What to bring by season and by region — Baku heat, mountain cold, and everything between
Most Azerbaijan itineraries move between Baku's semi-arid lowland heat and the considerably cooler, wetter Greater Caucasus foothills around Sheki and Gabala — sometimes within the same week. What works in Baku in July (light fabrics, sun protection) is genuinely insufficient for an evening at altitude in Gabala, where temperatures can drop ten degrees or more after dark even in summer.
Layering solves this better than packing two separate wardrobes. A breathable base layer, a mid layer you can remove, and one packable outer layer covers nearly every itinerary outside the depths of winter.
Baku itself rarely sees serious snow, so a heavy coat for the city alone is overkill — the real cold-weather need is for mountain legs of the trip, not Baku sightseeing days.