View Full Version : "Dressier" trail clothing?
crazypete
07-21-2011, 09:24
Good morning fellow hikers!
I know this is an odd topic but let me put it into context. I recently returned from a trip to Iceland, a fly and drive with moderate light day hikes but mostly driving and roaming around small towns and small cities. For the majority of the trip, I was in full cotton...jeans and a button down with town shoes. But one day, when we were near the glaciers, I decided to deck out in crunchier trail gear and tossed on my nylon REI mohave convertible pants and REI Sahara shirt and hiking boots. I really looked like I fell staight out of an indiana jones movie. The strangest thing was.....the locals suddenly treated me differently. I could see that I became the "frumpy American tourist" and I stopped getting smiles and people almost avoided us. Now Iceland is a pricier place (My family is very resourceful so we were staying at hostels and eating from supermarkets) so the core group of tourists tend to be older and much wealthier and mostly europians. I noticed these folks had the same material trail clothing as I did....supplex nylons and quick drying materials....but it was cut so that it actually looked like real button downs and regular town clothing and some of it looked quite presentable.
So here is the question for you seasoned hikers.....what brands have "dressier" selections? I figure with today's materials, you can have your cake and eat it too. Why not look dashing while remaining quick drying, stain free and bug proof =)
Thanks in advance
CrazyPete
exofficio
columbia
royal robbins
also ll bean has some great gear
Patagonia, Garmicci (sp?) and Royal Robbins and others all make travel clothing that is made with synthetic material.
https://www.royalrobbins.com/p-70-mens-global-traveler-pant.aspx
Notice there are NO dorky zippers in the middle. :D Comes in different colors, too
Get some darker all leather low-cut hiking shoes, and you are probably good to go.
crazypete
07-21-2011, 10:12
Oh the Royal Robbins Traveler looks SHARP! Especially in black. Mmmmm, my credit card is burning a hole in my pocket ;)
My only reservation is that I will need an actual belt and that might interfere with the pack belt (the buckle will crush into me). The exofficio stuff is also pretty sharp.....good call.
So, on that note...who makes "dressier" trail shoes.
Trailweaver
07-21-2011, 10:22
Well for one thing, Europeans reallly don't like our white (or light colored) athletic shoes. I don't know why, but that is consistently one of their barbs about "Americans" - we stand out like beacons to them when we have on white shoes. I didn't know this until after I got home (years ago) and found out or I certainly wouldn't have worn them.
There are also some travel companies who sell clothing that is "wrinkle proof/washable in hotel sinks/etc" that would be called "dressier" and be hiker friendly. One of them is Magellan. They also sell some really neat things you wouldn't necessarily think of that make travel more efficient and comfortable. I use some of their products in backpacking because they come in small sizes.
Doesn't LL Bean do shoes? I can't remember.
crazypete
07-21-2011, 10:54
Luckily...shoes was one thing my girlfriend hammered into me a long time ago. I was wearing a pair of $125 Cole Haan black oxfords (they have a nike air system inside) on 2 of my 3 hikes (they happened so randomly that I did not have a chance to change shoes). It reminded me of my days hiking in black doc martens oxfords in the days before I became a "real" hiker. I was surprised by how well sneakers and even town shoes performed on trail and made me question the necessity of a lot of the higher end technical gear I was using....almost like a Ray Jardine/Lynne Whelden moment.
I'm gonna be spending a lot of time rearranging my travel gear. I ended up bringing enough for 2 tourists for a month in a full sized wheeled suitcase and fully loaded pack and all I really needed was a single pair of black shoes with decent traction soles, 2 pairs of quick drying nylon "dress" pants (the ones I am looking for right now) and 2-3 roll-up long sleeve buttondowns. Bascially, I could have gone with a single carryon backpack of 2/3 the wieght of my existing pack.
Oh the Royal Robbins Traveler looks SHARP! Especially in black. Mmmmm, my credit card is burning a hole in my pocket ;)
My only reservation is that I will need an actual belt and that might interfere with the pack belt (the buckle will crush into me). The exofficio stuff is also pretty sharp.....good call.
So, on that note...who makes "dressier" trail shoes.
Something along these lines, maybe?
http://www.endless.com/dp/B002MPPWD6/184-9519494-8148417?ie=UTF8&creative=395033&suppressRedirect=1&linkCode=asn&tag=googlecom09c9_endless-20&creativeASIN=B002MPPWD6&ref_=asc_df_B002MPPWD61636290
Tuckahoe
07-21-2011, 12:00
I hav never traveled outside the US and so I can not say much about standards of dress in that respect, however, we have a lot of European visitors at work. The reality is that for the most part Europeans dress pretty much just like Americans and will be just as frumpy. The ony difference I tend to see is Americans usually wear sneakers and Europeans will wear dressier shoes. The one thing though that will ID a European male every single time is that many of them seem to be wearing some European version of women's capri pants.
