Hiking apparel help?

tueller

tueller

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Mar 16, 2012
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I know there is a lot out there but I am looking for some recommendations for hiking apparel. It has been hot as heck here lately. I have either been wearing shorts and short sleaves and getting the bites, stings, scratches, poison ivy, etc to show for it. Or I have been wearing long clothing and sweating my but off.

My needs are for a make and model of long pant and long sleave button down that are extremely light, quick drying, offer protection from the sun and wildlife, has belt loops and pockets, while at the same time not looking too tactical. I would like to blend in whether in the woods or doing a run to the local store. Of course price is always a concern, and I am not rich but I don't mind paying a little extra for quality.

Please help. I appreciate all feedback.
 
I really like Exofficio gear for the heat and they use the permethrin based Buzz Off insect repellent treatment on much of their clothing line. They are well constructed and the fabrics they use tend to hold up better than many of their competitors. Their Give-N-Go boxers and boxer-briefs are nothing short of amazing as far as underpants go. The Reef Runner shirts are particularly light and airy. Several of their shirts and pants offerings are very suitable for urban wear. I often wear some of their shirts with khakis for business casual during the summer. They aren't cheap at full retail but outlets like Sierra Trading Post often have them at substantial discount and there are always deals on the bay.

I have some hot weather clothing I really like from Patagonia (Island Hopper is my favorite shirt), Royal Robbins, Cloudveil and Simms too although Cloudveil went under (they are back but not the same) and most of the Simms stuff is fishing oriented (but very high quality). I used to like some of Columbia's gear but became disappointed with the decline in fabric quality as well as the changes in cut over the years.
 
Look at the Gander mountain Guide series clothing and Columbia brand clothing. I wear them in the heat every day and swear by them. Cabellas also has store branded clothing similar.

By ther way, where is "here"? Helps us if you put a location in your profile top right.
 
Thank you. I am checking out those brands online now. BTW, I am in New Hampshire. Hot and humid summers and cold and snowy winters. But great trails, mountains, lakes, etc. thanks for the advice.
 
Some of the fishing oriented clothing as mentioned above is quite acceptable for most outdoor activities. I like my shirts with mesh back vent panels, SPF sun protection cloth that is lightweight and quick drying. Fairly durable too considering the weight and cost. Heck, for a throw on and go shirt, Walmart has some knockoffs in the sporting goods section "All American Fisherman") which, while not nearly as well made or durable, work relatively well. I have a couple of those too. Most I have mentioned have multiple bellows pockets that some like and some don't. But they are light and comfortable. Even with a few of the better quality shirts, it is nice to have a couple of the cheapies on hand. Same for pants. I have several pair of the guide series I wear canoeing because they protect from sunburn, insects and stickers, but are quick drying. And don't feel heavy even when wet.
 
I also like the columbia brand fishing geared clothing. I also like to have the ability to roll up my sleeves, and convert pants to shorts if need be. Underarmor has just recently made some hiking apparel, and I love it, but it is pricey.
 
For hiking gear, I like to stay away from cotton for the most part. The UK brand of clothing Craghoppers has some very nice offerings. I have multiple pairs of pants and shirts made from what they call "polyamide", a synthetic material. I have several pairs of the Bear Grylls Survivor Trousers which also have a bug repellent in the fabric. What I don't like about the brand is their sizing. Garments being labeled the same size have been widely different which has been very frustrating, especially when dealing with a company across the pond.

As mentioned, the fishing type clothing is pretty good. I have a pair of zip off pants by North Face that are perfect for me outdoors. Quick drying and very well made. I'm going on my 2 year with them and they show no wear.

Recently purchased a pair of pants geared towards climbing from Mountain Hardwear. They offer a bit of stretch which goes a long way when hiking, especially when you sweat.

Personally, although I like the styles and offerings of Craghoppers, I strongly dislike sending products back and forth, hoping the gamble lands right.

For my time and money, I'd rather go with brands that are available to me locally, as the two I mentioned above.

