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Scotch Guard
Question:
Has anyone ever tried putting Scotch Guard on their jeans to make them water repellant??? This is a crazy passing thought, but I’ll be backpacking in the Cascades mid August and I am concerned that even though I have a North Face Mountain Light jaket and pants (gortex) that my jeans would slowly absord more and more moisture during my eight day trip. I live in Arizona so moisture problems don’t really exist for very long unlike the Seattle area. John
Jeans are NOT a wise clothing choice for backpacking in the Cascades. You should invest 40 bucks in a set of capilene tops and bottoms which wick away moisture from your skin and also dry very quickly. Even in August it can get cold and miserable in some parts of the Cascades so you should be ready for that. People just don’t wear jeans on backpacking trips here. Paul Kuhn Seattle
Response:
| Has anyone ever tried putting Scotch Guard on their jeans to make them | water repellant??? This is a crazy passing thought, but I’ll be backpacking | in the Cascades mid August and I am concerned that even though I have | a North Face Mountain Light jaket and pants (gortex) that my jeans would | slowly absord more and more moisture during my eight day trip. I live in | Arizona so moisture problems don’t really exist for very long unlike the | Seattle area. | | John While cotton clothing (i.e. jeans) are nice and comfy in arid, hot environments, they can be deathly in cold, wet environments (i.e. arizona vs. the Cascades). Jeans will absorb a ton of water (notice the weight when you lift a pair out of the washing machine?) and will take days to dry – wet jeans will suck the heat out of you and greatly increase your chances of becoming hypothermic, even in summertime. For hiking in areas where you are likely to get wet, wear synthetics; do not wear cotton. Lightweight brushed nylon hiking pants can be found in most outdoor clothing shops. You could also wear lightweight synthetic sweatpants (though I’ve found these a bit on the hot side), or (my personal favorite) a pair of army surplus cotton/polyester blend pants. These will absorb much less water than jeans, will dry much faster, and will also be cooler (in my experience) than jeans in hot weather.
Response:
Has anyone ever tried putting Scotch Guard on their jeans to make them water repellant??? This is a crazy passing thought, but I’ll be backpacking in the Cascades mid August and I am concerned that even though I have a North Face Mountain Light jaket and pants (gortex) that my jeans would slowly absord more and more moisture during my eight day trip. I live in Arizona so moisture problems don’t really exist for very long unlike the Seattle area. John
Response:
Has anyone ever tried putting Scotch Guard on their jeans to make them water repellant??? This is a crazy passing thought, but I’ll be backpacking in the Cascades mid August and I am concerned that even though I have a North Face Mountain Light jaket and pants (gortex) that my jeans would slowly absord more and more moisture during my eight day trip. I live in Arizona so moisture problems don’t really exist for very long unlike the Seattle area.
Leave the jeans at home. They are useless in the Cascades. Scotch guard wont help either, a fact which you can establish at home in the shower wearing your jeans. Standard outfit up here is Capilene or polypro tops and bottoms, with a pair of nylon running shorts over the bottoms. As the day warms up, pull off the long underwear and and wear just a cotton tee top and the shorts alone on the bottom. In the rain, wear the long johns under goretex. It isn’t usually too cold so lightweight stuff is OK. A pile jacket provides extra warmth on top when needed. i Bob Breivogel Intel Corp – Aloha, OR