Outdoor: Clothing, Hiking, Camping & Van Life

What outdoor gear should you choose?

To figure out what gear to choose for hiking or outdoor activities, start by defining your plans.

A few hours of hiking in good weather obviously doesn't call for the same gear as a multi-day trek or a weekend camping trip.

For a day trip, the essentials are generally clothing suited to the conditions, water, food, protection from the weather, and a pack comfortable enough to carry it all.

As the duration increases, choosing your gear becomes progressively more technical.

What should you wear for outdoor activities?

Outdoor clothing should above all help you adapt to changing temperatures and exertion levels.

The layering system remains a particularly versatile option. A base layer helps manage moisture, a mid layer provides warmth when needed, and an outer jacket protects you from the elements, depending on its features.

Our selection of Men's Outdoor Clothing makes it easy to put together an outfit suited to hiking, travel, and a range of outdoor activities.

Women can find cuts and gear suited to them in our Women's Outdoor Clothing collection.

Men's outdoor clothing: how to put together your outfit

When choosing men's technical outdoor clothing, it's best to think about the activity rather than focusing on a single season.

During sustained exertion, breathability becomes essential. When you stop or temperatures drop, insulation becomes more important.

A versatile outfit makes it easy to add or remove a layer as conditions change.

For hiking and trekking, also choose clothing that gives you enough freedom of movement to walk comfortably for several hours.

What women's outdoor clothing should you choose?

The same principles apply to women's outdoor clothing: moisture management, protection from the elements, insulation, and freedom of movement.

The fit should be comfortable enough to allow freedom of movement while working well with your different layers.

A well-planned outfit mainly helps you avoid the classic mountain dilemma: feeling cold when you stop, then far too hot five minutes after you start walking again.

Our Women's Outdoor Clothing collection lets you put together an outfit for all kinds of outdoor adventures.

Which backpack should you choose for hiking?

The hiking backpack is one of the key pieces of outdoor gear.

For an outing of a few hours, a compact model may be enough to carry water, food, extra clothing, and small accessories.

For a day hike, a mid-sized pack offers greater versatility. Treks or adventures requiring more self-sufficiency naturally call for a larger capacity.

Beyond capacity, focus on back comfort, shoulder straps, the hip belt, compartment organization, and how easy it is to access your gear.

Explore the different sizes in our <a href="/en/collections/sacs-a-dos-randonnee"><strong>Hiking Backpacks</strong></a> collection.

What gear do you need for a day hike?

For a day hike, gear depends on the terrain and conditions, but certain essentials come up time and again.

Bring enough water, food, sun protection, a warm layer, and suitable protection from bad weather when the forecast calls for it.

A properly sized backpack lets you carry everything without weighing yourself down unnecessarily.

Remember to choose your outfit carefully from the start, too. Carrying three kilos of technical clothing only to spend the whole day walking in a T-shirt isn't exactly the pinnacle of efficiency.

Camping: What gear should you bring?

When the adventure continues after sunset, camping gear takes over.

The necessary equipment depends largely on the type of trip: a developed campsite, bivouacking, a road trip, or setting up around a van.

Your needs may include sleeping gear, lighting, cooking equipment, storage, or various accessories to make your campsite more practical.

Our Camping & Vanlife range brings together gear for spending time outdoors.

Camping and vanlife: two different ways to travel

Traditional camping and vanlife share the same philosophy: more freedom and more time to enjoy the great outdoors.

But the constraints are different.

For hiking and bivouacking, the weight and bulk of your gear are key, since you'll have to carry everything.

In a van, carrying capacity is less of a concern. Comfort, organization, and versatility play a bigger role in your decision.

The best camping and vanlife gear is the gear that really suits the way you travel.

How do you choose your gear for vanlife?

For van travel, choose gear that's easy to stow, durable, and versatile where it makes sense.

L'imited space is still precious, even in a converted vehicle.

So before every purchase, ask yourself one simple question: will I actually use this item regularly?

It's a great way to avoid turning your van into a rolling garage annex.

Check out our dedicated selection in the Camping & Vanlife collection.

Hiking and trekking: what's the difference in gear?

A hike can last a few hours or a full day, while trekking generally involves longer routes and greater self-sufficiency.

For a short outing, relatively lightweight gear is enough.

When you're heading out for several days, your trekking gear needs to include more clothing, food, water or ways to manage your supply, as well as sleeping gear when the route calls for it.

Choosing a backpack is especially important, since you'll be carrying the full weight for several hours.

How do you pack a backpack properly?

A properly organized backpack makes walking much more comfortable.

Heavy gear should generally be positioned to keep the load stable and close to your body, depending on the pack's design.

Items you'll need regularly should stay within reach: water, rain protection, food, or an extra layer.

Gear you only use at camp can be packed deeper in your bag.

Our Hiking Backpacks come in a range of capacities and layouts to suit different needs.

What should you wear when the weather changes?

Outdoors, the weather sometimes has a rather personal take on improvisation.

The layering principle is designed to help you adapt quickly.

During exertion, remove a layer before you start sweating too much. When you stop or the temperature drops, quickly add an insulating layer.

A suitable outer layer can then protect you from wind and precipitation, depending on its technical features.

Explore our Men's Outdoor Clothing and Women's Outdoor Clothing to put together an outfit suited to your activities.

How do you prepare for an outdoor adventure?

Good preparation starts before you choose your gear.

Check the route, distance, elevation gain, weather conditions and resupply options. For more demanding outings, also consider your fitness level and experience.

L’equipment should then meet these needs.

This approach helps you avoid two opposite mistakes: setting out under-equipped or carrying a completely excessive amount of gear.

Choose your gear wisely instead of buying more products

In the outdoors, versatility really matters.

A good technical garment can work for hiking, travel and everyday wear. The right backpack can accompany you on a leisurely walk or a full day in the mountains.

So the priority should be quality in use, comfort and suitability for your activities.

Gear you use regularly will always be more worthwhile than a highly specialized product that never leaves the closet.

L’expertise HawaiiSurf since 1976

For fifty years, HawaiiSurf has been helping fans of board sports, mountain sports and the great outdoors choose their gear.

Whether you're looking for outdoor gear, hiking equipment, technical men's or women's clothing, a hiking backpack, camping gear, vanlife equipment, or simply want to know how to kit yourself out for an adventure, our Outdoor collection brings together a selection designed to help you spend more time outside.