Do It in Jeans First
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Do It in Jeans First
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Re: Do It in Jeans First
#2“I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes” - Thoreau
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#3I disagree: setting yourself up for a miserable experience might cause you to lose interest, in the case of hiking. Surely you have something else than a jeans? That's the single worst thing to wear for being active.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#4But jeans are terrible in the extreme situations that could happen while hiking, and can worsen the risk of hypothermia if you end up in such a situation, potentially causing death when you might otherwise have endured.
Thats why people tell you not to hike in jeans, you don't need 'special' pants, just 'not jeans (or any other pants made from similar wet-trapping materials)'.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#5I'm not even sure I needed to read the article, I agreed with title in terms of the specific application to hiking, and any other tenuous analogies one could come up with.
Want to start going to the gym? Do it in jeans until they're too uncomfortable, then buy something that helps you keep the momentum going.
How about running? Yep, jeans.
Swimming? Maybe not honestly.
Climbing/bouldering? Yep, although you might be looking for an alternative quickly.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#6Chances are, your first hike won't be under circumstances where it's dangerous to wear jeans or have the wrong gear. Also, the drawbacks of jeans can be experienced just going for a walk or being outdoors year-round.
I hiked in jeans or shorts until I was about 50. Today, I wear hiking pants instead of jeans for everyday life. The benefits are noticeable. They last a lot longer, don't take stains as easily (bike chain gunk), and being quick drying means I don't have to worry as much about getting wet when I'm out.
Don't go on a long dangerous hike as the first thing you ever do outdoors.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#7I sweat a lot and hiking with jeans would feel disgusting.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#8But jeans are terrible in the extreme situations that could happen while hiking, and can worsen the risk of hypothermia if you end up in such a situation, potentially causing death when you might otherwise have endured. Thats why people tell you not to hike in jeans, you don't need 'special' pants, just 'not jeans (or any other pants made from similar wet-trapping materials)'.
This is an optimization though, when you just get started, start with what you got. In situations where someone is just starting and doesn't have gear, AND it's actually an ambitious day, my only requirement is some kind of grippy shoes and a headlamp. Anything below an ambitious, unpredictable day, and you can probably just roll with basics. Couple hours is nbd and I do most days in jeans. Comfort is usually more important.
That said, definitely some situations I'd have preferred not to have jeans
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#9But jeans are terrible in the extreme situations that could happen while hiking, and can worsen the risk of hypothermia if you end up in such a situation, potentially causing death when you might otherwise have endured. Thats why people tell you not to hike in jeans, you don't need 'special' pants, just 'not jeans (or any other pants made from similar wet-trapping materials)'.
People overestimate their risk of an extreme situation occurring while hiking and underestimate their risk of being in an extreme situation in everyday life. They are roughly equal.
So if you were really that concerned, you’d be wearing hiking pants everywhere, even when not hiking.
Re: Do It in Jeans First
#10But jeans are terrible in the extreme situations that could happen while hiking, and can worsen the risk of hypothermia if you end up in such a situation, potentially causing death when you might otherwise have endured. Thats why people tell you not to hike in jeans, you don't need 'special' pants, just 'not jeans (or any other pants made from similar wet-trapping materials)'.
People overestimate their risk of an extreme situation occurring while hiking and underestimate their risk of being in an extreme situation in everyday life. They are roughly equal. So if you were really that concerned, you’d be wearing hiking pants everywhere, even when not hiking.
What? I’m a lot more likely to get cold and wet with no access to dry shelter 3 days into a 7 day thru hike in the Sierras than when I’m within a 15 minute walk of my car in the city.