Hiking in Florida
Clothing
Pants - This may be a little counterintuitive, but you might want to think about wearing long pants year round - even in the hot summer months. I have just had so many bad encounters with chiggers that if there is a chance that I will be brushing up against grass or brush then I will wear a pair of long pants. So what long pants do you wear in the blazing heat? I have found that zip-off supplex nylon fly-fishing pants are by far the best pants option on the hot Florida trail. I bought my pair of Abaco pants from Outdoor World and have been so pleased that I have not tried other makers like RailRiders. The beauty of these pants is that they breath, while walking they protect my legs from brush and, when lightly sprayed with permenone, provide full protection from bug bites. If the trail is wide open, or if I am in camp, or if I want to go for a swim - then I can unzip the legs and I have a pair of shorts. Also, the legs are baggy enough that I can roll up the pant legs for a little more cooling air without unzipping the legs. They dry very quickly and the supplex nylon is as supple and "cottonlike" as nylon gets. Another nice advantage is that they block enough wind to serve as my winter pants for Florida. They are comfortable down to 40 degrees, and if it gets any cooler I just throw on my Frogg Toggs as a windbreaker layer. Lastly, these pants come a with built-in mesh underlayer (like a bathing suit) so underwear aren't necessary.
Shirt - I usually wear some sort of polyester t-shirt when hiking. If I am going to be exposed to the sun for a very long time then I might wear a long sleeved version or I have some button-up, long-sleeved synthetic shirts from North Face that feel nice and breath relatively well. My favorite hiking shirts are grey polyester t-shirts (long and short sleeved) made by Adidas. I think I paid $7 each for them on sale. I find the grey color is cooler than black and dosn't get as dirty as white. I have a fancy hiking shirt from Mountain Hardwear that I have not test yet.
Hat - After many, many different tests, I have settled on the Tilly T3 hat. Following are the advantages that I find with theTilley: The full bill provides sun protention and keeps the rain from flowing into my face and down my neck. The cotton and the airholes breathe. The bill is sturdy enough to stand up to a full soak. I can snap the sides up Aussie style toallow more light or airflow. I like the color. I like the company - the company actually stands behind their products and their explanation of hat fit and the use of the chin strap really changed the way I viewed hat use. I always felt like a hat was too hot in the summer until I found out that I was wearing my hats too tight. A hat should be a little loose to allow airflow around your head, thats where the chin strap comes into play. I also feel comfortable wearing the Tilley on other coutdoor functions like going to Sea World or walking on the beach (the same can't be said for dome other outdoor hats) which expands its use. It is more expensive, but well worth it in my opinion.
Rain Gear - To this point I have used Frogg Toggs as my rain suit and my windbreaker. I have been pleased with their function but the jacket is too short so I just got a Montain Hardwear Epic Parka and have yet to try it out. I just look for the lightest possible waterproof/breathable combination. I have pondered the new softshells, but if I am puttering around camp in the pouring rain I would rather have a waterproof layer.
Cold Weather Clothing - In the cooler months I take a pair of Marmot Dri-Clime midweight long johns to sleep in. I also take a Patagonia puffball anorak, a fleece hat and fleece gloves. This provides all the layering combinations I need to deal with the coldest conditions in Florida. If it does get unusually bitter at night then I will just get in my bag (but it hasn't been that cold for me yet.) |
