Practical clothing questions for the WRT

[benp1]

Thinking about the WRT this year some clothing questions popped up, what do you do?

Gloves – how many pairs do you take, just 1? (I was thinking about only taking one pair but how many take a back up pair)

Socks – how many pairs do you take? (Was planning to wear one pair for cycling, probably short and coolmax, and another for sleeping, long and merino)

Undershorts – how many pairs do you take? (Was thinking about wearing one pair for 24 hours and sleeping in them, then another pair for the next 24 hours. Was going to wear Endura Humvee ¾ shorts and then undershorts clickfasted in)

Tops – back up top/jersey or wear one for the duration? (I have merino and synthetic options, was thinking two merino tops, 24 hours each, particularly if they’re wet)

Previous trips are walking trips so I pack really light with very few back ups but a bikepacking trip is presumably a more sweaty affair!

[Matt]

Gloves – 1 pair for riding, if I think it will be cold a pair for night

Socks –1 pair for riding (Sealskinz), if I think it will be cold a pair for night

Undershorts – 1

Tops –1

See here (click through and everything is tagged)

[composite]

I go with the wet gear/dry gear idea, so you always have dry gear to sleep in.

Day 1 - If you get wet then change into dry stuff to sleep.

Day 2 - if it looks like you are going to get wet again put the wet stuff back on from day 1. Grim to start but as long as it's the last thing you do before packing up you'll warm up soon enough. If it looks like a dry day then keep the dry stuff on you slept in and hope it stays dry so you can sleep in them.

Day 3 - Just keep on whatever you slept in as you are going home that day anyway.

I'll be wearing water proof shorts as outers with bibs and short sleeve top along with merino socks. Will take an additional pair of bibs, 1 top, 1 pair of identical merino socks, 1 wind proof gillet, 1 water proof jacket, arm warmers & knee warmers, probably a buff, maybe summer gloves and track mits maybe just track mits will look at the temp.

I'll also take a down jacket for the evenings.

[Matt]

Yep, as above really

[benp1]

Cool, sounds like my normal walking set up. Usually put wet kit back on first thing in the morning and just man up

I’m a bit of a sweaty monster so given I’m cycling I was thinking some of the kit might be pretty grimy by the end of the day

My plan is to wear endura humvee 3/4 shorts, clickfast liners and merino t shirt

I’ll pack spare inner shorts, spare socks, spare dry top, Montane Fireball Smock, Montane featherlite shirt, Montane Atomic DT jacket, Montane Atomic DT waterproof trousers. Maybe some Extremities tuff bags if its looking wet.

Always have a buff, prob take down beanie as well

[Brothersmith]

Undershorts – how many pairs do you take? (Was thinking about wearing one pair for 24 hours and sleeping in them, then another pair for the next 24 hours. Was going to wear Endura Humvee ¾ shorts and then undershorts clickfasted in)

Don't sleep in your cycling shorts you'll end up with a boil or saddle sore. Find it's ok to wear the same pair for cycling for a few days though. I tend to take some thermals or pants to through on when I get to camp and put waterproof baggies back over the top