Love those River Driver shirts from LL Bean. And why is it they are only available in Men's and Children's sizes? I mean, sure, I can wear men's shirts, but they are too long in the torso. I always have to hack off the bottoms of the shirts and hem them. Not difficult, but more work than I like to do on brand new clothing. Still, it doesn't stop me from buying the shirts.

I like Linen shirts as my base layer instead of cotton (and in the summer, Linen shorts or pants), because it wicks away sweat. I've never had any luck with man-made fibers like Coolmax. I work outdoors, in a very humid and hot climate (Austin, TX) and Linen is the best stuff. However, it tends to stretch when wet, so it's important to look for waistbands that are re-enforced with a different fiber.

Wool socks are a must when it's cold or wet, and Smartwool is my favorite commercially available wool sock. If you or a loved one can knit, consider some of the washable wool sock yarns. They are very comfie, and knitting them yourself gives you hours of entertainment. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Being a woman-shaped person makes it difficult to get dressed for the outdoors. When I go shopping for some specialty item, say a fishing west, I find ten times more man's sized vests than women's. Some companys, like Filson, apparently don't make any women's clothing at all, and even the smallest men's jacket is too big for me. Often my choice has less to do with "is this a well made, durable peice of clothing from a reputable company?" and more to do with, "does it stay on my body or slide off when I try to walk?" and sometimes I think about, "Do I look like this is my gear or do I look like a little girl playing dress up in big brother's closet?" Yes, that's me with the rolled up sleeves and cuffs and a belt cranked to the last notch.

Thank you for tolerating my little rant.