Fashion Week on the AT
(10 Essentials #5)
Next on our list of the must-haves in any Dames backpack is extra clothes. Now, you don’t need an entire wardrobe….I promise that no one cares if you match or not. J But think about it for a second….what if you did get stuck in the woods for the night? What would keep you fairly warm and dry? For me, this is fairly uncomplicated. I always carry a rain jacket of sorts and I always carry a couple of big black trash bags.
(Hey, I never said that I was the height of fashion!!)
As for the rain jacket, it does double duty. Of course, if it rains it keeps you dry. But it also serves as a great wind breaker and a wonderful layer for keeping in the heat. In the summer, these usually suffice for my day hikes. However, in the winter, I also carry an extra long-sleeve fleece. The fleece isn’t great for keeping you dry….in fact; it is downright lousy for that. But combined with the rain jacket, it works like a charm!
As for the trash bags, I am guessing that you never considered a Hefty bag as a fashion accessory. J Well, a big, black trash bag is one of the best things you can carry in your pack. Poke holes in it for your head and arms and you have a make-shift rain cover. Pull it over your legs and you have another layer to keep you warm and somewhat dry if you have to spend some time hunkered down. Line your pack with one, and your stuff stands a great chance to stay dry in a downpour! Can you see how flexible it can be?
If you notice, the emphasis is on staying dry and warm. That is the ticket to staying healthy and, in extreme cases, alive on the trail. Hypothermia is no joke. And if you end up having to spend more time in the woods than you planned, having these few extra things can make a huge difference in your experience.
There are arguments for lots of other clothing choices for your backpack, but for a day hike, these will do the trick most of the time. The only thing I would add would be a hat. Again, it keeps in body warmth like crazy, and can also keep the rain and sun off your face.
As for the clothes that you actually wear when you hike, just say “no” to cotton. Have you ever heard the saying, “Cotton kills”? I know it sounds a bit melodramatic, but the truth is, when a cotton tee shirt gets wet, it loses all ability to keep you warm. And wet doesn’t just happen in the rain. A few hard hours of climbing some hills and you just might find yourself damp with sweat. When that breeze kicks up, you will quickly notice that your favorite 80’s band’s tee shirt just isn’t getting the job done.
So what is a Dame supposed to wear? Wicking fabrics, nylons, rayon’s, anything that is not cotton. This used to mean expensive clothing at a specialty store, but these days, you can find this stuff everywhere! Just look in the workout clothing and there will be lots of stuff to choose from. For the curvy Dame, I really like Junonia. They are a catalog of outdoor and workout clothing for curvy women and their selection is fantastic! REI also has a line of ‘extended-sized’ clothing that is available through their website.
It is for these reasons that jeans are a really bad choice for hiking, also. Not only are they cotton, but the chafing can be really unfortunate. (We will cover that later!!) Pick out a comfortable pair of light-weight pants or shorts and pair them with a cute wicking tee shirt and you will be ready to go! If you find some that are matching, you might just be the most fashionable Dame on the trail that day!! Just don’t forget those trash bags!! J
What kind of extra clothing do you carry in your pack? Click on the link below and share it with your fellow Dames….
Anna aka Mud Butt