Few things will end a hike faster than an ill-planned layering system. Smart apparel choices will keep you warm in the cold, cool in the heat, and dry when it’s raining. For technical hiking, next-to-skin layers need to be highly breathable and moisture-wicking, while midlayers should be warm and protective in cold or windy conditions and stow away easily in your pack when the weather is cooperating. Here are our top picks for the year.
The Winners at a Glance
Lé Bent 160 SS Tee
Alpine Fit Treeline Baselayer
Rab Nexus Fleece
Kühl Response Lite Long Sleeve
Cotopaxi Vuelta Performance Windbreaker Jacket
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie
How We Test
Number of Testers: 14
Number of Products Tested: 22
Distance Covered: 350+ miles
Hottest Temperature: 105 F
With 14 testers from around the country, our apparel testing team was exposed to a variety of conditions for the full 2022 hiking season. Temperatures ranged from the mid-30s in Alaska to over 100 degrees in the foothills near Boise, Idaho, and everything in between at testing locations in California, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. Testers wore…
