CaminoJoy123
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017
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If you search the forum for packing lists you will see that people specifically advise against cotton for exactly the reasons you mention. For T-shirt read short sleeve top or shirt, not a usual cotton one. Mostly people divide into two camps: technical wicking materials are cheap and fast drying, merino is more expensive and naturally non-stink. Some wear long sleeve shirts or sleeves for protection from the sun, while others prefer suncream. And quite a few these days walk with umbrellas attached to their packs.
I decided to bring wool T-shirts. I know this sounds insane when it will get very hot in June! Based on all of my research, I went on ebay and bought two Ice Breaker T-shirts. (They are super expensive ($80-100), but I got them for a fraction of the cost.)
They are very lightweight, thin soft material, wicking, quick-dry and, important, are much less "odiferous" !
The Smartwool 1/4 zips are also great!
Buen Camino
Sue
I have been walking in Icebreaker and Devold merino T-shirts as well as long sleeved shirts for years and they are really good. They seem to wick and cool in the heat and keep me warm when it's chilly, and under the pertex wind jacket they are as insulating as a fleece. Also they wear and wash well, dry quickly and don't itch or smell. I can certainly recommend them.
@CaminoJoy123 - I have walked the Camino Frances, mostly Astorga-Santiago, several times in spring and autumn when the temps would vary from chilly down towards 0C in the morning to nearer 30C in the middle of the day. All in merino. Start with short sleeve plus long sleeve over it, with a merino buff around the neck, plus windbreaker etc, and peel off the layers as it warms up. Never had a problem with it. I also have Devold long and short sleeve tops with mesh back to reduce sweating and improve wicking, which is really great for hot temps. I would wear it in summer as well rather than the (eventually) smelly tech stuff. I also walked in a sunprotective lightweight shirt for four weeks on the CF in August to avoid a sunburn, specifically in a heatwave across the meseta, and would wear one again - only this time with a merino top underneath to avoid any chafing.
I walked last August and September in temps up to 95 F/35 C in lightweight merino wool. It was the perfect fabric for the heat. Merino wool t shirt fabric looks and feels like any other thing shirt fabric. It's not bulky sweater fabric.
I walked last August and September in temps up to 95 F/35 C in lightweight merino wool. It was the perfect fabric for the heat. Merino wool t shirt fabric looks and feels like any other t shirt fabric. It's not bulky sweater fabric.
I walked last August and September in temps up to 95 F/35 C in lightweight merino wool. It was the perfect fabric for the heat. Merino wool t shirt fabric looks and feels like any other t shirt fabric. It's not bulky sweater fabric.
does the merino have a fiber measurement or something? how do you know which one is lightweight?
Last August's weather in Pamplona. Some warm days for sure. July wasn't much cooler when I went through there. Shows the importance of hydration and proper clothing.Thanks, that's really great information. The heat wave was 95F last summer? That's dangerous.
I'm glad you and the shirt both made it!
Manufacturers list their shirts in a manner that suggests usage such as light weight, mid weight, heavy weight or base layer, mid layer, expedition etc.
Last August's weather in Pamplona. Some warm days for sure. July wasn't much cooler when I went through there. Shows the importance of hydration and proper clothing.
https://www.wunderground.com/histor...qdb.zip=00000&reqdb.magic=325&reqdb.wmo=08085
Ordinarily, I use three Underarmour Polo, short-sleeved shirts. The polo collar helps shade and warm my neck as needed. However, this year, I traded our two of the three polos I bring for two Ex-Officio short-sleeved tee shirts with crew necks. One is black and the other grey.
The material is synthetic and matches my boxer shorts, though not color. The material is very well ventilated and dries VERY fast. The weave is opaque enough to cover my unsightly bits, but dark enough to be reasonably stylish when worn with my cargo hiking pants. The wave is very open to ventilation.
My reason for the recent change to my "standard load" was first to reduce weight by a few hundred grams. EVERY gram counts. But then, when I considered the likely weather for my upcoming Camino from Lisbon starting 27 April, I determined that it was better to wear something that would be cooler. I can always put on my long sleeve microfiber pullover or my rain parka...
