Okay, so I decided to give nylon outfits a real try. Wasn’t really planned, it just kinda happened. I was prepping for a camping trip, needed stuff that wouldn’t stay wet forever if it rained, you know?
Getting Started
First thing I did was dig through my closet. Found an old windbreaker, checked the tag – yep, nylon. Remembered how useful that thing was. So, I thought, maybe more nylon stuff would be good? Went online, then to a couple of outdoor shops. Man, nylon is everywhere when you start looking for it specifically. Pants, shirts, even underwear.
The feel was the first thing I noticed. Some of it felt really slick, almost slippery. Other stuff was tougher, more like canvas but lighter. It wasn’t like cotton or wool, that’s for sure. Felt very… manufactured. But the main selling point everyone kept mentioning was how it handles weather and packing.
The Experiment
I picked up a pair of nylon hiking pants and a button-up shirt. Wasn’t cheap, but I figured it was an investment for the trip. Before the trip, I actually wore them around town for a day. Just doing errands, walking the dog. Wanted to see how they felt in normal life, not just climbing a mountain or whatever.
First impressions were mixed:
- They were super light. Like, noticeably lighter than jeans or a regular cotton shirt.
- They didn’t wrinkle easily, which was pretty cool. Pulled them out of a bag and they looked decent.
- They blocked wind surprisingly well.
But, yeah, there were downsides. On a warmer day, I definitely felt a bit clammy. It doesn’t breathe the same way cotton does. It felt like the sweat just kinda sat there on my skin under the fabric. And the static cling! Pulled the shirt over my head and my hair went nuts.
Out in the Wild (and Washing)
On the actual camping trip, the nylon stuff really shone in some ways. We got caught in a light shower, and the water beaded right off the pants. My shirt got damp but dried incredibly fast once the rain stopped. Just hung it on a branch for like 20 minutes. Washing was easy too. Dunked the shirt in a stream, wrung it out, and it was dry by morning. That part was genuinely impressive.
Packing them was great too. They rolled up super small and weighed almost nothing in my backpack. Compared to my buddy’s heavy cotton hoodie that got soaked and stayed heavy, I felt pretty smart.
Final Thoughts
So, after really putting nylon through its paces, where did I land? Well, I didn’t suddenly convert my entire wardrobe. That clammy feeling in warm weather is a real thing for me. And honestly, for just lounging around, give me soft cotton any day.
But I totally get the hype for specific uses now. For travel, especially backpacking or camping? Yeah, nylon gear is clutch. The quick-dry, lightweight, packable thing is legit useful. I kept the pants and shirt, and they’re now my go-to for outdoor trips or rainy days.
It was a practical experiment. Found what works for me and what doesn’t. Nylon’s got its place, definitely. Just not every place in my closet.
