What to Wear
Clothing
A highlander once said, “One thing you can say about the weather on the West Coast of Scotland, there’s a lot of it.” This is never more so than on the West Highland Way. Even in summer, conditions can become very cold and wet. It can also be gloriously hot and sunny. Walkers planning on spending several days on the Way need to be prepared for all eventualities. The best way to plan your clothing is the ‘three layer system’. This consists of a base layer to carry moisture away from your skin, a middle layer to provide warmth and an outer layer to protect you from wind and rain. Ideally, all layers should be able to breathe and to transport moisture.
Base Layer - Natural fibres absorb sweat, trapping it next to the skin. This can cause rapid cooling of the body when you stop walking. Several outdoor clothing companies produce synthetic shirts and t-shirts described as “wicking”. These are designed to carry moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry. This will keep you cool in hot weather and warm if the weather turns cold.
Middle Layer – Again, wicking type garments are available to wear over the base layer. This will continue transportation of moisture away from the skin. From May to September a medium weight fleece or micro-fleece should suffice but in colder seasons extra layers may be needed.
Outer Layer – The final layer must be able to protect you from wind and rain. A good quality waterproof jacket is essential, regardless of the time of year. The best type of jacket is one made from breathable fabric, such as Gortex. These are likely to be more expensive but are real value for money. Worn in conjunction with wickable base and middle layers, they will complete the transportation of moisture and allow it to evaporate to the atmosphere, leaving the wearer dry, snug and warm.
Trousers – There is a wide range of trousers available which are designed with walkers in mind. These are usually light weight and loose fitting and often have a selection of handy pockets. You should choose material that is light, windproof and quick drying. It is also possible to get trousers which are both wicking and breathing and these are very useful if you intend to wear waterproof trousers over them. In the winter you can wear thermal long-johns for extra warmth or fleece lined trousers (“warm-bags”). Jeans are not recommended as they become very heavy when wet and take a long time to dry out. Walking for any length of time in wet trousers can cause uncomfortable chafing, especially on the inner thighs. Waterproof over-trousers are a must at most times of the year but can be left behind in summer if your walking trousers are reasonably windproof and quick drying. On hot summer days a pair of shorts makes a pleasant change but do beware of sunburn if you are not used to wearing them. Gaiters are not really necessary on any of the Way unless you plan to do a lot of walking in winter snow conditions.
Underwear – three changes of your normal underwear should be sufficient. It is possible to buy wicking undergarments which will add to your comfort as they act as a base layer in the moisture control system described above. Women might find that sports bras are more comfortable as rucksack straps can cause normal bra straps to cut into your shoulders.
Other clothing – a warm hat and gloves, preferably at least shower proof, should be carried at all times. ‘Thinsulate’ hats and gloves are very good as they have a warm fleece lining and a shower proof outer shell. In summer, you should carry a sun-hat, preferably one with some means of protecting the back of your neck from sunburn. During the summer, midges can be a real nuisance and you can buy a head net designed to keep them at bay.
Footwear
Boots – Your boots are the most important item of equipment as far as comfort is concerned. Many parts of the Way are rugged and good quality walking boots are essential. Make sure that they fit and break them in thoroughly before starting the walk, as new boots can become very uncomfortable and may cause blisters. In summer, you might get away with a pair of light trail shoes on less rugged parts of the Way but these do not provide ankle support and are not likely to be waterproof so expect to get cold, wet feet if it rains.
Socks – There are many good quality socks designed specifically for walkers and these are highly recommended. The high natural fibre content makes them very comfortable to wear. Some people prefer to wear a thinner lining sock, preferably silk, under their walking socks. These have the advantage of being easy to wash and dry quickly so you can change them more often.
Extra Footwear – When not actually on the Way, you may wish to change into trainers or sports sandals in order to give you feet a rest. These are fine but remember that every little thing adds to the weight you have to carry.
