How to Layer for UK Weather: Base Layers, Fleeces & Waterproof Jackets
You often hear the phrase “four seasons in a day” when we’re talking about UK weather, and it’s usually not wrong! Heading out for a walk in the countryside or along the coast is a fantastic way to spend the day, but it does mean that you need to be prepared for weather that could do more or less anything.
So knowing how to layer for hiking across the seasons and the conditions is key to making the most of your experience outdoors. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help, with all you need to know about the three layering system walkers swear by, plus the differences that spring, summer, autumn, and winter can bring to what you wear when heading out on a hike.
What is the 3-Layer System for Hiking Clothes?
Essentially, the 3-layer system means combining three separate garments that work together as a team:
- Base Layer: Sits directly against your skin to move sweat away from your body, which keeps you dry
- Mid Layer: Worn over your base layer to lock in body heat and keep you warm
- Outer Layer: There to protect you from the wind and rain while letting moisture escape from underneath
When you bring these layers together, you get an adaptable outfit that gives you flexibility when you’re outdoors. Instead of wearing one heavy coat, you can add or remove individual pieces as your body temperature or the weather changes. So when you build up heat while walking, you can take a layer off and pack it away in your rucksack. But if you take a break and sit down for a while, or you reach a chilly section of the walk, you can easily put it back on again.
Walkers facing all sorts of different temperatures rely on this kind of adaptability, because it means you don’t then have to cut a walk short if it starts raining or gets too cold, plus you keep yourself comfy throughout various points of the day.
Base Layers
What would you wear as a base layer when hiking? It usually comes down to the temperature and time of year:
- For cold weather walks: A thermal baselayer top is a great shout. It locks in the warmth that you need to cope with those cooler temperatures, while the material still breathes well as you move.
- For warmer days: A short-sleeve technical t-shirt will usually suffice (or you could go long sleeves if you prefer). The main factor is something lightweight with quick-dry fabrics designed specifically for being active in.
Your base layer can then be layered up with the mid and outer layers as the seasons change (which we’ll discuss more about later on).
The Best Fabrics for Hiking Base Layers
The types of fabrics that make for good base layers are:
- Synthetic Fabrics (Polyester & Nylon): Lightweight, durable, and fast-drying. These are fantastic options for high-energy walks where you expect to work up a sweat
- Merino Wool: Excellent at regulating body temperature, keeping you cool in higher temperatures, and/or warm in colder weather. Merino wool also has natural odour resistance, making it ideal for your full-day walks or multi-day trips
Top Tip: Cotton acts a bit like a sponge, absorbing sweat and holding onto it. This leaves the material damp against your skin, which can quickly make you feel cold once you stop moving. Stick to technical synthetics or merino wool instead to keep comfortable!
Top Picks for Hiking Base Layers
Regatta Mens Long-Sleeve Thermal Baselayer Top
Dare 2B Mens Persist Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Craghoppers Womens Merino Crew Neck Baselayer Top
Dare 2b Womens Corral Lightweight Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Mid Layers
A fleece is what most walkers will choose as their mid layer. It is an incredibly versatile garment, and when you think of outdoor warmth, a reliable fleece is usually the first thing that comes to mind!
When picking the right fleece for your setup, your main considerations will be the zip style and the fabric weight.
Zip Style: Half Zip vs. Full Zip Fleece
- Half Zip / Quarter Zip: A lightweight option that tends to pack down neatly in your backpack, and you can use the zip to adjust the ventilation around your neck, allowing for a bit of cool airflow when you need it
- Full Zip Fleece Jacket: Super practical and easy to take on or off over other clothes without having to remove things like your hat or sunglasses. You can adjust airflow all the way down your torso too
However, you might also want to go for a fleece gilet (or softshell), as this will keep your arms free.
Choosing the Right Fleece Weight
You’ll likely have a few different fleeces in your outdoor clothing wardrobe to suit different scenarios and adventures you like to go on, and there can be a slight difference between styles.
