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What to wear on an autumn hike
Summer is now well and truly behind us, and autumn has arrived. As avid travelers, we travel all over the world no matter what season it is. Over the years, we have come to appreciate the fall season more and more, and it is now perhaps even our favorite season.
Autumn is so much different from the other seasons. Nature is preparing for winter. The colors it takes are often truly impressive. Although people often think of cold and wet weather when they think of autumn, autumn can often still be very beautiful. With very pleasant temperatures for going out in nature.
We think autumn is the best season to enjoy the outdoors. That’s why we travelled all the way to Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, to explore their famous autumn season, Ruska as it is called there. In close collaboration with Revolution Race, we spent a week in the pure and vast nature of Rovaniemi. In addition to hiking, we also canoed, kayaked, cycled, and fished.
What to wear on an autumn hike?
Weather-wise, autumn can be quite treacherous and unpredictable. When you go out, you will have to be prepared for everything. Our secret for fall dressing is layers. Keeping the layers in mind, that is exactly how we packed for our trip to Finnish Lapland.
The most beautiful autumn days start with radiant weather after a night of frost. That means the morning can be quite chilly. With a bit of luck, the temperature will climb to pleasant values during the day. The evenings cool down quickly and are quite cold again. In other words, prepare yourself for all circumstances.
Tops
In terms of clothing for the upper body, we always built this up in 3 basic layers. The base layer in autumn is, of course, a t-shirt. Even if it does get very warm, you can still enjoy nature in short sleeves. The key features of a base layer t-shirt should always be that they’re quick-drying and breathable. These ensure that you have a good base, even if you get sweaty, these shirts do their job. We think these are basically the best features for a base layer you can think of.
After the t-shirt comes the next layer and that is of course a sweater. Especially important for this second layer is that it is comfortable. The breathable and quick-drying shirt as a base does the most important work. The sweater should fit comfortably, especially not too tight around the neck and wrists. A sweater should fit well and comfortably so that you can easily go out for a day.
After the T-shirt and sweater, the last layer could, of course, be a jacket, but we'll get to that later. You often have days when it is just too cold for just a sweater but, again, too warm to put on a jacket. For that case, we recommend a double-up on the mid-layer on top of the t-shirt and sweater. This layer must, above all, be insulating and moisture-wicking. Hoodies and vests are ideal for this intermediate layer. They are comfortable and often have pockets. This should not be too thick, so you can always wear a shell jacket over it. The best hoodies or vests are all-rounders, they can be worn as standalone outerwear or as a mid-layer under a jacket or shell.
The clothing advice for the upper body in autumn is all about layers, layers, layers.
Pants
When we look for pants specifically for outdoor use and hiking, comfort is our number one priority. In general, autumn days are no longer really suitable for shorts because the mornings and evenings, in particular, can be very cold. If it seems like it will get nice and warm during the day, we think the zip-off pants are the ideal solution. You can wear these pants all year round, partly because they can be zipped off. However, we think that spring and autumn are the most ideal times of the year for these pants. The pants are very comfortable to wear and are ideal for long walks.
Good and strong outdoor pants are indispensable no matter what time of year. What qualities should good outdoor pants have? First of all, we think they should be comfortable and suitable for any outdoor activity. They need to be comfortable enough to be able to walk in it the whole day. Of course, good outdoor pants are wind and water-repellent. It is also nice if there are ventilation options, in case it gets a bit too warm.
Our advice when it comes to pants for walking, make sure they are as comfortable as possible. If pants are not comfortable, they will cause problems and hinder you while walking.
Jackets
Our experience is that the combination of layers for the upper body is generally sufficient for beautiful autumn days. However, sometimes those days are not so nice, and an extra jacket or shell is desirable. It is not necessary to have thick jackets for autumn because they quickly become too warm, especially when walking.
Most important for autumn hikes is that the weather can be very changeable, so a jacket or shell should always be waterproof. The jacket or shell needs to protect you against all weather conditions.
You want a weather-resistant jacket that protects you against all conditions. But at the same time, you also want a breathable jacket so that you don't immediately get too hot when you go for a walk.
Shoes
I know from experience that this is perhaps the most important item for walks, walking shoes! Shoes are extremely important. Good shoes provide extreme comfort and you hardly feel that you are wearing them. If the shoes are not good or do not fit properly, you will eventually experience problems and blisters. That is painful and can spoil your walking fun.
The most important feature of hiking shoes is being waterproof! Only waterproof hiking shoes are suited for autumn hikes and outdoor activities. Imagine getting wet socks and feet just because the shoes aren’t waterproof, and it really is the last thing you want to happen.
It’s also very important that hiking shoes are ventilated and lightweight. This contributes enormously to the wearing comfort of shoes. Ideally, they’re as flexible as trail running shoes but have the features and stability of a true hiking shoe. Heavy walking shoes can be annoying, so the lighter, the better. Another important feature is an exceptionally good grip on all surfaces. You want to be able to hike wherever, without having any doubts about your shoes.
Additional autumn tips
Now that you know which clothing is best for a real autumn walk, we would also like to give you some additional tips.
1. Enjoy!
Most of all, enjoy autumn. The period in which nature changes color is only short, so enjoy it. Take a good look around you at all the beauty that autumn has to offer. Also, look carefully down; you will find the most beautiful mushrooms during this period.
2. Be prepared!
Always go prepared! Make sure you start your walk with a well-filled backpack. This means that you have enough drinks and snacks with you.
3. Respect nature
Always stay on trails where possible. Always follow the rules and directions when in a national park. Let nature be nature; don't disturb it!
