[pct-l] Clothing Options

[Barry Teschlog]

Daniel:

Here's what I used in '06 for clothing.

Silk weight* Patti-guchi Capaline long sleeve grey shirts (2x) plus silk weight Capaline long johns (insulation - both sleeping and under the pants when needed for hiking).  REI Sahara Convertible nylon hiking pants to wear while hiking - both shorts and long pants available in one garment.

* - Note that the silk weight / #1 is now only (apparently) made in merino wool, with the #2 and heavier made in Capaline.

I'll second the comment about synthetic's stinking - it probably took the better part of a year after getting home for those 2 shirts to lose the worst of the funk they picked up.  One advantage is that apparently that the synthetic fabrics are more durable than merino wool.  These 2 shirts took me from the south to north terminus, plus several more years of service at home.  The survivor of the two is about ready for retirement, 6 years after finishing the trail (the other was stolen a couple years ago).


Unlike a lot of the folks out there in shorts and short sleeve shirts, I took a desert dweller / Bedouin view of sun protection - cover up every inch of skin that was possible.  I wore the long pants and long sleeves with a wide brim hat.  It wasn't near as hot as some folks imagined as the capaline and other tech synthetic fabrics wick the sweat to the surface for evaporation very well.  Plus for me, the sun on the skin just saps my energy.


On the trail, from the So Cal deserts, to up in the Sierra and on here in Washington, these synthetic clothes work very well as they are comfortable over a wide range of temperatures, plus they don't hold much moisture when wet so dry relatively quickly.  After splashing through a creek crossing for example, the pants would be dry in a short time.

What ever you choose for your clothing system, TRY IT OUT AHEAD OF TIME.  

Note:  Here's a tip on your clothing.  I'd strongly recommend considering going "commando" under the hiking pants / shorts as the extra layer of fabric just holds sweat / moisture, salt crust and dust / dirt directly on the skin increasing your chances of developing a chafing condition that can knock you off the trail.  One of the guys i started with fell victim to severe chafe and dropped off by Scissors Crossing (~mile 78).  Bring Body Glide or equivalent and apply liberally the first couple of weeks to help the transition to trail conditions, plus be a fanatic when it comes to personal hygiene.