Unmentionables

[Maxxx]

OK - this isn't something that I can find a decent thread on anywhere (a few that have been started have degenerated into NSW links and banter .....) - I'm off on a tour across EU for about a month of 300 - 500 mile days in the saddle and will be packing light - one Ortlieb bag slung across the back of the bike. I'm going to be sleeping in b&b's / cheap hotels along the way, no camping.

The advice I'm looking for concerns underwear and socks - my preference is to wear a fresh pair each day but I certainly don't want to take 30 pairs of each! Ideally, I'd pack 3 or four pairs of each and wash them every night / every second night, so I am looking for advice on quick drying, sweat wicking clothing that dries properly in under 6 hours.

Research points to either Ex-Officio or Under Armour on the underwear side but I haven't come up with a clear recommendation on the socks - normal "motorbike" socks take too long to dry for my liking so I've been looking at camping / trekking forums and sites for advice too.

I'd appreciate recommendations from those who have survived long days without incurring the dreaded "monkey-butt"

 

[cookie]

Use the hotel's laundry service?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Wear what you normally wear

Take an elastic camping line & pegs (about £5 from a camping shop & pegs from Tesco)

Wash your stuff every night or so

Hang the line on the balcony & it'll dry overnight

If not peg a pair of pants to each mirror stem as you ride & peg down - they'll be dry in an hour, repeat at the first coffee stop with a change to a pair of socks

Works for me

Motorcycle doesn't need an special equipment or quick drying pants

Just a bit of common sense

It's not rocket science

 

[Wapping]

You want something that is easy to dry, nothing more... And something that will not pong too badly if you wear it for several days on the trot.

The answer lies not in artificial fabrics, which dry quickly but can pong... But in Merino wool, a wonder gift of nature.

The socks and undershirts, T-shirts etc. are not cheap but they do work and will last a long time with decent care.

Wash them by standing on them in the shower (I'll accept that this is not the 40c for two hours of your home washing machine) they'll be fine. Hang them on a basic washing line or coat hanger in a decently ventilated room and they'll dry in no time.

They are available in assorted styles, thicknesses, weights and even colours.... Though if you are bothered overly by the colour of your socks under your motorcycle boots you need more help than I can offer.


PS Cotton and some heavier wool materials take an age to dry, unless you can get them out in the sun and preferably with a breeze blowing around them.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Yup, merino wool is wonderful stuff. If you can't wash it for a while it doesn't start to pong either as it has a natural antibacterial in it (or something like that?), whatever, it works

Andres

 

[MikeO]

I've always used laundrettes in motels...

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

Merino underwear & socks


Or pop into supermarkets along the way and buy cheap ones to use as disposables ?

 

[Slowdown]

Rohan do a nice line (as I'm sure others do as well) in silver impregnated clothing that doesn't smell bad after it gets a bit crispy.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-base-layer-clothing-Cool-Silver-Briefs?ocode=02785312

The socks are good too.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-...nd-Cool-Sock?ocode=02570236&relatedType=Works

 

[Fanum]

Mike P introduced me to his underwear on a Moto Morocco trip and it was really impressive......I'd always been of the 'buy cheap and bin it' school of thought, but seeing his undies made me a changed man.

ROHAN.......socks, wash under a tap, whirl them around your head and they're wearably dry, or hang them up overnight and they're bone dry by the morning.

Similar materials exist in expensive underwear as well, but I ended up going for DECATHLON's range......same thing, rinse out under tap, whirl around head and wear, or hand up overnight.

Super comfy, seamless so great for long hours in the saddle and nice and supportive

Using those, three pairs is more than enough for any trip....and they scrunch down extremely small as well.

 

[Matron]

X socks from travel dri les. Had 2 pairs on the lucky sevens
Washed the pair I wore in the evening..... Dried overnight
Wore clean pair next morning
Arrived at next destination and just repeated
Great for support and good wicking quality

Sheepskin was the best for my bum x

 

[Grim Rider]

Speaking as someone who has regularly (14 times on my GS) done 1000 mile days and who has tried quite a number of combinations - the best is LD Comfort shorts, but if you find, as I do since I broke my femur, that the elastic around the leg is uncomfortable then the next best I have found are shorts made from bamboo. Whatever, you need to look for underwear without seams which is what will give you pain after a while. Socks - silk and wool (not merino).

