Following the Fernweh's Clothing Essentials for Hiking

- We are not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned in this post. -

Winter is the best time to go hiking. The lack of mosquitos, humidity, and people make it even more memorable. Anytime you go hiking there is always a voice in your head that says, "But what will I wear?!" (Did you read that in the voice of the Grinch? We sure did.)

Today's post is here to help you know what go-to clothing items have come to be the best for AR Outside in Arkansas. Of course, Arkansas has some wild weather. It is truly unpredictable. A majority of the items we go over will be for any change of weather that may happen. We go with all of the gear mentioned with along with a few other essentials.

AR Outside's Clothing Essentials for the Southeast

1. Pullover - Melanzana

Melanzana is a company based in Leadville, Colorado. They do not sell their jackets online. You can only purchase them by appointment in their downtown location in Leadville, Colorado. How cool is that!? These are handmade and are the most comfortable pullovers ever. This makes a great outer layer if the weather is nice. If it is 50 degrees or below, you'll find me wearing this hoodie!! I bought this one in 2019 for $80. We haven't made it back to Leadville to get another. They may be a bit more expensive now.

Link to their website.

2. Boots - Danner Mountain 600

My Danner hiking boots are three years old. These boots solved all the qualms with other boots. The shoelaces that come with the boots are very long, the Vibram sole gives confidence that there will be no slipping, and the snug fit allows you to go all day long without getting blisters. They are awesome! The biggest pro to these is the durability without weighing a lot. If you're out to hike a couple of miles, you don't want boots to weigh you down. These do not! These boots are about $180.

Link to their website.

3. Leggings - Crossover Winter Trail Adventure High Rise Leggings Eddie Bauer

These are the best leggings I've ever owned. They have pockets. They are warm. They are not see-through in the least bit. They make these in leggings and in pants. The leggings don't get caught up as easily in leaves. These are a bit more expensive than some other leggings out there. They are currently $99 on the Eddie Bauer website.

Link to their website.

4. Socks - SmartWool

Get SmartWool socks whenever you can find them on sale. The comfort and reliability are unbeatable. You can order them off of REI online. They keep feet warm, they are made of breathable wool material, and they keep your feet from blistering. They go on sale a lot on REI and are anywhere from $15 - $30 a pair.

Link to their website.

5. Baselayer Top - Eddie Bauer Women's Baselayer Quarter-Zip

We searched high and low to see if Eddie Bauer still sold this quarter-zip baselayer. They do not. But they do have a similar product that is without the quarter zip. It s black, is a moisture-wicking material, and has a quarter zip on it. This goes under every jacket or once heated up it's worn by itself. This baselayer was about $60 a couple of years ago.

Link to a similar product from Eddie Bauer.

6. Backpack - REI Co-op Trail 25 Pack - Women's

Best. Day. Back. Ever. It's small enough to not be a bother or weigh too much, but it holds all you would need for an 8-hour hike. The straps are adjustable and do not dig into your arms. We recommend this bag to every woman I know who needs to carry a water bottle outside. It is just so perfect. We got this backpack on sale for $25! You can get one today for $75. But watch for REI's sales and you could grab it on a deal.

Link to the product.

7. Water Bottle - Nalgene

If you are outside, regardless of the time of year, you need a Nalgene to keep your hydration in. These bottles do not add a lot of weight as some other bottles do. While they do not keep water cold or hot, they do hold enough that you could pack three for a few hours and be good to go. They also last forever. Nalgenes are also really cheap. So the more the merrier! These are anywhere from $5 on sale to $15 regular price.

Link to their website.

8. Rainjacket - Rab Women's Downpour Eco Waterproof Jacket

This Rab rainjacket is 8+ years old. It's been a perfect, lightweight, rainjacket. It's been to waterfalls, river trips, and hiking trips across the state. We would trust this rainjacket again and again! This rainjacket is about $120.

Link for their website.

8 Clothing Essentials for Arkansas Hiking:

We always have these eight items while hiking this time of year. You never know when the next storm will roll through! These items were accrued over time and not bought all at once. Having a great foundation for you to be comfortable in will create a better hike for you! (Again, we are not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned. These are just our favorites!)

Of course, you need more than just clothes while out hiking. We will be talking about what essentials are needed in your backpack while hiking here in a few weeks!

We hope this post inspired you to get outside and explore! Get out your favorite geat and go!