The Fat Girl’s Guide to Hot Weather Hiking, Part 1
Toni, hot on the trail
It’s the heart of summer in my part of the world. I’ll confess that where I live, the humidity and prolific, determined mosquitoes keep me off the trails in midsummer, but my day pack is always ready for those dry, breezy sunny days. What’s great about hiking is that just about anyone can do it, even if it means a short stroll through the woods at a local park, and it’s affordable. Best of all: it’s tough to walk in nature, letting everyday cares fall away, and not feel your spirits lifted.
In this entry, I’ll talk about what to wear. Next week, I’ll cover what to bring and some tips on hiking safely. After that, it’s up to you to hit the trails!
I’m often surprised to hear that people assume you need hiking boots to hike. I think hiking boots are a good idea if you’ll be backpacking and/or scrambling over rocky, mountainous or otherwise steep terrain. But if you’re a flatlander like me, either mid-height hikers, especially if your ankles are weak, or trail runners (I love my Montrails) are usually sufficient. Why trail runners? They’re a bit sturdier than walking or even regular running shoes. If all you have are generic athletic shoes, that’s fine, but make sure they’re in decent condition – the extra money you spend on quality fat girl footwear helps prevent injury and wear and tear on our bodies due to carrying extra weight.
Check out the new Outdoor.Zappos.com, which lets you search for shoes by activity, including hiking and offers the same free shipping policy as the main Zappos site. You know your body best – if you have Type II diabetes, weak ankles, or chronic foot pain, shop for the footwear that will serve you best. I realize that specialized shoes can be expensive, but due to a prior ankle injury, this is one area where I know that you get what you pay for.
As far as clothing, comfort and durability are key. Look for breathable fabrics that wick moisture away from the body. If your climate is prone to sudden changes, bring layers (a light jacket or rain poncho) and look for “convertible” pants that zip off into shorts. Junonia.com offers some in plus sizes, but I really wish they didn’t have that annoying tapered leg, mom jeans cut.
This is where I veer off trail momentarily to ask retailers like Title 9 Sports to carry their cool looking gear in plus sizes. Pretty please?
L.L. Bean has some–but not many–plus size offerings, as does Land’s End (I hike in these). Bermuda or bicycling shorts are a good option for comfort and coverage, and I’ve found they don’t ride up as much as shorter or wider-cut shorts.
Of course, outdoors-specific clothing can be spendy, so look around for bargains where you can and find stuff that’s comfortable while you walk. You don’t want anything that will ride or bunch up while you’re walking or that will hold sweat in. I’ve noticed exercise clothing made from breathable fabric at big box retailers like Target, so hop on that trend if you find affordable plus size athletic tops. Just check the return policy to make sure you can take things back after you’ve trail tested them.
That being said, these are my favorite underwear for keeping cool and comfy on the trail. I still haven’t found an exercise bra I like (share your recommendations here and look for a guide on them soon!), but my ideal workout bra would be breathable and supportive with convertible straps for tanks and sleeveless tees on the trail.
Stay tuned for next week’s guide to hot weather hiking – what to bring.
Tell us about your favorite hiking wear – who has the best quality at decent (or even bargain) prices?
I can’t normally afford to buy a whole lot from REI, but I WILL say that they have awesome in-store sales. We’ve gotten $80 pants for $14, two-for-ones on other gear and apparel. Sierra Trading Post is another good one.
My favorite hiking shoes are either Teva or Keen-like sandals (durable and steady with good traction, but nice and light and cooool in hot weather). But if I know I’ll be scrambling, I bring the mid-height hikers.
Also, a tip I wish I’d been given when I first started out hiking: trim your toenails unless you’re wearing open-toe sandals. Trust me on this! Hiking down a long, even gradual decline can shove your toes into the front of your shoes, and if you’ve got any toenail sticking out, it’ll get pushed on and start to hurt in pretty short order. That can ruin a great hike fast.
I’ll cover some prep tips – like blister prevention/treatment, and chafing in the next entry and will add the toenails advice, too. Been there, done that!
Another great thing about REI is that you can return their stuff for any reason, as with Land’s End. Not sure how many other retailers/outfitters have such a policy; maybe L.L. Bean?
I love hiking in Tevas (Keen water shoes are too wide for my narrow feet, sadly), but mostly on more groomed/predictable trails or shorter hikes to avoid injury/ticks.
Yes, the chafing. Ohhh…the chafing.
I bought a pair of Muck boots about two years ago and they are still in great shape. I wear them to work almost daily. I’ll never throw them out.
Hi, Joe; I’d never heard of that brand before – they’re pretty cool looking! How do they hold up on long (say, 2+ mile) walks?
generally these muck boots are more often made of a soft natural rubber foam which creates a softy impact on the user as they are easy to wear on and off,no lace to tie or no need to zip,just put your legs in and there you are.
[...] covered hiking wear basics in our Guide to Hot Weather Hiking and the companion Guide to Cold Weather Hiking (what can we say? We really like hiking, and we [...]
[...] ponchos, we’ve offered up practical guides on canoeing and fearless volunteering and hot-weather hiking when you’re overweight, we’ve even talked about sensitive stuff like chafing under fat [...]
[...] it and it’s a great beginner’s adventure. Our two-part guide to hot weather hiking (Part 1 here and Part 2 here), plus our guide to hiking in challenging conditions like sand dunes or muddy areas [...]