Clothes

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
8,250
So I was wondering what you guys where when you go out into the bush and was wondering if we could break it down into seasons.
Summer
Spring/Fall
Winter
I'm okay for summer and early fall/late spring but need some insulating layer ideas for colder months. Especially pants, not sure which way I want to go about it.
 
I just wear regular clothes. Obviously, lighter fabrics for the warmer months, layers for winter. I'd suggest a regular t-shirt, then maybe an insulated flannel, then a heavy sweatshirt or two. Enough to keep you warm, but not enough to make you sweat. Sweat will freeze, and that can greatly accelerate the on-set of hypothermia. Wear long sleeves/pants. Between bugs and prickers and such, you'll be grateful. I myself am allergic to pricker bushes. Not a deathly allergy, but enough to agitate me for a while. But I am immune to poison ivy, so I figure it's a fair trade.
 
I live in the mountains, so summer can easily turn into spring or fall, so I will give you that list first.

1 synthetic t-shirt
1 pair of nylon shorts
3 pairs smartwool socks
1 pair of really light fleece pants
1 lightweight fleece jacket or light windproof jacket
rain jacket
rain pants
baseball cap and light fleece hat

If it gets cold I throw the fleece pants or rain pants over the shorts. At night I'm usually warm down to 40 degrees with this setup. By keeping the fleece pants and rain pants on at night I can carry a 1 pound 45 degree sleeping bag and stay warm down to 30 degrees.

Winter
As above minus the shorts and add:

1 long sleeve synthetic shirt
1 fleece or synthetic vest
1 heavy weight nylon pants
1 balaclava or fleece hat and fleece neck gaiter
thin liner socks plus thicker socks
1 windproof jacket or softshell
1 extra jacket for when it is really cold, this is either a "windshirt" or a down jacket

This is what I use winter mountaineering. so I'll have T-shirt, long sleeve T, jacket, vest and then shell jacket/rain jacket.

Legs have fleece pants, hiking pants, shell pants.

I find the neck gaiter is awesome. It keeps the ears warm and helps seal your neck so heat doesn't escape. If you want some brand names of what I like I can give you some suggestions, but anything will work.
 
3 layers. polypropolene (spelling?), cotton/wool trousers, goretex. both top and bottom. wool navy dive sox and cold weather boots. wool night watchmans cap and synthetic balacava (spelling?). this combo worked for me when training in cold weather (minnasota, norway). 1990's. i'm sure there is much better clothing material nowdays.
 
What would you guys say to some quick drying nylon pants for summer combined with merino wool long johns for winter. Just not sure how warm that would be. I'm sure it's fine for moving but not so sure when hanging out at camp.

I'm mostly covered on top (no pun intended:D) with wool long johns, t-shirt/long sleeve shirt, fleece and rain jacket. If it was real cold I would double up on the fleece and use different combos for in between weather. Merino wool socks and boots too.

Edit: forgot my head, ploly/wool mix cap or baseball cap.
 
In winter I like 3 layers for the legs. Long underwear, fleece pants, nylon pants and then shell pants. You can skip the rain pants sometimes, but I'm usually out where it is windy and very cold.
 
ilbruche said:
In winter I like 3 layers for the legs. Long underwear, fleece pants, nylon pants and then shell pants. You can skip the rain pants sometimes, but I'm usually out where it is windy and very cold.
Click to expand...

I count 4.:confused:
 
Here's a combo that's worked great for me in cold weather: midweight polypro or running tights (I like the running pants from REI, not too tight, so as not to emphasize my chicken legs), nylon zip-off pants, and rain pants (preferably waterproof/breathable). The goretex pants will keep the wind out, and the polypro layer will do a great job insulating under the gore tex. You can add the nylon pants under the shell, if things get colder. This is the most versatile setup I've come across. I have the Golite Reed pants. 6 oz of water proof protection. Also, get a wool watch cap for warmth. Carry a boonie hat for hiking during the day in warmer temps.
 
No matter the season I ALWAYS have my Army Goretex Jacket and Pants. If it rains toss that on and you stay dry, if it snows put it on you stay dry. This way if I'm in shorts and in summer and its raining I can toss it on, if I'm in the snow in jeans I can put these on and become waterproof. I n winter I normaly have poly shirt and a fleece, with jeens, wool socks, and snow pants or goretex army pants.
 
All I wear is a pear of BDU's and a t-shirt for all season's. I do wear a bluejean jacket during winter though.
 
In warmer weather, I like those clothes made from brushed nylon - they feel soft like cotton, but dry quickly when wet. I like synthetic fleece in the winter for similar reasons, with a nylon shell.
 
In the last year or so I've started choosing clothes made from natural fibres rather than the man made "performance" fabics. I've found the woolen stuff and active-wool mixes to work across a wide range of temps, stay fresh smelling after wearing for weeks on end and have the added benefit of being resistant to sparks and embers from fires where fleeces would have holes melt through them. I have a lot of Fjall Raven gear and the Swanndri Ranger shirt is a favourite.
 
In the summer, I tend to go towards Lightweight ripstop stuff, preferably 60/40 poly cotton.

