View Full Version : Shorts in the desert
I started the AT sobo in June with pants, switched to a kilt in the whites and then shorts when the seam wore out on the kilt. Looking back I would have been most happy doing the whole thing in shorts.
Right now im sorting clothing out for the PCT nobo starting around may 18-21 (registered for the 21st). I have a good dash of Mediterranean in my blood and tan dark very quickly. However, I have no experience desert hiking. I plan on using a long sleeve shirt and am flirting with the idea of getting an umbrella. What I'm wondering is whether or not I should go with pants or if I can get away with shorts.
Dose anyone here HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERINCE that could lend a clue?
thank you!
jj442434
02-08-2017, 13:43
I used pants in 2016, most people around me used shorts. I'm not sure about their sunscreen habits, but for me a lot of the time it was so hot that it didn't matter what was or wasn't on my legs, so I took the less sunscreen option. You'd most likely be fine either way.
Be careful when you get into the Sierra though. All that snow reflects the sun right back up at you and hits you in places you haven't been tanned yet
srvand02
02-08-2017, 14:49
Convertible pants. They're nice in the desert because you can use them either way (Id always do the short option on the CDT) and then at night when it gets cold (because it's the desert) I'd zip on the legs again.
LuckyMan
02-08-2017, 15:33
I am glad I wore thin light-colored long pants on the PCT in SoCal last spring (and in the sierras and Washington on other hikes). Most of the other hikers wore shorts, and some had horrific sunburns on their legs, as well as plenty o' scratches and cuts.
bamboo bob
02-08-2017, 15:37
I wore shorts on the PCT and really it was not a problem in the desert I switched to long pants because post holing cuts your legs up. On the CDT the desert seemed to have way more things that wanted to stick in me so I switched out of shorts as soon as I could. If had it to do over again I would wear the combos.
I've always started PCT NOBO's earlier so maybe the sun wasn't as intense with your mid May start? I've always went with the lightest wt nylon short short running shorts or the lightest wt I could find loosely fitting convertibles. If you use convertibles make them light wt, slightly loose fitting, have the zip off location in a comfortable location with a comfy zip that doesn't lay directly on skin(should you get burned), and go lighter colored. Look for convertibles for your start date that vent well having vent panels such as mesh, etc. I thrive in the sun and heat and don't look like a prune or have any skin cancer. I do put a sunscreen on my legs in the Mojave Desert. This works in junction with doing a lot of early pre dawn starts, resting/siestaing during the most intense sun of the day in shade, and hiking later in the day into the night.
Lightweight loose fitting long pants are cooler in hot direct sunlight than shorts. The opposite is true in shade. Just feel how hot your skin gets in direct sunlight vs. under pants. There is a reason desert cultures cover up. The reason people think shorts are cooler is because sweat dries faster when directly exposed to air. What they are calling cooler is really just drier.
And for those that care about skin cancer and more fair skinned, not having to constantly apply sun screen is a huge bonus and getting to carry a smaller tube is weight savings. Having long pants for the Sierra keeps your legs from getting cut up as you posthole in snow. Permithrin treated long pants keep the hordes of mosquitos from bitting your legs without having to apply DEET. Between the permithrin treated long pants and long sleeves, I only used DEET 2 days on the entire PCT (all in Northern Yosemite, when you get there you'll understand why), just applied to my hands and neck.
My preferred pants for desert hiking are Railriders Eco Mesh pants which have mesh down the length of the leg. The mesh can be zipped up when not needed. I thought they were cool enough that I never felt the need the swap them for shorts on the PCT. They have similar shirts as well.
I started May 21st and didn't wear shorts on a consistent basis until Oregon. Two reasons, I believe long, very lightweight pants are cooler in the desert and second as was mentioned about snow and postholing. I didn't wear my first sunscreen until the very snowy Sierra. Heads up to 2017 hikers, the sun bouncing off the snow will result in a nasty sunburn especially to the bottom of your nose.
Once up in Oregon, there is a bit more tree cover and the hum it's increases so shorts were worn more often especially early and late in the day. For reference, I wear shorts almost exclusively on the AT.
nsherry61
02-08-2017, 20:00
Wear a dress! Desert dwellers famously wear "robes" for a reason. They cover you up and they also allow for excellent ventilation. They also provide for private privy practices even within sight of others.
AlpineKevin
02-08-2017, 21:00
Wear a dress! Desert dwellers famously wear "robes" for a reason. They cover you up and they also allow for excellent ventilation. They also provide for private privy practices even within sight of others.
