For the upper body, it's all about layering. I'm generally prepared with five layers. First, the base layer. Since I use Under Armour ColdGear for leggings, I use the same base layer for the upper body. I find that the fabric is suitable enough for use even in the warmer months when hiking at upper elevations. Over the base layer I wear a short sleeve shirt made of quick drying material. Nike running shirts are my favorites for this purpose. I will take two mid-layers for the trip to Canada: a Marmot full-zip and Patagonia partial zip. If it doesn't rain and it's not freezing, generally, the most I will need is these three layers.
The fourth layer, when needed, is a Patagonia jacket that fits snug, but not too tight since I often use it with three layers underneath. Finally, when the rain pours, the fifth layer or outer shell that I will turn to on this trip is a form-fitting Mammut. If I need more than five layers for upper body warmth, that means it's too damn cold outside, and I am just going to kick back with a winter warmer in hand and watch Point Break for the hundredth time.
As for hand protection, I will be taking three sets of gloves with me. If the temperature is comfortable, I use Pearl Izumi cycling gloves. The padded-palms of these gloves work great with the cork handles of the Black Diamond trekking poles. Let's talk about trekking poles while we are on the subject. I have to admit, I am late to the game when it comes to using poles, and that's unfortunate. I think back on the hundreds of miles I've done over the years without poles, and I wonder how many more I could have done if only I used a set of poles. I've read the scientific data about the thousands of pounds of weight that is transferred to poles in a typical hike. I believe it but I don't need data to believe it. I've found in my own experiences, that since turning to trekking poles, I have the energy to go much further and at a greater pace - which in sum means I get to see more of the beautiful country when hiking. And best of all, my knees are saved from substantial agony. If you currently do your hiking without poles, I encourage you to make the switch. Trekking poles aren't just for "old-timer" hikers - it's for every hiker. Thank me later.
In addition to cycling gloves, I use one set of gloves for spring, summer, and fall months, and another for winter months. Since the Canadian Rockies will frequently have a snowstorm in early September - so I've read - I will be prepared with both sets of gloves.
As for the head, not counting two sets of bandanas, I will bring a brimmed Tilley, a winter cap, and a three-season cap. When the lights go out, I turn it back on using a Black Diamond head lamp. The best thing about head lamps is that your hands are free to do other things -- like using your trekking poles if your still tramping about while it's dark out, or for more important things -- like fumbling around your tent for that special can of beer that you cannot wait to savor after a looooong day on the trail.
Showing posts with label Under Armour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Under Armour. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Preparing for Canada: Gear Check - the "Freedom Skirt"
As we gear up for hiking in the Canadian mountains, I thought it may be of some use to fellow hikers and wanderers of the world, to read about some of the gear and equipment that I found useful over the years and taking with me when we land in Calgary and start two intense weeks of tramping over tough terrain. In the previous entry, I touched on some items relating to footwear. Today, it is about the "freedom skirt."
A couple years ago I switched to wearing kilts exclusively while hiking, and wearing "leggings" underneath. If there is one change that I've made in my gear selection over the years, this one without question has had the most positive effect. No more pants. No more shorts. No more restriction. Total freedom of movement. That's what the kilt gives, fellow men -- freedom.
It is amazing the number of people that will comment and ask questions when they see a man wearing a kilt for no other purpose than to be free. It isn't about St. Patty's and fitting into a one-day celebration culture. When you wear the kilt as a normal piece of attire, you are in fact going against cultural norms. But you don't wear the kilt while hiking to fulfill some desire to be a rebel. It's about being comfortable - period.
When men see the kilt in action on the mountainside, you can see it in their eyes, a lightbulb has gone off. Their wheels are turning, setting in motion the inevitable decision that one day they too will don the "kilt." Sure, there is the occasional, "nice skirt man." But even these men, in jest, reveal their envy and desire.
Men must wear kilts. It goes back to the ancient days maybe, when we were tackling wooly mammoths with our bare hands, wearing nothing but skirts made from wooly mammoths we caught with our bare hands, I don't know. But I know that when you put on a kilt, and go about your adventuring, you understand that man and kilt are meant to be. When I made the switch, it wasn't because I had seen another hiker braving in his new world of freedom. No, in fact I can say I've never seen another man hiking in a kilt, sad to say. I never even bothered to research whether there are in fact other men around the world hiking in kilts (and now I know that there are many). It was simply, I acquired a kilt out of curiosity at, yes you know it, a St. Patty's festival, and literally the next hike, I decided I would use the kilt in replace of shorts or pants. That's the power of the kilt. It just makes sense. You put it on, move around, and then the computer in your head does its deductions, and outputs the answer, "yes, next time I am wearing the kilt." And then you do. And so I did.
