Basically says it all in the titles. I am looking for walking shorts and long sleeve shirts that won't make me look any more of a prat than I normally look. Shorts that look good and don't chafe. Shirts that the sleeves can be easily rolled up and the collar can stick up (I have a longish neck so want to be able to cover up as the neck is probably the only place a really burn quite badly). Other that that what works for you?
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.jpg) The shorts I like wearing are Rohan Goas (I think they are Goas) basically they are a swimming trunk and have a mesh underpant part (I'm SURE there is a better way to describe this but can I think f it now?) and so are as cool as can be. Thery have a good sized zipped pocket too.
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I've been wearing the Rohan Expedition long sleeve shirt for a couple of summers and have found it very good -- comfortable, long enough to stay tucked in, good pockets, tabs to keep sleeves rolled up, collar that covers neck, quick drying fabric. It's not exactly fashionable, but it doesn't make me look too much like I'm on safari. Unfortunately it's a bit expensive -- more than £50, I think -- although I bought mine in sale at half rrp.
Unfortunately I'm not as keen on the Rohan shorts, which seem a bit restrictive to me. I do like some Sprayway ones I bought in a discount shop in Keswick for £10, but can't remember what they're called. They were still fs in the shop, opposite Needle Sports, when I was in Keswick a few weeks ago.
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 I like Paramo Tacana shirts. They do look a bit 'safari', but so do most others, and they are functional. The concealed pocket comes in handy when crossing big cities on the way to civilisation. Also expensive, but Paramo are running a few promotions at the moment, so it may be possible to get some sort of deal.
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 Haglofs do some decent long sleeved shirts too - the Palleo seems to be the most 'normal' looking. If you removed the ring pulls and the small logo would look very normal I think. I actually got them as much to wear for general travel/truly hot weather wear as walking. The cut is unsurprisngly quite different to the Paramo shirts! Silver treated fabric I think a bonus (seems to work fairly well for me) and the odd touch like little fabric things to button up rolled up sleeves.
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 The Paramo stuff is really good. I've got a Katmai Light Shirt, normal Katmai and Merapi Trousers and love them. They look ok to pop into the pub, are very light but do give you good sun cover. They really don't hold water, so you can wash them, let them blow a bit and put them on again.
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 Another vote for the Paramo Tacana, from me. I've been wearing these, a lot, this summer. I have found them to be quite superb. They move moisture well, are loose enough in the cut to allow air to cool me off and the pockets are excellent. The collar is ok for popping up, it could be a bit 'stiffer', but stays up OK (I may rephrase this, or not,  ) It also seems quite 'windproof'. I'm not too keen on the cuffs, they seem to be difficult to fasten comfortably, a minor gripe in an otherwise excellent thing. The Haglofs Climatic stuff is also good. I found a discontinued shirt, sort of a smock thing with a drawstring, in this fabric. I've been very happy with it, it works as well as the Paramo fabric, on me.
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| Edited: 04/07/09 00:02 |
This isn't a criticism, it's just something I've found a bit odd, and perhaps I need enlightening! But... When people talk about general clothing (i.e. shorts and shirts) for the hills, what's wrong with, well, general clothing? I'm fairly certain that the mesh-lined knee-length swimming shorts I have from some high-street retailer like Topman (or whatever) will be as good as similar mesh-lined shorts produced by an 'outdoor' manufacturer and retailing at 2, 3, 4 (or more!) times the price. As for shirts, I've walked up the mountains in a shirt I bought from somewhere like Burton about 15 years ago. The sleeves stay rolled up without the need for any fancy fastening device (don't sleeves on all shirts stay rolled up when you roll them up??), the collar would stand up if I wanted it to, and despite the lack of any pseudo-scientific R&D on behalf of Burton, it keeps me cool and doesn't collect sweat like a sponge. Maybe I sweat less than average folk, I don't know - but if I wanted to go walking up them thar fells in shorts and a shirt... well, I'd probably just wear my general shorts and a general shirt. And I could wax-lyrical about how good they are, just as people will when talking about Paramo/Haglofs/Rohan/TNF/Berghaus/Columbia, etc. etc. E.g. "I find the Burton 'checked pub shirt' to be excellent - keeps me cool and dry, and it looks OK for popping into the pub too; the sleeves roll up really nicely, and the cuffs button up very easily. And the Topman swimming shorts are really well-designed - nice ventilation, no chafing, and good internal pocket for the car keys" I'm not taking the proverbial - I just want to know why I should be spending more than £10 on a shirt for walking up the hills - what am I not getting?!
