located along Rundle
Street.
04
USEFUL
LINKS LINK TO CLOTHING CHECKLIST
A Quick checklist, as well as the detailed info from earlier slides.
If using, please click ‘File’ > ‘make a copy’ and save to your
google drive before editing.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c5jf1PBgWV6WFs3P
MtTKrcIEr3SYitOg3b2y7TZUFwA/edit?usp=sharing
 REFERENCES
Altitude Sports Editorial Team (2019). Fleece vs down vs merino wool: the ultimate mid layer face off. Retrieved from:
https://altitude-blog.com/en/fleece-vs-down-vs-merino-wool-the-ultimate-mid-layer-face-off/

Australia Wide First Aid (n.d). How to be sun smart. Retrieved from: https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/how-to-be-sun-smart/

Backcountry Banter (2013, Feb. 13). Backpacking tips: shoe selection (part 2) camp shoes [YouTube video]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duD-OnEmq1g

Bolitho, C. (n.d) What to wear hiking. Retrieved from https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-choose-hiking-clothes.html

Bureau of Meteorology (2020) Deep Creek. Available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/places/sa/deep-creek/

Cancer Council Western Australia (2016, Nov. 22). 5 sunsmart tips [YouTube video]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SNJEEflsq8

Collins, D. & Collins A. (2020). 10 best hiking pants of 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.cleverhiker.com/best-mens-hiking-pants

Department of environment and water (2018, Mar 18). Deep Creek Conservation Park [Youtube video]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=QcyV5-3GDho&feature=emb_logo

Department of environment and water (2019) All-terrain wheelchair improving access to Deep Creek. Retrieved from:
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/the-weekly/articles/all-terrain-wheelchair
Evenson, L. (n.d). Layering basics. Retrieved from: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/layering-basics.html

Froude, C., & Polley, S. (2011). Outdoor education : Foundations for tertiary and senior secondary education (2nd ed.). Cottlesloe, W.A.:
Impact Publishing.

Gardiner, L. (2017). Introduction to layering. Retrieved from: https://www.paddypallin.com.au/blog/introduction-to-layering/

Go Outdoors (n.d). Waterproof jackets guide. Retrieved from: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/expert-advice/waterproof-jackets-guide

Gross, J. (2019). Polyester vs nylon clothing for hiking. Retrieved from:

https://lightheartgear.com/blogs/news/polyester-vs-nylon-clothing-for-hiking

Kidd, J. (n.d). Is hiking in shorts a good idea? Pros and cons. Retrieved from:
https://www.outsidepulse.com/is-hiking-in-shorts-a-good-idea-pros-and-cons/

Mountain Warehouse (2014, Dec 4). How to fit hiking boots [Youtube video]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U3ITeKAuPE

Paddy. (2019). Choose the right hiking sock. Retrieved from: https://www.paddypallin.com.au/blog/choosing-the-right-hiking-sock/

Pilson, G. (2020). The best hiking hat in Australia. Retrieved from: https://theadventurelab.com.au/hiking/best-hiking-hat/

REI (n.d). How to choose hiking underwear. Retrieved from:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-choose-hiking-underwear.html

REI. (n.d). How to choose and use gaiters. Retrieved from: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/gaiters.html

SunSmart Victoria (2013, Dec 13) How to choose sun protective sunglasses [Youtube video]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86hXdmqx1I&feature=emb_logo

Walsh, M. (2019) What to wear hiking matters. Here are the basics. Retrieved from:
https://thedyrt.com/magazine/lifestyle/what-to-wear-hiking/