Microfiber shorts, skirts, and trousers--Travelsmith?
 

Hi
I'm trying to plan a stay-cool, practical, wardrobe, for a trip to the Middle East this summer.

Travelsmith offers various hot-weather wardrobe items, including shorts and other items that to my surprise are made of a "micro-Cordura" fabric (sounds like nylon to me)

I usually a cotton and linen person in hot weather, but these are specifically mentioned as being 'breathable' and good for hot weather. My nephew, who is a runner, reminds me that running shorts are often made of nylon which wicks away perspiration, as opposed to cotton which just soaks it up.
Any comments on this kind of fabric for hot-weather travel?

I have had good luck with shirts, capris & skorts from Patagongia. In particular, I just bought an "A/C" shirt that is a super light weight cotton blouse that is great if you need/want to be covered, but don't want something that be hot, or add weight.

elaine, I bought some items for the gym which are made out of that micro-fabric and they drive me crazy. To me that fabric holds in the sweat and makes me hot and itchy and I can't wait to pull them off! I would stick to cotton and linen, time tested for centuries.

I'm not sure that nylon wicks away much moisture; after all, it is used in the outer shells of a lot of raingear where it is used to repel moisture.

Something made with a blend of CoolMax and cotton would be a lot more effective at keeping you cool and it dries fast (after laundering) too.

Elaine,
For what it's worth I was in Africa last summer (I know, I know, totally different), but I ended up sticking to my cottons and linens. I felt more "dressed" in them, and it was easier to find items of clothing that I felt were culturally appropriate.

I'm a runner and use microfibers, etc., for exercise. But I don't find them any cooler than cotton.

Your trip sounds very exciting. How wonderful for you!

HI
thanks so far
As soon as I posted I realized I didn't mean to emphasize the shorts per se.
I'm not a shorts person except at barbecues or at the beach, but we will be doing some clambering around ruins and such in hot weather. What I prefer are summer skirts, but it's the fabric I was wondering about.

thanks for the input, I think 'not' on the microfiber, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on a modern improvement

I have a pair of microfiber pants and while they may be "breathable" I was hot in them yesterday at 80*. I don't think nylon wicks but there is a kind of polyester that does. You might check LLBean's travel catalog also.

Elaine. A couple of years ago we were in Bali. It was very hot!
I like the thought of all the microfiber clothes because they are washable and dry quickly. But I wear a plus size and they are very pricey in my opinion.
I stuck with my cotton and linen things also. I found them cool.
But today I was at a Liz Claiborne outlet and they have a new line of golf clothes and I caved in and bought a pair of capri pants. They are microfiber. So I will see. They also have shorts. They practically weigh nothing. The price isn't too bad either. I am taking them to Portugal in May, will let you know.

I was in Dubai and oman last summer and lived in the Travelsmith Ultimate travel skirt ( I have it in 3 colors), and the coolmax Wanderlust shirt.

It is a tailored look; appropriate for anywhere in those areas.

Just make sure nothing is tight or binding on your skin.

Hi elaine,
I spent some time in Israel and Jordan in July of 1998 and the temperatures down near the Dead Sea were 114 F. It was a dry heat, but still miserable... and I was only 18 at the time and used to spending summers outside in Texas, which most people consider hot!

I wore knee-length linen skirts (a-line in style so that the material wasn't sticking to my sweaty legs) with linen tops. I found that because the sun was so intense, I was better off wearing a top with sleeves than a sleeveless top. If you have long hair, definitely bring something to pull it back with and you might want a hat too for the really bright days.

P.S. It cooled off dramatcially in the evenings.

I just got back from India and wore loose, cotton and linen clothing. I also exercise with that alternative material, and really don't like it. I find loose cotton and linen still the better choice (and cheaper). I also was able to send my laundry out in India for dirt cheap and returned later that day. I certainly wouldn't overdress and just bring loose cotton t-shirts and capries that can be easily laundered and a wide-brimmed hat and you'll be fine.

I don't think this is the fabric you're considering but I had a horrible experience with 2 CoolMax shirts from TravelSmith a couple trips back (Europe, summer, heatwave).

I went overboard on 'packing light' so each piece really counted & these were brand new untried (rookie mistake) - one black and one white coolmax sleeveless v-neck t-shirts.

they were so bad they became a running joke with my traveling companions... they pilled, they stained, they were hot and sweaty, they did not dry quickly, and i won't even go into the details of the time one caught fire!!!

ok enough outta me, and i do want to try some of the TS's crinkly rayon separates they're showing this year, just stay away from coolmax.

If it's not natural fibre I'm scratching and itching and hot! Guess everyone react differently to synthetics or microfibres. I stick with cotton, linen and even silk in hot weather. Sure they might soak up the moisture, but I'm still cool.

Surprisingly, in the Middle East during summer months, your best bet is loose fitting light weight cotton or linen (that almost sheer see-thru kind); white or beige or tan, rather than black when it comes to colors.

