Outdoor Clothing & Equipment Recommendations
Footwear
Unless you are a hobbit, footwear is a necessity for all of us. Some folks swear by sturdy hiking boots while others prefer lightweight running shoes. If you have bad ankles or abhor hiking with wet feet, investing in a good pair of hiking boots is probably a good idea. Dusty Central Oregon trails can devour leather quite quickly, so be sure to treat your boots with some sort of leather proofing solution. Gortex lining generally seems to work quite well and probably is worth the extra expense if dry feet are a major priority for you. If boots tend to weigh you down and make you prematurely fatigued, however, a pair of running shoes or lightweight hikers might be your ticket. You will have to contend with soggy shoes if the trail is wet, but Central Oregon is so dry during the summer that you probably won't have to worry about wet feet very often.
Whatever you end up choosing, make sure to select your footwear based on function instead of style. A good shoe salesperson will ask you to remove your shoes and watch you walk in your stocking feet before recommending a boot or shoe. If the salespeson does not do this, be wary. A shoe that does not match your anatomy and gait will inevitably end up causing you foot, knee, and other leg problems. Before you hit the trail, you should also spend a couple of days wearing your new shoes or boots around the house to make sure they still feel good. Boots also require additional break-in time, so plan accordingly to prevent a painful day of blisters.
Clothing
In the good old days, most hikers hit the trail in a pair of blue jeans or cut-offs. Now it is pretty rare to see someone hiking along in denim. Why? Cotton has been abandoned in the outdoor clothing industry because it retains moisture and loses its insulating capabilities when wet. In cold and/or wet weather, this loss of insulation can lead to serious problems like hypothermia and frostbite. While it is a little foolish to wear cotton during winter in Central Oregon, it's certainly not going to kill you on a hot summer day. It will hold onto your sweat a little longer than a synthetic fabric and take longer to dry out after a rain shower, but if you don't mind, it will work just fine.
Itch-free wool, synthetic fabrics, and
blends are the most popular materials of choice for outdoor
clothing. Clothing that is made from these fabrics
retains warmth even when wet and actually helps wick moisture
away from your skin. If you plan on spending a lot of
time outdoors, it makes sense to invest in these high
performance fabrics from head to toe. Cotton/synthetic
blends are probably the most comfortable of these, but they
still do not wick away moisture quite as well as a fully
synthetic fabric or retain warmth as well as wool. If you
do decide to go with a fully synthetic fabric, be sure to wash
you clothing often, for synthetic materials absorb odor like
cotton absorbs water.
The choice between pants and shorts
can be a difficult one. When the bugs are out or the
trail is brushy, it's awfully nice to be wearing pants.
However, the second the bugs disappear and the sun begins to
scorch, you'll probably wish you were wearing shorts.
This dilemma has given rise to one of the best innovations in
outdoor clothing: the convertable pant. These pants
change into shorts in one easy zip and therefore offer the best
of both worlds. Also keep in mind that even the best pair
of synthetic shorts or pants will not keep you dry if you are
wearing cotton underwear. Therefore, if you do go to the
expense of purchasing a fancy pair of pants, you probably ought
to invest in some synthetic underwear as well.
While it is perfectly fine to hike in
a cotton shirt, many folks are now opting for Capilene or other
synthetic T-shirts that dry almost instantaneously. If
you are a person that sweats excessively, this wicking
capability definitely makes summertime hiking a little more
enjoyable.
Even in the middle of August, it is a
good idea to carry at least one fleece and a warm hat in the
bottom of your pack. Mountain weather can change
suddenly, and since the extra weight is negligible, it's a
win-win situation. Even if you never need the fleece for
warmth, you can always use it as a seat cushion or pillow
during lunch.
Sun Protection
Skin cancer is now more prevalent than ever before, so taking steps to protect yourself against harmful UV rays is a necessity. These rays are at their nastiest from roughly 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, so avoiding them altogether is impossible if you want to spend a full day on the trail. However, protective measures such as wearing a brimmed hat and sunglasses and covering any exposed skin (especially nose, ears, lips, and face) in sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher will go a long way toward preventing these rays from harming you. If you still find yourself burning with SPF 30 on your exposed skin, you should either try several applications of it during the course of the day or experiment with a different brand altogether. If you have extremely fair skin, you may have to resort to a lightweight, long-sleeve shirt and long pants for adequate protection.
