[at-l] Re: Fwd: Silk versus cotton?

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob Cummings)]

"...Cotton ... traps the water and holds
it.  And that's precisely what you don't want to happen in cold weather 
unless you're into hypothermia as a lifestyle," says Jim or Ginny among other things as he disputes
my defense of cotton.

I don't believe I ever said I don't sweat, because I certainly do, and about the same quantities as everyone
else I think. I just remove layers and open zippers when I start to sweat because I don't like to
get my clothes wet unnecessarily. I grew up hiking and camping and have always used ordinary work clothes for these
activities. I rarely comment on gear, because I usually just wear whatever I find in my closet.

On winter trips I used to wear heavy wool worsted wool uniform pants, over ancient long johns (inner layer
cotton, outer layer wool blend). Hard surfaced worsted wool pants are no longer easily found and the
fuzzy wool that is available seems to
attract clinging snow, so I've switched to a synthetic fabric. I still like the dualfold (?) long
johns. And yes, I wear a water repellant synthetic parka for wind and rain protection.

I also carry a down jacket, usually a wool sweater and almost invariably wear a cotton tee shirt and
cotton flannel shirt, i.e. what most working people wear who have outside jobs. I've been on winter
trips annually for more than 30 years at temperatures down to minus 32 F. A few times I've worried
about companions wearing a thousand dollar assortment of high tech stuff, but I have never been
seriously uncomfortable.

The best winter parka I ever owned was made of 100 percent long fiber cotton that swelled with the first
rain drops and became virtually waterproof. Unfortunately it wore out and LL Bean stopped carrying
them.

All I can say is that my combination works for me and for thousands of folks who make a living in
the woods at jobs considerably more strenuous than weekend backpacking. I'm willing to bet that
Clifford Haynes, who has worked around the Maine woods, wears similar stuff.
How about it Cliff?

I don't say this is the best combination of clothing or the safest, or the most foolproof. But it is
adequate for people with enough knowledge to work around the obvious deficiencies and who like
natural fabrics better than expensive, high tech stuff made from non renewable oil.

Weary