I know it's California and all but wouldn't I make people uncomfortable if I wore a dress? (Keep in mind I'm 250lbs).
There was a guy a few years ago who wore wedding dresses for the entire trail. He kept changing the dress for another as he hiked north.
AllDownhillFromHere
02-08-2017, 21:44
I've been shopping around online for a summer bathrobe, light colored, cotton-poly blend. Barring that it will be at least a skirt.
ImAfraidOfBears
02-08-2017, 21:49
going to wear cotton shorts like i always do in the desert, from campo to KM
source: i live in a desert
jj442434
02-08-2017, 21:55
Be careful with cotton in the desert. It may not feel so desert-like when you're getting snowed on at 9000' in the San Jacintos
Spirit Walker
02-08-2017, 22:09
I wore the convertibles on both PCT and CDT. When bugs were bad or while hiking in snow, the long pants were great. When my pants started feeling like a sauna, I was able to take the legs off and let my legs breathe.
I go back and forth on this issue. I wear convertibles, but they are a pain to detach / re-attach. I prefer shorts, but if I'm not careful on trail, I pick up pricks and scratches that add up to major annoyance. I've finally settled on just wearing my very comfortable prAna Zion pants when on trail, and switching to simple nylon shorts when camping / extended breaking.
Wear a dress! Desert dwellers famously wear "robes" for a reason. They cover you up and they also allow for excellent ventilation. They also provide for private privy practices even within sight of others.
I know it's California and all but wouldn't I make people uncomfortable if I wore a dress? (Keep in mind I'm 250lbs).
Yeah, don't wear a dress, man. Lightweight convertibles, - that's the ticket!
Shorts and long sleeve shirt all the way but had very light track pants for camp ( mosquitoes ).
Sent from my GT-I9295 using Tapatalk
garlic08
02-09-2017, 08:22
Nobody's mentioned the poison oak yet. Or ticks specifically. Pants help keep stuff out of your shoes, too, and may negate the desire to wear gaiters.
Thanks for all the input! One thing I did not consider was postholeing, I've hiked through snow for extended periods in shorts and it can get pretty painful. I do not know the west coast mosquitos but they usually don't bother me, the Maine black flies left me alone too, only issue I had with bugs were the damn gnats in the eyes.
Now, I am very allergic to poison ivy, and if I recall correctly I've had bad reaction to poison oak.
I don't hike in gaiters, I hike in sandals. I guess I will need to start looking into socks with uv protection.
I started the AT sobo in June with pants, switched to a kilt in the whites and then shorts when the seam wore out on the kilt. Looking back I would have been most happy doing the whole thing in shorts.
Right now im sorting clothing out for the PCT nobo starting around may 18-21 (registered for the 21st). I have a good dash of Mediterranean in my blood and tan dark very quickly. However, I have no experience desert hiking. I plan on using a long sleeve shirt and am flirting with the idea of getting an umbrella. What I'm wondering is whether or not I should go with pants or if I can get away with shorts.
Dose anyone here HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERINCE that could lend a clue?
thank you!
From hiking in AZ and Utah, I have found that both ways will work. As always there is a But..............
Nylon shorts on open trails works well........but when the trail becomes more dense, the bushes will have needles that will scratch up our legs, the dried grass will stick to your socks ( dirty girl gaitors will solve that ).
After reading a post from a triple crowner, I did a 50 miler in long sleeve shirt and light, baggy, full length pants. It also worked well. Didn't use or need any sunscreen. Kept much cleaner. Socks stayed cleaner. Last two days were in the 90's and did not feel that the pants were a negative.
I would suggest that you give a pair of baggy convertible pants a try.
Either way will work.
handlebar
02-09-2017, 15:04
I hike in a Sportkilt Hiking Kilt. I wear Chopat knee braces which cover the backs of my knees, so those parts of my legs are protected from the sun (which hiking nobo is predominantly behind me). I did use sunscreen on my calves and the back of my arms (hiked in short sleeve lighweight wool t-shirt) for the first few weeks. After that I had sufficient tan and only used sunscreen when hiking on snow.
I do most of my hiking in AZ and the southwest.
I almost always wear the lightest Nike running shorts or swimming trunks. This is very cool and sweat evaporates quickly. I wear the ones with about 9 inch legs and go commando. I do this primarily because I like it and also because convertible pants weigh so much - many pairs are over a lb. Thus I save almost a lb. The shorts are the lightest option I know and you dry very quickly.
