VB - Hiking & Sleeping on Long Distant Hikes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Detail Man
So you guys who use VBs, do you wear it 24/7 on a trip?
This is definitely something I want to explore. Are there any inexpensive DIY VB clothing ideas? Would plastic bags over sock liners work for feet?
Several years ago I hiked over 5,000 miles which included the AT. 40°f and above with no wind, I would just wear a short sleeve shirt, and shorts. If I took a break, I would put on a wind breaker.
As the temps dropped and wind increased, I would put on my Gram Weenie Silnylon Rain / Vapor Barrier Pants & Stephenson's Warmlite VB Shirt. (The shirt has a full zipper which make it easy to vent.) If it got down to single digits temps or the teens, I would add plastic bags to under my socks, and my hands with mitts over them. I could wear them in the rain as well, as they're both fully waterproof.
The pants and the shirt together cost me less than $100 back at that time.
When I got to camp, I would get naked, :scared: and depending on the temps, either put on my mid layer pants & shirt, and at night, put back on the VB Pants & Shirt under my mid layer and go to bed.
That was my basic plan, however there's a lot of wiggle room in there as well depending on the weather, the terrain for that day, and what season. In the middle of July on the AT, I got hit by very cold rain, with wind for 3 hours. About half way into this storm, I got out my VB shirt. However, my core had dropped too far. By the time, I got to a shelter, I was in full Hypothermia.
As the saying goes, "It's always easier to stay warm, than to get warm"