Shorts vs Trousers

[A Jay]

For those who go on multi-day hikes in remote areas, do you still wear long trousers in the middle of summer as a layer against snake bites, sharp flora and ticks? Or do you just take shorts? Or gaitors? What do you wear for hot summer multi-day trekking? Do you go long-sleeve with your shirt?

Do you use the heavier hiking boots or just joggers? Wouldn't long trousers and long sleeved shirts be too hot in summer temps?

[J M]

On a recent 5 day walk in Kakadu (late July, around 32 degrees each day and full sun) I wore shorts, a light cotton long sleeve shirt and gators when I needed to. This worked well for me (along with a hat and sunscreen of course). I think that you'll be hot no matter what but what becomes important is limiting the amount of skin you have exposed to the sun and wearing clothes that allows your sweat to evaporate nice and quickly.

On the footwear side of things I wore trail runners - nice and light and well-ventilated.

It always helps when you have somewhere to swim at the end of the day as well!

[A Jay]

On a recent 5 day walk in Kakadu (late July, around 32 degrees each day and full sun) I wore shorts, a light cotton long sleeve shirt and gators when I needed to. This worked well for me (along with a hat and sunscreen of course). I think that you'll be hot no matter what but what becomes important is limiting the amount of skin you have exposed to the sun and wearing clothes that allows your sweat to evaporate nice and quickly.

On the footwear side of things I wore trail runners - nice and light and well-ventilated.

It always helps when you have somewhere to swim at the end of the day as well!

That's a good idea. Wear shorts, then chuck on the gaitors when you need to. So you can wear gaitors with simple trail shoes? No need for hiking boots?

[taswegian]

In my initial days I'd wear long trousers but soon graduated to shorts.
I never wore gaiters.
Scrub wasn't really an issue for me, the legs stood up pretty well.
That said being tall helps as you can lift over things short legs have to bash through.

BUT. Looking back with wisdom of age, and many bits of sun damaged skin removed from my exposed areas, legs
included, I'd hopefully take a different approach if starting out now.
A few years ago, due to the sun effects, I stopped shorts use outdoors and now it's long trousers.

Personally I'd take shorts any day. There's nothing more uncomfortable than clammy sweaty trousers, or cold wet ones.
Cold wasn't an issue so much as being wet for me.
Ditto for shirt sleeves. Once short or long but rolled up.

If shorts are preferred then watch out for the sun. The calves make great sun catchers for starters.

[taipan821]

Long pants and long sleeve shirt

In addition, since I hate sunscreen I wear light gloves, a head sox and wide brim hat.

I use lightweight nylon and cycling jerseys and with that I don't find heat an issue

[Lizzy]

Long quick dry pants, long shirt and wide brimmed hat for me

[Orion]

I wear a reversible pant/short combo with one long pant leg and one short leg. Around mid-day I take them off and put them on the other way around.

I have a similar shirt.

[Mark F]

I wear a reversible pant/short combo with one long pant leg and one short leg. Around mid-day I take them off and put them on the other way around.

I have a similar shirt.

Are you are north or south going Zax? (Dr Zeuss)

If you chose to walk E-W or W-E you wouldn't need to change orientation at mid-day.

[ofuros]

I'm in sub tropics so wear shorts all year round. Add a long sleeve lightweight fishing shirt
rolled up in dense shadowy rainforest or rolled down on exposed ridges.
Pack a snake bite kit and know how to use it, roll of strapping tape for any really nasty gashes
& wear stretchy 6inch boxer briefs to keep ticks away from my sensitive areas.
Off track...Short gaitors in winter & longer ones in summer when snakes are more active.
On track...no gaitors.
Moved away from boots to lightweight, cooler, grippy soled runners.
Nowadays I also carry a Plb.

[north-north-west]

Zip-offs. Best of both worlds. Wear them as shorts when it's hotter or more open, as long pants in cooler or scrubbier conditions.

[A Jay]

Thanks everyone, awesome information.

[J M]

That's a good idea. Wear shorts, then chuck on the gaitors when you need to. So you can wear gaitors with simple trail shoes? No need for hiking boots?

Yep, mine work normally with trail runners. Just have to tighten the straps down a little

[walkon]

long sleeve shirts, broad brim hat, gaiters when needed and boots. Shorts all year round from the beach to the snow. But wear what's good for you and don't worry about what others have got on.... or not if that's your thing.

[GPSGuided]

Shorts are more comfortable and loses little in terms of protection when paired with long gaiters but obviously helped by the more loose long style of recent decade. Not sure I’d go with those short and tight shorts of the 70-80s though.

