Bushwalk Australia

Greetings all - great forum with heaps of useful info - thanks. I live in NSW and would like to tap your taswegian wisdom. I have done a few walks in Tasmania over the years- Cradle mntn, PB, Western Arthurs, Sth coast etc and have always gone for shorts/gaiters plus or minus thermals with elcheapo nylon overtrousers in bad weather. My theory has been that the raintrousers will get destroyed by the scrub fairly rapidly and there is no point in getting anything fancier. Last trip I worked out if I cut my thermals off at the knees then I didn't have wet muddy cold thermals inside my gaiters - this brainwave has only taken 20 years.
Hopefully I am going to federation peak in January and I'm wondering about taking the scissors to my nylon overtrousers as well so they are cut off just below my gaiter tops - this will bring the weight down to 100g and as I'm usually wet under them anyway from sweat it may actually improve overall dryness by being cooler.
Anyway, thats where I'm at but I'd be keen to hear how you all who spend a lot of time in Tasmanian conditions deal with the bottom half. Thanks in anticipation.

Firstly I avoid gaiters if possible (basically only on hardened, clear tracks in good weather), otherwise I always wear them, regardless of rain.
As for everything else it depends on conditions:
Warm with rain - shorts only.
Cold with a little bit of light rain - thermals (would be wearing them regardless of rain) & shorts
Cold with substantial/prolonged rain/snow - thermals, shorts and overpants.
Very cold/damp - thermals, light trousers (i.e. shorts with legs zipped on) & overpants.
On the right track I will drop the gaiters if I plan to wear overpants all day.

I use 'breathable' MD overpants wih full length zips up the sides, as well as a fly. I find them much better (comfy/robust) than the cheaper nylon ones.
If it is likely to be too abrasive and the overpants are likely to stay on for a long period it may pay to wear them under the gaiters for protection.

Last trip I worked out if I cut my thermals off at the knees then I didn't have wet muddy cold thermals inside my gaiters - this brainwave has only taken 20 years.

I actually prefer to wear thermals under my gaiters. They help wick sweat away and I feel less wet and clammy. While they can get dirty that helps keeps my legs (and hence sleeping bag) cleaner. Of course in warm weather they are just too hot.

Hopefully I am going to federation peak in January and I'm wondering about taking the scissors to my nylon overtrousers as well so they are cut off just below my gaiter tops - this will bring the weight down to 100g and as I'm usually wet under them anyway from sweat it may actually improve overall dryness by being cooler.

On one walk I did one of us (Pomysi) started the day in nylon overpants and finished in 3-quarter length ones, not sure it was planned though If you are gonna wear gaiters all the time then really there is not much point in the bottoms of the overpants so why not chop em off, good idea!

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Oh btw when I was talking 'nylon' overpants I meant like the waterproof ones that do not breath at all, not he ones like Brett is talking about - those things look like a goer, do they come with zip off legs?

Actually having just checked I was actually talking about polyester ones not nylon at all (Rainbird ones - you know!)

Rainbird is useless! May as well tie some garbage bags to your legs!

MONT overpants are fantastic! I have worn them in some horrid weather and my legs stay relatively dry.

I'll second that Rainbird is the worst - not even slightly waterproof!

Brett - are these they Montane pant you are using? They look pretty good:
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails ... 250&rid=12

I wear some nylon ExOfficio basic pants that I bought on sale from the US online shop in 2006. Been wearing them every day since I bought them - 3 pairs. Office/Home/Walk. These things are indestructible! If it's real cold or very windy, I'll put a pair of thermals underneath (poly) and I usually walk in S2S Quagmire Gaiters. Rain and I'll add rainbird overpants, they work as well as anything and I can bin them with no $ qualms if they get trashed.

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I wish I could find the ones I've got for sale again. They're brilliant.

They cost me $10 about 15 years ago and are still going string, except that the zips at the bottom (for getting them on/off over boots) are a bit knackered.

I'll have to check the label to see what they're actually made of, but it's a woven plastic fabric of some kind, that is fairly tough (has been through a lot of scrub with me), and on the inside has a thin layer of what looks like glue or silicone or gladwrap or some such attached to it (presumably the actual waterproof bit).

