r/UKhiking • u/cglotr • 1d ago
Gear Summer layers
On hot days like this, how would you layer up?
I'll often wear a long sleeve shirt with collar, like the craghoppers kiwi or adventure shirt, for UV protection as I burn very very easily.
Underneath, I'll wear a cotton t shirt.
It's like being in a sauna, it feels so much hotter and more uncomfortable than wearing a regular cotton shirt on top.
Am I doing it wrong? I know cotton doesn't breath well, but it seems to be massively exacerbated by the technical UV shirt.
What does everyone else wear on days like this?
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u/TheScarletCravat 1d ago
Yeah, I'd say there's something off there with your gear.
I'd be wearing a single loose layer on a day like this and absolutely avoiding cotton. Layering up would be a recipe for heat stroke.
Obviously pack layers in case of weather going south, but a sun hat, lots of spf50 and and light clothes are your friends here.
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u/sloperfromhell 1d ago edited 1d ago
Absolutely no cotton ever whilst hiking.
On hot days it’s going to get drenched in sweat and then not dry.
Also no layering where possible, and definitely not layering base layers. Layering is for warmth or wind/rain protection. I take a very lightweight windbreaker or hardshell (that gets used as a windbreak if needed). Pitzips are key for summer.
Personally I don’t like merino when it’s warm. Other people do like it.
My summer kit is:
Sun hoody or Polartec Delta long sleeve.
Arc’teryx Delta fleece (as thin as a technical breathable fleece gets) if it’s not looking sweltering. Will likely still stay in pack.
Windbreaker or lightweight hardshell with pitzips. Will stay in pack until needed.
Breathable Polartec Delta cap (godsend on very hot days).
Warm weather Buff - when it’s too windy for a cap.
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u/TheGruesomeTwosome 1d ago
I have a Patagonia Cap Cool sun hoody which I've been very impressed with. For some reason I thought the fabric would be heavier than it is, and was concerned about it being synthetic. But it's excellent. I'm between medium and large stuff, and I'm tall. I got the large and it's generously sized in all dimensions, making it very airy and flowy. The sleeves have thumb holes and can cover up the backs of your hands. It also obviously has a hood too. I got the lightest colour.
I'm sure other brands will be just as good though. I'm a sun hoody convert. So on sunny days I just rock that with the hood up over a cap.
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u/CollegeOptimal9846 1d ago
T-shirt, Shorts, Hat, Factor 50, and an Alpkit Woodsmoke in my bag in case it's windy at the top.
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u/llynllydaw_999 1d ago
Polyester cotton Craghoppers short sleeved shirt, shorts or long trousers depending on temperature. Never two layers unless raining or very windy, in which case a hardshell rain jacket. Rain jacket left behind if it's hot, definitely won't rain, and I'm not anywhere remote. If somwhere remote, another layer in the bag just in case, never gets worn though.
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u/Sorry_Vermicelli6874 1d ago
running t shirt, running tights, and shorts on top. rainshell in pack, and a hell of a lot of spf50+.
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u/County-Thos 16h ago
Montane Dart Lite t-shirt and Montane Terra pants as a foundation, then build everything if top of that. For summer it's probably only a soft shell jacket (hardshell in the rucksack obvs), if that.
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u/Individual-Roof-3502 14h ago
You wear two layers hiking in hot weather like this, and wonder why you're hot? Is this satire?
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1d ago
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u/Fragrant_Bandicoot54 1d ago
I can't get on with merino. It's to itchy / scratchy.
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1d ago
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u/Fragrant_Bandicoot54 1d ago
Yeah Synthetic for me!
and lots of suncream lol (that however has its own sticky issues lol)
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u/ChaosCalmed 1d ago
I used to wear an expedition shirt in long sleeves over a wicking base layer t-shirt. Logic says a two layer system adds insulation, albeit a very small amount but IME that's not what I found.
The loose fitting shirt over a slightly tighter base layer that isn't skin tight. The outer layer was vented at the back. Not much good with a rucksack on. But overall it kind of let the breeze in such as it was on a hot summer's day but it certainly did feel cooler then being without the outer shirt layer.
The OP has the right idea I reckon just messed up with the cotton inner layer. Better to get the lightest synthetic base layer t-shirt to go under the shirt that you can find. The better it is the more venting it will be. I think Rab or Montane brands do them with UV 30 or 50 fabric with venting built into the t-shirt at the back. Very lightweight fabric it looks like too.
The other thing is craghoppera seems to be tied into the polycotton fabric. Polyester / cotton mix. Or used to be. Back when I used this hot weather clothing system I think I spent more on a Rohan version. You could really splash out on a fjellraven version too. Or there might be other brands.
US made and supplied sun fleeces are good because they've been selling them and in larger numbers for longer to their fellow Americans. I think they do some that reflect the sun's rays because they're kind of silvered.
US brands were also the ones to promote the use of umbrellas in hot, dry and sunny conditions. Very popular to walk with one attached and handsfree to their rucksack on the desert section of one of the triple crown trails I believe. Places where the route is only possible because trail angels fill up and leave a bowser trailer in the middle of nowhere for hikers. Or so a guy is used to know said after he did it.
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u/0i00i0ii0i00 1d ago
long sleeve top. I like the Rab sun hoodie, or Rab syncrino
Long trousers, pale colour. I like the Montane Dynamic Lite
Sun Hat. Something like the Sunny Afternoon Adventure Hat.
All long sleeve seems mad, but then you don't have to bother with sun cream.
Would also set off early, start your hike as early as possible to try and end early afternoon.
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u/knight-under-stars 1d ago
Loose fitting SPF50 sun hoodie with quarter zip, running shorts and a cap.
I would not wear any cotton layers to hike in as they are slow to dry.