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?

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 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.

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  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

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.

I like Marlins thinking on 2 work shirts and 2 camp shirts.
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.  

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.

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


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...

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

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 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 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:


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

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!

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

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.....