[Orion]

Shorts are more comfortable and loses little in terms of protection when paired with long gaiters but obviously helped by the more loose long style of recent decade. Not sure I’d go with those short and tight shorts of the 70-80s though.

Pants can bind or slide down repeatedly because of the pack (if you have no hips).

But I prefer the short shorts. The current long shorts seem ludicrous to me. I think it's just fashion mainly. To my eye they don't look nearly as good. I'm heterosexual but I think men in long shorts aren't as attractive as men in short shorts. Maybe women think differently about it. I surely find that attractive women look good in both long and short shorts, so I don't know.

What I do know is that the shorter, flimsier material shorts are the most comfortable on me. So much so that I'm sewing my own. It's not that I love the idea of sewing my own clothes (I don't), it's because the fashion gods have decided for us that what used to be in fashion, commonplace, and easy to purchase, is now not worth making available at all.

[tom_brennan]

It depends. Shorts + old business shirt + gaiters & sock savers for Kimberley and Kakadu trips. The old business shirt is good for sun protection (and gives me an air of respectability )

Long pants only when I know that the scrub is going to make me suffer after a day or two.

Otherwise cheap nylon/polyester shorts from Lowes ($10) and an old t-shirt ($0).

So basically, it depends.

[beardless]

For me it's quick dry shorts for all walks.

I add long gaiters for any scrubby or off track walks, and if I take them I usually keep them on (sun protection when hot, protection from wind when cold)

The only issue is the small window of flesh between the gaiters and shorts. It can be a bit painful going through thick scrub.

And a long sleeve cotton shirt. I often have a merino thermal underneath the shirt.

[puredingo]

I've got a few pairs of those zipper legged Bushwalker pants but never EVER have I once zipped off the legs.

I'm usually too lazy so I talk myself out of it with the reasoning that 300ml of fabric from my knee down isn't going to make any difference heat wise.

[Neo]

Trousers for me. Lighter in summer.

Can just roll the lower legs up.

[tom_brennan]

Trousers for me. Lighter in summer.

You'll have to explain how trousers are lighter ... at any time of the year?!

[Hallu]

I don't do shorts anymore, long pants protect me from mud, prickly plants, insects, and sun. Besides I now hike really early in the morning, I'd be a bit too cold in shorts. If you have light hiking pants with side vents you don't really need shorts.

[puredingo]

Trousers for me. Lighter in summer.

You'll have to explain how trousers are lighter ... at any time of the year?!

My trousers are actually lighter than my shorts. My shorts being the thick canvas type that come to just above my knee and the trousers are lightweight, quick dry type of style. Maybe that was the case?

[crollsurf]

Not a fan of sunscreen so wear light pants and long sleeve shirt. I'll roll up the sleeves a long time before I'll unzip the legs of my pants. Also don't do long hard hikes in Summer, rather hang out at the beach or head for a creek.

[Neo]

Yes I should have written lighter weight fabric for summer trousers compared to winter weight.

I tried the Patagonia Simul alpine pants last winter but have put them away now and just got a pair of the Rock pants as my good summer ones.

Have been wearing selected thin Kathmandu for ages but they have a few melt holes!

I too prefer to cover up from the sun instead of creams.

[tas-man]

I too dislike using sunscreen so in summer use an old white business shirt with long sleeves, wide brim light colour hat, and light weight light colour zip off trousers which can be partially unzipped at the knees for extra ventilation when wearing gaiters. It wasn't always this way though - here's a photo of our BBW group starting the Overland Track in December 1971, and for five out of six of us, it was cotton rugby shorts all the way, even on top of Mt Ossa!

My current summer sunny day outfit, here near Hidden Bay in SW Tassie.

[Neo]

Unzip the knees! Great idea. I had disregarded that type of trouser...

[Mark F]

I use zipoffs but don't zip off very often. One trick I use on long walks, travelling, or when one is catching public transport home and want a second pair of pants, I carry just the shorts section as a spare and only have a single set of legs that can be attached to either top section saving 90 grams.

On the shirt issue (I dare not say front or I have nightmares about TA) I often use an old white poly-cotton business shirt that is a bit on the large side - good ventilation and coverage, light I just have to ignore the old paint splashes.

[GPSGuided]

I have avoided purchasing zip-offs to date. Each time I tried them on I could feel that ridge across the lower end of my thighs. Apart from the discomfort, I also worry it'll rub and chaff on sweaty days. Instead I have a thin long pants that has side vents for cooling on hot days. Works very well both for summer as well as colder days. Otherwise shorts and long gaiters are great when I'm less concerned about weather and scrubs.

[rcaffin]

There are those who wear long trousers, and there are those who wear Band-Aids.

Cheers
Roger

[davidf]

And those who use steri strips and friars balsam