As for merino wool - just seeing Pink's video on Peta's website (https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=823) was enough to make me want to boycott it.

 

[Schtum]

If you don't need additional padding on your backside, then as you said, Ex Officio boxers are very good for long days in the saddle. However, cycling underwear boxer shorts will provide additional padding and since most, if not all, of them are made from modern wicking materials, they'll usually dry overnight.

For socks, you might want to consider Coolmax ones from Go Outdoors if you must have ones that dry overnight. However, on long trips in very hot climates, I've also had good success using woollen socks with Outlast from Wigwam.

 

[sanqhar]

Think outside the box.

For years on my foreign holidays I have taken disposable maternity briefs. Not that cheap for long trips but wear once and throw away. Can be bought from chemists and supermarkets. Boots version is here: http://www.boots.com/en/Emma-Jane-Disposable-Maternity-Briefs-7Pack_1206750/.

These particular ones while not available in Boots shops, are available on boots.com and can be ordered online, in-store or by phone. I've generally bought them in Sainsburys or Superdrug.

I got the tip from a friend who worked in a "clean environment" establishment. He used the ones supplied for his job.

tom

 

[Gossy]

11days, long days, took 3 of each, with some shorts and tee's for evenings.

http://edzdirect.com/collections/underwear/Mens , there's a sale on , they dry quickly overnight or tie to bike and air dry.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-bargain...he-souk-Superfine-Merino-T-200?ocode=03465165 , dry quickly, after 5 days still fresh if aired overnight hot and cool weather, sale on as well.

 

[MIKEY B]

Think outside the box.

For years on my foreign holidays I have taken disposable maternity briefs. Not that cheap for long trips but wear once and throw away. Can be bought from chemists and supermarkets. Boots version is here: http://www.boots.com/en/Emma-Jane-Disposable-Maternity-Briefs-7Pack_1206750/.


These particular ones while not available in Boots shops, are available on boots.com and can be ordered online, in-store or by phone. I've generally bought them in Sainsburys or Superdrug.

I got the tip from a friend who worked in a "clean environment" establishment. He used the ones supplied for his job.

tom

Tom
Really ?? - as in your wearing women's undies??!

How about keeping your old pairs of keks every time you buy new ones, use the old ones on the trip as suicide pants - wear once and chuck em away.
Would certainly come back lighter !!

 

[Flipfly]

what about using a netted bag and strapping it to your bike with wet clothes in, the water will soon evaporate in the hot climate. The other advantage of this is you can stick a bottle of water in there and the evaporation will keep the water cool for as long as the clothes are wet.

eco fridge

 

[Wapping]

what about using a netted bag and strapping it to your bike with wet clothes in, the water will soon evaporate....

Yer fecked when it rains... When you'll put them in your panniers.... To keep them dry.....

 

[Flipfly]

Yer fecked when it rains... When you'll put them in your panniers.... To keep them dry.....

Pah, it don't rain abroad

Check the weather forecast and do your washing accordingly. If you are away for a month and rains for more than a week of it, then you went the wrong way!!!

 

[BillWright]

Hi

I've been using underarmour for several years. On long days under leathers they are really comfortable. There's no seam. Be aware that there are different versions for heat and cool.

Bill

 

[zoltan]

Rohan do a nice line (as I'm sure others do as well) in silver impregnated clothing that doesn't smell bad after it gets a bit crispy.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-base-layer-clothing-Cool-Silver-Briefs?ocode=02785312

The socks are good too.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-...nd-Cool-Sock?ocode=02570236&relatedType=Works

I use the Rohan ultra silver T's and underwear , dry time 5 min with a blow dryer after wash . Packs down to the size of a fag packet . BMW do something similar but is a bit thicker. All our clothing for 2 fitted in one pannier we went for a 2 week trip.
http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-technic...or-mountain-use-Ultra-Silver-T?ocode=02791097