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Hi found a pair of jean with a fleece liner in them. Think they would be good for a early Feb 2008 start on the trail. :-?
max patch
12-20-2007, 13:55
No. They'll get wet and never dry. Don't wear jeans to hike in.
They are still made of cotten and are too heavy, and will not dry quick enough.
Lone Wolf
12-20-2007, 13:56
Hi found a pair of jean with a fleece liner in them. Think they would be good for a early Feb 2008 start on the trail. :-?
yup. perfect. i used to carry jeans for wearing in towns
_terrapin_
12-20-2007, 14:06
Jeans suck for hiking, especially in winter. Cotton kills.
jersey joe
12-20-2007, 14:08
I wouldn't carry them but they do sound warm, whatever works for you. If you find out they suck, mail them home.
I was gone to try and make sure stay dry but they feel really warm when i try them on. The only reason i want to take them is beacause my early start Feb 05 2008 Thank for the help
taildragger
12-20-2007, 14:22
Personally, I'd find a fleece liner too hot to hike in, and probably too much of a pain to hang around camp in
jersey joe
12-20-2007, 14:25
One thing to consider partinj is that when you are hiking for hours at a time, no matter how cold it is, or how careful you are to keep the rain off them, you will be likely to sweat and they will get wet. I found fleece material and wool better options to cotton.
All of that said, many people have thru hiked in jeans or other cotton clothes before, it can be done.
Hi found a pair of jean with a fleece liner in them. Think they would be good for a early Feb 2008 start on the trail. :-?Great.
My fleece pants have this nasty habit of drying out and not absorbing much water.
This should fix that. :D
_terrapin_
12-20-2007, 14:57
One alternative is fleece long-johns (eg Kombi) combined with a nylon or Goretex (or even Frogg-Toogs) shell. That gives you two advantages: layering, and re-useability -- for both pieces. Plus, that fleece base-layer is great for louging around in, at home, in the winter. :D
Any good sources for wool hiking pants or wool hiking shorts, or breeks?
Hi found a pair of jean with a fleece liner in them. Think they would be good for a early Feb 2008 start on the trail. :-?Forget it, cotton kills. That's just the way it is, especially in cold weather. :datz
take-a-knee
12-20-2007, 15:35
I was gone to try and make sure stay dry but they feel really warm when i try them on. The only reason i want to take them is beacause my early start Feb 05 2008 Thank for the help
If you are planning to start a thru in FEB, and you don't know enough not to have any cotton in your pack besides maybe one bandana, then I hope you have your life insurance paid up. You will become hypothermic (read DIE!) faster with wet bluejeans on than you will naked, that isn't some BS I made up. The US Army's 'brass man" at Natick labs has proven this conclusively.
Posts like this one are analagous to someone saying that they plan to set the world record for a high altitude freefall in a couple of months but they first need to learn how to pack a parachute.
Can't you just learn to pack those things on the way down?
Seriously though, jeans would be fine for summer, especially in towns.
I'm a wool sweater and brushed nylon shorts man myself, but I do wear cotton flannel boxer shorts.
Way too heavy!
Not to mention the drying factor, and the cotton factor. Function, not fashion in towns, after all you are out there hiking. :)
awestberry
12-23-2007, 10:35
Do a couple of things before you decide to take those jeans. Weigh them when they are completely dry. Then immerse them in a bucket of water until they are soaked up to the knees. Now weigh them. Next, lay them out on the porch and see how long it takes for them to dry out.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Do I want to walk all day with the extra wight of the water that my jeans have absorbed?
Do I want my legs to be wet for the amount of time it takes my jeans to dry? Remember, you are taking these b/c/ of the warmth factor which has been negated since the jeans are soaking wet.
I have several pair of fleece lined jeans and they are great if I'm not hiking and they are completely dry. Once wet, they are cold and miserable. I'd vote against the jeans, but that's just my $.02.
Just Jeff
12-23-2007, 10:57
Cotton doesn't kill. Bad decisions kill. Relying on cotton pants in February in the mountains is a bad decision. :D Keeping them for town stops is fine...if a bit heavy.
Seriously - go to KMart and get a $5 pair of polyester fleece sweat pants. Wear them under your rain pants when you're cold.
_terrapin_
12-23-2007, 11:28
Seriously - go to KMart and get a $5 pair of polyester fleece sweat pants. Wear them under your rain pants when you're cold.
Exactly. I have a pair of Goretex bottoms from 1989... no longer waterproof (if they ever were) but in cold (dry) weather I wear them over fleece bottoms. I haven't found a more functional or comfortable way to hike in those conditions.