For example:
- Walking Fleeces: Fleeces designed specifically for active walking tend to be more lightweight. This accounts for the other layers in your hiking outfit and keeps any unnecessary weight out of the whole set-up. Plus, it takes into consideration that while walking, your body naturally generates heat and warms up. So something like a lightweight fleece offers that essential bit of warmth when you need it (for example, if you’re walking along the coast or you’re high up in the mountains) without causing you to sweat heavily
- Fleeces for Camping or Everyday Wear: A big, thick, fluffy fleece is fantastic when you are sitting still around a campsite, or relaxing at home and want to wrap up in warmth. However, if you wear that same heavy fleece while actively walking up a steep trail, your body temperature may rise, and then it can become a bit too much
Walkers heading out in UK weather would usually opt for a lightweight fleece, like these we're just about to spotlight for you now!
Top Picks for Walking Fleeces
Craghopper Mens Corey VI Half Zip Pullover Fleece
Craghoppers Womens Miska VI Half Zip Pullover Fleece
Regatta Mens Hadfield Full Zip Fleece Jacket
Regatta Womens Floreo IV Full Zip Soft Fleece Jacket
Outer Layers
A waterproof jacket is the most common here. Why? Because the UK loves to rain unexpectedly! And it also tends to rain quite a lot (especially if you're up north like we are), so if you’re an outdoors lover, you do have to be prepared to potentially head out hiking in a little bit of wet weather now and again.
So, the question then becomes: how waterproof does your waterproof walking jacket need to be?
All in all, the exact answer will depend on how much rain you’re expecting, or that you usually get in the area(s) where you like to hike or intend to hike.
Waterproof fabrics are measured with a rating (you will often see this listed as millimetres, like 5,000mm or 10,000mm). If it’s heavy rain quite often, then you’ll want to go for a high waterproof rating, as this will be able to withstand that heavier rain. However, if you only get a few light showers, or you tend to head out in spring/summer months only, then you might be fine with just a 5,000mm rating that’s good for everyday sort of rain.
| Rating (mm) | Protection Level |
|---|---|
| 1,500–5,000 | Entry-level waterproof. Fine for very light rain and short showers |
| 5,000–10,000 | Good for moderate rain and everyday wear |
| 10,000–20,000 | High-performance waterproofing. Better suited for heavy, more prolonged rain |
| 20,000+ | Extreme weather protection (skiing, mountaineering, very wet conditions over long periods) |
An easy reference for understanding hydrostatic head ratings for waterproof jackets.
Top Picks for Waterproof Walking Jackets
Trespass Qikpac Waterproof Packaway Jacket
Waterproof rating: 5,000mm
Regatta Mens Matt II Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof rating: 10,000mm
Regatta Womens Daysha II Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof rating: 15,000mm
Regatta Mens Birchdale II Waterproof Jacket
Other features you’d be looking for with your outer layer are:
- Breathability: as this is the last layer, you don’t want it to undo the hard work of your base layer and mid layer by trapping all that body heat in. Look for moisture vapour ratings (MVP) to ensure air circulates
- Windproof: this won’t likely be a dealbreaker, but if you do a lot of coastal walking, then you might want to factor it in
- Taped Seams & Storm Flaps: check that the zips and stitched seams are sealed to prevent water from seeping through the small gaps
Layering for a Hike Across the Seasons
Now you know more about the three layers and what sort of garments you’d wear for each, let’s take a look at how this can vary across the seasons, so you can always be prepared!
| Season | What You'll Most Likely Wear |
|---|---|
| Spring | Base layer and a fleece, with a lightweight waterproof jacket on top, or a packable option stored in your backpack |
| Summer | A t-shirt (long or short sleeved), with a packable waterproof in your bag. A gilet as your mid layer if you need a bit more core warmth without the full effect of sleeves |
| Autumn | Base layer, fleece, and a waterproof jacket |
| Winter | All three layers in play, likely a thermal base layer, a fleece, and a high-rated waterproof jacket |
Complete the Layering System with Hiking Legwear
So far we’ve focused primarily on layering for the top half in this guide, so let’s take a look at what you could wear on the bottom half.
Usually, you’d go with:
- Walking Trousers: Made with quick-drying and stretch fabrics that give you full freedom of movement
- Walking Shorts: The obvious pick for dry, sunny summer days
- Waterproof Overtrousers & Thermal Baselayers: For wet days, packable waterproof overtrousers slip neatly over your regular trousers when the rain starts. And if you’re heading out in freezing weather, wearing thermal baselayer bottoms (or long johns) underneath your walking trousers makes a world of difference!
