Clothing and Fabric discussion.

Wesley

Wesley

Joined
Feb 14, 2002
Messages
36
Hey All,
The recent Shemagh thread and my need for some new clothing has gotten me thinking about fabric choices for shirts, pants, and shorts.
I was wondering if you could help me with some advantages and disadvantages of various fabrics. What I am looking for are shirts and pants that can be used for work and play, and that will function in a variety of climate types. I can get away with wearing khakis and button-downs at work.
Also which brands have you guys preferred, e.g., Railriders, Royal Robbins, Patagonia, Carhartt, etc.?
Thanks,
Wesley
 
I have tried Gore tex, pile, polar fleece, polyester, poly this and poly that. Still doesn't do as well as good old wool. In the Corps the issue wooly pully sweater was a life saver. Now I wear Pendleton, or woolrich. I'm scoping out some King Of the Mountain wool. Spendy, but worth it. I would wear light wool or wool blends. Stay away from cotton.
 
Thanks Robert,
I had seen some Pendleton shirts before and forgotten about them. I will give them a look over.
Wesley
 
I like supplex nylon in shirts and pants by Ex-officio, Royal Robbins and Patagonia. Other companies make good threads out of supplex too. You can layer over or under them. They work very well in a wide range of climates and I wear mine to work and in the wilderness. They are extremely tough, don't hold dirt much and they dry very fast. Use them in hot desert conditions or very cold with layering.
 
I have alot of the fleece products

but when it comes down to backwoods spring/fall I love heavy cotton cargo pants carhart are great. I am forever addicted to fleece tops and poly pro tops and gortex shell.

summer light cotton


winter fleece with polyprops undies with a gortex shell pants and tops.
 
I've been a software consultant for several years. Translated, that means I often spend months troubleshooting on site, sometimes literally assigned to a closet without a desk or workspace to call my own. I carry my work and a lot of useful items in a briefcase (Note: the (Duluth Trading Co. Deluxe Contractors Briefcase is great) but almost all my critical gear stays in my pockets or on my belt. I recommend getting a few vests for the sake of the pockets. I try not to look like a flyfisherman but there's still room for tons of useful items.

Another thumbs up for the Ex-Officio nylon cargo and 'travel' pants. I can vouch that they'll dry fast. The new Dockers 'geek' pants with the hidden pockets for cell phones and PDA's look good, but I haven't picked up a pair yet. On the list.

I often wear well worn carpenter pants made of tough cotton cloth (no blue jeans or Carhartt brown, but other colors don't seem to bother the 'dress code police' on site...go figure), the extra pockets are handy for knives, phones, PDA's. Without a desk, you really can't have too many pockets.
Inexpensive polypro long johns, shirts and vests are all around nowdays, a layer or 2 of polypro indoors or out is the best way to regulate body temps. Codet brand wool 'stag' pants and shirts sometimes show up at Sierra Trading Post or the clothes at Filson and Woolrich are worth the price, especially if you catch them on sale.
 
My favorite stuff:
Capilene top/bottom (also like polypros)

heavy cotton cargo pants or BDUs..my favorite pants are a pair of cargoes from a Bugle Boy store, IIRC, that I got for $15. Thought they'd just be some cheap knockaround stuff, that would fall apart in a year, but they're my favorite hiking/camping pants, now, and not a loose thread on them. Seem to shed dirt on their own somehow, too...

Gramicci long-sleeve Ts (supposed to be made for rock climbing or something??-who cares..they're comfortable and tough)

fleece pullovers with zip neck-favorites are Woolrich, and some brand from JC Pen-yay (my French tailor)

Gore-Tex pants/parka (got the ECWS issue stuff from a surplus store for ~$160 for the set-had it issued to us in the Army, too, so I know it's good stuff, though on the heavy side)
 
Well Westly ... here in the tropics we always wanna be well ventilated and cool ... not sudden drop of temperature to be concern about ......

The Dockers 'Mobile' translate 'geek with lots of pockets' pants is great .... well made with the usual no complain Dockers material but only wish the cutting is a bit more well countoured .... mine's the flat front but is kinda baggy around the legs and butt .... maybe because of my large belly ???

Other recommendation are a useful rain gear for the suddent rainy (and I mean very heavy rain) that strikes quite often. The material its made of is call Pertex some kinda light tight interwoven fabric that lets the moisture (vapour) out from your body and keeps out the rain, sorto like Gore-Tek but much cheaper .... grea!! btw its called Stashaway Shirt ... it folds into the size of your fist.

Bob
 
For outdoor use in the pacific northwest, I like a highly breathable water resistant shell over a lightweight base layer (Capilene, Coolmax Alta or the like) with a poncho in case of rain. I find I have more trouble with internal moisture (perspiration) than external moisture (precipitation). Currently I use a Montane Featherlite Shell over Coolmax Alta. This combination provides a comfort range that extends from the low 30s when active to the low 70s. It also provides some protection from mist or drizzle--particularly if you are active. Unlike laminated or coated fabrics, it doesn't get clammy. I recently used this combination while digging a snow cave. Although I dampened my base layer with sweat, the shell slowed evaporative cooling enough that my base layer was almost dry by the time I had to put my Primaloft jacket over the Featherlite top. By the time I went to bed my base layer was completely dry. The other bonus to this system is the combined weight of the base layer and shell layer is less than a pound and will fit in your pockets or a butt pack with room to spare (The Featherlite top and pants each come in a stuff sack the size of a computer mouse). I've been thinking of buying an extra set so I always have a change of clothes. The Featherlite shell is made of Pertex Microlight, a microfiber nylon, which wicks well enough to remain comfortable against the skin when worn alone. Buffalo Systems also makes Pertex outer garments that are a little more rugged (and a little heavier). I have the Buffalo windshirt in Nato Green. The Arkstis Stowaway is another option.

If I were packing a survival kit, however, I would use a Merino wool base layer--probably the Nomex treated merino sold through www.arktisusa.com which is much cheaper than SmartWool. I'd probably also replace the outer layer with something more durable like Pertex 4 or Pertex 6 or something less flamable like wool whipcord, Ventile cotton or maybe ripstop cotton treated with Nikwax to make it water repellant. I also have to wonder about the use of synthetics in a combat environment--seems like you're begging for avoidable burn casualties.
 
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