From: Johnlebl@aol.com
Date: Fri Feb 14 2003 - 19:36:07 CST
In a message dated 02/14/2003 6:21:39 PM Central Standard Time,
krstone@dmv.com writes:
> I am going to Philmont this summer and several people in my crew have asked
> what the best material for clothing is. Any advice on what socks, rain
> jackets, shirts or pants should be made of?
>
> Joshua
>
Josh,
Some sort of cloth usually works best. Wood is too hard, metal is too heavy
and leather is too expensive. Cloth is the best.
What a smart aleck answer to a very good question. Let me be a little more
serious.
There is a certain faction that will tell you "cotton kills". Well, did all
those going to Philmont die when cotton was the material they wore? Of
course not. Cotton doesn't kill, but idiots that allow themselves to get wet
in cold weateher and get hypothermia stand a pretty good chance of dying on
the mountain.
Cotton does not kill, it's the idiot wearing it that sometimes commits
suicide.
And not all people who wear cotton are idiots either.
Today, there is a plethora of material that does not absorb water. It aids
in the wicking away of moisture from the skin thus keeping the skin drier
which in turn helps to keep it warmer in the cooler temperatures of the
mountains.
The Tooth of Time Traders at Philmont sells some nice Duofold 100% polyester
CoolMax T-Shirt that works very well. They run about $20.00 each which is
the going price. Several colors are available including one the same color as
Philmont trail dirt so you look nice and clean even when you are nice and
dirty.
You can sometimes find these at Sierra Trading Post that are seconds or end
runs for about $12.00.
Most PhilEmployees wear the official cotton Philmont shorts. They have huge
pockets big enough for water bottles and maps that start on the side and run
around the back. The pocket makes up a double seat too. Don't confuse these
with the cargo pocket pants.
I hate cargo pockets. I hated the cargo pocket fatigues we used in Vietnam.
The cargo swings back and forth and beats the devil out of your leg with each
step.
The PhilShorts are top quality if you think you just gotta have that.
Some people prefer the nylon water shorts with the built in mesh brief.
Cooper Wright touts these in his Advisor's Guide. I wore a pair of these
last July and really liked them. I tend to agree with him that they are
good, high quality trail shorts and eliminating the weight of the underware
helps lighten the load. They are cool when that is needed adn dry when that
is needed. What more can one ask for?
A good polyester knit sweater or a 200 weight PolarFleece jacket of pullover
is a very useful item when the sun goes behind a thundercloud or over the
horizon.
Some don't like wool sweaters, but I wore my old favorite last summer and
would take it again this summer if going, all three moth holes included.
I just bought a 200 weight pullover at Sam's Wholesale coub for $6.00 new on
the clearance table right after Christmas.
When it comes to socks, you can't beat Smart Wool socks. I just love mine.
That's an inside joke, but it's the truth. There are other quality socks
made from synthetics, but I still love my Smart Wool socks.
Rain Gear.
There is a growing trend toward Frog Togs. They are lighter and cheaper than
Gore Tex, work similar but not nearly as well, but very expensive when you
consider they are made of the same material we use at work for disposable
coveralls and pay $10.00 for a set and then throw them away.
If I pay $70.00 for a rain suit, I want better quality than Frog Togs.
I prefer Gore Tex for my outer layer. It's expensive, but I use them the
year round in the rain where I work so that makes it a little more sensible
for me.
A good $25.00 to 30.00 coated nylon rain suit is what works best for the
least money. You can use it for years after returning home.
Lastly, a good square cotton bandana is a rag for all uses. Wipe the brow,
bath the body, insulate the cooking spoon, strain the floaties out of the
water general purpose rag. Take ONE. Just ONE, no more. If you get one
new, then wash it at least a dozen times before the trop. Old soft ones work
a lot better than new stiff ones. This is one piece of cloth you want PURE
100% COTTON, not polyester. Polys ones work OK. OK being about 15% as good
as the cotton ones.
And with that I'm going to stop.
However, I've been a big proponent of contrarian views on clothing used at
Philmont. I won't bother with repeating myself.
The gist of it is, wear whatever floats your boat and you can afford, already
have or can scrounge up. You don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe to go to
Philmont.
My advise would be wear what you have, spend $20.00 for a CoolMax T-shirt to
wear on the trail each day and then pay attention to what you are doing and
take care to stay dry.
I've found many good bargains at Salvation Army stores for a nickel on a
dollar.
There is no reason to spend a thousand dollars on clothes and gear tom go to
Philmont.
John LeBlanc
Eagle Class of 1959
Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959
PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16
My latest adventure was yesterday,
Today is not over yet!
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