[pct-l] Clothing options

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good evening, Travis,

I don't think I can answer your question.  As a patriot and a veteran I
also prefer to buy products of USA, but these days trying to be pure is a
daunting – and probably hopeless – task.  I once bought a windshirt from a
big-name US gear provider and was happy with it for about a year until it
failed.  As I was grumbling about it, a friend looked at the tag and said,
“Here’s the problem:  It was made in Russia!”  Well, that reason wasn’t
true because what failed was the zipper, and the zipper had been made by
YKK of Japan -- probably the largest zipper manufacturer in the world.  I’ve
used dozens of YKK zippers and they work well.

So, with something as simple as a windshirt, where did it come from?  Being
synthetic, most of it started as oil.  Who’s oil?  Where was the resulting
plastic made into filament, woven into fabric, cut, assembled with other
components, and treated before having a US company’s name sewed on?

I usually wear a brand of sneakers – one of the few and maybe the only ones
– that are made in USA, but I’ll admit I buy them because they are
available in generous widths rather than because of the location of the
final assembly plant.  I have no idea where their materials and components
are made.

I have devolved into someone who now looks for the most appropriate item in
terms of function and weight – not the biggest name, not the most or least
expensive, and certainly not the most popular or fashionable.

Enjoy your planning,

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 10:48 PM, Travis Bell <travis at somekindofwalk.com>wrote:

> This may be a little off-topic, but it's still a clothing question.
>
> I prefer to buy stuff from the good old U.S. of A. whenever possible.
>  Unfortunately, a lot of the brands I'm seeing are brands that make and/or
> operate out of China, Vietnam, Taiwan, etc.  All my gear is from US
> companies (Six Moon Designs, Z-Packs, etc) as well as the non-specialty
> clothes like generic fleece, shirts, pants, etc.  But I'm having trouble
> with quality lightweight shells.  Any brand recommendations?
>
> - Travis
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 3:05 PM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>wrote:
>
>> Good afternoon,  Daniel,
>>
>> Except for occasional use in the southern deserts I wear synthetics almost
>> exclusively.  Attributes I like are the way it rejects moisture which
>> enhances its insulation value, and its wear resistance.
>>
>> Some synthetics – but mostly older varieties – get really funky, really
>> quickly when exposed to the body.  Most modern fibers and fabrics are made
>> and/or treated to control the smell, but you’ll have to try an item to
>> know
>> for sure.
>>
>> For cold mornings and evenings I carry a medium-weight fleece pull-over
>> sweater (10.4 oz.). It’s about the same weight as a really nice ultralite
>> down jacket, but I find the extra warmth of a down jacket is not
>> necessary,
>> and they are really expensive. I usually buy the no-name fleece sweaters
>> cheap off the sale rack, or even cheaper second-hand from the thrift
>> store.
>> At night the fleece sweater is folded and stuffed in a sack for my pillow.
>> My thin, ultralite, hooded, jacket -- called a “windshirt” -- can be worn
>> alone or over the fleece sweater. I may use a Marmot Ion (5.1 oz.) that
>> has
>> a full zipper, or a pull-over GoLite Ether (3.0 oz.). Many hikers carry
>> fleece-lined windbreaker jackets, but I like the ability to wear the
>> windshirt, the fleece, or both as conditions dictate.
>>
>> I wear one – or possibly two – layers of polyester fleece under the rain
>> top in a cold rain. Moisture is bound to collect under a waterproof item
>> like a rain top, even those claiming to “breath”, and that moisture will
>> be
>> in almost constant contact with the top and back of my shoulders and my
>> upper arms. It’s here that I find fleece preferable to a down coat. The
>> fleece maintains its loft when wet, and it will dry itself with my body
>> heat as I continue to wear it after the worst of the rain. I don’t find
>> down to be nearly that adaptable and forgiving.
>>
>> Steel-Eye
>>
>> -Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
>>
>> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
>>
>> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 12:31 PM, Daniel Salazar <techtravel7 at gmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>> > What are some good options for synthetic clothing for a well prepared
>> thru
>> > hiker? What weather condition is polypropylene for?
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