CLOTHES
Clothes can be heavy and it is easy to take to much. What is recommended here is a minimum which encompasses almost all weather conditions, of which one can never be certain. Clothing is categorized into trail/hiking, camp site/sleep wear, and rain gear. Trail and hiking clothes are what are worn on the trail both for the backpacking itself and for day hiking. Camp site/sleep wear is what can be changed into after a hike, worn around camp and to bed. What may be worn on the trail includes the shoes or boots, socks, pants or shorts, underwear pants, under or T shirt and hat. These items are not considered as part of the pack weight. What may be carried in the pack or on the pack frame in a clothes bag, is 2 pairs of socks, 1 to 3 underpants, 1 to 2 undershirts, 1 long sleeve shirt with hood, fleece pants, and jacket with hood, 1 or 2 very light weight nylon jackets, and the rain gear as rain jacket, pants and possibly rain galoshes. I prefer nylon hooded wind breakers with a chest high pocket in the front, where things are easy to reach and will be kept dry. I like fleece gloves, and acrylic scarf, nylon pants and socks are optional
for warmth. Fleece pants and jacket may or may not be a bit heavy, depending on its thickness, but if one is at all susceptible to cold and damp, it is well worth the extra weight or even a necessity.
| SOCKS |
| UNDERWEAR |
| FLEECE |
LONG
SLEEVE
SHIRT |
NYLON
JACKETS |
RAIN
GEAR |
TOTAL
1 to 3 lbs |
Hoods serve a number purposes. They are good as a sunblock for the neck and areas of the face. They protect the neck and head from wind and cold. They help lock in heat to the body. They provide protection from falling ticks and mosquitoes. Brimmed hats and ball caps protect areas of the face and the eyes from the sun and become indispensable to those who do not use liquid sun blocks, and do not wear sun glasses. For
reasons of organization, protection from moisture, and for use as a pillow, the clothes should be kept in a bag brought specifically for the purpose. The approximate weight of the clothes is from 1 to 3 pounds.
TRAIL/HIKING:
One can wear any kind of foot wear they want depending on the type of terrain and weather. I have even seen people hiking in shower slippers. Footwear should be light as possible and may be either a shoe or boot. A heavy duty boot might be preferable for really long term hiking over rough and rocky terrain and cross country backpacking. A light weight shoe might do for less strenuous trail hiking. Water proof foot wear is preferable provided it is light and not subject to cause cold feet. Hiking with wet feet can cause blisters. Extra socks should always be kept dry in wet weather. One can carry small plastic bags, such as those like newspapers are delivered in, to use for garbage and to insulate dry socks from footwear that has gotten wet.
Two pairs of socks are usually recommended to be worn while hiking, to help cushion and insulate the feet from the foot wear and prevent blisters. I like a nice soft and thin pair next to the skin and maybe something a little heavier over them. Hiking shorts are all the fashion, but if one needs long pants, shorts are added weight. Long pants will protect the legs from sun burn, Poison Oak and Sumac, and help keep off ticks and prevent mosquito bites. These can be of very thin material, light weight and dry quickly, such as 100% cotton. If they are very loose fitting they will vent well. One should consider all clothing items in terms of the length of time they will take to dry after getting wet or being washed. Fleece is an exception, as it does not dry quickly, but may be worth its weight by its ability to keep one warm.
CAMPSITE/SLEEP WEAR:
To keep clothing weight to a minimum, only a single change of under clothing and socks may be necessary for wear around the campsite and sleeping. Fleece pants and jacket are great if it gets cool toward the evening. The hiking pants may be worn over the top of the fleece pants for an extra layer. This also keeps the fleece clean for wear to bed if one has a cold sleeping bag. The theory of keeping warm is that all heat is generated by the body which is 98 degrees. The idea is to lock this heat in to stay warm. This applies to both clothing and the sleeping bag as well. Fleece holds the heat in well and provides most of the necessary warmth. What is usually recommended is 100% Polar Fleece. A 100% nylon shell completes the insulation barrier. Nylon is extremely light weight, is a wind block and it locks the bodies heat in. A second nylon jacket which is both very light, compressible and waterproof will add even more protection and is an asset as an emergency jacket on day hikes. Nylon dries extremely fast. Light weight nylon pants and booties are also an option.
RAIN GEAR:
Some people elect not to carry rain gear to save weight. This can prove inconvenient in the case of rain. Very light weight rain gear is available, but will add 1 to 2 pounds to the pack weight. Light weight rain gear consists in a rain jacket with hood and rain pants made from 100% nylon backed 100% polyurethane. This may also include some kind of gators or even rubbers, if one does not use waterproof foot wear, and can also include waterproof gloves. The problem with rain gear especially while hiking, is the propensity to sweat a great deal because the way rain gear locks body heat in. For this reason rain gear may have vents built in. On the other hand, this ability to lock in heat can be an advantage as a means of keeping warm even while sleeping. I prefer a light weight shoe like sneaker, with soft soles for traction. For rain I use galoshes
or rubber shoe booties. I like a rain jacket with elastic wrist sleeve bands with long sleeves, that the hands with or without gloves, can be drawn up into to keep them warm and dry.
If one gets trapped by a high water, a fast moving stream like after a rain storm, one should preferably wait for it two subside, from a matter of hours to a day or two. It should not be waded without a safety rope. If one absolutely must cross, the best bet is a fallen tree crossing. If one does not want to cat walk it, one should not straddle it, a leg on either
side. If a foot catches in the water it may spin one right under the log. Another way may be to put the log between one's stomach and the stream. One leans over the log to counteract the stream trying
take one's legs under the log. Again a safety rope may be prudent.