Most of my kilt wearing hikes involved the use of a "traditional kilt," because that's all I had at the time. Traditional kilts look cool, but have the disadvantage of being a bit heavier than necessary, and in the summer months, warmer than necessary. Even accounting for this, however, the traditional kilt was better than wearing shorts or pants. In the past year I discovered that Mountain Hardware designed a version of the kilt made specifically for hikers, called the "Elkommando." The Elkommando is lighter than the traditional kilt, more breathable, dries faster, and has useful side pockets. The Elkommando is an awesome product. I will be taking two pairs with me to Canada. I applaud Mountain Hardware for having the balls - and displaying them to the world, literally - in making the decision to manufacture this product. Right now, it's one of a kind. Hopefully, other hiking manufacturers will take notice and come out with their own version of the "freedom skirt."
Under the kilt, I wear "leggings," even in the warm summer months. I use Under Armour ColdGear leggings, for instance, and I find that even in the summer months, I am kept at a comfortable temperature. And in the fall and winter months, leggings with a little more substance to them like ColdGear, provide ample warmth.
Most leggings don't have the support to keep the family jewels in place, so, while you can just go with leggings underneath and let your balls dangle and jangle, I find that wearing Calvin Klein hip briefs or Under Armour boxer briefs, under leggings is the best way to protect your balls over a long hike. It is important that whatever underwear you go with that the material is NOT made of cotton. It needs to be made of materials that dry quickly.
In the next blog entry, I will comment on what I am bringing to protect my upper body from the elements.
A couple years ago I switched to wearing kilts exclusively while hiking, and wearing "leggings" underneath. If there is one change that I've made in my gear selection over the years, this one without question has had the most positive effect. No more pants. No more shorts. No more restriction. Total freedom of movement. That's what the kilt gives, fellow men -- freedom.
It is amazing the number of people that will comment and ask questions when they see a man wearing a kilt for no other purpose than to be free. It isn't about St. Patty's and fitting into a one-day celebration culture. When you wear the kilt as a normal piece of attire, you are in fact going against cultural norms. But you don't wear the kilt while hiking to fulfill some desire to be a rebel. It's about being comfortable - period.
When men see the kilt in action on the mountainside, you can see it in their eyes, a lightbulb has gone off. Their wheels are turning, setting in motion the inevitable decision that one day they too will don the "kilt." Sure, there is the occasional, "nice skirt man." But even these men, in jest, reveal their envy and desire.
Men must wear kilts. It goes back to the ancient days maybe, when we were tackling wooly mammoths with our bare hands, wearing nothing but skirts made from wooly mammoths we caught with our bare hands, I don't know. But I know that when you put on a kilt, and go about your adventuring, you understand that man and kilt are meant to be. When I made the switch, it wasn't because I had seen another hiker braving in his new world of freedom. No, in fact I can say I've never seen another man hiking in a kilt, sad to say. I never even bothered to research whether there are in fact other men around the world hiking in kilts (and now I know that there are many). It was simply, I acquired a kilt out of curiosity at, yes you know it, a St. Patty's festival, and literally the next hike, I decided I would use the kilt in replace of shorts or pants. That's the power of the kilt. It just makes sense. You put it on, move around, and then the computer in your head does its deductions, and outputs the answer, "yes, next time I am wearing the kilt." And then you do. And so I did.
Most of my kilt wearing hikes involved the use of a "traditional kilt," because that's all I had at the time. Traditional kilts look cool, but have the disadvantage of being a bit heavier than necessary, and in the summer months, warmer than necessary. Even accounting for this, however, the traditional kilt was better than wearing shorts or pants. In the past year I discovered that Mountain Hardware designed a version of the kilt made specifically for hikers, called the "Elkommando." The Elkommando is lighter than the traditional kilt, more breathable, dries faster, and has useful side pockets. The Elkommando is an awesome product. I will be taking two pairs with me to Canada. I applaud Mountain Hardware for having the balls - and displaying them to the world, literally - in making the decision to manufacture this product. Right now, it's one of a kind. Hopefully, other hiking manufacturers will take notice and come out with their own version of the "freedom skirt."
Under the kilt, I wear "leggings," even in the warm summer months. I use Under Armour ColdGear leggings, for instance, and I find that even in the summer months, I am kept at a comfortable temperature. And in the fall and winter months, leggings with a little more substance to them like ColdGear, provide ample warmth.
Most leggings don't have the support to keep the family jewels in place, so, while you can just go with leggings underneath and let your balls dangle and jangle, I find that wearing Calvin Klein hip briefs or Under Armour boxer briefs, under leggings is the best way to protect your balls over a long hike. It is important that whatever underwear you go with that the material is NOT made of cotton. It needs to be made of materials that dry quickly.
In the next blog entry, I will comment on what I am bringing to protect my upper body from the elements.
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