English 
Indonesia 
French 
Dutch 
Thai 
Chinese Planning an outdoor trip requires a lot of preparation. One of them relates to essential equipment, such as a smock. This gear serves as extra protection for your body. Spending hours or even days in an open, vast environment actually exposes you to uncertain circumstances. The weather may change from cold to hot within hours.
Heavy rain or storms can occur at any time. Besides, wind may move more wildly compared to closed areas, such as houses or buildings. Wearing a smock provides an extra layer for your body. This outer garment is crucial if you plan multi-day trekking in mountainous areas.
Without this cover, your body will easily suffer from hypothermia. This medical condition means your body loses heat faster than it can produce. If not addressed shortly, the low body temperature can affect the brain and heart. In addition to the benefits, this garment has other advantages and key features. Let’s explore them all below!
Is a smock good for hiking?
Yes, it is good for hiking, especially for activities that last for days with moderately wet or windy conditions. It serves as an outer layer for layering systems that are necessary to protect against harsh weather conditions. However, this outer layer may not be enough to cover your trek in extreme cold or heavy rain.
For that kind of exploration, you will need an insulated or waterproof jacket. Today, diverse smock products are available in both online and offline markets. The makers design outer layers that are lightweight, packable, and useful. Usually, the covers have the following features:
- Weather protection: Durable water repellent treatments and breathable materials, such as Nikwax Windproof, allow the garment to perform this function.
- Storage and access: It has large and easy-to-access chest pockets where you can put maps or other personal items.
- Ventilation: The body protector also has two-way or side zips that can regulate the temperature when your activities require a lot of stamina.
- Design: The gear has a pullover style with specialised zips that you can adjust when you are more active in the adventure.
Five main benefits of wearing a smock
Wearing the outer garment brings you at least five major benefits. They revolve around health, safety, and comfort. Those important functions are possible to realise thanks to the materials that are often chosen by the makers. One of the materials is nylon, which is strong, lightweight, water-resistant, and dries quickly.
Due to the amazing properties, it can give you extra protection without adding bulk to your already heavy overnight bag. Another common smock material is polyester. This one is durable and is often paired with nylon to boost the breathability of the cover. Let’s check the details of the benefits below!
Keeping you dry
As you can see from the above paragraph, most smock materials are water or moisture-resistant. Wearing it can shield you from rain, mist, or snow, making sure you won’t suffer hypothermia. You can tell you suffer from the condition if you start shivering or feeling fatigue and turning your skin pale.
Serving as a flexible layering
A smock is a versatile outer layer for the human body. You can wear it over base layers, fleece, or a thin jacket. Thus, the garment accommodates various warmth needs. For example, when the temperature is a bit warm, you can only use this shell jacket. Yet, when the weather is moderate, using it as a thin jacket is more proper.
A smock provides comfort and supports mobility
The outer garment is designed to provide comfort and allow free movement. Its lightweight materials enable you not to feel an extra burden as you walk. In addition, you can remain active, even when passing through tough terrains, like hills or rocky stones. With the garment, you can climb, stretch, and cross streams comfortably.
Helping you conserve energy
A smock helps your body conserve stamina, which you will need to keep warm during the outdoor trip. Such a benefit is possible as the cover shields your body from wind and wet conditions. Thus, you can spend the energy on resuming the journey and prevent falling sick throughout the tour.
Helping to prevent cold-related issues
Staying in cold conditions for too long may trigger serious health problems. Besides hypothermia, you may suffer from frostbite, which occurs when body tissues freeze. The symptoms include numbness and pale or bluish skin in exposed areas, such as fingers and nose. Using this outer layer can help prevent this from happening.
What is the difference between a smock and a jacket?
They differ in terms of design, function, and common uses. A jacket has a more flexible design with a full-front zipper or buttons. As such, you can open or remove it more easily. Meanwhile, a smock is probably less flexible as it doesn’t have a full front zipper. Instead, it has a pullover, which you can adjust to your needs.
In terms of typical uses, you can wear a jacket for more diverse purposes other than trekking. You can even wear it for casual moments, such as going to the campus or the office. Yet a windbreaker is more common amongst outdoor lovers. They may need it each time they spend time in nature.
Five tips to choose the right pullover jacket
Choosing the right smock is essential to ensure that your outdoor activities are safe and enjoyable. If you feel comfortable wearing it, your experience will be more optimal. You can absorb the beauty of nature without having to think about carrying more items in your bag. In general, there are five aspects that you need to consider before purchasing one.
