The size smaller but 7 grams heavier. Different color.
The ones I got are 88% nylon, 12% spandex, side elastic waist, and joint knees made of tear-resistant polyester fabric, in a rip stop grid fabric.
Ripstop gridding is a nice touch.
Next are my REI Sahara pants. This model changes just about every year.
REI Sahara 28×30
Then there are the pants I picked up on trail when I shrank after 1200 miles or so. 96% nylon/4% spandex. Too small for me until I lose 20 pounds or so.
REI 30×30
And another pair of bought on trail pants as well. 96% nylon/4% spandex. InsectShield treatment.
Next are my PrAna pants.
PrAna 34/30
I’ve two pairs in different sizes. I have worn bith a lot. 95% nylon/5% spandex.
PrAna 32×30
This above pair of PrAna is a pair of great pants. InsectShield and 95% nylon/5% spandex. Not really convertible* but outside the AT I’m generally wearing long pants to protect against sun and/or brush so that doesn’t matter.
They are the discount pants PMags recommended. I’ve gotten good use out of them. . 94% nylon/6% spandex.
As an aside, some of the pants have polyester mesh pockets, others the same fabric for the entire pants, pockets and all.
When I look at it, I find it kind of impressive how many pairs of pants I’ve had wear out on trail and had to replace and the difference losing 25-30 pounds on trail can make as to what fits.
I was surprised at the number I had sent in post trail to InsectShield for future hiking. Gear retrospectives such as this and comparisons between the pants highlights the misc matters some.
I’ve been watching “hot takes” and similar videos. Most are just not worth engaging. This one wasn’t bad. So I’ve shared a link and my comments on it as well.
0:48 Cotton Kills — it doesn’t but it is generally really sub-optimal. The video agrees with me. 1:55 Backpacks — HMG and Durston are my favorites. The Crown 60 on sale is great. The key is that backpack fit is like shoe fit — your body will vary and what is best is very personal.
HMG pack with my AT tags
3:49 East vs West Coast trails — the trails are really different. The AT is so social and resupply and access and blazes are everywhere. The tread in the west is better. 5:06 USA vs Europe — completely different experiences. 6:50 Quilts —- for one person and for non-extreme conditions a quilt is lighter. I hike with a bag that generally gets used like a quilt. 8:03 Sleeping Pads — the numbers are clear. Closed cell pads work for about 10% of hikers. Everyone else sleeps better on an inflatable pad. It is a matter of what works for you what you use.
Hiking view.
9:26 Pad Pumps — pump sacks can be used for organization. The less than one ounce electronic pumps are pretty neat though, especially since they don’t use much power. 10:53 Boots — they are tough on your knees. People have pretty much abandoned boots for classic long trails. 12:40 Tents — price point is a part of what is best, otherwise it is whether you are single or a couple. Otherwise for long trails it is trekking pole tents all the way. Car camping is a different world.
15:26 Ultralight — this becomes more important as you get older and hike longer distances. I’m not in favor of “stupid light” but I’m also in favor of lighter vs heavier gear. 17:09 Trail Names — nicknames are great for remembering people. About the fifth or sixth John I need trail names to keep everyone straight. 19:08 Water Filter — after GearSkeptic it is either Sawyer or Katadyn. Though AquaTabs are fast and low effort so I often use them when gravity filtering doesn’t work. The gravity filter coupling is light and worth it.
On the PCT
20:45 Insulation for Bags — down has proven itself on long trails. 21:59 Insulation for Jackets — meh. What you have. Down is warmer. Synthetic handles getting wet or being washed better. 23:22 Tent Type — trekking pole unless you are a car camper. 24:27 Speakers — like no. The people who hike with Bluetooth speakers are a plague. 25:22 Food — what is the best varies. I thought it amusing the video was produced by a food company that didn’t get mentioned at this point. 29:22 New Gear Needed — I’m pretty happy with what is out there. A bear sack (like Ursack) that really worked and that was waterproof would be neat.
I’m also hopeful for capacitor battery packs. The technology looks to provide more power, much faster recharge at significantly less weight.
It has a similar profile as Acrylic vs a vs Cotton when talking about socks.
However, when it is at least 10% nylon it is reported to be more durable, moderate temperatures better and have superior odor prevention.
What about polyester?
Once you get away from socks you see a lot of polyester.
Merino excels in warmth, odor control, and all-day comfort. Polyester is best for high-intensity sweat, quick-drying needs, and rugged durability.
Polyester is hydrophobic where wool will hold water. Wool is “warm when wet” — compared to cotton— while polyester avoids getting wet.
Modern polyester is also much less likely to retain odors than it was in years past.
What about Nylon?
First, Nylon or Nylon + spandex/elastane is often added to wool in amounts totaling 10-20% to increase durability. The difference in durability is dramatic.
Otherwise:
Nylon is highly durable, budget-friendly, and excels at rapidly pulling sweat away from the body. Merino wool excels in extreme warmth-to-weight ratio, temperature regulation, and natural odor resistance
However, Nylon is hydrophilic not hydrophobic (meaning its molecular structure attracts and absorbs moisture). That can be a downside in humid conditions.
As an aside, that hydrophobic vs hydrophilic difference is why sil-nylon tents sag when wet and absorb water and why sil-polyester tents stay tight in the rain and do not absorb water.
