Are cotton clothes really a no-no for hiking in hot weather?

Here’s a thought: Pack a lightweight umbrella. GoLite (golite.com) makes a nice light one called the GoLite Dome, which sells for $25 and weighs just eight ounces. It’s like carrying around your own shady patch!

Otherwise, I think you’re on the right track looking for loose cotton clothing. I don’t think there’s anything magic here; good-quality cotton tees such as L.L. Bean’s Carefree T-shirt ($12; llbean.com) would work fine. I know, I know—cotton doesn’t belong in the outdoors. But it’s very cool and comfortable in hot weather. Just be sure you have a dry change in case you sweat through and the weather cools. I also like Patagonia’s Capilene 1 T-shirt ($36; patagonia.com) in hot weather. It’s super-light, wicks and dries well, and works as a base layer for chilly weather.

A good source for hot-weather clothing is the Sunprecautions.com site. It carries lightweight, high-SPF items such as the Safari Shirt ($80) or Cargo Pants ($80). I also like Ex-Officio’s clothes in hot weather, such as its Reef Runner shirt ($60; exofficio.com).

I haven’t heard that hemp clothing offers any particular advantage, but it very well might. Try Hempest.com and take a look at the Hemp Button Down Shirt ($68).

Keep cool!

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