It's best to keep yourself covered and protected from the sun. One must use sun-protection lotion on any exposed skin.... and definitely a hat, covering the back of your neck. And do not forget the water. It is sometimes so hot, one can barely get from one block to another.

Try to stay cool.

I'm going to Italy and have been wondering the same thing. I'll be going on and off trains and I'm concerned about lugging around too many clothes. I'm curious if most hotels offer to clean them and if it is reasonable. I went to Africa last year and did buy a lot of clothes from L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer and Eastern Mountain Store. Cotton and linen are not as light in suitcases and tend to wrinkle. It depends on how important packing light is to you. I found the micro fibers did dry much quicker than cotton. Columbia and L.L Bean shirts are poly but feel like cotton, they are very lightweight (almost to light as in gauze) as are most cool max shirts. I ended up wearing a micro sleeveless tee with a UV protection cotton shirt (again from L.L. Bean) over it and open.

I prefer to travel in cooler weather during off-season, but this has me wondering. Doesn't linen wrinkle terribly in your suitcase? Not only that, but I find linens a bit scratchy as well. They look awesome, when you first put them on, but it seems that after I have worn linen for more than an hour it looks messy. Cotton is so much more comfortable to me.

I've purchased a number of microfiber and coolmax items from Travelsmith for an upcoming trip to Egypt. The quality and fit are very nice. I like the zipper pockets in the pants. I've worn them a few times -- but the spring in Wisconsin isn't a warm weather test. They do dry quickly and pretty wrinkle free. Even the jeans dried overnight after being handwashed.
We met a couple last summer while in Ecuador and they both swore by their coolmax & microfiber clothing. I've always worn cotton--but will be very happy to get rid of the travel iron!

Regarding hotels and laundry or dry cleaning: it's one of my favorite travel luxuries, if I have to choose I'll pay for that, and have bread and cheese and fruit for a dinner or two. Some people go out to laundromats, which saves on the cost, but I don't want to take the time to do it myself ( and I don't ever travel for more than 10-12 days at a time, and often much less than that, that makes a difference in considering frequent laundry expenses.) Anyway, I do Woolite in the sink for small items, but happily give my larger items to the hotel laundry/dc service, assuming they offer it. Just make sure, even when they promise 'same day' or 'next day' service, that they note your schedule, so you don't have to depart without your clothes. I love having a clean and pressed set of clothes mid-trip, and it saves on my initial packing also. I just build the expense into my trip budget.

elaine, a woman after my own heart! We picked hotels at 2 points during our upcoming 2 week trip that offer same day laundry and dry cleaning.

Elaine,

Just out of curiosity, have you posted your itinerary on the Africa/Middle East board? Don't mean to invade your privacy, but I'm sure I and others would be most interested.

And by the way, I am a bigtime cheapie about hotels/laundry, etc., but we were in the middle of the Serengeti and our lodge had "run out of water" (?) and they still managed to get our laundry done lickety split, perfectly ironed, including our unmentionables (an accident on our part as it was against the rules). Very inexpensive. My guess is you'll encounter similar in the Middle East.

p.s. Love the thought of you parading around Jordan or somewhere in microfiber hot pants.

wow, I've been to Egypt in October when it was 90-100 F, so I cannot imagine it in summer. I only wore cottons (maybe lightweight linen, don't recall)--various loosely woven cotton fabric blouses (with short sleeves or simply camp-shirt style) and mid-calf length skirts. These were sort of the ethnic-style cotton fabric you may see in Indian clothing or what used to be sold (maybe still is) in Pier 1 and places like that. It sort of comes crinkly, so wrinkles blend in, at least it's not smooth.

I don't know what that fabric from Travelsmith is, you'd have to ask them (I notice they don't cite fabric content). I suspect it is polyester as that is what the industry term microfiber stands for (sometimes mixed with a little nylon for durability in some items). Generally, it's a very fine filament polyester, though, although you do find more items made of nylon nowadays -- it got popular a couple years ago.

I have a couple pair of nylon capris and I do take them because they are very lightweight, rollup to very little AND because they are warmer iof the weather is a little cool. I don't agree with your nephew (and I have a BS degree is textiles, actually) that nylon wicks anything or that it is cool. It's water-impermeable, basically.

I think the reason running shorts are nylon is because it is very lightweight and nylon is very durable and holds dye very well. They wash and dry very quickly. I suspect he thinks they wick moisture or feel cooler because they don't absorb the perspiration into the fabric and dry very quickly, but some cottons (especially heavier or woven) can stay damp for a long time. So it isn't that nylon wicks things, it just doesn't absorb it.

The good thing with the microfiber or lightweight nylon stuff is that it is easy to pack and wash and dry quickly, but I don't think it's cool. When I've seen Travelsmith's description of "micro-cordura" they don't say it's breathable, but lightweight, rugged twill (which is a weave like denim) and that they dry quickly.

