What’s in My Pack? The Clothing Edition

Underthings

Patagonia Barely Bikini Undies (x2)

0.8 oz* (each)

One of my trail luxuries is putting on “clean” undies at night. I do zipper bag laundry (rinse and scrub inside a zipper bag with just water) during one of my early breaks and hang them off my pack to dry. If it’s sunny they’ll be dry within an hour and I get to change into clean undies before bed. These undies are expensive but they’re comfy, quick-drying, and don’t give me wedgies. What more can you ask for out of a pair of undies?

Note: At the time I’m posting this the undies are on sale for $11 to $13, down from $22 on Patagonia’s site.

 

Patagonia Barely Sportsbra

2.3 oz

I started the CT wearing my Nike DriFit bra that I use for running. I quickly realized that this was overkill and I was smushing my poor boobs for no reason. This Patagonia bra is comfy and supportive without being overly tight. Like the matching undies, it’s quick-drying. The padded cups can be removed. I’d recommend this bra to anyone with small- to average-sized bewbs; larger-breasted folks may need more support. Also currently on sale at Patagonia, down from $45 to $22. 

 

Feet

Injinji Women’s Run Lightweight No-Show Toe Socks (x3)

1 oz (per pair)

Injinjis are awesome/Injinjis suck. They’re awesome because I had little to no issues with blisters while wearing them on a 500-mile hike. They separate your toes for better balance and form, they’re nice and padded, and come in fun colors. They suck because they get holes fast. I’m willing to buy $12-a-pair socks every few hundred miles, though, if it means I don’t get blisters. I do the same thing with my socks as I do with my undies — washing them during the day (zipper bag laundry requires little water and keeps water sources clean for others), and putting on the “clean” pair at night. Not only is it a comfort to change into clean socks, but keeping your socks from getting crusty prevents blisters and reduces your chances of infections and foot fungus. I’ve resolved to carrying three pairs. I alternate between two pairs, then when one pair gets a blowout I’ll start wearing the unused pair and have a new pair sent to me. Perhaps several hundred miles in when my feet get calloused and tough, I’ll be able to switch to something more durable. I hear good things about Darn Tough. I also need to try Injinji’s trail-specific socks; I heard that they are tougher than the running socks. 

A shiny new pair of Injinjis.

 

Dirty Girl Gaiters

1 oz

Obligatory thru-hiker garb. They come only in outrageous patterns, and prevent debris from getting into your shoes. I wear them on day hikes too but I only ever see others wearing them on long trails.

Merrell Pace Glove 3

12 oz

I’ve been wearing minimalist footwear for about three years now. I wouldn’t recommend these shoes unless your feet are used to zero-drop shoes with little padding. I’ve found that shoes that make me feel like I’m walking on a cloud, like the pair of Altra Lone Peaks that I owned once, caused me to roll my ankles a lot. With the Pace Glove 3, the soles are thick enough to protect my feet from sharp rocks and thorns but thin enough that I still feel like my feet are gripping the trail and I can sort of feel the terrain that I’m walking on. I like minimalist shoes because they make me consider where I’m placing my feet when the trail is uneven and rocky rather than feeling like the shoes will protect me and rushing through uneven areas. I ordered three pairs in a half size up, and two pairs in a full size up. I always just ordered whatever color was cheapest at the time and was able to get them at about $50 to $70 per pair. I’ve broken them in, glued gaiter traps to the backs, and will have them shipped to me at around every 500-mile mark. I’m a little concerned with how much my feet will swell and grow, and hopefully the half size and whole size up that I have will work. I’ll post an update about it after my hike.

A fresh pair of Merrell Pace Glove 3s and my pale winter legs.

No Camp Shoes?

I decided to at least start this trail without camp shoes. In my experience, camp is for cooking and then promptly passing out in your tent. I couldn’t force myself to carry around 11 ounces of dead weight all day for something I’d only wear an hour a day and maybe in town. If I find that I’m missing them, I have my eye on a pair of Xero Shoes sandals. I may decide to add them right away or I may never miss them at all.

 

Tops

Smartwool NTS Micro 150 3/4 Henley

4.2 oz

Merino wool is awesome! I can wear this shirt for at least four days without it getting funky. This top is super thin and quick-drying, and the henley is v stylish. If you’ve never worn merino, you might be worried that it’s itchy. Of all the Smartwool products that I’ve owned, none were itchy. (Icebreaker is a different story, which I’ll get into more in a sec.) The only downside to merino is that it’s ridiculously expensive so keep your eye out for sales. If you’re confused by the numbers on merino wool, basically the higher the number the warmer the fabric — 150 is super thin and makes a good base layer. I’m not sure if I should just leave this at home since I’ll mostly be wearing my long sleeve in the desert. However, this is my base layer and the desert shirt doesn’t do much for insulation. 

The full ensemble: Smartwool henley and shorts, Tilley hat, Merrell Pace Glove 3s, and Dirty Girl Gaiters.

Icebreaker Kala Long Sleeve

8 oz

This shirt is originally $170 but I got it on sale in my size and preferred color for 35 bucks on Amazon. Of the two Icebreaker items I own, both are noticeably itchy, unlike my Smartwool items. I got this long-sleeve button-up for the desert — it’s UPF 50, a merino blend, goes from soaked to dry within minutes, and is light-colored. I’m worried that it might be too warm. I’ve been wearing it on training hikes and I sweat more when wearing the Kala than I do when wearing my merino tee. The humid heat that I’m experiencing on my training hikes in South Texas is different than the dry heat that’ll be present in SoCal, though, so I hope that’ll mean more sweat evaporation from this tee. I’ll post a review later.

