[pct-l] Clothing options

Thu Jul 26 22:14:05 CDT 2012

Good evening, Travis,

I understand.

Currently what I have in my gear locker, and what has proven satisfactory
are:  One *Marmot Ion* which was made in Vietnam, three *Go-Lite
Ether*made in China, and one
*Montane* windshirt which doesn’t seem to have a model designation, but it
was made in U.K.

I have 3-4 others but they are a bit heavier and aren’t on the ultlra-lite
pick list.

Steel-Eye

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

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 7:47 PM, Travis Bell <travis at somekindofwalk.com>wrote:

> 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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