I usually take 3 shirts on trips and have never done laundry. Somehow I just can't picture myself over a tub of boiling water on a trip. But on a longer trip, say over 10 days, that might be a different story.

I'm thinking of bringing a shirt that would be just for camp. Set-up, take a dip and put on something clean. I can't decide what to bring. A cotton T shirt is comfy. Just not sure. I'm looking at this high techie shirt.
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It has an interesting fabric
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I can eventually see the cotton getting a funk......camp shirt or not. Who knows maybe the techie shirt is to hot and it will backfire and I'll end up sweating and stinking even more. I just want to be comfy in camp man!
Thoughts anyone? What do you wear in camp?

?  sounds like you don't bring a spare set of clothes with you ?

I always have one complete change of clothes, head to toe including spare shoes,  so I have dry stuff to change into if its cold and wet and I want to get out of the cold and wet clothes; and in case the #1 set I'm wearing gets torn or something, I've got the spares. That full set of extra clothes is good enough to wear for the entire trip, not just a T-shirt and shorts.  

I'd guess you mostly trip in mid-summer when its warm, and I guess you can get away with not having a spare set of clothes then- if that's the case, T-shirt seems fine, but I'd prefer a long sleeved shirt that offers better bug protection myself.

I don't normally use that spare set of clothes, preferring to just wear the #1 set, which helps dry out anything wet - If its been hot and the shirt is smelly, I'll go swinning and change into the dry spares, but only until the first set is dry enough to wear.  I usually trip the first week of June, starting around Memorial Day - it is more likely to be wet and cold than hot.

Mat
I bring;
1 pair shorts
1 pair pants
3 shirts
3 pair socks

These are to work in. I'm thinking it might be nice to have a dedicated camp shirt. Something that stays mostly clean. I guess the thrust of my inquiry is what type of material would be best suited. There is a host of choices. I want to make sure that I don't get something to hot. I like cotton but think it might get funky after a while.

I bring 2 sets of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) both basically the same, but 1 designated as trail, and the other as camp (dry)clothes.  The shirts are typically the button down lightweight nylon long sleeve shirts popular at Cabelas, but for mid summer, I'll bring a decent wicking t-shirt.  After a few days of bog slogging, the trail set gets "laundered" in a ziploc bag with a squirt of camp soap.  Rinse twice in the bag, and it will all smell so much better and be good for several more days.  Usually I'll do this once for an 8-10 day trip, but I also swim most every day in my trail clothes.  Consider it a pre-wash.

I would not pick cotton for any of my clothes. I use nylon or polyester. They don't hold oders like cotton, and they dry quickly. A polyester t-shirt or a nylon fishing shirt would be a nice camp choice.

Nothing in-camp specific, but I always have a spare change of clothes.

Cotton is fine for mid-summer.

I'm a firm believer in the synthetic materials for Paddling trips.
Merino wool is the one exception.

Yes, cotton will work for mid-summer trips, but cotton is heavier than a synthetic t-shirt or synthetic/cotton blend. Takes longer to dry IF you get it soaked. Remember even in the summer, with the right conditions, you can still get hypothermia.

Synthetics compress smaller, weigh less, and like wool, don't retain body odor. They launder easier as well. I take a waterproof stuff sack, put a gallon of water in, and sit on rock in full sun for a couple of hours.
A few drops of all purpose detergent, add clothes, let soak a few minutes and then swing bag around your head a few times, making like a Maytag washer ;D  Dump soapy water in woods, wring and repeat for rise cycle. Hang synthetics on branches in sun or on warm rocks and they're dry in minutes. I've even wrung t-shirts out, and let my body heat dry them .

Cabelas sells a synthetic/cotton blend for those who like the cottony feel. Best of both worlds.

I take 2 complete outfits, plus 3 pairs of socks/ t-shirts/ and underwear, although I might quit taking the underwear. Much more comfortable without, and what's my odds of getting into an auto accident in the woods ;)

Here's what I take on 3 week outings in late summer: 1 shorts, 1 long pants, 2 T-shirts, 1 long sleeve bug off shirt, 3 pair wool socks, 1 pair merino top and bottom, 1 fleecy jacket, 1 rain jacket, 1 pair boots, 1 camp sandal.  Since my trips in later Fall are typically under 5 days, I take pretty much the same thing but throw in an extra fleecy.  Anyway, as to the shirts.  I've completely gotten rid of anything cotton from my kit - too slow drying, too heavy and a disaster ecologically.  So for T-shirts I recommend Bamboo (actually 70% bamboo, 30% cotton.)  They are silky soft, durable, don't stink, dry much faster than cotton and are kinder to the planet.  They are comparably priced to cotton T's.  Here's where I get mine but that's because they are located here in Toronto.
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But if I were getting a dedicated camp shirt I'd probably get a synthetic bug off type shirt.  They have them at Sierra Trading Post all the time marked way down.  
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I have an Ex Officio shirt with insect shield that is just about the best shirt I've ever had for camping - they're light and vented so that even in the heat and direct sun you can wear it and stay fairly cool plus they're great going through buggy ports or sitting around camp at sunset when the skeeters start a hummin.

