Lots of trekkers write to us about what kind of material to wear while trekking, especially while trekking in the Himalayas. 

The debate always comes down to cotton versus dri-fit material, whereas a few other materials like linen and merino wool get a few mentions. 

So what is the best material to wear while trekking?

So, What Clothing Material is Best For Trekking and Hiking?

In October 2024, we surveyed trek leaders and our Indiahikes Trekking Club members, asking participants about their preference for the material. The goal was to understand what trekkers and trek leaders are choosing and why.

Our trek leaders, who trek day in and day out for months together overwhelmingly voted in favour of dri-fit clothing. A near-negligible minority chose cotton. We noticed the same among members of the Indiahikes Trekking Club, who trek regularly in the Himalayas as well as the Western Ghats.

Dri-fit works best in cold, high-altitude regions (like the Himalayas). It wicks away sweat very easily, keeping your skin dry, especially during cold weather conditions.

If wet, dri-fit dries quickly, preventing the fabric from sticking to your skin, which helps lower the risk of hypothermia.

Dri-fit is super lightweight, enabling you to layer easily. Additionally, it doesn't add much bulk to your backpack.

The downside of dri-fit: The challenge one faces with dry-fit is that it holds onto the odour. To overcome this, we recommend carrying a few more T-shirts than you normally would.

Buy the versions of dry-fit t-shirts where you get net or mesh cloth around the armpits which helps with sweat and odour.

Always choose dry-fit clothing with full sleeves. It keeps you from sun tanning. 

Dri-fit T-shirts with full sleeves and a collar are even better. Your neck gets protected too. 

When to Choose Cotton?

Cotton works well in a hotter environment where drying time and weight aren’t concerns. 

Choose cotton clothing if you are going to central India treks like Pench Mowgli, Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek, Narmada Backwaters Trek, and Odisha Debrigarh Sanctuary Trek among a few others.

Linen is a great choice as a placement to cotton. It is lighter and dries faster, but is more expensive. 

There is a lot of conversation around Merino wool of late. It’s a bit of a paradox though. According to our survey, not many people have heard of merino wool. But the few who have used it, swear by it. 

Why merino wool? Or what trekkers like about merino wool?

It doesn’t smell no matter how much you sweat. 

They especially swear by Merino wool socks since they can use them for days and they won’t smell. 

It does a good job of wicking sweat away. 

They prefer merino wool in winter because it keeps you warmer than dry fit

They believe it to be more sustainable because it is 100% biodegradable. 

However, most of them find it too expensive to buy. We will dive deeper into merino wool in another article, and answer the most common queries about it.

For any trek in cold regions, we recommend going to the dri-fit. Even in hot weather, dri-fit wicks sweat better. But if you prefer cotton, it’s better to use it only in hot regions and not in cold regions. 

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below. We’ll get back to you.

What is the Best Clothing Material for Trekking and Hiking?

dri fit vs cotton, dri-fit clothing for trek, merino wool, best clothing material for trekking, 

Kedarkantha Trek

Mural Danda Exploration

Coorg Nelji Hill Trek

Kuari Pass Trek

Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek

Odisha Debrigarh Sanctuary Trek

Channarayana Durga Weekend Trek 

Dayara Bugyal Trek

Goa Netravali Forest Trek

Sandakphu Phalut Trek

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Narmada Backwaters Trek

Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek

Roopkund Trek

Ala-Kul Trek - Kyrgyzstan

Ranthan Kharak Trek

Back-to-Nature Trek at Bijli Mahadev

Youth Camp on Ali Bedni Bugyal

Georgia Atsunta Pass Trek

Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

Kodaikanal Avocado Hill Trek

Kanamo Peak Trek

Dafeybhir Pass Trek

Kedartal Trek

Miyar Valley

Kedarkantha Summer Camp Trek

Biligundlu Cauvery River Trek

Khopra Ridge Trek

Mount Rinjani Trek

Ghepan Lake

Mount Kilimanjaro Trek

Surya Top

Pangarchulla Peak Trek

Tarsar Marsar Trek

Buran Ghati Trek

Bhrigu Lake Trek

Phulara Ridge Trek

Everest Base Camp (Classic Route)

