Clothing and accessories for outdoor sports

WHAT IS OUTDOOR SPORT?

Outdoor sports or activities are known as outdoor sports or any physical activity that is practiced outdoors. Normally they take place in the middle of nature and, on occasions, they require testing our physical and mental abilities.

This type of activity is becoming fashionable among athletes because it allows you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and allows you to connect more directly with nature. If you are one of the athletes who have joined outdoor sports, this is the right section for you. Here you will find all the outdoor sports clothing and accessories you need to fully enjoy the sport without sacrificing comfort.

WHAT KIND OF OUTDOOR CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES CAN YOU FIND?

Practicing sports in the open air requires specific clothing and accessories for outdoor sports that prepare you to resist the weather conditions and allow you to protect yourself from the environment. The environment where you are going to carry out the sporting activity will determine the necessary equipment, but also the season of the year in which you practice it, the weather conditions, etc.

For example, if you are a lover of the mountains and hiking, you can schedule your getaways at any time of the year. However, if you decide to climb to the top of a mountain in winter, you will need thermal clothing to protect you from the cold of heights.

Outdoor sports clothing and accessories are usually characterized by the resistance of their materials. The conditions outside are often adverse and it is essential that they are resistant. At the same time, they offer you perspiration so that the athlete's body is kept at an adequate temperature and is not a condition for the performance of the activity.

FOOTWEAR

For outdoor sports, not just any shoe is worth it, since for long-term routes or with less stable terrain we will need comfortable shoes that adapt to our feet and with a good grip on the surface. High-top shoes are ideal for protecting our ankles from possible injuries or sprains since they offer greater support. If for the route it is necessary to cross rivers or rain is expected, it will be advisable to choose waterproof footwear. For simple outdoor activities without adverse weather conditions, comfortable slippers may suffice.

THERMAL GARMENTS

Thermal clothing will be one of your best allies in outdoor sports. It is characterized by having a composition that allows garments to be light, elastic and adjustable. In this way they mold to your body like a second skin to maintain body temperature at a stable level. In addition, they are breathable so that while you practice sports the sweat perspires out and you do not leave with a damp feeling.

JACKETS

Outdoor jackets are ideal for their waterproof or windproof properties. These two functions can enable you to keep your body dry even in rainy conditions and reduce the feeling of cold when the wind blows strongly. Remember that it is always convenient that they are also thermoregulatory or thermal.

Tip: Try to look for a jacket that has several compartments or pockets that allow you to store your essential materials and tools. For short routes this can prevent you from needing to carry an outdoor backpack with you.

BOTTLES

Hydration during sports activity is essential to maintain a rhythm and optimal performance. For this reason, we bring you a section with bottles and drums of different sizes and materials so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Plan your route and don't forget the importance of hydrating along the way.

OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES

To complete your outdoor sports clothing and accessories kit, we offer you a wide catalog of accessories so that you can enjoy your favorite outdoor sports with the certainty that you are protected and equipped. Here you will find technical socks, microfiber towels, hats, technical sports gloves, outdoor backpacks... And many more accessories!

HOW TO CHOOSE OUTDOOR CLOTHING?

It is highly recommended for outdoor sports to use the three-layer system, that is, to dress in layers, giving an effect of greater effectiveness and versatility, allowing us to better adapt to changes in temperature that may arise or to weather adversities.

FIRST LAYER

It will be the layer that is in contact with the skin. Its main function is to evacuate sweat to keep us dry, managing to remove moisture from our body and avoiding cold, therefore it is recommended that its properties be sweat and moisture drainage, heat retention, breathable and anti-allergic.

The materials these garments must be made of are polyester or polypropylene in the case of artificial fibers or merino wool for natural fibers. Although synthetic fibers are usually cheaper, they can generate a bad smell. The best known synthetic fibers are Coolmax and Thermolite. In any case, it is recommended to avoid cotton, since it is a material that takes time to dry, so it will end up making us cold as sweat is not expelled well.

SECOND LAYER

The function of this layer is insulation. It does not shelter us, but it prevents the heat generated by the body from escaping in order to avoid cooling. This layer should not be attached to the body, to allow the circulation of heat and the thickness of its fiber will be chosen depending on the temperature.

Some second layers that are usually used are polar linings, feathers or synthetic fiber jackets.

The garments used in this layer have characteristics such as body heat retention, sweat evacuation, reduced weight and volume, and water repellency (not waterproof).

THIRD LAYER

This last layer must: protect us from the rain, that is, be waterproof garments; protect us from the wind, for which windbreaks are usually recommended; and help us evacuate our sweat, that is, be breathable. We are going to choose this third layer depending on the activity that we are going to carry out:

• Waterproof: waterproof, but breathable garments, so that it prevents us from getting wet if it rains, but at the same time evacuates sweat well. It is recommended that they wear a hood. They must be very resistant to abrasion and tearing and it is recommended that zippers, seams and other holes be sealed in order to prevent water from seeping through them.
• Windbreak: seeks to prevent air from penetrating in order to prevent us from getting cold. They are not waterproof so they are more breathable, but they do have some water repellency.
• Softshell: mix between fleece and windbreaker. They are not waterproof, but they do have some water repellency. They are born from the idea of ​​reducing the number of layers.

FOR WHICH SPORTS IS OUTDOOR CLOTHING RECOMMENDED?

Outdoor sportswear is important for sports that are carried out outdoors, since they protect us from the cold, keeping our body as dry as possible at all times. Therefore, it is important to keep these garments in mind in sports such as:

• Trekking: it is a mountain sport modality, very similar to hiking, but it has a greater adventure component and will require more elaborate logistics.
• Hiking: walks along trails and paths, are usually not very difficult and are characterized by being carried out in the middle of nature.
• Mountaineering: ascent and subsequent descent of mountains.
• Cross-country skiing: tours through mountains that include the ascent and descent of these with skis.
• Mountaineering: refers to the ascent of the mountains, but using different climbing techniques.
• Trail running: refers to running on mountain trails, hills or mountains, crossing streams and rivers where large ups and downs are interspersed.
• MTB: we refer to the mountain bike, making trips through the mountains or fields.

WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES THE USE OF OUTDOOR CLOTHING HAVE?

• Light: their composition makes them very light clothing, making it easy to wear them under other outerwear almost without noticing them.
• Elastic and adjustable: it fits perfectly to our skin, if it is loose it will not be able to fulfill its main function of maintaining body heat.
• Breathable: expels sweat so that we are always dry.
• Thermoregulatory: traps heat and retains it.