Amount of clothes needed for overland

[hellsbellstaz]

This is to look at maybe cutting back a couple of items of clothing, just interested on people's thoughts..if i end up taking more than i need then so be it, like i say i'm just interested on people's thoughts:
doing the overland track over say 9 days (to allow for side trips) how many pairs of clothes would people take?
Yes one set to keep dry and spare, and you would be wearing one set (depending on weather might be shorts/shirt)
so if i'm wearing one pair of shorts and have one spare and dry, do i really need a 3rd pair? etc

[Mark F]

No.

[stepbystep]

No, but you do need appropriate layering options for walking in, which I will attempt to keep clean and dry for as long as possible and I always carry an extra pair of socks and scruds

[Strider]

Spare set of socks, jocks and thermals. That's all.

[norts]

1 pair of long pants for camp, light nylon trackies are good -
1 pair of shorts or long pants for walking in
2 pair of socks - 1 for walking 1 for sleeping
1 pair of jocks - the ones you are walking in
1 top and bottom thermals
light fleece and puffer jacket or just a heavy weight fleece
1 shirt for walking in - long sleeved - can always roll sleeves up on a long sleeve shirt , cant roll short sleeves down on a short sleeve shirt. Better for mossies/march flies and if there is too much sun
1 beanie
1 sun hat
Rain jacket
rain pants

I like like long pants for around camp as there is usually mossies/march flies.

Roger

[Tortoise]

I like like long pants for around camp as there is usually mossies/march flies.

+1 I'm really happy with my current choice of $2 (garage sale - or was it an op shop?) nylon rain pants. They have the advantage of being lighter than any other option i've tried, and they also keep the wind out / provide a nice warm air trap with thermals if it's cold.
Edit: I also take breathable rain pants to use as rain pants

Last edited by Tortoise on Tue 05 Feb, 2013 8:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Tortoise]

how many pairs of clothes would people take?
Yes one set to keep dry and spare, and you would be wearing one set (depending on weather might be shorts/shirt)
so if i'm wearing one pair of shorts and have one spare and dry, do i really need a 3rd pair? etc

Agreed with the above - NO (And i'm one who may well be found with kitchen sink equivalents)

If i come across a warm day, i'll have a dip in my shirt & walking pants, wring them out and put them back on to dry. Lovely
(And if i've been to Mt Oakleigh, which i highly recommend, I may have to wash the mud out of everything.)

If it's cold, nothing smells as much - oh, except wet socks. I do wash them out (away from streams etc or without soap*) to avoid the solid stand-up-on-their-own-and rub-in-boots phenomenon. Used to take 3 pairs, now usually 2, even for 9 days.
*someone recently gave me some LOC (liquid organic compound i think) from Amway, which definitely helps socks, and people.

[hellsbellstaz]

Thanks everyone....
clothes have been cut back but might go empty the backpack again and double check i don't have more things then i really need.
quite looking forward to this little adventure

[Greenie]

I'm also trying to reduce clothes for a 9 OLT walk in early March. I have two pairs of gloves, one thin windproof pair and a pair of cheap ski gloves. Are the ski gloves overkill for that time of year?

[stepbystep]

I'm also trying to reduce clothes for a 9 OLT walk in early March. I have two pairs of gloves, one thin windproof pair and a pair of cheap ski gloves. Are the ski gloves overkill for that time of year?

Gloves I also carry 2, one pair for scrub or daytime wear and a second really light synthetic pair. Always have 2 beanies also, one for walking and one for keeping my ears warm at night.

[Pongo]

I'm also trying to reduce clothes for a 9 OLT walk in early March. I have two pairs of gloves, one thin windproof pair and a pair of cheap ski gloves. Are the ski gloves overkill for that time of year?

When are you up there Greenie, I hit the trail on the 4th and will be doing 9 days as well. Might bump into you. Bring ear plugs, my hiking buddy holds advanced qualifications in snoring!

[Greenie]

I'll be starting on the 5th. So yes, we might bump into each. If I some how catch up. If I camp near you, me and your mate might be able to get some synchronised snoring happening

[Tortoise]

I'm also trying to reduce clothes for a 9 OLT walk in early March. I have two pairs of gloves, one thin windproof pair and a pair of cheap ski gloves. Are the ski gloves overkill for that time of year?

Hey Greenie. Glad you've got the opportunity to come down to these southern climes for some excellent walking!

I reckon forget the cheap ski gloves. They get satched and freezing very quickly in serious rain/cold, and are bulky.

Layers usually work best. It might not be what you're after, but I take 3 pairs!

It seems hard to get a good overmitt these days without all the bells and whistles, and without costing megabucks, so I tend to use the cheap blue PVC (?) coated gloves from hardware stores. Don't last that long in scrub, but no worries with that on the OLT. Cuffs are cotton, so not ideal, but with thermals and raingear, I haven't found that a real issue.

I have either polypro or now possum ( ) gloves for liners if cold, and another pair of fingerless possum gloves for around camp. Or just use the possum gloves if it's cold but not wet, etc.

[Pongo]

I'll be starting on the 5th. So yes, we might bump into each. If I some how catch up. If I camp near you, me and your mate might be able to get some synchronised snoring happening

God help me... God help the hut!

We plan to hang back a day somewhere in the middle, probably new pelion, look for a fat white fella and an indian guy both wearing aarn packs and pop over and say hi if you get a chance. Are you hiking alone?

[Greenie]

Tortoise I have been thinking of getting a overmitt, But I haven't been able to find any locally. I might have to go to city


Pongo you won't have to worried about the hut, I am planning, unless I give in, to sleep in my Tarptent Notch. I have however packed by ear plugs, so I don't have to listen to myself!

I'll be a white short guy with the oversized WE pack walking solo.

I am also planning to have a quite day around then, so we might catch up then.

[Solohike74]

If your sleeping bag is not seriously warm (eg above 30F) then you can use a down vest or down jacket in the evenings to stay warm, and also worn overnight to boost the sleeping bag...........less weight than a separate mid-layer and a heavier sleeping bag.

[north-north-west]

And if i've been to Mt Oakleigh, which i highly recommend, I may have to wash the mud and leeches out of everything.

Fixed

[Solohike74]

I'm also trying to reduce clothes for a 9 OLT walk in early March. I have two pairs of gloves, one thin windproof pair and a pair of cheap ski gloves. Are the ski gloves overkill for that time of year?

I'm from Sydney so less acclimatised to Tassie weather. Ski gloves are not overkill. I hiked with $100 Goretex ski gloves & they added greatly to my comfort. In late March 2012, there was snow on the track. Day 1 after Marions Lookout had wind on the ridge of 20-30 knots and sleet.

I would say, despite say else I've said in these forums, that a polarfleece jackets useful because downs great to carry but not for wearing on track even with a good shell over it. Down loses insulating abilities when wet.