New Space-Age Clothing

“Got to check out some new hiking gear this morning and saw some clothing that makes me wonder where the trend in hiking gear is going.

One type of clothing that got me going is Mountain Hardware's Transition Fleece...one layer that supposedly does the work of three. It has a fleecey layer against the skin and a Gore Windstopper outer, and boasts the ability to be used as a baselayer, middle insulation layer, or a shell layer.

It's pretty intreguing stuff, but they forgot to put the Star Trek symbol on the chest area...cause that's what the clothing looks like. Aweful colors too...that is, if you're more into natural hues like browns, greens, etc. I'd feel like Cap'n Kirk if I were to wear 'em on the trail.”

“Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not a tailor...”

“I'm not really sold on windstopper fleece for wear when your hiking. When your hiking hard sometimes it nice for the wind to blow through the fabric and take away heat and evaporate sweat. I'd rather the versatility of taking a shell on or off.”

“I love windstopper. I want one of those jackets, drool drool. It works great when it's cold standing still but just cool while hiking.”

“Cool - if it's on the market yet, & not too expensive ... I'm there, dude.”

“Check this one out:

Electric TNF”

“As much as I like the new technology with respect to clothing, I do long for the days when wool knickers were the "Uniform of the Day" for most hikers. In fact, I plan on buying a pair in the not too distant future; much to the chagrin of my wife I might add who has threatened not to hike with me if I wear them. Philistine!!”

“ChinaChas, that is kewl...but $499? Do you suppose they really had to test it by throwing a tester in a crevasse on Mt. Rainier? Couldn't they just dig a hole in the snow anyplace?”

“I'll be safe, cuz I got me a tinfoil hat to ward off that stuff!”

“Mr. MadRiver, is your wife against the space age clothing or the wool knickers? I wish I could afford one of your space age material canoes. I've had my eye on them for a while...”

“Ken, my wife would not hike with me if I wear knickers because she thinks they look way too precious. I, on the other hand, think they look classic.”

“Maybe now that the hiking kilt is such a big hit (yeah, right) Mountain Hardware will next make a pair of technical hiking knickers.”

“Every year Loon Mountain in Lincoln New Hampshire host the "Highland games" where the contestants and most of the crowd wears kilts.”

“'Loon Mountain' - say no more.”

“MadRiver, this winter I finally got my wife to try my nice pair of gray heringbone Woolrich knickers for skiing. She hadn't wanted to admit that as I "outgrew" the waist, she had "grown" into them. Ah, the joy of being over 40 and changing metabolisms. Anyway, she now agrees they are a fine choice for cold weather outdoor wear.

As for my own hiking and skiing, I'm hoping to find a new pair. You are right when you say "classic." As for the concept of high tech knickers, I've seen them in a catalog sometime in the past, probably for skiing or climbing. But this is one case where wool still rules asthetically.”

“I don't even mind the colors, I mind the insane prices! Come on, I don't buy that making a "technical" piece of clothing costs any more than making any other article of clothing.

Take that MH hiking kilt for instance. There is under a yard of fabric in that thing and it's 85 BUCKS!?!?!?! They must have bumped their corporate heads. I was looking at TNF fleece jacket, they are outrageous! I will certainly do without at those prices.”

“Just remembered ... check Orvis' line of upland game/estate style clothing. If you've got the bucks, you can get matched outfits of knickers, vest and shooting jacket made of fine English wool. Nice knee socks and caps, too. So veddy, veddy British.”

“China, I wish I had seen that earlier. Ewwww. That's TNF for ya. I'd like to see somebody don a Mtn. Hardwear kilt and a TNF pack/hooter hauler. I don't think they'd make it 10 yards from their Cadillac SUV. Space age clothing my a$$. Emphasis on the $$.”

“Iffin I can get donations from this gang to buy one of these KILTS I will wear it and take pictures and then give a gera review! LOL!”

“I got a couple great blackmail pics of a friend while hiking in the Cranberry Wilderness of WV. One of them shows him in his jerry-rigged plastic bag rain-kilt. I gotta admit...the thing worked!”