“Cover up when the sun is out in force.” That’s what the old vaqueros say when
referring to Southwest Summer days. The
fact that so many people ignore that truism is perhaps one reason we’re seeing
an increased number of skin cancers. You’ll
see some men remove their shirts when working in the sun. Are they trying to get a tan? Or do they believe this will somehow keep
them cool? The facts are that breathable
clothes help insulate the body from the sun’s heat especially when perspiration
wicks onto the cloth and then evaporates.
The best cloth is cotton. The
worst are synthetics like nylon and a few others. Avoid poly/cotton blends as well. Stick with 100 percent medium weight cotton. Likewise, avoid cotton shirts treated with chemicals
that make them wrinkle-free. That’s
almost as bad as a poly/cotton blend. Be
sure your cotton shirts have long sleeves.
Exposed arms will not only sunburn but will counter the insulating
effects of soft cotton garments. Make
sure the sleeves are long enough to protect your wrists and that the shirttails
stay well tucked. Your shirt’s collar should
be large enough to protect your neck.
And it’s important your shirt has two button-down pockets to hold things
like butane lighters, a small bottle of antibacterial disinfectant or your cell
phone.
I also prefer 100 percent cotton, khaki pants. Blue jeans are usually tough but they obscure
ticks and fleas that might be trying to climb up your pant legs. Khaki pants, on the other hand, make it
easier to spot freeloading critters.
Belt loops should be large enough to accommodate a 1 ½ inch belt in
order to hold a knife or other attachments securely.
Always bring along two cotton bandanas. One goes around your neck to help protect
that region from the sun. The other goes
in your pocket and is used to wipe sweat from your face, or it can be used to
wrap under your hat to act as a sweat barrier.
Don’t forget to bring along leather gloves. The gloves can protect your hands from the
sun but I seldom use them for that purpose.
I usually rub a little sunblock on my hands before I set out. The gloves are used (or at least should be
used) anytime you pick something up or handle a piece of wood. Scorpions like to hide under rocks and in
pieces of mesquite and other deadwood.
The gloves also protect you from the array of thorns found in desert
climes.
I posted a short piece on the French Bush Hat not
long ago and I still consider that hat a superior spring/summer brushlands or
desert hat. Straw hats are just about
useless if you’re a serious woodsman.
They make noise; they are hot; they can cause skin reactions after
prolonged use in sweltering weather; and they don’t do well when the breezes
blow. Likewise, flimsy cloth hats made
from shear material offer minimal protection and get blown off your head in
sustained winds. Find a compromise
between too heavy and too light. In
addition, hats that have been treated with wax or some other chemical are
miserable in scorching temperatures.
Felt or leather hats should be likewise avoided. As with the shirt, the best brushland/desert
hat needs to breathe and should be soft.
As of late, I’ve seen hats with a screen mesh incorporated into the
crown. I don’t like those hats because
they allow sunlight to strike the scalp.
A fellow I know who was balding received a nasty sunburn when he wore a screen-crowned
hat.
Hat brim size should be between three and four inches. Micro brims on some of the newer style bucket
hats are next to useless. And those
baseball style gimmi hats are beyond
pathetic. They have become part of the
official uniform of the angler, “big-game hunter,” and all the other types who
take pictures in outdoor magazines, but if you are a serious woodsman you do
not use them. A proper desert/brushland
hat shades the ears and the side of the face as well as the nose, eyes and
mouth.
My next post will be about the best footwear and
socks for brushlands and desert hiking.
