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Newbie Questions

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May 20, 2011 at 3:13 pm #1274152

Michael Levine
Spectator

@trout
Locale: Long Beach

I am brand spanking new to the ultralight philosophy. I'm excited about it, but I have a few questions regarding thru-hiking. I am doing the JMT in about two months, for reference/context.

How many pairs of underwear, shirts, and socks do you use? Long sleeves for summer or short sleeves?

Do you bring deodorant? How often do you wash under your arms? Wash in general?

What's your favorite UL item that you're proud to bring?

Thanks guys/gals.

May 20, 2011 at 4:03 pm #1739122

David Drake
BPL Member

@daviddrake
Locale: North Idaho

I'll bite.

>1 pair underwear, worn. Can be rinsed at night while wearing long underwear bottoms. No more shirts than I can wear at one time (ie, maybe 1 SS, 1 LS, but no duplicates). 2 pairs of socks–1 worn, one drying. Choice of LS or SS is based on comfort and I may swap during the day.

>No deodorant–why bother? Washing: hands after toilet and before meals, always and carefully, with soap or sanitizer. Anything else: if there's a good lake or biggish stream, the weather's hot, and no problem with LNT, I might jump in because it feels good. NO SOAP, and would try to avoid contamination from DEET, sunscreen, etc.

>Favorite UL "item" to bring? The knowledge gleaned from this site and elsewhere + experience so that I can leave a lot of other things behind. (That's probably a lifelong work in progress). I also like my first MYOG alcohol stove–built three or four years ago, it's always worked perfectly, and it was the thing that introduced me to BPL-style thinking.

Good luck with your thru-hike. JMT is on my list for one-of-these-days.

May 20, 2011 at 4:12 pm #1739125

Ken Helwig
BPL Member

@kennyhel77
Locale: Scotts Valley CA via San Jose, CA

One pair of undewear worn.
Two pairs of socks. One to hike in and one to sleep in
Pair of shorts and a shortsleeve shirt to sleep in
Long sleeve due to the sun (sun protection), and pants to hike in
No deodorant…no one can smell ya
use sanitizer before eating and after going to the bathroom
lakes and streams offer a good refresher for the body. Jump right in!

May 20, 2011 at 5:45 pm #1739147

Jerry Adams
BPL Member

@retiredjerry
Locale: Oregon and Washington

"No deodorant…no one can smell ya"

According to one theory, if you smell natural, then mosquitoes won't find you as much as if you wear perfume

and other critters

May 21, 2011 at 9:35 am #1739307

Jason Sizemore
Member

@sizemj
Locale: Bluegrass

Man I wish the smell thing did work with skeeters. But they find you by CO2. http://www.howstuffworks.com/mosquito.htm

May 23, 2011 at 7:43 am #1739979

Michael Levine
Spectator

@trout
Locale: Long Beach

Thanks for your suggestions!

Also, science to the rescue! I love it.

And do you guys bring a towel? I've heard "just use a bandana", but this seems like what you guys wash with, so do ya'all just air dry?

May 23, 2011 at 8:29 am #1739999

Jason Sizemore
Member

@sizemj
Locale: Bluegrass

I carry two bandanas. One is a hat/sweat band, and the other I keep tied to my pack strap in hot weather to wipe sweat off my face. They dry in about 30 minutes in 80 weather. If it is winter time I just carry one. Even in winter a little sun and they will be dry. They are a very versatile item. I find that they may not be as absorbent as a pack tile but dry better for me. YMMV

May 23, 2011 at 10:57 am #1740066

Ken Bennett
Spectator

@ken_bennett
Locale: southeastern usa

One pair of very light merino wool underwear, or commando in hot weather.

One short sleeved hiking shirt in summer, either 150-wt merino or light synthetic. (But in very sunny areas without tree cover, a long sleeve nylon "fishing" shirt. The JMT probably applies.) A long sleeved base layer shirt to put on at night. Unlike a lot of ULers, I like a change of dry clothes at night, so I bring a second pair of hiking shorts, too. But I sweat like nobody's business.

No deodorant. Wash every day, at least a bandana bath with water, sometimes with baby wipes (leave them out to dry before packing.) I bring several bandanas, sometimes a small pack towel instead of one bandana.

I'm not sure I'm "proud" of any of my gear, but as it's evolved over the last twenty years I will say I enjoy carrying most of it.

My favorite non-UL gear is my camera, a Panasonic GF1 with a couple of lenses. Man, I love that camera. It's the size of a large-ish point and shoot, but the image quality is equal to much larger and heavier cameras.

May 23, 2011 at 6:52 pm #1740304

Diane “Piper” Soini
BPL Member

@sbhikes
Locale: Santa Barbara

A towel? Never. I will use my long-sleeved hiking shirt as a towel if I really need a full-on towel.

~ one pair of underwear worn
~ a tank top or short-sleeved shirt under a long-sleeved button-down shirt, both worn
~ a pair of socks worn and some sleeves cut off a fleece sweater for sleeping socks
~ no deodorant. No washing. Maybe I will wash my feet or legs with my bandana and maybe I will go swimming.
~ Favorite item is my bug refuge (tent or mosquito net tent). I absolutely must have full-body refuge from mosquitoes.
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