Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Travel Health & Insurance

How To Keep Your Cool On The Trail

Published: Aug 26, 2020 by Guest Blogger |

Hiking Swiss Alps (photo: Yente van Eynde)
Swiss Alps (photo: Yente van Eynde)

Hiking is one of the most popular summer adventures, but when the mercury starts to rise, you need to take more precautions before heading out.

With the right planning, there is no need to avoid your favorite hiking destination when the weather starts heating up.

Going for a hike can be hard on your body even in the best conditions.

When you add extreme heat and humidity, you need to pay close attention to what your body is telling you to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration.

According to kryptek.com, wearing the right gear, bringing enough water, and always hiking with a buddy are just a few of the things you can do to stay cool on the trail.

Let’s take a look at a few summer hiking tips to help you get the most out of your trail adventure in the heat.

Table of Contents

  • Start Early
  • Stay Hydrated
  • Ice Pack
  • Cover Up
  • Choose Your Trail Wisely
  • Take A Bandana
  • Rest Often

Start Early

The hottest part of the day is generally between 12 - 4 pm. If you start your hiking trip early, you can avoid much of the worst heat.

Hitting the trail right after sunrise when the visibility is clear can keep you cool and give you lots of time to enjoy your hike.

Stay Hydrated

You can lose up to two gallons of water on a hot summer hike. It’s vital to replenish as many fluids as possible to keep yourself cool.

Always carry more water than you think you will need.

It takes time for your body to process water, so it’s better to take frequent sips from your hiking water bladder instead of gulping down too much at one time.

Ice Pack

If you start to feel overheated, you can quickly cool your body temperature with a small ice pack.

Leave an ice pack in the freezer for at least 24 hours before your hike for the best results.

You can also freeze a bottle of water to keep in your bag and then drink it once it’s melted.

Cover Up

Keeping your skin covered in lightweight moisture-wicking fabric shirts and pants can help keep you cool.

Getting too much exposure can leave you feeling too warm.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat, UV protection sunglasses, and a good layer of sunscreen.

Choose Your Trail Wisely

When the weather is hot, your choice of trail can make a difference in your ability to stay cool.

Opt for a trail that has plenty of shade. A forest hike is perfect, keeping the heat at bay on your walk.

It’s a good idea to choose hiking destinations with easy or moderate trails for the hot weather.

Take A Bandana

One of the handiest pieces of hiking gear is a cloth bandana.

Wearing a bandana around your neck or your forehead can help to absorb sweat on the trail.

For extra relief, you can soak your bandana in water before you put it on.

Rest Often

Hiking takes a lot of energy. It’s essential to take a lot of short rest breaks when you are hiking in the heat.

Just a 10-minute rest can help your muscles regenerate and cool your body temperature.

If you can’t resist getting out for a hike even during the hottest days of the summer, follow these tips to keep you cool.

______

This story is brought to you in partnership with Kryptek.

Related Stories

  • A traveler catching some sleep at an airport, possibly due to jet lag (photo: Ray Sangga Kusuma).
    Managing Lack of Sleep When You're Jet-Lagged
  • A woman swinging in Bali (photo: Artem Beliaikin).
    What To Look For When Buying Travel Insurance
  • Hiking Laugavegur trail in Iceland (photo: Romain Verkindt).
    What Is a GHIC Card?
  • Safety tips for hikers include traveling with a buddy, such as this pair of backpackers in the Tatra Mountains in Europe (photo: Hennadii Hryshyn).
    10 Essential Safety Tips for Hikers
3 shares
  • Share
  • Email

About Guest Blogger

This post was written by a guest contributor. Please reference the author's byline in the post above for more information. If you would like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines. For information on advertising opportunities, go here.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking

3 shares
  • 3