[pct-l] Long Sleeves and Pants

[revgizmo at yahoo.com (Rev Gizmo)]

I hiked the whole trail in 2004 wearing Ex Officio pants and long sleeve shirt.  I didn't see the Buzz Off stuff, so had the normal version.
 
I loved them.  The shirt went the entire way.  The pants got a small rip that I repaired on the trail, so I replaced them when I was at REI in portland.
 
I found them to be cooler in the heat and warmer in the cold.
 
As for being presentable in town...I had the white shirt.  Which quickly became the brown-grey shirt.  With large lines down the shoulders and around the waist from the shoulder straps and waist belt.  When I got to a road for a hitch, I would put on my black night shirt, which looked quite presentable.  If I wore my hiking shirt, I'd never get a hitch.


Wayne Kraft <wayneskraft@comcast.net> wrote:
Late last summer I was ambling along the west slope of Mt. Hood 
through aptly named Paradise Park when I spied coming toward me along 
the mountain ash lined trail an incredibly fit looking couple about 
my age (50's). They were attired head-to-toe in matching tan outfits 
including long pants, long sleeve shirts and tilley hats with their 
hiking shoes neatly protected by matching gaiters. I glanced down at 
myself, noting my sweat stained t-shirt and well worn shorts, my bug 
bitten limbs, my brush scratched legs with the trickle of blood 
running down my shin and pooling at the top of my socks and then 
examined more closely the couple coming toward me. I had to admit 
they looked simply smashing. We exchanged weather-related inanities, 
after which they loped gracefully away at 3.2 mph and I scuttled off 
to find two trees suitable for hammocking. I knew they would make it 
to Timberline Lodge for dinner where they would be perfectly 
presentable dining room patrons in their snazzy hiking clothes and 
would doubtless feast on lightly poached salmon, nicely steamed and 
seasoned fresh vegetables accompanied by an estimable bottle of 
chilled and flinty-dry chardonnay while I reconstituted my portion of 
powdered gruel. Of course, they would not experience a glorious 
sunset and sit quietly while darkness settled over the meadow. They 
would not be rocked gently to sleep by a warm summer breeze. They 
would not awaken with the small herd of deer who had shared the 
meadow this night. Would I trade places with them for all the tea 
in Cathay? Indeed not! But I might be persuaded to trade clothes.

So, this encounter was brought to mind this evening as I wandered 
through the local REI store and spied the very garments I had coveted 
this summer. Ex Officio Buzz Off Pants and matching long sleeved 
shirt. Protection from mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, midges, no-see- 
ums, ants and other annoying and potentially threatening insects 
including those that may carry West Nile virus, Lyme Disease, 
Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever and Malaria plus 30 UPF sun 
protection. Sounds almost reckless to go out of doors without such 
garment. Hmmm. I'm wondering:

1. What do you all think of hiking in grown -up clothes: very light 
weight long sleeve shirts and pants?

2. Has anyone an opinion on the Ex Officio wares or recommendations 
for other brands?

Thank you all. 

Wayne Kraft

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