Besides the cotton factor, there's the layering factor. In general it's better to have more layers rather than one piece of clothing to keep you warm in the coldest conditions you'll expect. So for winter, I'd suggest a layer of long underwear, a layer of fleece, and a layer of wind/waterproof clothing. With all three layers on you should be warm down to as low as you'll need to be prepared for. When it's warmer, you can peel off one or more.
Appalachian Tater
12-23-2007, 12:01
If you decide to take them, go "Rockstar".
http://mybedazzler.com/
Crazy to wear jeans.
The only thing dumber would be to wear a white hat on the AT during deer season.
Just Jeff
12-23-2007, 13:02
Holy crap! Is that a COTTON flannel shirt?! How'd you survive it?!
Nice pack... :D
dessertrat
12-23-2007, 14:20
If you are planning to start a thru in FEB, and you don't know enough not to have any cotton in your pack besides maybe one bandana, then I hope you have your life insurance paid up. You will become hypothermic (read DIE!) faster with wet bluejeans on than you will naked, that isn't some BS I made up. The US Army's 'brass man" at Natick labs has proven this conclusively.
Posts like this one are analagous to someone saying that they plan to set the world record for a high altitude freefall in a couple of months but they first need to learn how to pack a parachute.
This is true. You're better off naked than wearing wet cotton, and cotton gets wet easily and stays wet for a long time.
Get some wool long johns or fleece pants, and some windproof shell pants, and some compression shorts. A combination of those three should work in just about any weather you'll see on the AT.
I was gone to try and make sure stay dryTo see if jeans will work for you, fill a sink with cold water. Soak the jeans. Wring them out by hand, put them on, then go walk around outdoors for a few hours. If you are okay with that, then by all means bring them along.
Fact is, you can't stay dry backpacking. When it rains for 3-4 days in a row, just about everything you own will be wet.
The key is to have clothing you can wear when they and you are wet.
Wool used to be the fabric of choice. Still is for old timers, but synthetics are best. With long poly underwear you will not be nearly as cold as with cotton. Synthetic pants will also not suck the heat out of you like cotton.
Best is to just try it. Whatever clothes you are goint to bring, wear them in a cold rain before you leave.
Blissful
12-23-2007, 15:30
We met some guys on the trail at Deep Gap who were hiking in jeans. Don't think they went past VA but they were out there in them from GA to VA.
I see lots of weekenders with them, though. And huge packs from Wal mart.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-23-2007, 17:28
People hiked in jeans for years before all these high-tech fabrics were available. It can be done, but much better options exist today.
Marta made the best suggestion I've seen on this thread.
_terrapin_
12-23-2007, 17:34
People hiked in jeans for years before all these high-tech fabrics were available.
But starts from Springer were typically later back then. Smart winter hikers in "days of yore" wore wool. Cotton isn't particularly dangerous on a hot summer day. (Though cotton socks are always a bad idea, IMO.)
To see if jeans will work for you, fill a sink with cold water. Soak the jeans. Wring them out by hand, put them on, then go walk around outdoors for a few hours. If you are okay with that, then by all means bring them along.
And of you do that with fleece you'd be skipping down the Trail singing like a bird?
But starts from Springer were typically later back then. Smart winter hikers in "days of yore" wore wool. Cotton isn't particularly dangerous on a hot summer day. (Though cotton socks are always a bad idea, IMO.)Very true. I think the challenge was with pants during the shoulder seasons.
Many thru hikers will walk in shorts down to very low temps. Walking in wool trousers isn't fun.
For me, Schoeler Dryskin Pants with or without poly long johns is the way to go. But not cheap. Having something dry and ready for camp is kind of imporatnt, IMO.
In the 1968 edition of The Complete Walker, Colin Fletcher wrote:
"Corduroy is the best material I know for shorts." (He has previously said he wears shorts most of the time, into temperatures below freezing.)
As for long pants: "A stout whipcord pair, forest ranger style, all wool (1 pound, 10 ounces, $18.95), is the only kind I have used for some years. But the choice is wide. Many people take nothing but a pair of blue jeans for all uses. Others wear climbing knickers, tight-fitting below the knees. Take your pick."
And of you do that with fleece you'd be skipping down the Trail singing like a bird?Wow, no need to be jerk.
I didn't say anything about fleece. I said to see which of wool, long poly underwear, or pants of one of the new synthetic materials is more comfortable in a cold rain, soak each choice in cold water, then hike outdoors for a few hours and see which is more comfortable. What part of that suggestion annoyed you so much?
