Non-polyester Walking/Hiking clothes for sweaty people

fairy_lights

I'm trying to find lightweight, moisture wicking layers, but pretty much all of the walking clothes I can find are polyester or a nylon blend.
I generally avoid polyester because it makes me sweat so much, I'm a pretty sweaty person anyway but non-breathable fabrics make it so much worse. I've tried polyester walking clothes that are labelled as 'breathable' etc before but have ended up with sore armpits from sweat/deodorant rub
Can anyone recommend any brands of walking clothes that are made from natural fibres?
(Or if like me you are a sweat monster but have found polyester walking gear that does work, what is it?)

Manxman_in_exile

I'm pretty sweaty and am still using Helly Hansen (Lifa) base layers that I bought over 25 years ago. (This is MSE after all!)


Lifa was a bit unpopular as it was widely regarded to stink after a couple of days, but my wife never complained! HH are still going strong so see what they have currently. It must be even better now.


Try getting advice at a Cotswold shop or Go Outdoors as to what is currently available. Reviews in Trail, Great Outdoors or Country Walking magazines (and their respective websites) should be helpful.


As regards breathable outer layers you need something like Goretex or one of the more modern equivalents. They should keep you dry from rain and allow perspiration to escape(*) but don't come cheap.


(*) Not sure if still true but Goretex outers used to have to be quite a snug fit otherwise sweat wouldn't be "forced" out of the garment.


(PS - I understand if you've got a REAL sweaty armpit problem you can get super effective deodorants. Try your pharmacist or GP)


EDIT if out walking I wouldn't use deodorant for fear of worsening chafing

AirJoe

I'm a Sweaty Betty and the fact is, when I start walking/running in warm weather, I'm going to sweat regardless of what I wear.

Managing the sweat is key so either a vest (doesn't get more breathable than that) or, if you need the coverage, a close fitting base layer is what I do. I second the recommendation for Helly Hansen if your budget can stretch to that. If not, Decathlon is a great place to find budget friendly active wear.

To be honest I find technical polyester clothing breathes just fine (even the cheap stuff) but you could also look at bamboo clothing if you want an alternative. I have had mixed results with bamboo so personally steer clear of it but you may fare better.

If you're after a rain jacket then you'll struggle to find waterproof and breathable in a single package. I think something like the Marmot Precip is a good compromise that won't break the bank. It's lightweight, which means it works very well in a layering system for those of us that run a little hot and it's usually around £70 on Amazon. It's always reviews well too.

Whatever you do don't go too cheap on a rain coat. The really cheap jackets I've tried have been like wearing a sauna suit!

Hope that helps and let us know if you find anything good.

comeandgo

I am with you regarding plastic tee shirts and sweating. The love of my life in walking wear is Icebreaker. They are wool products, keep you cool in the heat and warm in the cold. I do have some bamboo items too, they are ok, my husband uses them more than I do. Cotton shirts, maybe tied up fancy at the front can help, and if you are in a remote area you can open them up all the way.

indesisiv

I just walk in my running gear most of the time (well the base layers / t-shirts)
I do have some merino wool base layers that I use in winter but off hand I can't remember who makes them.

MallyGirl

My fave walking gear is Craghoppers - I love the kiwi trousers. I have the winterlined ones for standing about in the cold/sled dogging but wouldn't walk in them as they get too hot.
I can't wear wool so have to go cotton or synthetic. It is a nightmare finding good socks with no wool in. Brasher used to do them but stopped - I have some Thorlo ones which are quite good.

fairy_lights

comeandgo wrote: »

I am with you regarding plastic tee shirts and sweating. The love of my life in walking wear is Icebreaker.

I've heard very good things about Icebreaker but the price makes me want to cry. Is it really worth it?
I'm considering buying one or two Icebreaker pieces on the basis that it should last me longer and serve me better than cheap gear.

fairy_lights

Thanks for the suggestions, I've got some ideas now of brands and fabrics to try.
I'm hiking the Inca Trail later in the year so want to find comfortable clothes that won't chafe/stink


Now I've started wondering if I'm going to need special hiking pants, normally I wear basic cotton types but that might not be idea for a sweaty trek up a mountain. Any knicker recommendations?

Hedgehog99

I like Craghoppers clothing. Some of the range has built-in insect repellent too.

If you're tempted to try the "industrial" deodorants, be careful! I tried Driclor and it burned my skin even though I followed the instructions.

There used to be some T-shirts (intended as underwear) with silver in them, supposedly to deal with odour problems - they did work for me, but not sure if they're still available. At the time, they were made by Rohan. Most of their clothing is expensive though.

comeandgo

fairy_lights wrote: »

I've heard very good things about Icebreaker but the price makes me want to cry. Is it really worth it?
I'm considering buying one or two Icebreaker pieces on the basis that it should last me longer and serve me better than cheap gear.

Yes, Icebreaker is expensive, you can sometimes pick up something in the sales. One of the attractions of wool is that you can wear it for weeks and no pong, unlike the plastic clothes where I won't share a tent with my husbands tee shirts.
Icebreaker also do knickers but o prefer the sloggy all cotton pants.

I will say that the Icebreaker items are not very hard wearing. I often have a hole or nick where the buckles of my rucksack have caught it.

AirJoe

I struggle with wool irritating my skin. Apparently it's the loose fibers that cause that in some people. For certain items, with a bit of wear and a few washes the problem largely goes away.

I have had been OK with Helly Hansen's Warm Freeze tops in cooler weather (wool outer, polyester inner) and merino wool from Smartwool, which is similar to Icebreaker. It is expensive though and the finer the wool, the less hardwearing it is.

Try looking at Mountain Warehouse and EDZ on Amazon for budget merino clothing. They seem to get good user reviews.