They're still 100% waterproof after 15 years, and the fabric shows no sign of wear. They don't breath at all, but I don't find that to be a problem with waterproof overtrousers, most of the time.

Fantastic value for $10 !!!

I only wear them when there's significant rain, or if walking through close sodden vegetation for an extended period in the cold.

On most walks (ie, if there's mud, scrub, water or possibility of snakes), I'll also wear gaiters. I still haven't made up my mind wether the gaiters of the waterproof trousers should be on the outside, and i tend to alternate, simply depending on which is more convenient to put on first at the time. I guess for tough scrub, the gaiters should be on the outside to protect the trousers.

From a slightly different perspective - cycling - and have some old Netti overpants (Super Microft fabric) as a lightweight and compact option, or some full Gore bike-wear pants, naturally with features specific for cycling - reinforced gusset and knees, high waist, studs for braces. I also layer thermal leg warmers - basically a 3/4 leg (from the ankle up - imagine the leg bottom of a converible short) with an elastic thigh gripper, made from flocked/fleecy lycra fabric called 'Super Roubaix'. These are great as you don't need to remove pants to put on/remove them, long zips down the calf.

Had few rides where the quaggies were used, fit right over the pants too.

Got a riding trip coming up in January in Chicago, right in the mid winter with lots of snow and slush about. New gloves and boots on the shopping list...

I normally have some overpants with me but never botherd to wear them. I normally wear some sythetic qucik-dry zip -off pants which are fine for me as long as there are no strong winds. My wife has some overpants with a no-name membrane, she likes them so much that she sometimes wears them even though it doesn't rain. Breathability seems good, at least my wife never complains.

Thanks very much - plenty of food for thought. - I misled you when I said "nylon" - I meant the rainbird style which I assumed was nylon. I do have some light nylon pants I wear skiing but have never taken them walking, as I thought if the legs were zipped on they would just always be wet from the mud, and if not the shorts are a bit too long to hide under my raincoat, but maybe I will revisit this and can leave shorts and walking thermals at home. It sounds like those of you who use the higher end goretex or mont overtrousers find they wear all right. I've always stuck to the rainbird style as they could be destroyed without any qualms, but gee it would be nice to be dry on those wet windy days. I might give the Mont ones a go.


Area 54, I shared a house with a girl from Canada who used to ski heaps but she said the only time she ever got frostbitten was cycling in Chicago - she was sure it was colder than anywhere in Canada. I cycle commute but it never gets really cold here - Usually thermals are enough - or maybe I don't get up enough speed to get the wind chill happening. I find ordinary washing up gloves quite useful when it is raining and cold - they will go over polyprops or under the usual fingerless cycling glove and keep the water out and are bright yellow to boot. Wouldn't cut it in Chicago though.

I cycle commute also (60km round trip) and it's part of my job, great base k's in all weather. Coldest we get here is around 4 in winter in the city anyways. Brissy is so temperate. Only get to use most of the kit on the back country tours.

Chicago will be a great challenge and a perfect reason to buy more specialised weather gear.

Brett wrote:

luke_vic wrote:I'll second that Rainbird is the worst - not even slightly waterproof!

Brett - are these they Montane pant you are using? They look pretty good:
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails ... 250&rid=12

Not those ones but these ones.

http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails ... 176&rid=12

Brett - what is the name of the particular product? It seems that montane have made their website search-engine friendly. There are a few different types of overpant here: http://www.montane.co.uk/products/men/shell

Just dont buy rainbird

Sethros wrote:Just dont buy rainbird

+1

How about a waterproof kilt?
I have been thinking of something along these lines ever since my last WET SW trip where getting the gortex overtrousers on and off over muddy boots was a pain as the rain squalls and sunshine rapidly came and went. Did a quick Google for "waterproof kilt" and the number 1 hit was this - The Drowned Rat Waterproof Kilt!

http://www.exmoortrade.co.uk/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/33 ... kirts.html

I like the look of that kilt but it would have its limitations. Wouldn't be good for climbing/scrambling and wouldn't be good for wading through mud.