Some newer synthetics are designed for wicking (such as Coolmax), but not just nylon in itself. I remember reading some technical info on that once, and I think the fiber itself has several bumps in it (it's not a smooth filament like nylon) which create extra space between fibers when woven. This is more similar to what natural fibers do that aren't chemically smooth like nylon, and that's why it is a polyester that wicks more than it would otherwise. something like that

the Rick Steve's website also has a reversible skort that they sell - black on one side and khaki on the other. He always endorses clothes that are good for travel - dry quickly and without too many wrinkles.

The microfiber pants from Travel Smith are 100% polyester. They are from the 90 degree" wear options.
The fabric reminds me of a brushed cotton and is the weight of a double thickness of a lightweight cotton shirt.

Oh goodie, I get to be the voice of dissent here.

I have been a strictly natural fibers person for decades, both at home and when traveling. I was extremely sceptical about the synthetics made especially for hot weather, but I decided to try some zip-off pants (from Royal Robbins) for our first trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Very hot, very humid weather.

I absolutely LIVED in those pants. I washed them every night in the hotel sink (it took 5 minutes) and they were dry by morning. I can honestly say that they didn't seem any hotter or any cooler than lightweight cotton or linen, but they had the advantage of drying quickly when (sorry to be gross) they were wet with sweat.

I now own 2 pair and take them anytime I travel to a hot climate especially if I will be in the bush, jungle, climbing around ruins, etc.

Like suze, I dislike the coolmax I've owned because it pills badly and seems to hang on to body odors even through several washings. Ugh.

PS elaine, the guiding principle for that kind of heat, as a friend of mine put it, is "You want clothes that touch your body as little as possible."

I am intrigued about Suze's blouse catching on fire, must be a store there! Come on tell us.

I was planning to buy some of the coolmax shirts from Travelsmith. Thanks everybody for saving me some money- I'll stick to my cotton shirts for travel.

Marilyn- I went hiking today in my favorite Royal Robbins pants. I originally bought them for travel, but I find myself wearing them at home.

padams, that's about the only time I wear them at home -- for hiking. If you ever get to the San Francisco area, Royal Robbins has a small outlet store in Berkeley and everything is at least 20% off the usual price, with sale items even more deeply discounted. You can stock up!

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elaineanks for all the sharing and information.

I think I'll stick to cottons.

I hesitate to clog this thread with details of my summer trip (not Europe), but I'll just say that I'm lucky to have been invited along, with family.
It's not a complicated itinerary, a day in Jordan (Petra), an overnight in Eilat, a drive up to Jerusalem, a few days in Jerusalem. I am not in charge, just along for the lucky ride, and I expect the hotels to be quite nice (with laundry service.) :)

I'll post on the Middle East forum when I complete this.

Elaine, I haven't tried microfiber clothing that is worn next to the body, but I did purchase a beautifully tailored navy blazer from Tilley's that I love. It has kept its shape, "breathes" just fine, and the fit is really superb for its price (about $225). The quality of construction is excellent.

On the other hand, I purchased a microfiber raincoat from Travelsmith that has been nothing short of a button-disaster. Every button has come off. That's every. single. button. I called the company for replacement buttons, and they graciously offered to replace the coat, but the problem is the buttons, not the coat! I guess my lesson was that quality is (still) the most important feature of clothing. If you do order something from Travelsmith, wash it and wear it before the trip. If you don't like it you can return it and you're just out the shipping.

You know, I now recall years ago buying some sort of 'travel dress' from Travelsmith, don't recall the fiber content but it was obciously poorly constructed (crooked seams, etc) and I sent it right back.

As for shopping, I just ordered some cotton and linen skirts from coldwatercreek.com last night, here's hoping they work out.

There was a time (before I was born) when linen was expensive to purchase and wrinkled terribly... only the rich wore linen and looked wrinkled, but were still rich! Ha! In the past 20-years or so, the way linen is manufacted, it wrinkles little, if at all.

As to the creases or wrinkles you'd expect in cotton or linen items, it's a matter of how these are packed. If packing flat, dry cleaner plastic bags work, as does tissue paper. If rolling items, use the cardboard roller from paper towels. And fold items on their natural creases/seams.

If all else fails, and you don't have your own steamer, call the Butler to steam out the wrinkles. Even in the middle of the Serengeti or Masai Mara in Africa you can find a Butler - take my word, I've used him; but rarely as there are few wrinkles.

elaine - be prepared for HOT HOT HOT in Petra and Eilat. Best to spend your time in the pool/water in Eilat... you can't walk a block without feeling you're in the middle of the desert (you are) looking for an oasis; and have plenty of water and cool wraps for your neck in Petra... another desert and many places enclosed by high walls with little air flowing around. Jerusalem too will be hot, but except while on the street, everywhere indoors in air conditioned. Summer wouldn't be my choice for travel to this area... but for free, go for it! All of these places should be visited regardless the weather. Enjoy, with whatever you choose wear.