Accessories to Support Your Hiking Layers
To help complement your layers, you can bring some accessories into your walking gear wardrobe:
- Socks: Don’t let your feet get cold! A decent pair of walking socks (like merino wool blends) can help regulate your foot temperature, and also provide essential cushioning that you will need when walking longer distances
- Gloves: You can even get touch screen compatible gloves, so if you’ll be using your phone to navigate a map or take lots of pics, you don’t have to keep taking the gloves on and off in the cold
- Hats: Typically, a beanie or bobble hat in the colder weather, and a baseball cap or wide-brim hat in the heat
- Neck Gaiters: These are so versatile, and can be worn to keep your neck warm, as a headband, or pulled up further over your face if it’s particularly fresh outside!
And if you're building your outfit from scratch, our full What to Wear Hiking Guide walks you through everything else you'll need, footwear and all.
FAQ: How to Layer for Hiking
Before we wrap up our guide, here are some of the questions we get most often from walkers figuring out what to wear.
How do you avoid overheating/getting clammy when walking in UK weather?
You might keep hearing all this about layers, and be wondering how you’re going to stop yourself from overheating. Essentially, what you might be wondering is if it's possible that you can wear too many layers when hiking.
To help make sure you get it just right, we’d recommend getting into a few simple habits when walking:
- Adjust your clothing before you overheat: If you can feel yourself warming up, stop for a moment and remove a layer before you start sweating heavily. It's much easier to stay comfortable than it is to cool down afterwards
- Use your zips: Opening the zip on your fleece or waterproof jacket allows extra airflow without needing to remove the garment completely
- Think ahead on climbs: If you've got a long uphill section coming up, you'll naturally generate more body heat. Taking off a layer before you begin can help you stay comfortable all the way to the top
The more you walk, the more you'll get a feel for the combination of layers that suits you best. Every route (and walker) is a little different, and that's exactly why layering works so well.
Which outdoor brands make good walking clothing?
A few outdoor brands have built an excellent reputation for producing dependable walking clothing that's well suited to UK conditions:
- Regatta offers fantastic value across everything from waterproof jackets and fleeces to walking trousers and base layers, making it a popular choice for beginners and regular hikers
- Trespass combines practical features with reliable weather protection, giving you plenty of options for everything from weekend countryside walks to more adventurous days outdoors
- Craghoppers is particularly well known for its technical walking clothing, including the bestselling Kiwi and NosiLife ranges, with features such as insect-repellent fabrics, quick-drying materials, and excellent waterproof protection across many of its collections
Whichever brand you choose, the most important thing is selecting clothing that's appropriate for the conditions you'll be walking in. Building your outfit around the three-layer system makes it much easier to stay comfortable throughout the day.
Do you need all three layers on every hike?
Not necessarily, as one of the biggest advantages of layering is that you can adapt your outfit to suit the weather and the type of walk you've got planned.
On a warm summer day, you may only need a technical T-shirt, with a lightweight waterproof jacket packed away in your rucksack (which we discuss in further detail over on our summer hiking gear guide).
During spring or autumn, a mix of your base layer, fleece, and waterproof jacket often provide the right balance for those cooler mornings and changeable conditions. Then, when winter arrives, all three layers are likely to come into play consistently throughout the day.
Shop All Hiking Clothes and Layers at Avenue 85
And that's everything you need to know about building the ultimate 3-layer walking outfit for UK weather!
We hope this guide has helped, and you enjoy all your outdoor adventures, whatever the weather and whatever the season brings.
And whether you’re looking for a base layer, a versatile midlayer, or a reliable waterproof jacket to keep the rain at bay, you’ll find plenty of brilliant options from top outdoor brands in our full collection of walking clothes and gear. We offer free UK shipping for orders over £65, and if you need something for an upcoming hike, we've got plenty of delivery options too!
About the Author
A dad to two energetic boys, James spends his weekends juggling football matches, skate parks, and Sunday afternoons at Disley’s very own Lyme Park. While he might not get to hit the golf course as often as he used to, he’s all in for family adventures in the great outdoors - coffee in hand and his favourite Ecco walking shoes on his feet. On the Avenue 85 blog, James loves to help other families make the most of their time outside by sharing his tried and tested tips, whether it’s finding the best waterproof jacket for a rainy day or discovering the best local walks that are perfect for little legs to explore!