[pct-l] cotton or nylon

[CMountainDave@aol.com (CMountainDave@aol.com)]

In a message dated 12/26/02 12:33:10 PM, wandering_bob@msn.com writes:

<< I wore Supplex nylon long sleeve shirt and long pants thru section F
(Mojave to Walker Pass) this summer and was very happy. Dried quickly when
washed by me or mother nature. No need for sunscreen with the long option
plus a wide brim hat with a neck shield. I hate that greasy feeling, and it
catches all that grit the desert winds kick up. Didn't need any repellent
either until I got to section O.

are  Wandering Bob >>

Sounds like my experience exactly. A person would be much drier using supplex
nylon. The pants and shirt are roomy, allowing great air circulation, causing
rapid evaporation of sweat and evaporation equals cooling. And what a
surprise! A shaded surface (your legs) is much cooler than a non shaded
surface. Don't believe me? Put a thermometer in the shade and another in the
sun. Those who think the shaded thermometer will read hotter need a few
remedial science courses. As stated, very little need for sunscreen or deet.
Durability? I'm still wearing the two supplex nylon shirts I used on the PCT
in 99. ( same 2 pair of socks, too) Weight savings? Considerable over cotton
plus several ounces of deet and sunscreen not needed. I don't even care if
the nylon duds get wet. When it comes to moisture, supplex nylon can be
washed in the evening and be dry the next morning (barring rain). I Try that
with cotton. In the Olympics, if cotton gets wet it will never, ever, dry
again during your stay there unless you have a campfire. But nylon hung under
a tree away from the dew, will. For the most part.
  I often wore my polar fleece in the evening while my nylon stuff hung to
dry ( I used the Ms Jardine laundry bucket: A 5 gallon collapsible plastic
jug with a handle and the top cut out. Worked great! Used it for crushable
goodies  like giant packages of potato chips and dough nuts. Made a great
trash carrier, too.