What To Wear When Conquering a Mountain

by Alexandra Mansilla

What To Wear When Conquering a Mountain

25 Sept 2025

There is something magical about heading into the mountains: the air gets sharper, the silence deeper, and every step takes you further away from daily noise. But that same beauty can turn tricky if you are not prepared. The weather shifts in minutes — blazing sun, sudden wind, even snow in summer — and the wrong clothes or missing gear can turn an adventure into a struggle. That is why the first rule of mountain hiking isn’t about speed or strength, but about being ready: knowing how to dress and what to carry.

Disclaimer: This guide isn’t about professional mountaineering gear — we are not experts, and we won’t dive into technical equipment. Think of it instead as a simple checklist for comfort and safety if you are planning a mountain hike, based on common sense and shared experience.

Clothing:

— Base layer: a moisture-wicking T-shirt or thermal underwear. Avoid cotton — once wet, it stays wet.

— Mid layer: a fleece or light down jacket to keep you warm.

— Outer layer: a waterproof, windproof shell. Even in summer, the weather can flip fast.

— Bottoms: quick-dry trekking pants or leggings. Jeans are a big no — they are heavy and cold when wet.

— Shoes: hiking boots with ankle support and a grippy sole. Sneakers won’t protect you on rocky ground.

Accessories:

— Hat or cap for sun, beanie or buff for warmth.

— Sunglasses with UV protection.

— Light gloves (yes, even in summer).

— Extra socks — dry feet mean happy hiking.

What to pack in your backpack:

— A refillable water bottle or hydration pack.

— High-energy snacks (nuts, dried fruit, energy bars).

— A map or GPS (don’t rely only on phone signal).

— Sunscreen and lip balm.

— A small first aid kit.

— A headlamp or flashlight (sunsets are faster than you think).

— An extra layer — better safe than sorry.

So when you head up the trail, think of your clothes and backpack as your mountain armour. If you are warm, dry and prepared, you will be free to focus on what really matters: the climb, the views, and that feeling of being on top of the world.

Since we have never climbed mountains ourselves and only know bits of advice from friends, we decided to go straight to the source: someone who has actually done it. We asked Raha Moharrak — the first Saudi woman to conquer Everest — to share her experience and advice on what to bring. She did.

Raha: For me, the mountains are less about conquering and more about learning to move with them. Every choice you make up there, from boots to layers to even the bottle you carry, becomes part of that quiet conversation with nature.

I always begin on the ground with strong boots that feel like trust beneath your feet. Then come the layers, like verses in a poem: a light base that breathes, a mid-layer that holds warmth close, and a jacket ready for when the sky decides to test you. On my head, it is the simplest of companions, a cap for the sun’s fire and a beanie for the mountain’s chill.

My pack is never heavy, only wise. A compass to remind me of direction, a lamp for when daylight lingers too short, water, always water, to remind me that even the strongest need to replenish, and a handful of dates from home. Sweet, simple, and grounding, they carry a piece of where I come from into the heights of where I am going. Alongside them, a book to keep my thoughts steady and give shape to the quiet when the silence of the peaks grows deep. Lately, it has been The Way of Kings series, pages filled with storms and resilience, where strength is found not just in surviving, but in choosing to keep moving forward.

The mountains will give you thin air, sudden winds, and trails that ask more than you expected. But with the right gear, pieces built for endurance and ease like the Adidas Terrex line, those obstacles do not feel like barriers. They feel like part of the rhythm.

And in that rhythm, every step becomes less about struggle and more about wonder.

by Alexandra Mansilla