Parish said:I've just started walking and need some advice on the choice of clothing
- searching this NG and the web hasn't thrown up anything of great value.
I've tried denim jeans but find them too heavy and, once they get damp
from sweating, tend to stick to the skin which makes climbing stiles
tricky sometimes. Also tried some jogging pants/tracksuit bottoms which
were better but I'm not convinced they are tough enough to protect my
legs when battling brambles and other vegetation on little used paths.
Broadly speaking you should aim to stay away from natural fibre,
e.g. cotton (which is what denim is made from) and use man-made
stuff, e.g. polyester. This is because cotton holds water and,
when damp, can be uncomfortable and has a strong cooling effect
that is rarely welcome. Polyester, and most other man-made
fabrics, don't hold moisture, but let it pass through ('wicking'😉.
As a rule, then, aim for 100% man-made fibres in t-shirts because
that's where most of the sweat comes from. You can get away with
a poly-cotton mix in trousers, but it's best to stick to man-made
where possible. Legs don't sweat as much as torsos, but are
exposed to more moisture from the outside, whether rain, damp
grass, puddles, or whatever, and it's always good to give them the
best chance to dry out.
Some people, e.g. me, prefer fairly tight trackster-type trousers
(say that ten times after a few pints) for freedom of movement,
others prefer a looser trouser such as you'll find in your local
Regatta shop. Either will do fine. You can try a cheap pair of
waterproof overtrousers for the bramble situation - they tend to
be more slick and the thorns shouldn't catch as easily.
Quoted message said:I seem to sweat quite easily - probably because I try to keep up a good
pace, not exactly a route march but not a leisurely stroll either. This
is a big problem when I need to wear waterproofs as I end up nearly as
wet inside the waterproofs as if I wasn't wearing them when it's
raining. I guess the obvious answer here is to walk slower when it rains
:-)
A 100% waterproof and 100% breathable jacket is the Holy Grail.
It also doesn't exist. I use Paramo stuff but it ain't cheap, and
neither is a good GoreTex jacket. A cheaper fabric will be less
breathable.
That said, a local outlet sports shop is doing GoreTex Paclite
anoraks for around £80, which is tempting. Paclite is waterproof
and breathable and a good choice for summer walks when you're less
likely to get hours of rain, but they are also less durable than
more expensive jackets.
Quoted message said:I see a lot of clothing that is "breathable" but breathable linings in
boots was universally decried as marketing hype in the thread "Boots" in
this NG (I'll not mention my boots then 😉 ), does the same apply to
clothing?
A waterproof lining in boots, e.g. GoreTex, isn't there to let
moisture out, but to prevent it getting in. My old Scarpa's are
fabric / suede with a GoreTex lining and they always kept my feet
dry so it's not so clear cut as some would suggest.
My new Scarpa's are leather _and_ have a GoreTex lining, and I
just don't see the point of that at all. But it was still a good
deal when I got them so I'm not going to worry about it.
Quoted message said:I'm not looking to spend a fortune on the very best, just something
reasonably priced.
'Reasonable' can mean so many thing! My own philosophy is don't
cut corners with boots and a waterproof jackets, everything else
is negotiable.
Colin
