Several years in the past, I learn an article in Backpacker Journal about Anish setting her first velocity document on the PCT. It was an unbelievable feat however what caught with me essentially the most was that she wore a gown for her thru-hike. By this level, I used to be already uninterested in poorly fitted mountaineering pants and shorts created by designers who appeared to care extra about how horny I regarded in them than how practical they had been. I wished the protection and freedom of motion offered by a mountaineering skirt.
Sadly, the skirts and attire I wore weren’t precisely designed for mountaineering. Waistbands bunched up beneath my hipbelt, pockets had been inaccessible, too small or non-existent, and materials had been too skinny or not stretchy sufficient. I additionally wasn’t a fan of skorts — having built-in shorts defeated the aim. Fortunately somebody with higher sources was on the case — Mandy Bland of Purple Rain Journey Skirts.
Purple Rain Journey Skirt At-a-Look
MSRP: $79.99
Dimension Vary: XS-XXL
Materials: Recycled Polyester/Spandex mix with a DWR end
Weight: approx. 6 ounces
Circumstances of Overview
I purchased my first Purple Rain Journey Skirt in 2021. I wore it round city and for day hikes. Then, within the winter of 2023, I wore my Purple Rain skirt each day for over two months whereas touring in New Zealand and thru-hiking a part of Te Araroa. I proceed to put on it for backpacking journeys and day hikes all year long. I weigh about 130 lbs, am 5’5”, and put on a dimension XS.
Supposed Use
The Journey Skirt is designed for every day use on a long-distance hike and is trendy sufficient to put on within the metropolis and even to work. Sizing for the skirt is predicated on girls’s dimensions however it may be worn by all genders.
Purple Rain Journey Skirt Options
Pockets: There are a complete of 4 pockets — one massive pocket on either side of the skirt with a hidden interior pocket built-in. The pockets are streamlined and will be simply accessed whereas sporting a hipbelt.
Light-weight and stretchy material: Purple Rain skirts are product of polyester material blended with about 10% spandex for power and stretchiness. The material can be handled with a DWR end, so it takes a very long time to moist by way of and dries shortly when moist.
Broad elastic waistband: The waistband of the skirt has a cushty quantity of stretch whereas by no means feeling constraining. It has no extra closures on it and is vast sufficient to take a seat comfortably beneath the hipbelt of a backpack.
Purple Rain Journey Skirt Professionals
Consolation
The Journey Skirt is actually comfy. The A-line construction mixed with a barely stretchy materials permits for lengthy strides and vast stances. Moreover, my skirt will keep in place after I twist, bend, and squat. The hem falls simply above knee peak offering a superb quantity of protection, and the material is the right thickness to provide construction to the skirt with out feeling heavy.
Relating to the ever-important waistband, it’s gentle and easy whereas laying completely flat below my hipbelt. This stretchy materials can be moisture-wicking, which helps scale back the quantity of sweat hanging round my decrease again. Lastly, the elasticity is simply sufficient to maintain the skirt in place whereas by no means feeling too tight throughout even a full day of damage.
Makes life simpler
Carrying a skirt makes it very easy to layer. I usually go away my leggings on within the morning after which can simply strip them off as soon as warmed up. I’ve additionally just lately added a rain skirt to my package to switch my rain pants so I can maintain my skirt on irrespective of the climate.
It’s additionally value noting that the Journey Skirt makes backcountry rest room breaks a breeze. No buttons or zips to fret about, and no hobbled ankles when squatting.
Pockets
The pockets on the Purple Rain Journey Skirt are each a wise design function and excessive up on my checklist of positives for this product. They’re completely positioned a number of inches beneath the waistband of the skirt — a cushty peak for slipping my hand out and in. Even higher, I can simply entry the pockets even when sporting a large hipbelt.
Because of the wonderful pockets I hardly ever put on a fanny pack. My cellphone simply matches inside the principle pocket, with room to spare, and has by no means fallen out. The primary pockets are additionally nice for carrying bars and snacks. The hidden pockets are on the skin of the principle pocket and are lined by a flap of cloth. Nearly as massive as the principle pockets, they’re nice for carrying keys, ID, financial institution playing cards, lip balm, and some other small gadgets that I don’t need to danger shedding.
Sturdiness
I wore my first Purple Rain Journey Skirt for over 60 days in a row, washing it solely as soon as each week or two. Whereas mountaineering by way of thick brush, speeding rivers, and over downed logs and sharp rocks, I used to be stunned at how nicely the skirt protected me from the branches, brambles, and jags. In contrast with sporting shorts, I endured far fewer scrapes.
In any case of that, my skirt solely had one small pull within the material. There weren’t any tears, skinny spots on the material, or vital stains. The one notable change was some sun-fading, however that’s actually widespread in New Zealand because of the intense daylight.
Purple Rain Journey Skirt Cons
Restricted Choice
Purple Rain Journey Skirts is a small firm, and all their merchandise are handmade in Oregon. As such there’s a extra restricted choice of colours and generally not all sizes can be found. Mandy’s making an attempt to supply extra sustainable materials and a few inventory is low whereas the corporate transitions to 100% recycled supplies.
Thigh Chafe
Thigh chafe is maybe the most important concern for folk new to mountaineering in a skirt, and it’s extra more likely to happen on sizzling days with excessive humidity. Some wearers use an anti-chafe stick like BodyGlide or thigh bands. I put on a pair of girls’s boxers below my skirt which helps stop chaffing and in addition gives a contact extra modesty.
Kilts
Purple Rain Journey Skirts additionally sells a unisex mountaineering kilt, which is a bit longer than the skirt and has further material wrapping across the entrance. The elastic waistband additionally has a drawstring to assist maintain the kilt in place, and the kilt options snaps on the flaps to transform them to shorts for extra modesty.
Closing Ideas
Carrying a skirt whereas thru-hiking seems like the final word freedom, and the Purple Rain Journey Skirt provides me all of the options I have to be comfy whereas placing in lengthy days on the path. With the wonderful development and a purpose-built design, it’s no shock to see different long-distance hikers sporting the Purple Rain Journey Skirts throughout lengthy adventures of their very own.
Store the Purple Rain Journey Skirt
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Disclaimer: This product was donated for the aim of evaluation.
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