Icebreaker Kala at Garner Start Park in Concan, Texas. My dogter will not be joining me on the trail. 🙁

 

Bottoms

Smartwool Shorts

5.9 oz

I bought these shorts because they have front and back pockets. It’s a merino blend so they’re not too warm. The only thing I’m concerned about is that they have a cotton waistband. It hasn’t been an issue before, but with all the sweating I’ll be doing in the desert I’m worried the waistband won’t dry out before bed. I may have to switch to running shorts.

 

Smartwool Women’s NTS Mid 250 Pattern Bottom

6.9 oz

I’m going to carry leggings even in the desert because one should never underestimate the unpredictability of desert weather and because I sleep cold. As discussed above, Smartwool is super comfy and stays smelling clean. However, these leggings have an awkward fit on me. They either look baggy in the butt when I wear them around my hips or give me camel-toe when I wear the elastic around my natural waist. I don’t mind wearing them until they give out because they were expensive and ain’t no one handing out best-dressed awards on the trail, but I’ll definitely shop around when it’s time to replace them.

 

Cold Weather

Melanzana Hoodie

8.7 oz

I didn’t know Melanzana was a thing until the CT. One of the trail towns is Leadville, which is where the Melanzana factory and store are located. I sadly didn’t stop in Leadville but afterward was jealous of all the hikers in their comfy-cozy pullovers. I had to stop in Leadville before I drove home to get myself a Melly. It’s no wonder these hoodies are popular among thru-hikers — they’re perfect for chilly mornings, evenings in camp, and as an insulating layer. The balaclava-style hood cinches up to keep your face warm, and it has a roomy pocket in front. Once you know what one looks like you see them everywhere.

This 100 percent accurate meme was stolen from @ultralightjerk on Instagram.

 

REI Co-Op Down Jacket

8.2 oz

I got this puffy on sale for under $50! However, it’s only 650 fill power and it’s labeled “down” rather than “100% down” which means it only has to have up to 80 percent actual down; the rest can be feathers which do little to nothing in insulating. I did not know that when I purchased it. (Here’s an informative podcast on down: http://www.thefirst40miles.com/169-feathers-the-down-episode/)  It did well in high-altitude areas in Colorado with temps in the 30s layered with other clothes but I’m a little nervous about how it will do in the Sierra and Washington. I’m gonna at least give it a chance before I drop $250-plus on a new down jacket.

Rain Gear

Frog Toggs Rain Jacket

5.4 oz

A new piece of gear for me for this trail. Pretty bulky, but light, and for the price I can’t complain.

 

Anti-Gravity Gear Ultralight Rain Pants

3.2 oz

I’m pretty mad at myself for how much I spent on these pants when I could’ve bought Frog Toggs. However, they performed well and can double as a windbreaker. I may decide to leave these home for the desert section, though. 

Other

Tilley LMT6 AirFlo Hat

3.4 oz

Dorky sun hat that’s nearly impossible to get blown off your head.

Cheap-Ass Sunglasses

0.8 oz

I bought a 12-pack of my signature white Wayfarer plastic shades on Amazon for $12. I’m always losing or breaking my sunglasses so I’ll be able to have a pair shipped to me whenever I need them.

 

Peep my LighterPack here and keep an eye out for the rest of my gear posts.

*All weight has been rounded to the nearest tenth of an ounce.

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Comments 6

  • Jonathan : Apr 10th

    Really enjoying all your gear posts – informative and amusing!

    Reply
    • Camacho : Apr 10th

      Thanks, Jonathan!

      Reply
  • jim : Apr 11th

    Hi Camacho, reading this is like reading about my own gear thoughts. Like you, I do the Injinji/Merrell combination. I have never been susceptible to ankle injury since shifting to minimals several years ago. I use the Men’s Trail Glove 4 series currently, and have purchased 5 pairs for my AT2019 hike. I don’t typically experience much swelling, and I often will switch to no socks once the warmer weather kicks in. They fit truly like a glove, don’t move on my foot, or cause any friction for me. I did get one pair a full size up to be able to wear two layers of Injinjis. Anyway, If you’re blogging once out on the trail, I would love to hear what happens with your sizing selection on your trail runners. Looking forward to following your hike!! -jim

    Reply
    • Camacho : Apr 11th

      Hey Jim, cool to hear that someone else uses this sock/shoe combo. No socks? Really? I guess once your feet toughen up that could work. Have fun with your 2019 planning! I plan to at least attempt to blog while I’m out there but it might be too much of a chore, we’ll see. But I’ll for sure do post-trail updates on how my gear held up.

      Reply
  • TBR : Apr 12th

    Great gear explainer … thanks for all this info.

    The shoes … got to check those out. I don’t like the shoes with so much sole that I feel I might fall over.

    The socks … I’ve never worn toe socks, so here’s a question: Does it take all day to put them on? Everyone who uses them seems to love them, but I’m a bit leery of socks that are a lot of trouble to slide over every little piggy on my feet.

    Reply
    • Camacho : Apr 12th

      It takes longer than normal socks but it’s worth it to me. If your current sock situation works for you, no reason to rock the boat. But if you’re prone to blisters between your toes, it’s worth a shot.

      Reply

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