The three outfits are worn thusly:
The rotation continues daily...
- One set is on ME, and will be hand-washed this evening...
- One set was hand-washed last evening, and should, but may not be fully dry
- One set was washed two days ago and IS fully dry, that set is worn tomorrow.
There are some who make do with only two changes of outer shirt, undergarments, and socks. The one being worn, plus one change. I understand this "going commando." It does assume being able to wash and fully dry the off-set each evening.
But, if you encounter a day of solid rain and you cannot get washed clothing fully dry, you will appreciate the extra change of clothing. All in, each of my days' change of clothing (tee shirt, boxers, two pair socks) weighs about 500 grams.
I hope this helps someone.
Yeah, but that's an unusually hot summer from what I heard, but still one should be prepared for weather like that.That is scary. But thank you for this information.
Because I sweat a lot no matter what the weather is like the choice for me is easy. In cold weather I use tech stuff and in hot weather I wear 100% cotton T-shirt because it dries much slower and the sweat captured in it cools me downHi there! The equipment list suggests two t shirts. Presumably, these are the main walking shirts? So are people using ordinary cotton t-shirts? Or some special wicking material?
Now doesn't cotton take forever to dry after washing? And doesn't the sweat just cling to the fabric for hours while walking, causing chafing?
So people are not wearing long sleeve breathable shirts for hiking? The long sleeves can protect against sun and against some chafing of pack straps.
Or do people use those sun sleeves?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm coming from Florida where conditions are very different. I wouldn't recommend wearing a short sleeve cotton t shirt here in spring for all day walking or activity in sun. In summer you shouldn't be doing all day activities outdoors.
What are the conditions on the Camino Frances that cause people to suggest (cotton) T shirts? Can that really be true?
Hi there! The equipment list suggests two t shirts. Presumably, these are the main walking shirts? So are people using ordinary cotton t-shirts? Or some special wicking material?
Now doesn't cotton take forever to dry after washing? And doesn't the sweat just cling to the fabric for hours while walking, causing chafing?
So people are not wearing long sleeve breathable shirts for hiking? The long sleeves can protect against sun and against some chafing of pack straps.
Or do people use those sun sleeves?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm coming from Florida where conditions are very different. I wouldn't recommend wearing a short sleeve cotton t shirt here in spring for all day walking or activity in sun. In summer you shouldn't be doing all day activities outdoors.
What are the conditions on the Camino Frances that cause people to suggest (cotton) T shirts? Can that really be true?
I'm not sure, but I think for smartwool, it's the 150 that is lightest. That feels very scratchy and cheap to my skin. The cut and shape of the neckline seems thoughtless. Label says made in China. (Love the smartwool socks though)
Forgot to say the 150 lightweight t shirts are sold out through Amazon and other places.
Actually I'm not sure of the difference between lightweight and ultra lightweight
I wore Icebreaker ultralight 150 t-shirts on Camino in spring 2015, we had some pretty hot days (and I've hiked in them here in summer) and they were great. I took long sleeves for colder days, but spent most of the time in short sleeves. I did sweat (of course) but felt much more comfortable than I do in synthetics. And truly no stink! A slightly damp wool smell at most. Didn't find them scratchy at all. The necklines were fine, one was a v-neck and the other crew, both neatly finished. I wore the men's t-shirts as I prefer the looser fit (the women's always seem very close-fitting). Icebreaker are expensive I know, even here in NZ, but to some extent I guess you get what you pay for. And I'm lucky to live close to one of their outlet stores!
For our next Camino we're starting early September when I'm expecting it to be hotter, and I'll be taking a long-sleeved hiking shirt to protect my arms against the sun. Not sure how long that will last because long sleeves annoy me in hot weather - I may just go back to the short-sleeved merino plus sunscreen.
The one thing about long sleeves or detached sun sleeves is that they keep they cut down on the heat from the sun as it hits the skin. Sunscreen won't do that. Keeping the sun from hitting the skin actually makes the hot sun far more tolerable.
