LEARN ABOUT THE OUTDOOR WEAR AND CLOTHING CHOICES OUR EXPERTS SWEAR BY

The trekking gear and outdoor wear you’ll have with you in Peru’s mountains will make a world of difference on your trip experience

Whether you’re planning for an easy going stroll through the Andes or for more intense activity along the way, you’ll not only need quality gear to help you on your trek, but also appropriate clothing.

And it’s extremely important to plan ahead, since carrying too much or too little clothing could deter from your fun from start to finish.

So, to make things easier for any future high-altitude travelers, we’ve compiled a short list of all the essentials you should think about when planning your next high altitude mountain adventure.

How to prepare for trekking at high altitudes

We’ve talked before about how to prepare, both physically and mentally, for a high altitude trek. What’s most important, and we won’t go into much detail this time around, is to plan ahead and to be sure to give your body enough time to get used to any sudden changes in weather and altitude

Check out the two links we dropped in the paragraph above to have a better idea of the necessary steps you should take to ensure you have the best time possible during your trip.

Outdoor trekking clothing

As any person who’s trekked before at high altitudes will tell you, and as you’ve picked up from the first part of this article, planning ahead is everything.

When it comes to clothing, planning helps by making sure we pack what’s really necessary, and the best way to do it is to tackle this task systematically.

To keep things simple, we’ll work our way from the base layer that’s in direct contact with your body to the outermost one, and we’ll end by discussing footwear. Remember, everything you wear on a trek is quite important!

Base layer

This is the most important component of your trekking wear.  It’s where to start when asking: What should I to wear on a trekking trip?

The base or inner layer is usually made up of three essential garments: an undershirt, underpants (long johns) and warm socks, but not your daily household wear.

These should be comfortable, breathable and made of non-itchy fabrics, to make sure you’re comfortable along the way.

It is important try on the socks you’ll be wearing, since many nowadays have traded functionality for style. It’s extremely important that they’re neither too constrictive, nor too loose, and they shouldn’t fold back on themselves.

Mid-layer

This intermediate layer of your outdoor trekking clothes will take care of providing you with the necessary warmth for the trek.

Depending on temperature and weather conditions, which could greatly vary depending on the time of year you’re visiting us, these garments range from long hiking pants and long-sleeved wool shirts to insulated fleece jackets or synthetic inner vests. Cotton materials such as jeans can be heavy and absorb water, so you might want to avoid these in favor of light, breathable synthetic fabrics.

Be sure when you’re packing to bring clothes that have already been proven to provide you with insulation and to trap warmth around your body.

Outer layer

As the component of your trekking outfit that is in direct contact with possibly harsh weather, the main purpose for this layer is to keep you safe from external risks.

If it starts raining, snowing or just gets really cold, you need to trust your outermost later to remain impenetrable and seal in both inner layers. Hooded, well-insulated mountain parkas are recommended. Remember, down jackets can be problematic if it rains, since they absorb moisture and don’t easily dry off. Goretex^© can be an ideal material for your outer layer.

Keeping this in mind, the finishing touches of your trekking outfit should be waterproof pants and a waterproof jacket or windbreaker that keeps the wet outside. This should be breathable to help expel wetness from the inside, since it wouldn’t help much if it kept you safe from external humidity while not letting you breathe out sweat.

Keeping these general tips in mind, you should be able to find what you need to wear while trekking through the Andes Mountains.

If you have any further questions or need more specific advice, feel free to send us a message. We’ll be happy to help!