Food & Water
If you are planning to hike any
distance that will take more than 30 minutes to cover, be sure
to bring plenty of food and water. A seven mile hike on a
hot summer day is not a good time for dieting. Save the
crumb and morsel diet for those days when you are at the office
or sitting around home. If you want your body to feel
good, you have to nourish it. A mix of complex
carbohydrates and simple sugars will help keep you going all
day. If you find yourself dragging well before lunch,
take the time to eat a couple of handfuls of GORP, an apple, or
granola bar. You don't have to spend all your money on
energy bars or gels. As long as you bring enough of your
standard lunch fare (sandwich, fruit, veggies, cookies, you
name it) you'll have plenty of energy for a day of
hiking. If you do like energy bars, they do the trick as
well.
Regardless of your water carrying
device, be sure to carry and consume 1-2 liters of water on
every summer hike you take that is over a couple of
miles. For extended hikes, it is a good idea to throw an
extra liter of water in your pack or bring a water filter or
purification caplets if there is going to be a place to get
water. 2-liter soda bottles, canteens, Nalgene bottles,
and Camelback hydration systems all work fine as long as they
don't leak. Hydration systems are all the rage these days
because you don't have to stop hiking to stay hydrated, but
they are expensive and a pain in the neck to keep clean.
All of our hiking groups do take regular water breaks, so you
will have plenty of time to unscrew you water bottle if you
don't have a hydration system. Whatever you drink from,
just drink often. Once you recognize your thirst, you are
already on you way to dehydration.
Packs
We all need some way to carry our food, water and extra gear. It makes no difference whether you opt for a backpack, fanny pack, or basket on top of your head. Just make sure that whatever you use fits your body and is comfortable. Side compartments, chest straps, hip belts, hydration system holders, and other bells and whistles are exactly that. If you can afford them, you'll most likely be glad to have them. If not, you probably won't miss them. If you are purchasing a new pack, try everything to see what works best for you.
Rain Protection
Central Oregon summers are hot and dry. There may be an occasional downpour, but days of steady rain are few and far between. It's never a good idea to forget rain protection altogether, but if there were ever a climate where high tech rain gear is not 100% necessary, this is it. Rubber rain gear is the most effective at keeping the water out, but it is also the least breathable. In other words, you'll be just as wet from sweat as you would have been from the rain. Gortex shells work well, but are expensive. Nylon jackets repel water to an extent, but will do nothing to keep you dry in a downpour. A small umbrella will fit in the bottom of most backpacks and protects against rain and UV rays alike, but you may take out the eye of a fellow hiker if you aren't careful. Again, rain protection is a matter of choice. If you have a Gortex jacket, there's no need for an umbrella. If you have an umbrella, you can probably forget the jacket. And if you have a rubber slicker, you'll be hot but alive.
Trekking Poles
Most hikers either love or hate trekking poles. To the critics, they are cumbersome and superfluous. To the users, they are helpful tools for maintaining balance, negotiating steep sections of trail, and crossing small streams. If you think they might be of help to you, try renting a pair before purchasing them outright.
Other Hiking Gear
If you get into multi-day independent
hiking, you will soon realize that there is an answer for just
about every hiking need you could conceive. Our leaders
carry first aid kits, compasses, and cell phones to ensure that
our hiking programs are as safe as possible. Therefore,
you do not need to bring your own safety gear unless you so
desire (or unless you have medications that have been
prescribed to you for problems you may encounter while hiking,
e.g. an Epi-Pen for someone who is very allergic to bee
stings). We do recommend that you carry a whistle so you
can blow away if you become separated from the group. A
bandana can also come in handy for wiping away your
sweat. A small Ensolite pad or Therm-A-Rest cushion is
becoming an increasingly popular item in the packs of our
hikers because it ensures a dry, comfortable place to sit
during lunch. And to keep away the mosquitoes, it is
always a good idea to keep some insect repellent in your
pack. Whatever else you choose to carry, keep it
light...the lighter your pack, the more energy you will have
all day long.
