[pct-l] Clothing options

[Travis Bell]

I see all your points, and I could definitely dive deep into that
conversation 'cause I have a lot of opinions on what defines "made in the
USA", but I don't want to run too much off topic.  I should probably have
been more clear.  Basically it comes down to preferring to buy American
when possible.  If there isn't a viable American version of what I need,
I'll settle on foreign.  As the Rolling Stones said: You can't always get
what you want.

I'm basically asking for quality American companies/products that are equal
or better than proven products made elsewhere.  I've pretty much got all my
gear, so it's a matter of clothes now - a much more difficult category.

- Travis



On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 7:58 PM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:

> 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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>>
>>
>