One last thing, although I really like the breathability and quick drying properties of synthetics, they are not the "best" outdoor garment. Any little spark from a campfire will INSTANTLY eat through them. So now many of my pants and even shirts sport some nice randomly installed holes. :)
 
Buy and use and Emberlit wood stove. Your clothes and your tent will thank you for the reduction in flying embers! ;)
 
In wear a lightweight long sleeve button up shirt made of cotton. Helps with bugs, keeps sun off skin. I usually get them at a thrift store. All sorts of natural colors available. They keep the sun off your skin too. Once I stop for the day I just take it off and put on a synthetic layer. Cotton kills is a good basic outdoor rule, but with proper planning, the simple cotton long sleeve shirt works well for hot days. It also is nice to put on a "clean" shirt after the hard work is done each day. I started doing this after watching farmworkers in Mexico many years ago.
 
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For hiking in the summer or warm months, I like cotton. Yes, you sweat and it gets wet. But the wetness feels cool often unless you are in full sun. If you carry a day pack, stick a long sleeved shirt in there for sun protection when you want to have it on. Wear a hat for sun protection on your face. Skin cancer sucks. Protect your skin from long sun exposure.

I like the removable leg type pants for water sports (in the sun) and they should work nicely for hiking as well. There are different brands with Columbia being one. The store brands are knock offs and work. As mentioned, the fishing oriented shirts work pretty well. I usually wear camo when I fish streams, so I don't get the benefit of these shirts, but I do wear them where I want to look nice and they are certainly cool and dry quickly.
 
I've had great luck with RailRiders pants and shirts by ExOficio. I went pre-season scouting for deer this weekend. Hot, humid, thorny...no problems. No bites, no scratches, and best of all, no ticks. The pants and shirt are both treated with Permethrin, which is the best stuff I've found for ticks.
The pants are RailRiders Winter Weatherpants, despite the name they're pretty light and comfortable in the heat. I picked them for resistance to brush and thorns, I strongly recommend them if you might be off-trail.
I wear a light, wicking pullover long sleeve shirt by ExOficio, also works great. I find it much more comfortable then any of my button down shirts designed for hiking.
 
I love T.A.D gear it last forever and the amphibious cargo pants are light and dry quick... I did a review of them on the busse forum. I have used their gear in combat zones and various places in the world and not once have I ever had 1 issue.
 
Another vote for ExOfficio. But also look at LL Bean stuff. I have a pair of their zip-off pants, and they wear like iron. They also have a lifetime guarantee, so that's not something you see a whole lot. Heck, even REI doesn't have that anymore.
 
I've been happy with Cabela's Hiker and Trailhiker pants, although mine are 100% cotton. I also just bought some Alpha Industries pants that are lighter weight, but ended up cancelling my planned hiking trip and haven't tried them out yet. Fail.

As far as shirts are concerned, I've had good luck with various moisture-wicking t-shirts from brands like Reebok and Champion. However, one point that doesn't often get mentioned is how synthetic fabrics will stand up to seemingly trivial wear and tear from things like backpack straps. I had a Browning long-sleeved "Performance" shirt (100% poly IIRC) more or less shredded after a day of hiking with a backpack weighing no more than 15-20 lbs; the nylon shoulder, sternum and waist straps mangled the shirt material, while other shirts suffered virtually no visible effects.

I will also wear a wicking t-shirt under a cotton button shirt or sweatshirt for layering purposes, also with favorable results. In general, wicking technology does exactly what it's advertised to do. I'm a fan.
 
For hiking here, in the 20-25C range I've found that craghopper kiwi pants, underarmor tee (the cheapest of their offerings) and a Exo- long sleeve shirt. For the really hot stuff, I keep to the shade, and loose the long sleeve, and I'll be looking into shorts and gaiters for summer. (although high-summer trecking anywhere exposed is pretty rough) I've also found that long sleeve "running" shirts are great for moving moisture and keeping cooler, as they keep the sun's bite off.

As for cost, the craghoppers were not too bad, but you could do alright hitting thrift shops. Lightweight wool suit pants that at are of reasonable quality are actually quite nice to wear.
 
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