rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 13, 2020 12:30:58 GMT -8
By the way, I wanted to note that as others have said, this ends up being a pretty individual choice. But Dave started the switch to long pants after he had a very nasty reaction to his photographic groveling in a field of phacelia. Then we found how nice it was not to have sunscreen and bug juice all over your legs—you can carry a lot less sun block if you only need to do face and a bit of the lower arms.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jul 13, 2020 12:57:47 GMT -8
I've done both but pretty much only when I'm familiar with where I'm going. I like hiking in shorts but, for backpacking, I don't think I've packed _only_ shorts, so there's always a pair of pants available if I need them. I like hiking in my Tevas. The trick is to wear socks. I've backpacked in them a few times, just short 1-2 nighters, light pack and on trails I know. I prefer them on beach or sand hikes. Most of my hiking shoes/boots are meshy and they get full of sand. I have to stop and dump out my shoes often; super annoying. I met a ranger at the Grand Canyon who said he only wears his Chaco's. Of course, he also said it only takes him 3 hours river to rim, so there were all sorts of things wrong with him. :D
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 13, 2020 13:11:09 GMT -8
I don't backpack in sandals but routinely dashiki in them (TEVAS).
Shorts are my goto clothing choice and probably 80% of my backcountry miles are off trail. I expect where that off trail is makes the difference. Especially off trail the knee binding of pants keeps me far away. A bit more care for sunscreen and bug repellant is all I need, I also like the flexibility of simply adjusting my core layers to the ambient temp, pants and I'd overheat.
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Travis
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Post by Travis on Jul 13, 2020 13:30:56 GMT -8
I never wear sandals or even low top shoes — except for river crossings. Otherwise I wear boots with short gaiters to keep burrs etc. out of my socks and boots. In warmer months I almost always wear shorts except for during early morning or later evening hours. With night hiking or thunderstorms, I wear a pair of fleece sweatpants and wind pants over those. And almost all my hiking is done off trail, bush walking or simply following crude game trails.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Jul 13, 2020 13:35:31 GMT -8
I can't even wear sandals around town. As for shorts, I'd rather have my teeth drilled than hike in long pants. If I know I'll be doing lots of gnarly off-trail stuff, I'll wear my zip-offs and zip 'em on only when necessary.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 13, 2020 14:45:10 GMT -8
It occurs to me that where you hike really matters in the shorts debate. If I had to hike in the heat and humidity of the east, I'd have to wear shorts much of the time. Out west, even when it's kind of hot, it's not a sauna.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jul 13, 2020 14:55:51 GMT -8
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Post by bradmacmt on Jul 13, 2020 14:59:40 GMT -8
I know that people backpack in shorts. I have NEVER summer backpacked in anything other than shorts, going back to 1975... I've always been puzzled by people that wear long pants on summer trails, but having read some of these responses, I'm gaining some understanding.
Off trail through dense undergrowth, shorts and tall gaiters or long pants.
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Post by cweston on Jul 13, 2020 15:43:59 GMT -8
I have NEVER summer backpacked in anything other than shorts, going back to 1975... I've always been puzzled by people that wear long pants on summer trails, but having read some of these responses, I'm gaining some understanding. Right. The bugs and sun aren't major factors for me. I do get mosquito bites, but not all that many. With the exception of a couple memorable trips that were mosquito hell, a quick spritz of bug spray on my legs a couple times a day and they're fine. Likewise with sun screen: once in the morning and maybe again in the afternoon if camp is in bright sun is all my legs need. (I'm a little more careful about face and neck.) So, for me, wearing shorts is a no-brainer. But I can understand people making different choices. A lot of people I encounter on the trail seem ridiculously over-dressed by my standards: layers and jackets and warm hats, when I'm in a tech tee and shorts and sweating profusely. I don't know how they can do it, honestly.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 13, 2020 16:43:17 GMT -8
How can they do it? I suspect for many of them it’s their last trip. Like with a completely ill fitting backpack with the waist belt undone that I’ve seen out there. They judge all backpacking as hell and walk away.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on Jul 13, 2020 16:59:07 GMT -8
A lot of people I encounter on the trail seem ridiculously over-dressed by my standards: layers and jackets and warm hats, when I'm in a tech tee and shorts and sweating profusely. I don't know how they can do it, honestly. Easy peasy. Just get skin cancer once, and refuse to carry a gallon of sunscreen to apply four times a day.
I have literally burned, burned, peeled, burned, burned, peeled, and burned - my trailname should be Cinders. Or Never Say TAN. Because I never do, never will, and don't care to have any more lesions removed - it sucks balls.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on Jul 13, 2020 17:26:16 GMT -8
How can they do it? I suspect for many of them it’s their last trip. Like with a completely ill fitting backpack with the waist belt undone that I’ve seen out there. They judge all backpacking as hell and walk away. We are the products of the forge we have tended. I started backpacking my teens (67 now) but had career in oil and gas that had a lot of years following and hiking miles of pipeline or geophysical exploration tracks lugging line finders to geophones all over the Western US to the prairies of Canada. On foot and 365/7. I freak at every exposed centimeter as I remember co-workers who did not make to retirement because of one radiation caused illness or another. I have a brother who is in Stage 4. In the cosmic crapshoot of genes, not all of us are created equal in our response to UV exposure, like almostthere demonstrated, and I have a few interesting spots that need exam next month, so the fears are real. And when the newbs' do not make it, more gear for us on Ebay or FB fleamarkets.
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Post by cweston on Jul 13, 2020 17:38:17 GMT -8
In the cosmic crapshoot of genes, not all of us are created equal in our response to UV exposure, like almostthere demonstrated, and I have a few interesting spots that need exam next month, so the fears are real. Sure, I get that. To clarify, I'm talking about people who are dressed for the cold, not dressed to keep the sun off of them. Insulated jackets and hats, etc. For me, hiking with a full backpack subtracts about 20 degrees from my comfort level. (In other words, whatever clothing I'd be comfortable in standing around at 75, I'd be comfortable hiking in at 55.) To each their own, but that one always puzzles me.
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jul 13, 2020 17:53:59 GMT -8
Speaking of shorts and such, another trend I’ve seen backpacking this year are lightwt, almost knee high compression socks. Probably from the running world. Make them UV resistant, permethrin-treated, and that could be something. Here’s an article on ultrarunning.com about them with shorts and pants (think ultra runners usually hike the “ups” due to heart rate iirc) ultrarunning.com/featured/compression-and-ultrarunning/
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 13, 2020 18:39:36 GMT -8
In the cosmic crapshoot of genes, not all of us are created equal in our response to UV exposure, like almostthere demonstrated, and I have a few interesting spots that need exam next month, so the fears are real. Sure, I get that. To clarify, I'm talking about people who are dressed for the cold, not dressed to keep the sun off of them. Insulated jackets and hats, etc. For me, hiking with a full backpack subtracts about 20 degrees from my comfort level. (In other words, whatever clothing I'd be comfortable in standing around at 75, I'd be comfortable hiking in at 55.) To each their own, but that one always puzzles me. Much like the “bombproof” 4 season tent at 8 pounds plus etc. etc. What if to the Max.
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