If wearing jeans on a Feb 5 start on the AT is something you would chose, bully for you. I've seen people snowshoeing in jeans, and they did just fine. Jeans are okay if everything goes well and you don't get wet. Ditto for cotton sweat pants. I'm just not sure how you plan on not getting wet on a thruhike.
Jeans and cotton t-shorts are perfect in hot summer days because they wick heat from your body like there is no tomorrow. That is also why they are less than ideal in temps under 90*
People CAN do all sorts of things that aren't that smart because there are better ways to do the same thing. People can wear jeans to hike, and quite a few people used to back in the day, but there are much better alternatives out there. Why handicap yourself?
Any good sources for wool hiking pants or wool hiking shorts, or breeks?I still like to snowshoe in wool pants. I bought mine at a Salvation Army or Goodwill store, I forget which. The were once winter weight dress pants, even had a cuff to them. They have a silk lining over the knee (I suppoe to make sitting down easier).
That (or another second hand store) may be your best source.
booney_1
12-24-2007, 14:37
I would suggest hiking in shorts and underarmour type of tights. Have fleece pants for in camp. They are also useful for extra cold nights in sleeping bag. When real cold in camp, rain pants can be put over tights-fleece. This is a flexible and safe system.
It is important to have an adjustable system of clothes. In North Carolina you will have winter days in the mid-60's. At this temp the main problem is to reduce sweating so that your clothes don't get soaked. Other days maybe 22 with a strong wind.
Aside from providing no warmth or wind or moisture protection, the jeans will be filthy in a matter of days.
Instead of fleece pants, wool would be good. I've seen a lot of army surplus wool pants on the web that look like they'd be great for winter camping.
Disclaimer: I've done many winter hikes with jeans. Usually just weekends where we were not hiking that far. But when you are contemplating "living" in the woods for weeks at a time, there are different considerations...
have fun !!!
dessertrat
12-24-2007, 15:05
Yup, you can certainly use jeans. Earl Shaffer used mostly cotton clothing on his first thru-hike. And you know what? He was wet, cold, and miserable a lot of the time!
superman
12-24-2007, 15:36
I've had many weekend hikes during the spring and fall wearing jeans, flannel shirt and work boots. Weekends were selected for clear skies and even temps. Serious hikes are for synthetics.
Programbo
12-24-2007, 16:14
We met some guys on the trail at Deep Gap who were hiking in jeans. Don't think they went past VA but they were out there in them from GA to VA..
For decades all anyone wore hiking was jeans..10's of thousands of people.. Including pretty much every thru-hiker..It's not the total horror story everyone is making it out to be..Sure there may be better fibers today and maybe in some extreme scenario some sort of problem could come up but I don't think anyone who wears jeans on the AT is looking at a death sentence.
For decades all anyone wore hiking was jeans..10's of thousands of people.. Including pretty much every thru-hiker..It's not the total horror story everyone is making it out to be..Sure there may be better fibers today and maybe in some extreme scenario some sort of problem could come up but I don't think anyone who wears jeans on the AT is looking at a death sentence.
I would have to agree with this quote. Most of my hiking has been done in much dryer climates than found on the AT, so I would hike in my confortable jeans. Along with my '08 AT thru-hike plans, I am using the knowledge gained on WB and now have replaced my jeans with a pair of nylon wind pants for hiking, however, I will also bring a pair of jeans (in a zip-lock bag) for wear in my tent or just around camp when it's not raining. Old dogs.........new tricks :D
superman
12-24-2007, 17:15
I would have to agree with this quote. Most of my hiking has been done in much dryer climates than found on the AT, so I would hike in my confortable jeans. Along with my '08 AT thru-hike plans, I am using the knowledge gained on WB and now have replaced my jeans with a pair of nylon wind pants for hiking, however, I will also bring a pair of jeans (in a zip-lock bag) for wear in my tent or just around camp when it's not raining. Old dogs.........new tricks :D
LOL, ok but what you start the AT with is just the stuff you start the AT with. A bunch of the people I started the AT with would take turns going through each others stuff to find stuff to get rid of or change to something lighter. Many jeans started the AT and I'd say they all were mailed home. Your pack weight and your daily miles will speak louder than anyone on white blaze. :D
_terrapin_
12-24-2007, 17:26
My jeans got sent home from the PO in Suches.
take-a-knee
12-24-2007, 23:24
I remember discussing the "new high-tech" outdoor clothing with another section hiker in PA in 83 on the trail. He said he'd done a bit of search and rescue work through the years and people who were wearing pile and polypro were living long enough to be found alive, and that wasn't always the case prior to that. He was not a fan of blue jeans.
The Doctor
12-24-2007, 23:46
From my experience blue jean=bad idea. Synthetic is the best way to go(IMO).