Mountain skills

Top advice from Trail’s experts

1 Cancel cotton. You wouldn’t believe how wet cotton can get, how cold that can make you and how long it takes to dry. It’s ages. Go for breathable, wicking fabrics.

2 Manage your layers.

■ Moisture comes from inside as well as out, so take a layer off if you notice yourself sweating more, especially when walking uphill.

3 Slow down. Powering towards the summit can make you sweat, but remember the potentially freezing temperatures at the top. Keep pace slow, sweat low and luxuriate in that well-earned view.

4 Lose leg layers. In light rain and warm temperatures, you don’t necessarily need waterproof trousers. Walking trousers are designed to dry fast and you’re less likely to sweat.

5 Ventilate. Use any ventilation zips on your jacket and trousers, including underarm vents and two-way trouser zips, roll up your cuffs, and unzip layers at the neck.

6 Clean and reproof waterproofs. When droplets stop beading off the outer layer and start forming patches (aka ‘wetting out’), it’s time to get it done.

7 Lock your layers down. On really rainy days adjust your hood to a good fit, tighten the cuffs on your sleeves and zip up your pockets.

8 Get gaiter aid. Even after it stops raining, tall grass and heather hold beads of water which can soak trousers, and run down socks to soak feet. Gaiters prevent this and don’t restrict movement as much as waterproof trousers.