Posts Tagged quick-dry
Craghoppers Travel Cargo Pants Have it All
I’ve got all kinds of travel pants in my drawer, from ones that are wispy light and dry in a couple hours to rugged cotton ones with lots of pockets. Some even have built-in insect repellent.
Apparently the Craghoppers brand wanted to be more of a Swiss Army knife than a specialist with these NosiLife Cargo Trousers because they’ve got it all. We’re talking NosiLife insect repellent that claims to be permanent, nine pockets of varying types, sun protection, quick-dry properties, and a lifetime warranty. All these attributes and then some performed as advertised except for one—more on that in a minute.
This pair of travel pants has vaulted to the top of my stack from adventure travel trips. They’re a little thicker than some of the wispy ExOfficio ones I like, so they take a tad longer to dry, but they also feel more suited to getting wet and dirty. I did plenty of that while trying them out on an off-the-grid adventure tour in Chiapas, Mexico last week. They got soaked, muddy, and whacked with thorn bushes but looked new again after a wash. They’re comfortable and look about as good as cargo pants can look.
I’ll give up the sleek lines to have more pockets and these Craghopper pants have plenty of those: cargo pockets, zippered security pockets, and back mesh pockets that button. You’re a hard person to pick-pocket while wearing these around, but everything you need is along for the ride. I also like that they have a bit of elastic in the waist. My pants don’t fall down when I remove my belt to go through security at the airport or if I want to lounge around without one. The buttons are attached to a wide piece of nylon—not just thread—so I don’t have to worry about unraveling.
One item I thought was a nice innovation though turned out to be a bust: the included dry-bag for your mobile phone or passport. Great idea in theory, but the Chinese factory cranking these out must have taken some quality control lessons from the country’s drywall makers, toy producers, and milk bottlers. The bag works, once, but as soon as you get it wet the glue under the Velcro starts running and it turns into a sticky mess. I had to toss it in the hotel trash can. (Thankfully, the glue being mistakenly water-soluble, it washed right off my hands with soap.)
One detail that I can’t quite figure out is that two belt loops have snaps on them, but are next to loops that don’t. There’s nothing in the product description explaining the purpose of this and I don’t have a clue as to how or why you’d every unsnap two loops out of ten. They kept unsnapping while moving through brush or just moving my butt in a van.
Besides a couple niggling details though, these pants deliver where it matters. They’re well-made and durable and I will probably still be hiking into jungles with them a decade from now. I can’t attest to the insect repellent properties lasting forever—most competitors claim 75 washes or so—but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. The Craghoppers name is a rather new one in the U.S., but the company was founded in England back in the 1960s and has outfitted mountain climbing expeditions. Now they’re sponsoring Bear Grylls, so they’re clothing a TV star trying to put himself in harm’s way each show.
The Craghoppers NosiLife Cargo Trousers come in multiple waist sizes, lengths, and muted colors. There’s also a version with zip-off legs, plus it’s one of many styles available for women. If anything fails you with these during normal wear, they’ll replace them for free. (If they rip when a jaguar bites your leg, that doesn’t count.) See the whole line they offer at Craghoppers.com’s U.S. site.
Unfortunately, for now that’s about the only place you can buy them in the U.S. unless your local outdoor retailer carries them. Amazon UK has them for the other side of the Atlantic. They retail for $65 though, so you won’t get reamed too badly by buying direct.
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Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on October 26th, 2011
ExOfficio DryFly Flex Travel Shirt
This DryFly Flex shirt from ExOfficio is a great all-around travel shirt that converts from long sleeve to short and will deliver years of use for a good value price. It looks good too.
Anybody that’s been following this blog (or just following me around) knows I’m a big fan of ExOfficio clothing. There’s always at least two or three of their items in my bag no matter where I’m going. Despite that, most of those items still look brand new—even the ones I wore every week or two when I was living in Mexico for a year.
This DryFly one is another winner for travelers: lightweight, quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, ventilated, and made well to hold up for the long term. For a bonus you get sun protection and wicking properties. This is one of those shirts you can cram into your bag and pull it out ready to go on the other end.