Har Ki Dun

Pin Bhaba Pass Trek

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek 

Gurez Valley Trek

Bali Pass Trek

Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Rupin Pass

Warwan Valley Trek

Beas Kund Trek

Valley of Flowers

Nafran Valley Trek

Goechala Trek

Chandrakhani Pass Trek

Nag Tibba Weekend Trek

Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Ri Trek

Tulian Lake Trek

Manali Kaisdhar Trek for Beginners

Hampta Pass Trek

Brammah Valley Trek

Brahmatal Trek

Pench Tiger Trail

Pir Panjal Lakes Trek

Benog Tibba Trek

Bodpathri Trek

Dayara Bugyal Summer Camp 

Winter Trekking Camp for Children

Kuari Pass Summer Camp Trek

Minchukallu Betta Weekend Trek

Vellore Amirthi Forest Trek

Chirbatiya Weekend Trek

Gidara Bugyal

Deoban Weekend

Gutirayan Peak Trek

Bananthimari Betta Trek

Nishani Motte Trek

Kugti Pass Trek

Netravati Trek

Satpura Forest Trail

Karnala Fort Trek

Neelkanth Mahadev Lake Trek

Kamalgad Trek

Horagina Betta Trek

Kumara Parvatha Trek

Chadar Trek

Arshan Valley Trek

Makalidurga Trek

Halu Chilume Gange Trek

Kudremukh Trek

Bekal Beach Trek

Bijli Mahadev To Naggar Trek

Harishchandragad Trek

Doodhpathri Trek

Triund Trek

Pin Parvati Pass

Channarayana Durga Trek

Bhimashankar Trek

Rajgad Trek

Rajmachi Trek

Satopanth Tal Trek

Sathuragiri Hill Trek

Sinhagad Fort Trek

Kalavantin Durg Trek

Please note that this is a special trek designed for stargazing enthusiasts. The trek fee is slightly more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

This is a trek specially designed for trekkers above 58 years. The itinerary is specially designed to be different from a regular trek. The trek fee is also Rs 3000 more than the regular fee (Please note this is only for Himalayan treks) Know more about the trek here.  

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 5000 more than the regular fee. Know more about the trek here. 

Please note that the family treks are meant for families with a child/children under 14 years of age. If you do not fit this criteria, you can register for any of our regular groups. Read more about family treks here.

You are joining our waitlist. Here are a few guidelines that you should keep in mind:
1. Your chances of getting a confirmation are high, but not certain. 
2. You don't have to pay right now. You will receive a notification upon confirmation of your slot. You will have 24 hours to pay and confirm your booking.
3. We close the movement of WL 15-20 days before the start of the trek.

We are known for our pioneering safety practices in trekking. Microspikes, oximeters, and BP checks became standards thanks to us. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with—everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are known for our safety

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are pioneers of treks in India

More than 30,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow. 

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey. 

Our treks are transformative

For us, sustainability is not just writing on the wall. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

Sustainability is at the heart of our operations

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

Our thrice-a-day oxi-metre checks keep altitude sickness at bay, never allowing you to reach a point where you need evacuation.

Daily 3-time health checks keep you safe at any altitude

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

Our kitchen teams understand your needs as a vegan (or a Jain). We will take special care of your food, even in the remote Himalayas. 

We have specially designed bio toilets to ensure you have no sight or smell in toilets, at the same time making sure the toilets cause no harm to the fragile ecosystem we trek in.

Be comfortable and sustainable with bio toilets

We’ll admit it. Our love for food surpasses our love for minimalism. Expect freshly cooked, multi-cuisine food at all camps, designed to meet your nutritional requirements and keep your taste buds happy!

Review Clothing

Treks by Categories

Treks by Season

Treks by Month

Treks by Duration

Treks by Difficulty

Treks by Region

Treks by Experience

Quick Links

Follow Us On

Contact Us

Bengaluru Office

Dehradun Office