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Practical Style: Travel Clothing in the Desert

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hop-scotch

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
In a month, I will be joining an archaeological dig in Egypt. Although eventually my research will take me to Cairo, Luxor and those more usual places, initially I will be at a very remote site and without many amenities. I’m interested in any advice and suggestions (fabrics, brands, articles) having to do with what clothes would be best.

I’m specifically interested in clothes that are breathable, body-covering, don’t need ironing and don’t require dry-cleaning (so no linen, unfortunately, although blends could work). Temperatures can hit both extremes, but I can always layer up for cold weather so I’m more interested in fabrics that are light, wrinkle-free etc. I found some RL seersucker shirts that will work well not only because they won’t wrinkle and are good in the heat, but also because they have a bit of focused flair. I don’t enjoy shirts that are tan or beige and I generally keep “safari shades” away from my face so I guess I’m also looking for alternatives to the typical Indiana Jones look, or at least more vibrant and colorful variations, although there is a large soft spot in my heart for Indiana Jones and especially his father. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Practicality above all. Don't let the desire to be stylish interfere with anything you need to be able to do for work.

That said, linen should not be ruled out. Linen does not require ironing... it requires acceptance of wrinkles, which will happen whether you iron it or not. IIRC, the ancient Egyptians themsleves primarily wore linen cloth.

Also good would be very thin cotton button-front shirts with long sleeves. Madras is especially good for this. Between linen, thin broadcloth, and madras, you should be able to find any shade you like.

If you're especially concerned about the sun, some of the outdoor outfitters sell shirts with greater UV protection than traditional cloth.

Get a broad-brimmed hat of some sort... either a straw hat or a tilley of some sort. The latter, although ugly, can be worn wet for extra cooling.
 
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#3 ·
One of these should do nicely.

Image


All kidding aside, practicality and coverage are vitally important. Lightweight breathable fabrics are your friend. Avoid synthetics. Shorts and short sleeve shirts do not provide nearly enough protection as a lightweight long sleeve shirt and full pants.

And x2 on the Tilley. They are great hats. You may want to consider one with a neck shield for added protection.
 
#4 ·
Don't forget about your feet. Having them breath is the key to keeping you cool. I worked in Saudi Arabia for 10 years and there is a reason why flip flops rule and thobes and gutras are the national dress. My favorite sandles were open on the sides, covered the toe and had a tightly woven top. Kept my feet from getting sunburn as well as protect my toes while allowing my feet to breath. A comfortable, wide-brim hat is also worth having. Of course in the field you'll probably wear boots and you will be quite warm so slow down, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks.
 
#5 ·
sowilson said:
Don't forget about your feet. Having them breath is the key to keeping you cool. I worked in Saudi Arabia for 10 years and there is a reason why flip flops rule and thobes and gutras are the national dress. My favorite sandles were open on the sides, covered the toe and had a tightly woven top. Kept my feet from getting sunburn as well as protect my toes while allowing my feet to breath. A comfortable, wide-brim hat is also worth having. Of course in the field you'll probably wear boots and you will be quite warm so slow down, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks.
Click to expand...
So Crocs?
 
#6 ·
Definitely pick up a Gellabiya. They're not costume-ish at all and extremely practical. Most Egyptians wear them for a reason. I wore them in 120deg heat in the middle of Syria and was cool as a cucumber at the slightest breeze.

DF
 
#7 ·
Bootwise, several excellent breathable, moisture wicking and relatively inexpensive boots have been developed the past few years because of demand by the armed forces in Iraq and elsewhere.

One lightweight example is the Desert TFX® Rough Out Hot Military Boots,

 
#8 ·
I love to get dressed up like Indy and go out to the desert or mountains. I consider myself both an outdoors enthusiast and an amateur geologist. But when it's for an overnight trip, several qualifications come into play:

1. Can you go swimming? Dumb question for a remote site, but can you have a bath, swim or shower at the end of the day. If not, maybe khaki and OD are appropriate colours, much as you dislike them.

2. Nightime. What kind of nighttime activities will you be doing. If you're writing reports until the wee hours after a day's digging, you'll need heavier clothes than if you were just hopping into bed. I suggest you go get yourself an OR or SD fleece.

3. Hats. Will you be wearing a scarf and a boonie? I like an OR Seattle Sombrero and a neckscarf (like a cotton neckerchief wrapped around my neck).

4. Driving and walking. Do you spend a lot of time driving? If so, a pair of desert boots might be in the cards. Walking? I suggest Rockports or Clarks with gaiters.