In the winter, I prefer my surplus wool clothing. I keeps me warm in snow (or even sleet/rain) though sometimes I'll add light synthetic long johns.

Clint Hollingworth
The Wandering Ones webcomic
http://www.wanderingones.com
 
I wear OD BDU's, jungle boots, and a long sleeve T-shirt most of the time. Winter here (now) will get down to highs in the low 60's and lows in the high 40's with very dry conditions. Summer it will rain alot and temp vary from the mid 70's to the high 90's. I find the ripstop tropical BDU's are very versatile.

When I go into the upper elevations it will get below freezing in winter at night and even in the summer it will get down to the low 50's. In such times I use a fleece under my BDU shirt and a wool hat. Mac
 
I have always been a big fan of the latest materials and more waterproofs and soft shell gear than I dare mention.
As I was from the UK two companies stood out...

www.buffalosystems.co.uk
and
www.paramo.co.uk

Both are ideal for mixed conditions.
I have now started yearning to be more of a traditionalist and I'm starting to get some woollen gear.Better around the campfire !!!!
My most used cold weather leg wear have been Mountain Equipment Ultra-fleece pants though, they are very tough,light-weight,more wind resistant than polartec 200 and I don't even seem to feel the wet through them so very rarely wear waterproof bottoms !!!!
 
During summer I like to wear department store brand polyester cargo shorts, cheap sandals, and clearance priced North Face summer tops (high performance tees, and heavier long sleeved shirts), I also like to top this off with cheap sunglasses (if around water) and my TH4 Hemp Tilley hat.

During Spring and Fall I usually use a canvas barn coat over a lambswool commando sweater and a stanfield's thermal undershirt. On my legs I usually wear polyester long underwear underneath flannel or fleece lined LL Bean jeans. For my feet I use medium weight Smartwool socks and North Face Gortex trail runners. If I need them I carry wool leather palmed army issue gloves.

In the Winter I usually like to use my ll Bean penobscot parka overtop a lightweight fleece and moisture wicking shirt because I can just throw it on. Although during periods of activity this seems to be overkill, so this is subject to change. My legs tend to be covered by insulated nylon ski pants again with thermal underwear. My feet are kept toasty in orginal snow lion Sorels (made in Canada!). Although my Empire Canvas magnetic north boots just arrived today http://www.empirecanvasworks.com/ so I'll be giving them a good workout this winter. Finally I use Raber steerhide choppers on my hands.

Man thats's a load off my chest :O
 
Wicking polyester base layer: Patagonia Capilene or Golite C-Thru, short and long sleeve and long johns, all silkweight.

Fleece mid-layer: Mountain Hardware Power Stretch Long Sleeve Zip

Insulation: Patagonia Micropuff or Burton Primaloft pull-over, REI MTS fleece long johns (under rain gear), various Polarfleece tops. REI down sweater for winter bivoacs -- I never wear down when moving-- I sweat like a sprinkler.

Wind shell: Montane Light Speed shell

Wind pants: Hind (forgot the model)-- thin polyester ultralight

Rain gear: Marmot Precip

Hat: Tilley T5 or Outdoor Research Peruvian (fleece)

Gloves: Mountain Hardware Tempest or Patagonia fleece

Socks: Patagonia Capilene or other polyester (wool makes me itch).

Hot weather outers: Columbia polyester long sleeve botton down, REI Sahara convertible pants or Exoffico shorts.

Shoes: Salomon, Vasque, or Montrail-- as light as I can get 'em :)

Gaiters: Mont Bell stretch or Outdoor Research Gore-Tex Pak lite
 
I can't really add much here...especially because the various areas we live in are so different.

However.... I prefer woolen socks if I know I am going into some serious wilderness or if I am going to do some serious work. I have started use some thick synthetic socks that are generally harder-wearing than wool, but they start to smell quicker than wool....and wool has been proven as reliable in my relatively long experience.

Getting rips in my clothing, particularly my shirts, is a constant problem as I hunt and trap in the scrub. I have found polarfleece to be wonderful for warmth and strength in this regard. My brushed cotton shirts get holes in them very easily by comparison.

I like clothes that will still keep me a bit warm when I get wet. Heavy woolen garments are probably the best I've used when it comes to this. Like someone mentioned above, the woolen Swanndri stuff is excellent. Wool is also MUCH more fire resistant than polarfleece....but a decent polarfleece jacket seems to still insulate to a degree even when wet.

I like to have a polarfleece jacket when trapping etc. I prefer the jackets to be the 'pullover' variety without a zip all the way down the front. I believe that these may be warmer, and should definitely be stronger and more reliable. I also like to have plenty of pockets, preferably with zips to keep my various bits and pieces (like ammo, flashlight etc) safe. I generally buy a jacket a size or two bigger than a fashion consultant might recommend...much cosier, and much easier to get on and off...particularly when soaking wet.

If going any reasonable distance from civilization any time other than the middle of summer, I will generally make sure I have a polypropylene or woolen hat (or balaclava) and a light poncho. I may also stuff some sort of a thermal 'top'... a singlet or pullover....into my pack in case I get caught in some bad weather.

I do quite a bit of walking in Teva sandals nowadays, but if I have to do some serious working or climbing I will wear my leather boots.
 
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