I think my OR SoDo L/S Shirt is quite spiffy. Paired with my Columbia Titanium Omni-shield trousers (non-convertible), and I might be mistaken for well-healed.
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_sodo_l_s_shirt.html
C (http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_sodo_l_s_shirt.html)heck out the buttons and how they are attached.
crazypete
07-21-2011, 12:56
Something along these lines, maybe?
http://www.endless.com/dp/B002MPPWD6/184-9519494-8148417?ie=UTF8&creative=395033&suppressRedirect=1&linkCode=asn&tag=googlecom09c9_endless-20&creativeASIN=B002MPPWD6&ref_=asc_df_B002MPPWD61636290
I was thinking a 1 piece slip on. Merrel makes a moccasin looking thing with a Merrel sole but it doesnt have the shiny leather top. The search continues.
The one thing though that will ID a European male every single time is that many of them seem to be wearing some European version of women's capri pants.
I was thinking bathing suit.
Trust Mags. His better half has been upgrading his clothing.
I agree with all of those brands mentioned, plus Travel Smith. Great everyday travel wear.
crazypete
07-21-2011, 13:41
I was thinking bathing suit.
Trust Mags. His better half has been upgrading his clothing.
I remember the first time I put on my stunning Sahara/Mohave combo and jumped in front of my girlfriend "check out this mad pimp adventure gear!". She said...."UGH! Burn that and never put it on again"!
this would be my opportunity to tell you all that Patagonia has a 30 percent off sale for the next several days. some dressier stuff, for sure, and some just plain wonderful clothing! I wish i needed something...
My favorite, "dressy" hiker gear is made my Mountain Hardware. Pricey unless you find it on sale.
Kilt Really happy with mine and a black merino wool tee. Mont Bell syntetic jacket (grey)............even in south I am sold on this and am sticking with it.
NYC
Inn at the Long Trail
Hanover
.......anyone can wear convertible pants, choose color.............chaffing does not make Del Q happy
Kilt
I was thinking bathing suit.
Trust Mags. His better half has been upgrading his clothing.
Well, she IS European. :D
(Actually, I come from a long line of stylish dressers if I do say so. I may be a dirt-bagger on trail...off-trail, I always look put together. Perhaps it is the ancestral Italian flair for good taste? ;) )
Pop Magnanti shortly after he was discharged from the service after WW2 (he is wearing the tipped fedora)
12921
Of course, his 'travel wear' for Europe was OD green clothing and an M1 rifle!!!! :O
Mrs Baggins
07-22-2011, 07:34
We travel overseas frequently and I take my Royal Robbins travel skirts. Even wore them in a cruise ship's dining room. I also take my REI Sahara pants, Columbia button front shirts with the rollup/buttonup sleeves, Ecco dark leather sandals, Merrill low cut light hikers, and anything light, gauzy, easily washable in the sink and dries fast. We don't go to "nice" restaurants when we travel - just pubs and cafes, supermarkets, and never ever take jeans. They get sopping wet and heavy and take too long to dry. And they reek after 3 days of wearing. We don't bother with laundromats - just do it ourselves in the rooms. Hubby has hiking pants, Royal Robbins and Columbia button front shirts, dark leather low cut Merrill hikers and dark leather Ecco sandals.
I'm going to try and buy an Icebreaker Kent Polo for my thru.
Definitely take a look at Rail Riders (http://www.railriders.com/).
crazypete
07-22-2011, 09:06
Thank you for all the wonderful replies!
I have been sifting through all of these sites and have a few finalists, namely the
Royal Robbins Boise longsleeve in black
https://www.royalrobbins.com/p-18-mens-boise-ls.aspx
I love how its not too utilitarian but has a low profile cut.
The ExOfficio Trail Roam'R Pant in black
http://www.exofficio.com/products/details/mens-trail-roamr-pant
Not sure if this will have the right cut, but its one of the few nylon non zip off, non cargo style pant that comes in jet black and not grey. Anyone have experience with this?
The Royal Robbins Global Traveller pant looks pretty sharp to pair up with a black shirt
https://www.royalrobbins.com/p-70-mens-global-traveler-pant.aspx
Right now, I just got in a columbia silver ridge LS in black and its a bit utilitarian and oversize for "L"
http://www.columbia.com/Men%E2%80%99s-Silver-Ridge%E2%84%A2-Long-Sleeve-Shirt/AM7941,default,pd.html
I dont like the logo right on the front pocket and it doesnt have a really good cut. The pockets are a bit big and the flaps stick out. Still, for hiking, It's a winner. I wore it in the ~100 degree heat and it held up admirably.
The other shirt I have already and I tested in ~95 degree weather, been very pleased with the cut and the way it sits is the REI Endevour.
http://www.rei.com/product/808884/rei-endeavor-shirt-mens
Surprisingly, even though it is heavier and has spandex, it is very heat tolerant and the lack of pockets and stiffer collar makes it look rather sharp. Even my picky girlfriend likes it. ;)
The search continues!