5. Laundry. Do you get an opportunity to do laundry, or have it done securely? If not, maybe a couple cheap shirts from TJ Maxx will be superior to a RL Purple Label offering. I have some cheap seersucker from Izod that cost me about 15USD per shirt.

Just some thoughts. Feel free to PM me with ideas/queries.

Thomas
 
#9 ·
For desert field work, there are different criteria for different items:

1) Footwear - Comfortable with toe protection (composite is better than steel toe for airports). Good choices come from Rockport, Bates and Converse (pretty much any military desert boot will fit the bill.
2) Pants - durable and protective - Duluth Trading Company's 10oz Firehose work pants have enough pockets for work and are super durable, breathable and comfortable.
3) Shirt - Long sleeve, Sweat wicking, bug repellent & sun protection - Look at ExOfficio's shirt offerings.
4) Belt - You will need a good belt - I like SpecOps Brand's Better BDU belt.
5) Buff and Baseball cap - Get yourself a good microfiber buff - Perfect item for cold and hot conditions. Supplement with a baseball cap for sun protection.
6) High quality sunglasses that wrap around your eyes. Vented sungoggles are even better.
7) Gloves - Bionic's Tough pro gloves are my first choice for field work. Inexpensive, protective and allow excellent dexterity.
8) Socks - Wicking, odor resistant and cushioned. I get mine from Campmor in NJ, usually whatever is on sale.
9) Undergarments - Coolmax or any other wicking type polyester.
10) Hydration pack - Camelbak or equivalent + chemical decontamination tablets.
11) Folding shovel - Gerber or Glock. Good for lots of things in the desert.

Good luck and have fun! Being prepared for the worst will serve you well.
 
#10 ·
wool socks

It may sound counterintuitive, but consider lightweight wool hiking socks. My hands-down favorite is Smartwool, in whatever weight is appropriate for your activity and footwear.

Wool breathes, doesn't chafe the way cotton does, and cushions one's feet. Try a pair ahead of time to see if you like wearing wool.

For that matter, I suggest you select your boots and socks ASAP and start breaking them in. If you will be on your feet and moving a lot, it would be well to have taken care of this in advance.

This advice is based on practical experience, hiking and backpacking in the mountains and deserts of southern California and the West.

Hope this is helpful,
Gurdon
 
#11 ·
I recommend anything from Patagonia, in particular the silkweight capilene, puckerware (blended seersucker. Love the stuff), and sol patrol lines. Rohan in the UK seems to make great products that would suit your needs.
 
Discussion starter · #12 · (Edited)
Thank you

Thank you very much everyone. Your recommendations are immensely helpful and some are already on their way. I especially enjoy the fact that I'll be wearing a boot that received a five-star review from a marine who assured customers that it was the best desert boot available and added that he enjoyed finally having a boot durable enough to properly kick down doors.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Linen

CuffDaddy said:
That said, linen should not be ruled out. Linen does not require ironing... it requires acceptance of wrinkles, which will happen whether you iron it or not. IIRC, the ancient Egyptians themsleves primarily wore linen cloth.
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Linen is one of my favorite fabrics and, like anyone who really likes linen, I have accepted acceptable wrinkles. Most of my linen shirts, however, are dry-clean only. In fact, the only ones that aren't are those mixed with cotton or silk. I've always found it strange that a linen-silk blended shirt of mine (one of my favorites) can be machine washed, but after many years of tumbling around in "tougher company" it's still in pretty good shape. It's not often that I come across brands that create a quality linen shirt that can go through a regular wash. If you know of any, I'd be very interested. Some Territory Ahead articles I own mix silk into machine-washable shirts in a surprisingly impressive way. I am always looking for brands that do similar work, especially with linen.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Quality Thin Broadcloth

Also, which brands are doing a good job with thin broadcloth? Are you referring to BB's non-iron shirts? I'm actually not familiar with their non-iron shirts; I assume they're decent. Knowing where to find shirts in such a breathable fabric would be excellent, especially given their layering potential.
 
#15 ·
Lemon328i said:
5) Buff and Baseball cap - Get yourself a good microfiber buff - Perfect item for cold and hot conditions. Supplement with a baseball cap for sun protection.
Click to expand...
Just a quick note on this. Baseball caps aren't that great an option if you're out all day in the sun as they don't offer any protection for your ears or the back of your neck. Sure you can tuck a handkerchief in the back and turn up your collar but a proper legionnaire-style, straw hat or Tilley will serve you much better in this type of environment.