Yes, I know you're right. It's just I have this compulsive urge to push up my sleeves! I'll try to resist.... (also looking at featherlight long-sleeved merino, although more push-up-able than a buttoned cuff!)
The equipment list suggests two t shirts.
That effect was discovered long time ago among Sahara desert tribes (Tuaregs, Beduins etc.) for example. Works fine in extremes.I don't know why but sun sleeves made my arms feel cooler when it was hot out. They also made my arms feel warmer when worn under a long sleeve shirt.
Great info. Yes I like the Underarmour brand too. But for me it doesn't wick so well.
Ex Officio is great for shaving grams off your pack weight. But do you think the material really holds up?
I understand this "going commando."
But, based on price, the Champion shirts offered better wear for money spent.
I also highly recommend ExOfficio underwear. Here's my packing list. I leave in 2 weeks and I'm doing the Primitivo where the temps are in the 70s right now: http://www.musingsfromthelastfrontier.com/packing-camino-de-santiago/
Disclosure: I live in Alaska. My idea of hot and cold is drastically different from 90% of the rest of this forum.
Never wear merino undies. Occasionally might wear a light weight merino LS shirt if the temps are in the 30sF. But backpacking in the Spring, summer, Fall in Alaska-No wool. It's too hot. Just wear a medium weight synthetic puffy or fleece in the evenings. But not for walking.Even though you're from Alaska, you wear Ex Officio underwear and not merino wool? You mean on Camino? When you're hiking in Alaska you wear merino undies right?
I just did a 7 mile hike this weekend with a 14lb pack and all I wore was a t-shirt and light weight nylon pants. No wool. Temps were in the 40s F. I was very hot.
Not really. partly sunny but mostly covered by the shadow of the mountain and the trees. Several inches of snow still covering most of the trail.Were you in direct sunlight most of the time?
Hi there! The equipment list suggests two t shirts. Presumably, these are the main walking shirts? So are people using ordinary cotton t-shirts? Or some special wicking material?
Now doesn't cotton take forever to dry after washing? And doesn't the sweat just cling to the fabric for hours while walking, causing chafing?
So people are not wearing long sleeve breathable shirts for hiking? The long sleeves can protect against sun and against some chafing of pack straps.
Or do people use those sun sleeves?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm coming from Florida where conditions are very different. I wouldn't recommend wearing a short sleeve cotton t shirt here in spring for all day walking or activity in sun. In summer you shouldn't be doing all day activities outdoors.
What are the conditions on the Camino Frances that cause people to suggest (cotton) T shirts? Can that really be true?
Hi there! The equipment list suggests two t shirts. Presumably, these are the main walking shirts? So are people using ordinary cotton t-shirts? Or some special wicking material?
Now doesn't cotton take forever to dry after washing? And doesn't the sweat just cling to the fabric for hours while walking, causing chafing?
So people are not wearing long sleeve breathable shirts for hiking? The long sleeves can protect against sun and against some chafing of pack straps.
Or do people use those sun sleeves?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm coming from Florida where conditions are very different. I wouldn't recommend wearing a short sleeve cotton t shirt here in spring for all day walking or activity in sun. In summer you shouldn't be doing all day activities outdoors.
What are the conditions on the Camino Frances that cause people to suggest (cotton) T shirts? Can that really be true?
Hi there! The equipment list suggests two t shirts. Presumably, these are the main walking shirts? So are people using ordinary cotton t-shirts? Or some special wicking material?
Now doesn't cotton take forever to dry after washing? And doesn't the sweat just cling to the fabric for hours while walking, causing chafing?
So people are not wearing long sleeve breathable shirts for hiking? The long sleeves can protect against sun and against some chafing of pack straps.
Or do people use those sun sleeves?
Sorry if these are dumb questions, I'm coming from Florida where conditions are very different. I wouldn't recommend wearing a short sleeve cotton t shirt here in spring for all day walking or activity in sun. In summer you shouldn't be doing all day activities outdoors.
What are the conditions on the Camino Frances that cause people to suggest (cotton) T shirts? Can that really be true?
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