It looks dressy enough to be your “nice shirt” if you’re backpacking but need to look respectable for a restaurant splurge or border crossing. It uses snaps instead of buttons and I especially like how these snapa are hidden on the front of this one—it gives it cleaner lines. There are still the qualities you expect in an ExOfficio shirt though, like mesh shoulders inside, a zippered security pocket, and a snap/tab system for rolling up the sleeves.
The “flex” part of the name refers to the stretchy qualities this shirt has. There’s some give to it so you can use it on real adventure activities and feel comfortable when you’re moving around. And okay, if you’re not all that slender it will cut you a break.
This DryFly Flex shirt lists for $80 but is currently priced at around 40 dollars, which puts it in line with other brands’ shirts that aren’t as well-made. Usually when the price drops to this level it means they’re cleaning out inventory, so go grab one now if you like the look of this shirt.
There’s also a short-sleeve version of this and a women’s version with a curvier cut. Follow this link below to check out all the options and see what else is discounted:
Free Shipping On Orders Over $75
See other reviews of ExOfficio travel clothing.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on October 20th, 2011
Insect Blocker Shirts From Columbia Sportswear
Whether you’re camping in a national park, on safari in Africa, or backpacking around Southeast Asia, the common denominator nuisance is probably going to be mosquitoes. In some places they’ll just leave itchy welts and annoy the crap out of you at dusk. In some parts of the world, however, they can turn your vacation into your first experience with malaria or dengue fever. Not fun.
It’s like a war on terror though trying to prevent these bites, with multiple levels of defense and no margin of error. One good weapon to have in that arsenal is treated clothing that repels mozzies. You can buy a can of what you need to spray on whatever clothing you have, but I’m a big fan of travel clothing that has the stuff baked in already, like this Bug Shield shirt from Columbia with Insect Blocker.
Insect Blocker is something the mosquitoes can smell and they don’t like it one bit. (For good measure, it also keeps away gnats, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges.) For us humans, however, the shirt just smells like a shirt. Or like smelly you after a few days in it.
This feels, smells, and wears just like your standard hi-tech travel shirt, but with added protection when you need it. It’s got the wicking nylon that dries quickly, a bit a stretch so you can move around easily, and UPF 40 sunblock protection. It’s got that feature that can be useful during the day when there’s no mosquito threat: sleeves that roll up and button. There’s a mesh panel behind the shoulder and some venting under each arm to let the air circulate. The Velcro pocket has another secret zipper pocket inside where you can covertly stash some cash.
But won’t the treatment wear out? Well, as with other insect-blocking items we’ve reviewed here, it will eventually. But we’re talking 70 washings before that happens. So unless you’re a tour guide naturalist or you make it a habit to go hiking at dusk each day, there’s a good chance you’ll never get to that point.
Like I said, this is a weapon, not a total solution, so remember the whole system: cover your skin (especially ankles), avoid black, use a net or coils when needed, and—the most important thing—use good insect repellent. Here’s Pam’s review of the Ultrathon version.
There’s nothing really groundbreaking or unusual about this Columbia Bug Shield shirt—it’s a follower rather than a leader. But it comes in five sizes and six colors. They also make a women’s version, a crew version, toddler crew, and pants. You can get it online at Columbia.com for the $80 list price or sit tight and wait until it goes on sale after the mosquitoes go into hiding. Or check prices at these online retailers:
Columbia Bug Shield Shirt at Backcountry.com
Columbia Men’s Bug Shield Shirt at Altrec
* Get Free Shipping No Minimum at Columbia.com with promo code F11FREESHIP!
See more of our travel clothing reviews
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on September 8th, 2011
Convertible Travel Pants from Mountain Khakis
We’ve checked out quite a few versions of convertible travel pants from multiple brands here on Practical Travel Gear. These double-duty items are a backpacker staple and you’ll see more than a few upscale adventure travelers wearing them too.
Sure, they’re a little dorky, even when they come from a rugged brand name like Mountain Khakis, but they come in handy in a whole lot of circumstances. For instance when you’re going on a hike that starts out at freezing in the morning and gets to a balmy, or downright hot, temperature by the afternoon. Zip off the legs, stuff them in your pack. Or in countries where it’s unheard of—or even downright rude—to wear shorts in public. Pants by day outside, shorts by night in your hotel/hostel/guesthouse. Or a place where mosquitoes don’t bite during the day, but they turn into voracious hunters when the sun goes down.