More info here:
 
#16 ·
hop-scotch said:
Thank you very much everyone. Your recommendations are immensely helpful and some are already on their way. I especially enjoy the fact that I'll be wearing a boot that received a five-star review from a marine who assured customers that it was the best desert boot available and added that he enjoyed finally having a boot durable enough to properly kick down doors.
Click to expand...
1. Which boots did you settle on?

2. IME snug fitting, thin merino wool undershirts are great for strenuous stuff in hot weather. They wick moisture superbly, never feel clammy and are amazingly odor free (even after wearing the same shirt in the field for a week).
 
#17 ·
I worked for German archaeological team as a geophysicist in 1992. The locality was at the right side of Nile valley about 20 km north from Assiout, central Egypt. The dessert is separated from the fertile Nile valley land by a djebel, rocky wall. The weather there in September October is very hot and dry.

I used cotton underwear (hollow fibre would be better), heavy canvas working trousers in khaki colour and mid calf military boots mod. 60, heavy black leather. Exactly the same stuff we used in my country for the similar job. It was all weather trouser so without the winter liner rather roomy that means comfortable in hot climate. I tucked the trousers in the boots. Instead of shirt I prefer long sleeve jersey. It is more comfortable and you have lot of space for utilities in trousers pockets. Leather working gloves if you need to manipulate with something.

Better than cap and much cheaper is white scarf that is used by village people. You buy it in local market. Ask the local staff how to wear it. Scarf protect your nape much more effectively than cap. And you can use it for cleaning your glasses too.

We worked since 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. without break. It seems crazy but you are not very happy to return back to the field after lunch. Late lunch is much more appropriate at least for me.

The only thing I would like to add today are integral knee protectors that was not common those days and maybe more sophisticated underwear. If you are lucky enough to change the jersey, socks and underwear everyday life is nice. Don't remember to carry water with you all the time.

Hope this help.
 
#18 ·
I'll second the suggestion for wool socks-modern wool hiking socks are excellent in a wide range of climates. I've worn them in the Amazon, the Antarctic, and the deserts of California, and have never been terribly unhappy with them.

Though I know the forumites here won't be pleased with the suggestion, I would also suggest considering nylon for trousers and coats. Modern nylon clothes can be made extremely lightweight while remaining very strong, thus staying intact while drying quickly (nice for washing without a dryer) and being more breathable. I've worn nylon trousers on most expeditions, and have never had much in the way of damage to them, or complaints. There are also some brands of partially-synthetic underwear that are claimed to have better wicking and breathability than cotton; in my experience, those claims are true.

hop-scotch said:
Most of my linen shirts, however, are dry-clean only. In fact, the only ones that aren't are those mixed with cotton or silk.
Click to expand...
I don't see how this can be possible. Is this from personal experience, or from the maker? There does always seem to be a tendency to label everything as dry-clean only, and that would be the only thing that I can think of in this situation.

There's always the possibility of hand-washing, too, especially in places like this.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
thanks everyone; a very successfull trip

I don't see how this can be possible. Is this from personal experience, or from the maker? There does always seem to be a tendency to label everything as dry-clean only, and that would be the only thing that I can think of in this situation.

There's always the possibility of hand-washing, too, especially in places like this.[/quote]

Yes, thank you for this clarification. All of my linen shirts come from one place in Portugal and the English on the tag says Dry Clean. Given what linen is, there's no reason it can't be washed with cold water. I've managed to go a little over two decades without realizing this. That just goes to show what happens when you really respect a place; if the tag had said to offer up a small animal sacrifice before each washing, I probably would have done it.

Egypt was a tremendous success. We made a lot of progress and may have even uncovered one of the period's first churches. Those linen shirts were actually my best and most useful articles. They held up well and felt great. Someone actually thanked me for wearing clothes that she could compliment. A lot of people didn't bring similar clothing because they left home anything that was "too nice" and assumed their clothes would get destroyed. I got lucky, but I'm glad I brought them and would do it again, although, yes, my absolute favorite shirts I would leave at home.

The advice on this thread covers many of the bases. Another thing I'll add is a lightweight bathrobe. Having something durable, cotton and not too substantial to wear to the hot springs and showers (when they were available) was very useful and allowed me to remain modest in a way that was practical and passable to local Egyptians. Also moccasin slippers; my L. L. Bean pair that I've had for six years worked great. When you're doing informal work around a dig house it's nice to have loafer or moccasin-style footwear; it also gives whatever else you're wearing a rest. That's what comes to mind at the moment. As long as you can carry it, it's really worth bringing articles that might be considered a little luxurious.
 
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