Dressing for the desert.

[donn]

Hey oop everyone I was hoping you could help me with something. I'm going to be backpacking around Australia, N.Z and an undecided number of the Pacific islands 2004/2005. Most of my gears good to go but I've been wondering about what trousers (?pants in the U.S) I should take. I'll be spending a great deal of time in Australia and I'm hoping to get into the outback. My only previous experience of arid conditions is Arizona/Nevada/Utah when I was a bit younger and the heat wasnt much to bother me, but thats changed. So two questions.

1/ Would I better buying some sand coloured BDU's which are dead cheap and I can pick up anywhere or would you recommend hiking specific trousers, say from Craghoppers?
2/ Second, would you recommend cotton or synthetic fibres for hot/arid environment? The cheap BDU's are poly/cotton mix but I could buy more expensive 100% cotton ones.

I know I'll probably be wearing shorts most of the time but I have been advised to take a couple of pairs of trousers with me.

Thanks for any help with this
D.

 

[Ming65]

Send me a PM when you get close to coming over Donn and I'll see what I can do to help your passage through West Oz.

Baggy shorts are the go in the desert, coupled with a loose fitting long sleeved shirt and a light coloured wide brimmed hat. As far as trousers go, if space and weight is an issue, then any of the lightweight trekking style pants will do fine. I use Columbia pants (synthetic)when travelling and they work fine in hot climates. I'd throw in a pair of the lightest weight thermal underwear you can buy as well. If you are venturing inland in OZ it can get bloody cold at night - sometimes even in summer. I find a light pair of thermals and light trousers can cover a good range of temps.

 

[Sid Post]

Donn has the right idea.

Lightweight cotton to keep the Sun off your skin helps a great deal. I use a Tilley T2 to keep the sun off my ears and neck. Add a lightweight cotton long sleeve shirt and pants and you're set.

The thing I like about lightweight cotton over other materials is the evaporative cooling in addition to keeping the sun off my skin. I find direct sunshine avoidance to be the biggest benefit personally but, don't discount the effects of evaporative cooling if you are sweating.

 

[donn]

Cheers folks thats helped. I think I may mix and match. Cotton shorts for when its (obviously) hot and poly/cotton trousers which I guess I would be wearing only when its colder anyway. Though Sid your right about covering up, I'm worried about frying my skin (I'm quite fair skinned)and thats why I've been advised to take some trousers.
Thanks for offer Ming, now its just back to work to save the pennies

D.