But what do you wear under it?

bushrunner wrote:I like the look of that kilt but it would have its limitations. Wouldn't be good for climbing/scrambling and wouldn't be good for wading through mud.

But what do you wear under it?

I think you're skirting the real issue. You'd just look silly!

bushrunner wrote:<snip> But what do you wear under it?

As Spike Milligan once said "There's nothing worn under MY kilt!"

, , , and another variation on this theme . . . http://www.backpacking-lite.co.uk/diy/m ... t-mk2.html

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Anyone tried the Outdoor Research Foray Gortex Paclite Pants [http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_foray_pants.html] or Marmot Minimalist Pants [http://marmot.com/products/minimalist_pant?p=110,170,74].

I'm considering taking either of these to the Overland Track in Nov.

enduro wrote:Anyone tried the Outdoor Research Foray Gortex Paclite Pants [http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_foray_pants.html]...

I have the Berghaus Gore-Tex Paclite pants which look to be almost identical to the OR ones. Only a few outings but I'm happy so far. They're very light, waterproof, and do seem to "breathe" quite well (little or no sweat/condensation inside). I also like the 3/4 length water resistant leg zips, makes them very easy to get on/off and don't seem to leak. Easy to move in them. Feel a little flimsy but did some wet scrub bashing the other weekend and no issues.
http://www.berghaus.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1735&Gear=6
http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/men/outerwear/paclite-shell/pants/1266715648313

enduro wrote:Anyone tried the Outdoor Research Foray Gortex Paclite Pants [http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_foray_pants.html] or Marmot Minimalist Pants [http://marmot.com/products/minimalist_pant?p=110,170,74].

I'm considering taking either of these to the Overland Track in Nov.

I have tried the Furio, same with added reinforcement. I likem'
The paclite material seems pretty tough, I guess the weight saving could be worth not having the extras you get with the furio?
No worries for track walks i'd say!

Nuts wrote:

enduro wrote:Anyone tried the Outdoor Research Foray Gortex Paclite Pants [http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_foray_pants.html] or Marmot Minimalist Pants [http://marmot.com/products/minimalist_pant?p=110,170,74].

I'm considering taking either of these to the Overland Track in Nov.

I have tried the Furio, same with added reinforcement. I likem'
The paclite material seems pretty tough, I guess the weight saving could be worth not having the extras you get with the furio?
No worries for track walks i'd say!

So you say the Furio have added reinforcement? Where abouts is it?

Would they be OK for walking through scrub?

Knees, instep, butt... their paclite is stronger than i expected, they have taken a beating, i guess that they would tear easier than xcr or something but then scrub will test anything. I have a pair of mont hydronaut that seem not much heavier built, however, these cost the same, and are probably lighter, so i'd probably replace them if they did get torn up.

personally, i wear shorts year round, and gaiters if the terrain dictates that i should. never wear trousers, never wear thermal bottoms. only time the pants and thermals come out is at camp

Macca81 wrote:personally, i wear shorts year round, and gaiters if the terrain dictates that i should. never wear trousers, never wear thermal bottoms. only time the pants and thermals come out is at camp

If I lived in Tassie all year round I might too. But coming from warm WA and having experienced the TAS subartic chill a few times before I will be coming prepared for the wind, rain and snow in the highlands. I will of course not make the mistake of not being over prepared!

I bought a pair of Berghaus Prolite Gore-tex overpants to do the Overland recently and they are fabulous. Light, nearly full length leg zips, totally waterproof and windproof, easy to get on and off, incredibly comfortable, and pack into a grapefruit sized bag. I always walk in shorts and wear gaiters. With a long bushwalking length jacket you often don't need to put the overpants on.

I ordered a pair of the Montane Atomic pants via Backpacking Light. I called them up for some info. They were friendly and gave really great advice to help me select the right size. They obviously know the product inside-out. I also asked them about their Sydney Store (which is currently mentioned on the Montane website). The Sydney store closed a few months ago so I placed my order online from the remaining Melbourne store. I had been thinking of traipsing to a Sydney-based stockist to try some on before buying.