Whatever the reason, these also help you stay under that low weight limit on prop planes in Central America and Africa and on those European budget airlines with ease. Two clothing items in one.
Mountain Khakis has their own spin to the style with their Granite Creek Convertible Pant. It’s a departure from the heavy khaki roots of this Wyoming-based company since you’re obviously going to travel with these and they need to be light. They weigh in at 6.3 ounces, which is certainly not going to be much of a factor in your packing weight.
True to the brand, these feel strong and rugged, however, like they’re going to last you for a decade. They’re made of brushed nylon that’s quick drying, wicking, and provides UPF 50 sun protection. The tag and listing on their website say they’re treated with Scotchgard protection to make them water repellent, though my demo pair was apparently out sick the day that got applied. Mine dried super-quickly, but they soaked through from the start when I ran water tests. (If you get a pair of pants where something is not right though, the company has a one-year warranty.) These come with real metal zippers, a metal button to close the fly, and Velcro on one pocket. There are also 10-inch zippers on the leg flaps so you can get these off without removing your shoes. I’ve missed that on some other ones I’ve tried.
These being travel pants, there are pockets galore: two regular side pockets, one square pocket on the leg, a secret zippered pocket inside that, and another zippered pocket on the other side. Plus another one on the back. You can stash a lot of goodies in these. Note that these are regular pants secured with a belt—not drawstring or elastic ones. A lot of people prefer that, but be aware if you’re looking for ones without loops.
Follow this link for a full description and a look at the four color choices on the company website. A women’s version is coming next year, but you can get non-convertible Granite Creek travel pants for women now. They list for $90. Check prices on the Mountain Khakis Granite Creek Convertible Pant at Backcountry or at Altrec.com.
* Giveaway time! If you’re such a cool guy that you can get away with wearing green pants (or you’re a local rock star who needs stage attire), I’ve got some pants for you. MK sent me some nice Lake Lodge Twill Pants that don’t fit me. They’ve got a 32-inch waist and a 32-inch inseam. If that’s close to what you wear, click on that link and under color pick “Mint Julep.” If you can see those pants on your legs and live in the U.S., leave a comment below. On September 8, if there’s more than one reader who fits the description, I’ll pick a name at random and get in touch for a shipping address.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on August 25th, 2011
Keen Whisper Water Sandals for Kids
Hey, how come Mom and Dad get all the cool shoes for playing in the water?
Well, they don’t outgrow them so fast, for one thing. These Keen Whisper sandals, like miniature adult versions, come in at a miniaturized price too though: they list for $45. If he or she can make it through a season or two of fun with them, that’s bearable.
My daughter has two pairs of shoes like this: a private label brand pair from a big box store and these Whisper ones. There was a $14 dollar difference in price, but these feel far superior. There’s a stiffer, non-marking sole, a footbed that feels like it won’t squish down to nothing in two weeks, and a nice lace adjustment system with a cinch that works well to ensure a good fit. The construction feels solid and the strap system works well, plus there’s a tab loop on the back for pulling them on.
Being sandals you can wear in the water, naturally they dry quickly and feel good dry or wet. The two-layer construction feels good against the skin. So she says anyway—there hasn’t been any whining.
My daughter has given these a good workout in normal circumstances just playing around as a kid, avoiding any banged toes with the rubber toe guard. But she also wore them on a kayaking outing we took lately. She skipped around the surf and scaled wet rocks with them with ease. They still look good and haven’t gotten stinky.
After they were dry again, which took a couple hours in the sun, she could romp around on land with them again. They’re sturdy enough for trail hiking or kicking a ball around. So if you were packing for a trip, you could definitely get double duty from these.
We’ve got plenty of shoe reviews from this company on Practical Travel Gear because Keen Footwear is a quality brand that outperforms with a lot of different styles. They’ve got a good attitude about the whole work/play balance thing and they support a cause that’s near and dear to our hearts: more recess! It’s hard to lay out a lot of money for kids’ shoes, but these will outperform the cheapies for not a whole lot more.
Get the Keen Whisper sandals at Backcountry.com or Altrec.com.
See more travel shoes reviews or more kids and family gear.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family on August 24th, 2011
