8 Ways to Keep Cool on a Hiking in Heat

Beautiful, sunny summer days make for great hiking -- but when temperatures soar, so does your risk of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Even if you don't actually get sick, gutting your way through an impossibly hot hike just isn't much fun. Instead, use these eight tricks to find sweet relief from the heat: 1. Choose Your Hike Wisely Check forecasts and choose your hikes accordingly. On hot days, look for hikes that are mostly in the shade or at high altitude, which almost always means cooler temperatures. Hikes that take you near water sources not only tend to be cooler but also give you plenty of chances to refill your water containers. Speaking of which... 2. Stay Hydrated Drinking lots of water do more than "refill" your sweat glands -- it's also the key to helping your body regulate its internal temperature, which in turn helps you avoid heat-related illnesses. Remember, if you're drinking water you find along the trail, make sure to filter or purify it first. 3. Cover Up It might seem counterintuitive, but staying covered with light, loose-fitting clothing is usually a lot more comfortable than stripping down to the bare essentials. Keeping things loose allows air to circulate near your skin, which in turn helps you stay cool. That also goes for your hat; a loose-fitting, wide-brimmed hat makes the whole day seem cooler. As a bonus, the clothing and hat offer some protection from sunburn and bugs. Wearing proper caps or best hat to wear hiking are also very important if you are hiking or trekking under the heat of the sun. Finally, certain fabrics and technologies, like the Sol Cool xylitol treatment in ExOfficio's TriFlex Hybrid shirt or the super-light wool in shirts like Icebreaker's Destiny shirt, are especially good for hiking in hot weather; in both cases, I was impressed by how well they performed in temps of 90 and above. 4. Remember Your Electrolytes Just drinking water isn't enough; you also need to take in electrolytes, the minerals that allow your body to actually make use of all that water you're drinking. Salty snacks help, but hydration powders and tablets -- like Nuun and CamelBak Elixir -- are even better. 5. Watch the Clock If you want to do a hike that's exposed to the sun, go early -- that way you can be there and back again before the day heats up. Evening hikes are also a nice way to beat the heat, but you're more likely to run into thunderstorms. 6. Go Soak Yourself Nothing's more refreshing than taking a dip in the water. But even if there's not enough to immerse yourself (or if swimming isn't allowed), you can still soak a bandana and lay it over your head or around your neck for quick relief. rnYou can also buy (or make) bandanas filled with water-absorbing polymer crystals that soak up the water and help keep you cooler for longer. 7. Seek Out the Breeze A refreshing breeze can do a lot to keep you cool -- so head for airy, breezy ridges when you can. You'll sometimes find a good breeze near moving water too. rnLooking at the trees gives you another clue about typical wind patterns: The more markedly lopsided their foliage, the more likely you'll find persistent winds in that area. 8. Take It Easy So it's hot, there's no shade, and you want to hike anyway? Been there, done that, and it's still a lot of fun. Leave yourself enough time to maintain an easy pace. Moreover, that'll help keep your body temperature down. rnHiking with considering the guide I provide will help you to have a safer hiking experience. Also to know more tips and guides on hiking, you can search over the internet. Just make sure you have plenty of water, wear sunblock, protect your scalp with a bandana, Buff or hat, and bring polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes and cut down glare.