Nylon is softer, stretchier, and highly durable, making it best for hiking and activewear. Polyester excels at repelling water, resisting UV rays, and drying quickly
(Talking about pants).
And polypropylene?!?
polypropylene is best for intense, high-sweat sports; nylon for ultimate durability in harsh conditions; and wool (like Merino) for all-day comfort, warmth when wet, and natural odor resistance.
Polypropylene is very hydrophobic. It dries incredibly fast and rejects water. It has an excellent warmth to weight ratio. Finally it has high durability.
It has real issues with odor control. Modern treatments often help manage that.
Silk
Silk is something that needs to be laundered each time it is worn. That makes it inappropriate for anything but overnight use.
Silk does not handle sweat well (absorbs moisture slowly), is delicate, and not ideal for high-output activities.
Silk has a place, just not months on end on a long trail.
Why not cotton?
In summertime desert conditions and for office shirts and office base layers, cotton is king. So why not on most trails?!?
Cotton traps moisture.
Cotton takes a long time to dry.
Cotton loses its ability to provide any insulation when wet.
Cotton chafes when moist.
Cotton ceases to be breathable when wet. When dry it is very breathable.
So “cotton kills” is a bit of an overstatement but cotton is not a great choice outside of hot, dry climates, places where sweat won’t accumulate or low physical exertion climates.
“The idea that wool is “warm when wet” is the second greatest myth of the outdoor industry, behind waterproof-breathable fabrics. The only way for wool to be warm when wet is if you pee on it, and even that only provides short-term relief. Wool is warmer when wet than polyester, but it’s not warm.”
For pants I tend to wear lightweight nylon/spandex pants. The blend is durable, breathable and the standard for hiking pants.
Cheap “standard” Hiking Pants — I just bought a pair.
Pants made with a nylon/spandex blend are available from about $30 on Amazon to about $200 from some outfitters if they are convertible (the lower part can zip off) and less if they don’t convert to shorts.
Being convertible was a feature I often used on the AT. Not always as important to me on other trails. Especially on dry trails.
There are many discount hiking pants available from many vendors.
Finally I use nylon mesh underwear.
Nylon is excellent at moisture-wicking, drawing sweat away from the skin and drying quickly. This makes it a top choice for athletic and performance wear. Nylon underwear keeps you dry and comfortable during high-intensity activities, helping to prevent chafing and discomfort.
I’ve used underwear made of wool, polyester, nylon/spandex, 84% Polyester/16% Elastane (the seams were unlivable), polypropylene and both cotton and nylon/cotton (which I don’t recommend). I’m happy enough with the lightweight nylon mesh.
Bottom line
People have successfully hiked every major trail in just about every fabric imaginable. You can too, though some fabrics are more comfortable than others.
We are currently at 9,662 feet of altitude and 4.5 miles on the day as I make this blog post.
Dinner was a sweet coconut curry. Not sweet. No coconut or curry flavor. Lots of chicken. Enjoyed it. Should have been labeled chicken, rice & carrots.
We started today at home. Started driving towards Nevada and the park.
It is a ways. It is the most remote park in the lower 48. You hit the Great Basin on highway 50 and then you enter some pretty bleak desert.
Then you take a spur off 50 into what looks like desolation bordered by mountains.
The park is in the foothills. The furthest place in the park is a campground and trailhead. The trail runs along Baker Creek.
Baker Creek was flowing strongly. The trail was green
Baker Lake
We had some light scattered showers and some beautiful hiking weather.
Also known as Anish, https://wordsfromthewild.net she is an author, a hiker and the mildest, most unassuming and self deprecating person you might meet.
She is a delight in person and her books are very readable. I own three.
I link to his blog a lot. He taught me about discount gear items that are staples of my wardrobe and he and his wife are both delightful in person. https://pmags.com/.
Jet boil—I agree. It is too heavy. Also, for the niche MSR is better. But seriously, take a BRS and a Stanco and you are good. And much lighter.
Metal Cup (or a cup at all). If you aren’t using a cup instead of a pot, it is really just excess.That said, for a single hiker the IMUSA cups compete well with the Stanco Greasepot.
Nalgene bottles. Not compatible with filters, heavy and carrying one telegraphs that one really isn’t a backpacker.
Freestanding Tent. Everyone starts with freestanding tents but the weight and extra cost aren’t worth it for a thru-hiker. Also, with practice, trekking pole tents set up faster. Not a bad idea for the occasional hiker, weekender or for car camping.
Camp chair. That is a pound or more of extra weight.
Commercial first aid kits. They don’t match actual use, are expensive and heavy. Ibuprofen, duct tape/lukotape and some Imodium will do it for most backpacking needs.
Gaiters. (I disagree with the original video, but it is personal preference). I use them. My gait makes them worthwhile. I’ll note my gait is changing over time so I might migrate away from gaiters.
Inflatable pillow. Yep. After years of using them I left my last one in a hiker box. Have not gone back.
Electric air pump. I use a pump sack instead. For an overnight they could be fun.
Alcohol stoves. Illegal in some areas and with other issues. Several of the founders of the alcohol stove movement have abandoned them as overall not competing well with the BRS.
