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[at-l] Did somebody say Spandex?
- Subject: [at-l] Did somebody say Spandex?
- From: MedusaJ at aol.com (MedusaJ@aol.com)
- Date: Sun Jan 2 12:49:07 2005
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>After doing some test hikes, it has become apparent that it would be a
> >>good idea for me to purchase some Spandex shorts to wear under my
> >>hiking shorts to prevent the onset of monkey butt. Does anyone who has
> >>experience with these (I grew up in the post-Spandex age) have an idea
> >>of which ones would suit me well? I know biking shorts wouldn't be
> >>necessary because of all their padding... thanks!
I hiked in running tights during the spring and fall of my hike, which I
loved, and kept looking for a suitable, non-chafing alternative in the summer. I
bought and rejected a number of different shorts, finally ending up with
Walmart spandex shorts, which probably worked better than anything else I wore in
the summer, but were still falling apart after I wore them for a month. The
advantage: they're dirt-cheap. (Thanks to sweatshop labor, but let's not get
into that.) If you go the Target/Walmart/mass-produced route, a similar
product can probably be found anywhere. Target might have slightly better
craftmanship--I also know running friends who have found similar things, by better
brands, for cheap at TJMaxx or Filene's Basement or equivalent stores.
If you want to go upscale, I know GoLite, and probably other gear companies,
make actual hiking/running short tights, the equivalent of the running tights
I loved in the colder months, but they cost upwards of $40. I bought my
running tights at a running store in an after-winter sale, and I wouldn't have paid
full-price for them, but they were definitely worth it! I also love
Patagonia and try to support them whenever possible, but when it's a tradeoff between
money spent towards a good cause and money spent towards a thruhike, it's a
tough call. These are the things that keep me up at night.
Good luck--chafing is about the most painful problem to have on the trail. I
know. My worst day on the trail was also my longest, coming into Port
Clinton, PA, in rained all day and my thighs were hamburger. I was also wearing the
Salomons I had worn since Hiawassee, that were falling apart, over those
infamous Pennsylvania rocks, and my feet were killing me. Does anyone else
remember that descent into Port Clinton? I remember it as the worst on the
trail--with a half-mile to go, I swore the lights of the town were getting no closer,
sat down on one of the stone steps and started bawling. We got into town at
ten pm, after the Port Clinton Hotel had stopped serving food, and County
basically carried me the half-mile to the pavilion because I could barely walk. We
ended up taking three zeros there, and the only thing I could tolerate
wearing on my legs were his CoolMax underwear. But hey, it makes a good story now.
Marzipan
AT04