Outdoor Clothing Tips

Here are a few outdoor clothing tips and lessons gleaned both from my experience and a that of other backpackers. Let me know if you have something to add. There is a contact form on the Site Map page. Check back in the future, as this page will grow.

Lightweight Outdoor Clothing

Button silk shirts weigh about 3 ounces, and roll up small. I have used them for years for ultralight backpacking. I take them on overseas trips too, because I like to travel with only carry-on luggage. They dry fast while hiking, so you can wash them in lake water and wear them for a little while, and they'll be dry. I can usually find them cheap at thrift stores.

Nylon shorts, unlined, are only about 2 ounces. I bring these, and a pair of lightweight pants, on trips into the wilderness. Together, they weigh less than a pair of those expensive convertible zip-off hiking pants (which I have stopped using because they are more trouble than they are worth). The hard part is finding unlined shorts, but perhaps you can remove the lining without damaging the shorts.

Sew the fly shut on a pair of silk boxers, and you have made decent hiking shorts (which can still be used as underwear). This is true of cotton boxers too, of course, and they are only a bit heavier. Comfort is important too, so go with what works for you.

I prefer to backpack with a single-layer nylon jacket, rather than an insulated one. You can bring a sweater for insulation. It just gives you more flexibility. You may want to try using your rain jacket as a windbreaker too, so you only have to carry one item for both purposes. Just be sure it is very "breathable".

You can also make your outdoor clothing. This is beyond the scope of this site, but if you want to make a few really simple pieces, see the page;
Make Your Own Backpacking Clothes.

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.