Longer Hikes- How many clothes Changes?

One set for hiking and one heavier set for sleeping and hiking in inclement weather. Just take a break by a creek and wash the funk out without soaping the area up if deep in pristine wilderness (or just get away from the bank).

When hiking in a wet/damp environment, I've not had much success washing and drying clothes. Once they get wet, they tend to stay damp or take a long time to dry. So I take a set of hiking clothes and a set of camp clothes (that can be layered with my hiking clothes for warmth/protection if necessary). The camp clothes are stowed in a dry bag in my pack and (except on rare occasions) are only worn in camp. Hiking clothes are worn during the day and aired out, and perhaps rinsed out, in camp. The next morning the camp clothes go back in the dry bag and I put on my hiking clothes even if they are damp. If the weather is nice, body heat will dry them quickly. If it's wet, my hiking clothes are likely to stay damp but moving will keep me warm and I have a dry set of clothes to change into when I make camp.

For a seven day (or even a much longer hike) I'd take:

Two base layer tops -- usually one synthetic for hiking and one merino wool for camp. (Long sleeve/short sleeve and weight varies with expected weather.)

One pair hiking pants or shorts -- for hiking.

One base layer bottom -- for camp/sleeping if necessary. (Weight varies with expected weather.)

Two pairs synthetic undies -- one for hiking, one for camp.

Three pairs socks -- two pair merino socks, one pair synthetic liner socks. When the liner socks are washed, they dry quickly. Sometimes I use them as a dry, breathable option for camp. Or, if my merino socks are damp (either from washing or hiking in wet conditions) , I've found that wearing liner socks makes wet merino socks feel more comfortable. I always make sure that I have one pair of dry socks for camp. If I've been hiking in wet conditions and my shoes are wet, I wear lightweight plastic grocery bags over my dry socks in camp to keep them from absorbing moisture from my shoes.

One or more insulating layers -- if expected temps are cool enough to warrant it.

Rain jacket and pants.

This part of the reason I enjoy this place. People may not give you the same answer (obviously) but everyone has a reason for why they do what they do and they tell you. You end up with good advice. Just have to sort it out a little.

This is a good point, and conditions should determine if you rinse clothes. Even just airing things goes a long way toward making the clothes more pleasant to put on.


I'd caution against this. I don't like to add a lot of dampness to the bag, and especially, would not wear damp socks to bed--my feet would freeze. YMMV, of course, but there's a reason I sacredly guard a pair of clean, dry socks that I use only in my bag!

The LNT Skinny on using soap.

For me, when I want to clean clothes in the backcountry. I use warmed water. I warm the water away from the water source, I put the item to be cleaned into a gallon zip lock freezer bag, squish the item around a bit, and pour the water out on 'dead ground.' For me dead ground tends to be the trail or the ground inside a fire ring.

I carry a wash cloth as a rag. I will, from time to time, use warmed water in a freezer bag and the wash cloth to wipe myself down. I will stand on either the trail or on the rocks of a fire ring to limit my impact to the dead ground.

I am sure if I had children, I'd bring wipes and carry them back in my garbage.

I only tend to do the rinse clothes and myself thing on layover days.

I was the one that asked about the detergent and my reason for asking was for the sake of keeping the streams clean.

I just watched the movie Mile, mile and a Half. I saw them washing their clothes in the buckets and was wondering about the use detergents in and around the streams.

Thank you.