Those areas revolve around material, design, and layering. They are closely related to comfort, performance, and protection. Consider the following tips to narrow down smock choices that are abundant in the marketplaces. Without further ado, let’s check one by one!
Checking the waterproof features
The first step is making sure that it has a water-resistant feature. This is the number one property that has to be present in each shell jacket product. Moreover, look at the waterproof rating, which can tell the maximum water pressure of the fabric. For instance, a fabric with a 5,000 mm rating means it can resist 5,000-millimeter columns of water. If the pressure exceeds the number, water can get through the smock.
Opting for a breathable fabric
Having an outdoor vacation will require you to actively move. This causes your body to produce more sweat during hot days. A breathable fabric makes a way out for sweat and moisture from inside the clothing. Thus, your body remains dry, and you can continue to walk conveniently for hours.
Looking for packable materials
A smock with packable materials truly assists you in packing before departing from outdoor tour. For sure, you don’t want to add more load to your backpack. Thankfully, it’s easy to find such materials. More producers use thin, tightly woven fabrics so the outer remains light while still protecting you from wind.
Examining the hood design
Find a pullover jacket that has an adjustable hood to protect your neck, face, and head. Some designs include drawstrings or structured hoods to make it easier to adjust it to fit properly, depending on the situation. For example, you can tighten the hood to prevent wind from entering your body.
Trying it on
The last tip is that you should try it before buying it. Make sure it is neither too baggy nor too tight on your body. This simple guide allows you to move comfortably, although you wear it with base layers of fleece underneath. Don’t decide to purchase a smock product until you find the one that fits well.
Step-by-step example for standard wearing and layering
During trekking, the weather conditions often change. This fact influences the layering system that you need to take so you stay warm and dry. When the temperature is colder, you may have to apply multi-layering. Wearing just one or two clothes at once may not be enough to shield your body from the cold.
On the contrary, when the temperature is warmer, you may only need to apply standard layering. If you wear too many clothes, you can’t move freely. So, how can you properly make a normal layering with a smock? See the guidelines below!
- Choose a base layer, such as a synthetic or merino wool shirt, which can absorb moisture.
- For a mid-layer, select fleece or a lightweight insulated one, which can trap body heat and make a way out for sweat.
- Use a smock as the outer layer to shield you from wind and light rain.
- During windy or rainy situations, tighten the hood with drawstrings so your face and head remain dry.
- Prevent cold air from entering your body by adjusting the cuffs or hem cords.
- Don’t hesitate to adjust the layers when necessary, such as during hiking or uphill climbing.
Simple ways to take care of your hiking smock
Maintaining your gear can bring some benefits to you. With proper efforts, you can extend the lifespan of the item. As a result, you won’t have to purchase frequently, hence saving a lot of money. This can help a lot with the overall hiking budget, which can be expensive.
If you can use an old smock, there is no need to spend money on a new one. The second advantage is linked to eco-tourism. As it lasts longer, you won’t need to throw it out not long after you purchase it. This way, you reduce the waste potential that comes from textiles. See the practical ways to make your outer layer more durable below:
Following the manuals
Each material type requires different treatment. For nylon, you must use a mild liquid detergent for washing. Besides, you should avoid bleach and fabric softeners because they can damage the fibres. The bottom line is that you should always read the manuals for washing, drying, and ironing. Don’t forget to apply the suggestions as written inside the guidelines.
Washing right after several hikes
Your smock usually gets dirty after some hiking trips. Wash it once you notice dirt building up. However, avoid overwashing because it can wear out the fabric. Generally, use a mild detergent for washing. Try not to add harsh chemicals while washing because they can damage the water-resistant coatings.
Using cold or lukewarm water
Wash your smock in cold or lukewarm water, which ranges from 30 to 40°C. This water temperature will keep the fabrics strong and flexible. Besides, it will prevent colour fading. Hot water is thus not a good idea. The choice can reduce breathability for some fabrics, such as Gore-Tex®.
Make the most of your outdoor trip with Rinjani Trekking Center!
Looking for something different this year in terms of holiday? Why don’t you try hiking at the Rinjani summit? This volcano is among the country’s most prominent ones, rich in natural wonders and cultural attractions. Rinjani Trekking Center is ready to welcome you here! You can rely on our extensive experience in handling your affairs, from permits to food supplies
We are a team of passionate mountain lovers who will work our best to ensure your safety and comfort during the holiday. We will share our safety tips, such as regarding the smock and trekking poles. Contact us to plan your trip with us now! Or, you can directly book one of our packages on this website. See you in Rinjani, fellas!