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Dolomites in the summer

This summer my husband and I will be staying near Ortisei for a week in mid July . I am trying to get a sense of what I should bring in the way of clothing for hiking. Am I likely to need hiking pants and another layer underneath them at this time of year early in the morning or later in the afternoon ? Or am I more likely to need shorts ? One nice reader has already weighed in on this but I would appreciate more opinions. Also - what are the temps likely to be at night? We are on a long trip and we have to be judicious in our packing as we are responsible for dragging our luggage ourselves around Europe .
Thank you.

Posted by
2300 posts

Average temps in July range from 50-70. Coming from Florida, that may seem cold. Where I’m from, that’s shorts and t shirt weather, for sure. But there could always be rain so you want to bring layers: a long sleeve t, a fleece jacket, a waterproof shell, etc. Maybe throw in a pair of 32 Degrees thermals to easily layer under your clothes. That’s my plan for the Dolomites and Switzerland in June.

Posted by
70 posts

It may be warm enough to hike in shorts and it may not be. The weather is fickle in the mountains. I recommend hiking pants but you will not need a layer underneath them. If you happen to be there and the weather is extra nice, you can always visit an outdoor apparel store in Ortsei and buy some hiking shorts. Enjoy your visit!

Posted by
64 posts

Thank you for the advice. Just what I needed ! I love this site.....

Posted by
1880 posts

I use this brand pants for hiking and travel. They are good during the day for sightseeing, plane travel and hiking. Quick dry, look great and fit great too https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/womens/pants/trekr-pant/?color=Charcoal Personally I hate those zip off pants/shorts. One pair of these pants works in many activities. And if you get a bit warm on the trail, you simply roll the bottoms up and make a capri length, or use the size ribbons and scrunch them up a bit.

Bring a Buff for your head/neck. That simple piece of fabric is great to help keep your head warm and use in the wind over your ears https://www.buff.com/us/neckwear.html I can't hike without mine.

You do not need to layer under your pants !

Posted by
16024 posts

I like Kuhl pants a lot (and my husband likes his too).

But for warm-weather hiking in the mountains, I prefer to wear capris, specifically the Dynama Capri by Mountain Hardwear. They are very lightweight and soft, pack small, and are comfortable and easy to wear, with a wide pull-on waistband. On sale now at REI and other places.

https://www.rei.com/product/167137/mountain-hardwear-dynama2-capri-pants-womens

We hike a lot, and I never wear shorts any more for that activity. Too much sunscreen required! ( My husband, a doctor, says that legs are the most common site for melanoma in women, so I heed his advice).

We were in the Dolomites for ten days of hiking last September. Probably not the same as July, but we had nice warm days and cool mornings. I often had to start out with my fleece or nano puff jacket, then shed it later.