I wear the same stuff I've been wearing the last few days until about mid-trip. I may take off an over-shirt at camp or add some fleece if I get chilly but then again my shirts are all cotton. ;)   I think you guys are way too hard on cotton. Thick, like jeans and sweatshirts I agree but light cotton shirts? If mine get wet I'm wearing 'em until they dry. I did that on cold pre-season trips too. I learned the hard way that heat is need to dry things on about the third day of a windy bone chilling drizzle with nothing dry left to wear. Always have a dry set of clothes just in case.

I'll wash socks on occasion but I only washed a shirt once. I wasn't pleased with the results. I'd rather carry an extra one than do laundry on vacation anyway. I have stopped bothering with a second pr of pants in summer. Cold weather I'd consider it but rain pants and long-johns work too. No need to sleep in the rain pants.

Never heard of bamboo clothing before. Sounds interesting.

db wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2010 at 7:21am:

I have stopped bothering with a second pr of pants in summer. Cold weather I'd consider it but rain pants and long-johns work too.

I don't take a second pair of pants either. Running tights are even better than longjohns: Besides being warm, they weigh nothing, take up no space, and dry very quickly. Cheapest place I've found is web-order from Holabird (Baltimore area). If you can find your size on sale, the price is quite reasonable too.

I like Marlins thinking on 2 work shirts and 2 camp shirts. [smiley=thumbup.gif]
Come on Santa! :)

I especially like ST idea of using a waterproof stuff sack to do laundry in. JJcanoeguide first breached the subject with using a ziplock but I think ST has taken it one step further.

I have never done laundry before but think I might start.

I always forget to bring some type of clothes pins. Socks especially always seem to end up on the ground. Just wondering what clever ideas the QJ crowd has. Regular clothes pins seem bulky and not quite versatile enough.  

mastertangler wrote on Dec 17^th, 2010 at 2:10am:

I always forget to bring some type of clothes pins. Socks especially always seem to end up on the ground. Just wondering what clever ideas the QJ crowd has. Regular clothes pins seem bulky and not quite versatile enough.

I have a little bag of   (You need to Login or Register.  They don't take up much space and are light weight.  If you want to go smaller, pick up a bag of small alligator clips from Radio Shack.

dd

No clothes pins needed if you double your clothes line and include several twists. Hang laundry so it is pinched in the twists. It holds pretty good and saves those precious ounces that add up to pounds eventually.

Very good idea KF...never thought of adding the twist to the double line; double line yes, but not the twist. I have also let the rain fly/cooking tarp aide in the "hold" on the peak line. A couple of well placed prussic's hitches could prove useful too.

DB...

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(It is equisetum in the pict not fargesia)

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I have also heard that like cotton it is weaker when wet.

mastertangler wrote on Dec 17^th, 2010 at 2:10am:

I have never done laundry before but think I might start.

When I was in the Philippines, they did all their laundry by hand. They used a sort of corrigated bar of soap (made by Tide) which they scubbed the clothes with. I brought home a couple bars to try out on a conoe trip. I too have never really washed anything in the bush... Rinsed yes, but never had to use soap. Of course I'll do it away from the lake and dispose of water away from the lake. I'll have to try the double rope trick too...

Just a couple of notes regarding my methods.  The zip-loc bag washing machine is used because we pack all our meals in the zip-locs.  Invariably, halfway through the trip, we have several bags that are clean enough to reuse to wash out dirty clothes.  Therefore, no extra weight, and more importantly, nothing else to purchase.  I guess if I had a waterproof stuff sack, I could use that instead.

I'm not pinching ounces, so I'll stick to a half-dozen clothespins to keep everything on the clothesline.  I'll have to try Kingfisher's suggested method some time soon though.

Kingfisher wrote on Dec 17^th, 2010 at 6:30am:

No clothes pins needed if you double your clothes line and include several twists. Hang laundry so it is pinched in the twists. It holds pretty good and saves those precious ounces that add up to pounds eventually.

Yep.  That's also a solution.  I've used it backpacking on several trips ... when a few ounces really make a difference.  

Its amazing how many of my early-learned backpacking techniques translate well for canoe trip use.  For example, footwear for backpacking is like paddles for canoeing.  On this board and elsewhere, you will hear discussions of using light-weight carbon fiber paddles to reduce the weight associated with each paddle stroke.  You hear the same about hiking boots ... "How many ounces will I have to lift with each step and what does that translate into over a day's travel?"  So, one of the reasons why people go through several pair of hiking shoes/boots on a single AT-thru hike is because they are going light weight.  You might have to go through a re-tread on a good pair of hiking boots, but I finally tossed one pair after over 5,000 miles of use.