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Mesh lined! That's it. Thanks Michael S. Good point about high st. vs. specialist retailer - all I can say is my Rohan shorts were off fleabay and were, as it happens, less than a tenner. I haven't bought antything like that new for years. I do like their mesh lined shorts though!
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LOL! Glad to have assisted with shorts-based terminology! I'm not saying the 'outdoor manufacturer' stuff is a con, I'm just not sure what I'm missing by opting for high st. 'general' stuff as opposed to more expensive branded gear with a cardboard tag explaining all the science behind their 'cutting edge' design that they tell me justifies the price tag.
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| Edited: 04/07/09 14:43 |
 During the past few days I have been forced to wear two long sleeved tops despite the heat and humidity. The clegs have been pure evil especially when there has been little or no wind which has been the case recently. One baselayer was insufficient protection as they just bite through the material, two layers seemed to solve the problem but the downside is the skin leaking more than normal. Even had to put my midge net on occasionally just to get some respite from the clegs on my face. As for shorts no chance they would eat you alive. As for the midges I haven't seen many in the last week or so, maybe because I have away early and finished mid afternoon.
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Try the site called "5.11" . It's primarily a site for law enforcement clothing but I've found their nylon canvas "tactical" pants & shorts and ripstop shirts to be excellent quality and less than most speciality hiking clothing companies' prices. The nylon shirt is fairly wind resistant and very tough, something I need here in the U.S. desert southwest. Otherwise you can try REI's Sahara line of nylon and polyester convertable pants and shirts. They are lighter than 5.11 nylon clothing and thus not quite as durable. Also look at Railriders and Ex Officio clothing and Cabela's Guidewear line of synthetic shirts, pants and shorts.
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| Edited: 04/07/09 17:39 |
 Michael, when you say "general clothing" do you mean cotton clothing? As you say, who cares what brand something is, but the material makes a difference. Most walkers now seem to understand the downsides of wearing a cotton layer in winter. In the summer this is not such a consideration. But I'd say there were still advantages to synthetics/merino at this time of year. Travel/trekking shirts and shorts tend to be made of synthetic material that doesn't absorb much moisture and dries very quick or merino that locks away moisture. This is a real advantage over cotton, especially for multi-day trips (wash it in the sink and hang over the back of the chair) but also just for walking. Me and my mate were walking last weekend. His cotton T-shirt was soaked by the end of the day and he had to change it. My base layer T-shirt was slightly damp and dried completely after a little time in the car. I therefore tend to wear synthetic shorts and shirts/T-shirts this time of year for travel, walking. As well as the above they tend to be lighter, more durable and easier to clean than cotton. So that justifies a bit higher price.
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I love the adventure shirts from railriders. The mesh side and back panels give tremendous venting in the heat whilst providing sun protection and they still look smart for down the pub afterwards. They also wash really easily and dry in no time. I prefer the protection of long trousers so tend to wear the montane ones with the side vents which I also prefer to zip-offs.
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5.11 clothing... AGAIN. I'm re-posting the 5.11 brand stuff to emphasise that it is really good outdoor clothing and the price is always lower than RailRiders' equivalent items. I realize few Brits know about this U.S. brand as it's made for law enforcement but if you give it a try you'll find great quality and design. Their nylon canvas "FBI" tactical pants are really great scrambling pants and very tough due to their heavier weight, double seat and double knees W/an internal opening for their optional 3 mm. thick neoprene knee pads - good for hard scrambles.
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| Edited: 05/07/09 02:51 |
Yes a general polycotton shirt might work all right. Or actually cotton in truly hot, dry climates. Not something we have of course! The drying speed of the paramo shirts (the haglofs ones seem pretty similar) really is quite amazing - near enough wind shirt drying speed. Very useful if caught out by a cloud burst or if the weather does decide to turn bad. Rather more important for long treks of course. Baggy sleeves - I suspect that you ideally want a baggy fit in a trekking shirt to allow for some venting a cooling effect - don't really stay up all that wonderfully. There are some seriously technical shorts out there Never been tempted myself.
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 Well, define "good looking"... But if you want maximum comfort then wear the sort of shorts that someone would run 26 miles in: i.e., wrapover-style running shorts. Minimal weight, maximum ventilation and freedom of movement. Downside is no pockets, but if you've a shirt on you can put stuff there and your legs don't bang against it. Also double as swimming trunks and PJs much more comfortably than "proper walking shorts". Long sleeve shirts, another vote for Rohan's selection. They do quite a few so it's usually possible to find one that suits. Pete.
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