The sun’s out, you are on a hike along the Portugues coastal route, and you’ve got beautiful surroundings – sound’s perfect right? And perfect it is, as long as you are prepared for the hot weather. Hiking in warm weather is one of the ideal scenarios, but when it’s hot and you’ve been out in the sun for several days, there is some preparation that you should have done, to avoid you falling ill and the trip being spoilt.
To start with, when hiking in hot weather, hydration is key – dehydration can be nasty! You also want to be well-stocked with sun protection and have the correct footwear. You can also be tactical on the times when you hike and avoid the times when the sun is at its hottest.
Below we have put together our guide on three tips for hiking in hot weather.
Hydration
Whenever you are out in the sun, hydration is so important, especially when out in the heat for sustained periods of time, just like you would be when hiking in hot weather – Dehydration isn’t nice and is something that could ruin your hiking trip! Make sure you have access to plenty of water and ensure you are regularly sipping on it, or stopping for a water break. Regular hikers often bring a water backpack with them, as depending on the size, they can easily hold two litres of water.
Sun Protection
When you are hiking for over 8 hours a day for several days, you will be exposing yourself to the sun’s harmful rays for the majority of the time. This can be very damaging to your skin, especially if you haven’t been regularly topping yourself up with sun lotion. Before setting off, bring plenty of 30+ SPF-rated sun lotion and aim to reapply it every 3 to 4 hours (depending on how hot and active you have been).
Additional ways to protect yourself from the sun include wearing a hat, sunglasses, using an umbrella and wearing lightweight breathable clothing.
Footwear
We can’t stress enough how important your footwear is when going on long hikes! We break footwear down into two sections, your shoes and your socks.
Shoes
If you know the weather is going to be hot, aim to wear lightweight shoes that are very breathable – this means leaving your waterproof shoes at home. The shoes should be sturdy and supportive of the way you walk. For any new pairs of shoes, make sure you wear them in before using them – you don’t want blisters on your hike!
Socks
With many different types of socks in the market, it’s worth doing your research before committing to a certain type. As a guide, your socks should be lightweight and moisture-wicking. You want them to be durable as well as comfortable as you will be wearing them for many hours. Just like buying a new pair of shoes, it’s important you wear in your socks as these can also cause you to blister.
Do you have any additional tips for hiking in hot weather? Which of the above tips did you find most useful? Let us know in the comment box below.