So, if you are REALLY into cutting weight, backpacking venues are a very good place to do research.  (That's one reason I have a subscription to Backpacker Magazine as well as BWJ.)

However, for me, cutting the last ounce from weight on a canoe trip is (in many cases) a secondary concern to convenience and comfort of travel.  After all, I haven't had to hack the handle of a toothbrush in half in quite a few years now and drilling holes in the handles of my lexan eating implements has more to do with ease of hanging to dry than weight savings.

dd

I don't think a few of those clothes pins that DD suggested would weigh much more than the extra rope... except you'd probably would already have the rope.

I love the twisted rope clothesline.  Every item added to the line holds everything tighter.  Paddles, pants, whatever should be kept out of the dirt.

Clothespins are just garbage to break or go moldy or get left behind.

I bring lots of rope.  Some may say too much rope.  I'd rather be looking at rope than looking for rope.

I use a combination of Nature and my tarp/fly ropes to dry my synthetic clothes that dry super fast in the sun, and even faster if there's a breeze blowing.
A nylon camp shirt is easy to dry. Just use the button holes on the cuffs on a long sleeve model or placket buttons on short sleeve one, to fasten to a fly rope or even a tree limb that's in the sun, or open wind swept area. I also will lay my clothes on a sun warmed flat rock, securing with loose rocks so they don't end up in the lake or bush ;)

No flat rock, an overturned canoe in a sun lit area makes a great drying rack as well, anchor with rocks too. I will even sleeve my socks over a suitable branch so they dry fast and won't blow away. Just make sure if you use a pine bough, you check for sap :-[

I use a Byer Mosquito hammock with a built on mosquito net. You can flip it over if you don't need the protection. Any hammock with some sort of bug net could be used for this idea.
If your worried about the wind taking your clothes, spread them over  the bug net, and hang in the open sunny/windy area. They'll dry fast and you won't lose them.

I don't bring a dedicated laundry rope or clothes pins/clips anymore, I just get creative ;)

I used diaper pins for clothes pins. Not my idea but one I heard from Cliff at the expo last spring. Work great.

KevinL wrote on Dec 21^st, 2010 at 1:21am:

I used diaper pins for clothes pins. Not my idea but one I heard from Cliff at the expo last spring. Work great.

I just recently read that in Cliffs book "campings top secrets". I like the option that you can use them for other needs. Could come in handy.

What I didn't read in Cliffs book is KF's twisty rope method which seems pretty slick too [smiley=thumbup.gif]

KevinL wrote on Dec 21^st, 2010 at 1:21am:

I used diaper pins for clothes pins. Not my idea but one I heard from Cliff at the expo last spring. Work great.

They still make diaper pins?  Some still use cloth diapers?

Some swear by them... ;D

I read that when Chuck Yeager went camping on a river he would tie some of his clothes on a rope and let them hang in the current. When I'm in the Q and the wind is beating on the shore by my campsite, I weigh down clothes with rocks and go fishing. When I return, I squeeze out as much water as I can and hang them up. It doesn't remove much dirt but they smell better then laundered clothes from home.
Thanks for the twisted rope idea, I'm gonna use it!

For an in-camp shirt, I second a merino wool product. These things will not smell even after a week in the woods. I prefer IceBreaker, but Ibex is another good choice.

This is one of those things that is pricey but worth it. Watch on eBay and you can get some smokin' deals.

I take a merino wool t-shirt, a long-sleeve zip-neck, and a pair of their boxer briefs. Just rinse out when you can. Doesn't smell at all. Incredible warmth to weight ratio also if you need a layer, but stays cool when needed, too. Great stuff.

When out paddling, I love the Canyon Shirt by Mountain Hard Wear. Collar keeps the sun off of your neck, vented in back to cool down.

I've found some of my best camp clothing buys at Goodwill ("GW" in my home lingo).  Example: new merino long sleeved shirt with mock turtleneck: $4.99   You gotta be patient and persistent.  If you do, the deals can be astounding.  

prouboy

Hey gang,

Last year I bucked up and bought a  couple smartwool Long sleeve shirts for my trip in September.  It wound up being pretty cold, windy and wet that week.  I basically alternated between the 2 longsleeve smartwool shirts.  When one got too wet or uncomfortable I'd put the other on, swing the nasty one dry and let it hang for a half hour.  After this, it would be ready to wear and actually felt fresh again...  Wool doesn't hold a funk, so it was literally that easy.  I am definitely using the 2 smartwool shirt system again.

I always carry an extra set of clothes.  I usually go with convertable pants so I can use them as shorts too.  regular t shirt.  and a long sleeve shirt  I also carry merino wool long johns, wool watch cap and a fleece pullover.  All my clothes obviously ride in dry bags.
Just my .02
Ryan.....