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Clothing - Spring, Summer and Fall |
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Almost every piece of clothing I use for three-season backpacking is designed to do two things - keep me cool and not weigh me down. Eventually, I found that the clothes I run trails in work best for my style of backpacking, most of which is done in the mountains of the southeastern U.S., so many of my three-season backpacking clothes are running clothes. |
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My shorts are nylon running shorts made by a company called Race-Ready. I like them because they have built in nylon briefs and mesh pockets across the seat. Weight: 3.0 ounces. Source: a local running store, but they may have been discontinued. |
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My shirt is either a Patagonia Aerius or a Terramar mesh tee. The Aerius is more fashionable and a lot more expensive but will pick when snagged. Both are very breathable and provide adequate sun protection. Both weigh 3.0 ounces. Sources, respectively: www.patagonia.com and www.campmor.com . |
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If I'm going to be in direct sun for most of the trip, or doing any bushwhacking, I exchange the tee shirt and running shorts for RailRiders Eco-mesh shirt and pants. I had to shorten the pants, and both of these garments are warmer than running clothes, but they're skin-savers on the beach, in the brush, or above tree line. Treated with Permethrin they also make excellent bug garments. Weight: the shirt weighs 4.0 ounces and the pants weigh 7.5 ounces. Source: www.railriders.com . |
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My favorite three-season trail shoe is the Shoreline Stretch by Merrell. It's not made for running but I run trails in it. With SorboAire insoles this shoe weighs 26 ounces and is constructed of nylon stretch mesh. It also employs a neoprene arch bandage so it's actually an adjustable moccasin. It fits my atavistic foot better than any other shoe I've tried, drains and dries fast and is wonderfully breathable. In addition, it has a lugged "Sticky Rubber" sole, so it gets excellent traction on dry and most wet surfaces. I replace the standard shock cord laces with two 3mm nylon cords secured by cord locks, so it's easy to adjust for changing trail conditions. It's drawbacks are that the mesh will pick up mud and it's a little difficult to get on when it's wet and your feet are swollen. Sources: I keep hearing that this shoe has been discontinued by Merrell (boo, hiss), but it seems to still be available at www.rei.com . |
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My second choice in a three-season trail shoe is the Adidas Banshsee IV, which is kind of a sandal in back and a running shoe in front. It fits well, breathes well, has very good traction and is quickly adjustable. If I know it's going to be wet and muddy on a trip I wear this shoe. It's drawbacks are that it will pick up grit and gravel under foot and must be worn with socks in order to keep your heels from drying out and cracking. Weight per pair: 26 ounces. Source: this shoe has been "upgraded" to the Banshee V, which appears to be different than the IV, but I'm not sure and I refuse to spend $80 to find out. Athletic shoe companies are destined for the same ring of Hell as car companies. The Banshee V is available at www.rei.com . There may be some Banshee IVs left at www.stripe3.com . |
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When I use the Merrells I wear an ankle length, single layer Coolmax sock by Wright Sock that weighs a little less than an ounce per pair. When I use the Adidas I wear ankle length Thorlo Light Running socks. Weight per pair: 2.0 ounces. Source for both socks: a local running store. |
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You didn't really want to see a picture of socks, did you? |
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If I know I'm going to be doing a lot of bushwhacking I'll wear a pair of Lowa Tempest Mids, as they provide better ankle and top-of-foot protection than either the Merrells or the Adidas. The Lowas are a good fitting, well made shoe, but warm. Weight: 2 pounds, 6.0 ounces. Source: www.rei.com . When I wear the Lowas I switch to crew length Thorlo Light Running socks. |
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My hat is a Patagonia Spoonbill mesh-sided paddler's cap. I've glued a piece of Velcro to the top of the bill so that I can attach a Lightwave PocketBright LED light to it. Voila, instant headlamp. Weight: 2.0 ounces. Source: www.patagonia.com . |
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I use a combination of Montane Featherlight pants and a Patagonia Dragonfly pullover for wind, light rain and camp wear. Both pants and shirt are made out of encapsulated microfiber fabric and are quite water repellant, but the material Patagonia uses takes much longer to "wet out" than the stuff Montane uses. Both garments breathe so well that I also use them as an insulating layer when I'm active in cold weather, and the Dragonfly comes equipped with a hood. They're also surprisingly durable, even in brushy conditions. But, and this is a big butt, they're not cheap. The pullover weighs 3.0 ounces and the pants weigh 4.0 ounces. Source: www.patagonia.com, and, if you don't mind waiting, atpup1@aol.com . |
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For summer insulation in the mountains of the southeast I pack a long-sleeved, brushed microfiber, zip turtleneck shirt that carries an OpenAire label. It's very breathable, and worn over a tee shirt and under the Dragonfly it's quite warm. Weight: 6.0 ounces. Source: I bought this shirt at an ATC convention and have never seen or heard tell of the company since. If you know anything about OpenAire please let me know, as the shirt is an excellent garment. |
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In spring or fall or when up nawth or out west I substitute a Paramo Mountain shirt for the OpenAire. This shirt is made of something Paramo calls an "asymmetrical wickable fabric," which appears to be a heavy, tightly woven, microfiber cloth that's been carded or "fleeced" on one side. If you wear the fleece side in it's warmer. If you wear the fleece side out it's cooler. Both sides breathe and handle moisture very well. At any rate, it's a very warm (or not so warm), breathable garment, and I can wear it alone, over the tee shirt and/or under the Dragonfly pullover. The possible combinations are too numerous to list, but the resulting versatility is very useful in changeable spring or fall weather. Weight: 13.0 ounces. Source: www.mountainman.co.uk . |
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In spring or fall I also carry Sealskins socks, which are warm and waterproof. In fact, I've used the Sealskins under the Merrells and have been quite comfortable in shallow snow. Weight: 3.0 ounces. Source: www.rei.com . Sealskins gloves also work well in the spring and fall, but I now use a pair of the lighter and more versatile Mirrormere Ultralight Mitts. I also carry an REI Thermax helmet liner for me heed, and it provides a lot of warmth for just an ounce. |
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If early spring or late fall, or if cold weather is predicted, I add a Minimus Down Jacket. It's made by a British company called PHD. Very warm and packs tiny, but a good bit dearer than a pint of Guinness. Weight: 13.0 ounces. Source: www.phdesigns.co.uk . If very early or late in the season I also pack a Mirrormere Ultralight Vapor/Radiant Barrier Suit. |
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