I don't burn all that easy but I do carry a very small bit of sunscreen in case I feel a burn coming on.
I also wear compression sleeves over my calves - this works great for keeping your legs fresh. And Dirty Girl gaiters. So not that much of my legs are uncovered.
I have walked through pretty extensive amounts of thorny bushes - like the AZT and one does get scratched up some. On the PCT I found no place where this was an issue. On the PCT you have to be careful not to rub against Poodle Dog bush as many react to it like poison ivy. But avoiding that was not difficult either.
I have also postholed and walked through a fair amount of snow in shorts and if it is really icy it will abrade your skin. So what I do in those circumstances is put on my lower base layer and that suffices for me. Soft snow is just cold on the skin but you also are generating a lot of heat so that is not too bad. Of course if it gets really cold you have the base layer and the wind/rain pants also.
Besides not liking convertible pants due to their weight I find I feel hotter in them. But who knows if that is real or because I don't like them in general.
I also only wear short sleeve wicking shirts unless it is quite chilly - then i add the base layer. I have some long sleeve hiking shirts but I prefer them around town far more than on trail.
I do carry an umbrella much of the time anymore and that does far more for keeping you cool than the pants and long sleeved shirts - but wind is an issue. btw if you are thinking of an umbrella don't fall for the super expensive reflective hiking umbrellas as it has been shown that they are not cooler underneath when moving than any old umbrella. Buy a small cheap one that you don't feel bad about having to replace as umbrellas often have short lifespans.
I used to hike with convertible pants but found that the combination of lightweight pants and super lightweight shorts are within the same weight as convertibles but far more versatile, think doing laundry. The main thing that got me away from convertibles was the zippers would be uncomfortable while sleeping.
What's finally being fleshed out desert hiking is not all the same to put it under one heading "shorts for the desert." For example, depending on the N American desert you're in say Great Basin verse Chihuahuan, if one is going off maintained trail, if scrambling, slabs, pour offs, bouldering, canyoneering, etc are involve,d doing much XC, what season, how one approaches hiking times, etc plays a role in what I do. So yes shorts can work or there may be added accessories or pants that are better options. As Wyoming or Handlebar related their wider apparel set ups play significant roles towards appropriateness
I guess I could have been more clear. I figured puttting this in the PCT section would imply the desert section on the PCT and listing my start date would give people a good idea of what time of the year it would be.
Thank you to everyone for the helpful input!
takethisbread
02-15-2017, 17:51
I never wore pants on the PCT and I never got burned or poodle dogged. I wore a tshirt and my arms burned a bit one day near kern river
a light-weight long sleeve UV shirt and a sarong to wrap around your waist. Drown yourself in baby powder and you will be super comfortable
AllDownhillFromHere
02-15-2017, 21:38
I'm doing the sarong thing, as well as the kafiyeh.
ImAfraidOfBears
02-16-2017, 02:05
Going to try linen for the first time long distance, been using it in local overnights in the desert for some time and really love this material. It is a nice medium between cotton and nylon.
ridehard
02-17-2017, 20:43
I guess I could have been more clear. I figured puttting this in the PCT section would imply the desert section on the PCT and listing my start date would give people a good idea of what time of the year it would be.
Thank you to everyone for the helpful input!
HDLV: Urushiol is the same active ingredient in poison oak, sumac, ivy and Japanese lacquer finishes for a couple of millenia. Poodle dog bush is different mechanism, but kinda moot when the reaction is about the same.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol)
ridehard
02-17-2017, 20:46
HDLV: sorry, quoted the wrong post. You mentioned a problem with allergy to poison stuff.
Running shorts (7" inseam) with liberal sunscreen applications did the trick for me in 2015. I barely even got a tan (let alone burned) between the sunscreen and the trail dirt sticking to the sunscreen. I used to hike in convertibles for years and eventually wound up hating them. It wasn't the temperatures (I have a pretty high heat threshold), it was the lack of freedom of movement for my legs compared to running shorts. When I was on the JMT in 2014, I was amazed at the way that the pants restricted my movement and increased my effort (something I'd never noticed on earlier, shorter hikes). It's not like there were chains around my legs or anything, but it was enough that running shorts felt a lot easier/better.
Note: I hiked in 2015 so no meaningful snow to speak of in the Sierra by the time I got there. If I did have to deal postholing (no real personal experience here), I'd probably consider pants, but more likely would just throw on my running tights (which I carry anyway) and see how that treated me.